Picture this:Ā itās early 1964. Only a few months earlier, the American President – who offered so much promise not only to America but to the world – Ā is brutally assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Ā America is still in a funk, still trying to figure out … Continue reading The British Invasion (Beatles to Blues – 1)
First post here: What is it about B. B that made him so great for so long? Ā For me it’s that he was the whole package and he did it all so well: writer, singer, guitar player, showman. “How Blue Can You Get?” is one … Continue reading B. B. King (Final of 2)
We lost BB King this year and so I wanted to be sure to dedicate a couple of posts to him as soon as possible. He was a musician that I admired, loved, respected – and was lucky enough to have met backstage once many … Continue reading B. B. King (1)
In my last post on the blues I said this, “I think Iām gonna need a third blues post for the later British and American players. But Iāll do that one later on down the road.” So this is that. First post here. Blues arguably … Continue reading The Blues (Final of 3)
First post here: The gentleman pictured above is one T-Bone Walker, he of the flashy showmanship and smooth guitar playing. He is the guy who wrote “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad),” a blues that has remained a popular staple since … Continue reading The Blues (2)
It occurred to me that I had done a post about jazz but not yet one about blues as a genre. And so let me now rectify that. I mentioned in my first postĀ that I discovered blues the same way so many of my peers … Continue reading The Blues (1)
Update – Dan Hicks died ofĀ cancer in February 2016 after I wrote this. He was 74.Ā Not exactly sure what made me think of these guys, but this is a band that was popular largely in the early ’70’s. Their sound is best described – … Continue reading Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Rod Stewart? Really? Didn’t he do, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Sure. Does he now sing old standards like Gershwin and Cole Porter? Well, yeah. Isn’t he some Las Vegas showboat? Guilty. But that’s not the Rod I know. (Speaking metaphorically). My earliest memory of … Continue reading Rod Stewart
Wikipedia: āRace recordsĀ wereĀ 78 rpm phonograph records marketed to African-Americans during the 1920ās through the early 1940ās.Ā They primarily containedĀ race music, comprising a variety of African-American musical genres includingĀ blues, jazz, and gospel music, though comedyĀ recordings were also produced. These records were, then, the majority of commercial recordings … Continue reading “Race Records”
Note that I said MY favorite rock albums, not indisputably the greatest rock albums of all time. Who am I to decide that? So if your favorite album isn’t on here, don’t take it personally. We just have different tastes. At one point in my … Continue reading My Top Ten Favorite Rock Albums (intro)
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 