In a previous post, I talked about Ry Cooder, a guitarist – especially slide – who’s been what I like to call a journeyman for about as long as I can remember. The description of the genres he covers as stated in Wikipedia should give … Continue reading Concert Review – Ry Cooder with the HamilTones at Tupelo (NH) Music Hall
“He’s the last African-American Everyman,” says Questlove of his hero Bill Withers. “Jordan’s vertical jump has to be higher than everyone. Michael Jackson has to defy gravity. On the other side of the coin, we’re often viewed as primitive animals. We rarely land in the … Continue reading Bill Withers
(Pictured: The Four Tops) Wherein I put together three tunes, much like a disc jockey would. In this case, I had a couple of ’60’s R&B tunes in my head. The Sixties weren’t just a time of Beatles and psychedelic music. There was a lot … Continue reading Tres Songs – Rhythm and Blues
(Pictured – blueswoman Danielle Nicole.) An occasional post wherein I scan the globe looking for new music to tickle your fancy. This time, a little bit of pop, some blues, and some scorching rockabilly. Truthfully some of these aren’t brand new but they were new … Continue reading New Music Revue – 1.8.18
(Pictured: Otis and Zelma Redding) “I think rock ’n’ roll is drifting toward the blues. People don’t want to admit it, but a lot of the pop songs today are nothing but blues songs. Rhythm and blues has been here for a hundred years.” —-Otis … Continue reading Otis Redding – I Can’t Do What Ten People Tell Me To Do (final of 3)
“I started singing spiritual songs in my father’s church, from about seven on up until I was grown.” —-Otis Redding (Below: Booker T. and the MG’s) In 1963, the song “Pain in my Heart,” became an R&B hit, convincing Phil Walden that Otis needed to … Continue reading Otis Redding – Stax Rising – (Part Two)
“He may have been the most original, most intelligent person I ever met in my life.” —-Phil Walden, Otis Redding’s manager If you know Otis Redding only as a great soul singer of the Sixties, then you should also know that he was a multi-talented … Continue reading Otis Redding – Respect (Part One)
Anyone who has read this blog before knows of my love of ‘50’s/early /60’s rock and roll and especially, doo-wop. By the time the early ’70’s rolled around, we were a long way away from the Fifties, whose music was largely represented by Sha Na … Continue reading The Persuasions
Michael Jackson towered over the 1980s the way Elvis Presley dominated the 1950s, and here’s why. On Thriller, the child R&B star ripened into a Technicolor soulman: a singer, dancer, and songwriter with incomparable crossover instincts. – Rolling Stone By 1982, Michael Jackson had been … Continue reading Featured Album – Thriller – Michael Jackson
Junior Walker (born Autry deWalt Mixon) was a Midwestern kid who picked up the saxophone in high school. He got the “Junior” part from his stepfather whose name was Walker. His first band, in the mid-50’s was called the Jumping Jacks. Junior moved from Indiana to … Continue reading Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 