all-about-musicians-and-the-people-who-help-them-make-music
Monday Morning Inspiration: “If I Am”
The Long Island-based band Nine Days was barely more than a blip on the pop culture radar screen. They scored a huge hit in 2000 with “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”, which was one of the most annoying songs of the year, and I was unfortunately dating someone at the time who absolutely loved it. I think I heard it so many times I finally gave in and said “OK, OK, I like it”.
I don’t […]
In Memoriam: Isaac Hayes (1942-2008)
Isaac Hayes had a legendary career, no doubt. From songwriter extraordinaire (you know he wrote “Soul Man”, right?) to singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist, coming up with the theme to “Shaft” as well as excellent covers of songs like “Walk On By”, “The Look of Love” and “By The Time I Get to Phoenix”, the man was impossibly smooth as well as funky,not always the easiest combination in the world to manage. No one, with the exception of one-time […]
Respect Due: Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is revered as quite possibly the greatest female singer/songwriter ever. She’s also a patron saint of sorts for the bohemian black: lauded by everyone from Prince to Janet Jackson to Q-Tip. There’s a reason for that. Much like kindred spirit Nina Simone, Mitchell’s voice radiates truth and conviction.
Not sure exactly when I discovered Joni. It must have been at some point in the early or mid Nineties when my musical spectrum was […]