* Get an email alert when a new article is added * privacy policy

Website

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Marvin Gaye Bio and Bistro Beam Inner City Blues

American Masters puts Marvin Gaye in the spotlight with a PBS television special this week.  Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On tells the story of the Motown Legend in a dramatic visual biography.

In his hometown of Washington DC, in the famous Shaw neighborhood, a two story restaurant has opened called “Marvin,” dedicated to his memory.  Marvin combines Belgian cuisine and soul food, a somewhat unusual mix.

There’s a Belgian connection in Gaye’s past, during the early 1980’s, when he spent time in Belgium trying to resurrect his career.

24 years after his death, Marvin Gaye remains in the spotlight.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 05/08 at 12:02 AM
News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Al Green Retouches Roots on New Blue Note Album

Al Green recruits John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, and other contemporary friends for his first new album in 3 years, Lay It Down, due on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

Work on the album began in 2005.  Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of the Roots is the producer in charge who will attempt to fuse Green’s secular bluesy grit with today’s neo-soul groove.

Al Green will be on tour throughout 2008 to support Lay It Down, his 3rd album on the Blue Note label.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 04/29 at 12:02 AM
News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers Go-Go

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers circa 1979, Bustin’ Loose with the Go-Go sound of Washington, DC.

Chuck Brown jams with:

  1. “Bustin’ Loose”
  2. “Boogie Up The Nation”
  3. “Blow Your Whistle”
  4. “We The People”

Creator, founder, and doctor of dance floor strut Chuck Brown intimately reveals his funk powered manifesto for you while busting some thrilling literary moves at his official Go-Go website.

Technorati tags:

Photo • Songs • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Donna Summer Lights New Fire with Hotter Stuff

After a 17 year absence, Donna Summer is back in the game with a new release due on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

Her studio album is called Crayons.  Listen to (and rate) 30 seconds of “I’m A Fire,” a track from the new collection (below).

The full 7 minute album version of “I’m A Fire” contains world music elements.  It’s a danceable track with a shifting arrangement that keeps things interesting including a short Latin influenced segment sung in Spanish.

Donna Summer joins Thelma Houston, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, and a few other “mature” classic soul divas to release new material within the past couple of years.

For a snapshot of her great career, read my review of Donna Summer’s autobiography, Ordinary Girl, written in June, 2004.

What can we expect on the new album?

Donna says the record will contain “a menagerie of colors and styles, with hints of different ethnic traditions and sounds."

She continues, “My dream is that when people hear the music it will remind them of their youth, their childhood and the joy and wonderment they felt exploring their first pack of Crayons."

Huh? OK.  I haven’t played with crayons in ages, but I get the metaphor.

Donna Summer always carried the excess baggage of “The Queen of Disco” label, despite her versatility.  Many missed the fact that she’s a very talented singer.

Just listen to the Quincy Jones’ produced song “State of Independence” for an example of Donna’s distinctive depth of style.

She gets the last laugh as a survivor with the power of Sony BMG & Burgundy Records behind this new release.

Here are my 5 Donna Summer Favorites.  What are yours?

  1. “Bad Girls”
  2. “Love To Love You Baby”
  3. “No More Tears” (duet with Barbra Streisand)
  4. “Hot Stuff”
  5. “Could This Be Magic”

Get reacquainted with an old friend, and visit the official Donna Summer web site.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 04/15 at 12:02 AM
Audio • News • Website • (2) Comments • Permalink

Friday, April 11, 2008

The Three Degrees Touch Angelic Harmony

Valerie Holiday, Helen Scott, and Cynthia Garrison are the golden voices of The Three Degrees.

The ladies have 2008 tour plans with possible touch-downs in Hawaii, Japan, and Europe.

You have to go all the way back to Philadelphia, PA in 1963 for the genesis of the original group: Fayette Pinckney, Linda Turner, and Shirley Poole.

There have been plenty of personnel changes through the years, although Helen and Valerie have been with the group since 1976.  Helen was a late 1963 addition who left close to 1966, but returned a decade later.

You’ll probably remember “When Will I See You Again” as their biggest hit.

Before success on Philadelphia International Records, The Three Degrees released songs on 5 different labels.

When you graze through The Three Degrees Biography at their official web site, you’ll discover the British icon who named these ladies as his favorite group.

I’ll recommend these 4 tracks from the Three Degrees catalog:

  • “Love Is The Message” (with MFSB)
  • “When Will I See You Again”
  • “Maybe” (excellent cover of the Chantels hit with a rap to boot)
  • “We’re All Alone” (heavenly harmonies expanding the Boz Scaggs song)

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 04/11 at 12:02 AM
Biography • Songs • Website • (1) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Mariah Carey Mixes Fusion on E=MC2

Now billing herself as the best selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey has her sights set on topping 2005’s The Emancipation of Mimi.

Her new atom splitting E=MC2 album puts some quantum mechanics behind the Mariah Carey musical formula, lead by “Touch My Body,” the first song promoted from the April 15, 2008 release.

Look for Mariah to do lots of interviews and personal appearances to support her new album.

She’s been adding to her record resume since 1990.  When you hear Mariah Carey, you feel the sonic vibrations of a voice powered by impressive passion.

Discover every chapter of the Mariah Carey story on her official web site.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 03/26 at 06:30 PM
News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Monday, March 24, 2008

Heatwave Hits & Video Memories

Brothers Johnnie and Keith Wilder were the core of Heatwave, the “Always And Forever” crew, who put together a team of gifted international musicians to deliver some jammin’ grooves.

Johnnie and Keith, Dayton, Ohio natives, fine-tuned their classic soul funk in Germany, following a tour of Army duty in the U.S. military.

Positive club exposure in London captured for Heatwave their first record deal.

1976’s Too Hot To Handle album, Heatwave’s first release, included both “Always And Forever,” and the dance classic “Boogie Nights."

You can find a collection of Heatwave videos on their official web site.

Tragically, Johnnie Wilder Jr. passed away at age 56, closing a long chapter of success for the original group.

Check out the Johnnie Wilder Jr. video remembrance, as well as the following videos below.  Warning: you won’t be able to stop or control the clips once they start, but the content in the official Heatwave video archive is worth it...


Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 03/24 at 12:02 AM
Biography • Video • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Sister Kathy Sledge is Family

Sister Sledge lead singer Kathy Sledge recently launched a new web site featuring audio, video, and historical highlights of her own solo career.

Kathy is pictured here with her 10 piece band.

Tag along with this Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, and get busy inside the wonderful world of Kathy Sledge.  We Are Family!

Technorati tags:




Posted by King on 03/04 at 06:30 PM
Biography • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Billy Ocean Navigates Rough Water for New Musical Shores

Billy Ocean has recorded a new song “Chained,” for the forthcoming Wilburforce 200 album A Change is Gonna Come, due for a February 25th release.

Billy recently performed at the 2008 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival on January 26th, in Montego Bay.  This show also featured a controversial appearance by Diana Ross.

Billy Ocean is the biggest selling British black artist of all time.

During a 30+ year career, he has sold in excess of 30 million singles and albums worldwide.  Most of his success came in the 1980’s.

Billy, birth name: Leslie Sebastian Charles, was born on January 21, 1950, in Fyzabad on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad.

In 1958 his family immigrated to England in search of work, settling in the East End of London.

His first single was released under his own name Les Charles in 1971. In 1975, adopting the name Billy Ocean, he signed a production deal that resulted in little commercial success.

Billy’s first album, Billy Ocean, was released in 1976 and contained four singles that generated increasing attention in the UK.

After another 1979 release, an additional record on CBS, and much touring in the early 1980’s, Ocean finally exploded in September 1984, renaming the single “European Queen” and re-releasing it as “Caribbean Queen."

"Carribbean Queen” would sell a million copies on the international stage and win a Grammy Award.

A 3rd version of the song called “African Queen” was recorded for the African music market cresting on their charts for 10 weeks.

In 1985, Ocean toured America for the very first time, including a gig at JFK stadium in Philadelphia as part of Live Aid on July 13th.

1986 brought more success with “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” and “Love Zone."

Billy spent most of 1987 recording his next album. One song from the record, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car,” caused some controversy when it was released as a single in 1988.

Despite reaching # 3 in the U.K., British radio nearly banned the song because a national newspaper implied that “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” referenced child molestation.

Billy explained that while growing up as a teenager none of his friends drove cars, most of them rode scooters, so a song called “Get outta my dreams, get onto my scooter” just wouldn’t have worked.

After years of hard work and well-earned success, Billy decided to take time away from the music business and devote himself to his family.

A “Greatest Hits” collection was released in September 1989, becoming Ocean’s biggest selling UK album going platinum.

By 1993 the music scene had changed and Billy’s next studio album had changed with it. “Time To Move On” was recorded in Chicago with R. Kelly, who had been a long time admirer.

A new image accompanied the album with a younger looking Billy Ocean sporting dreadlocks following his conversion to the Rastafarian religion.

In September 1998 Jive Records issued Love Is For Ever, a 24 track double album covering much more of Billy’s back catalogue.

Ocean continued to stay out of the limelight for the next few years, performing once at the South Africa Freedom Day concert on Sunday, April 29th, 2001.

The Freedom Day concert held in London’s Trafalgar Square honored the 7th anniversary of South Africa’s free elections.

Billy Ocean continues to live in England and enjoys spending time with his family, gardening at his home in Berkshire and performing around the globe with the Ebony Steel Orchestra.

Visit Billy Ocean’s official web site for more Billy Ocean lore.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 02/06 at 12:02 AM
Biography • News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Charles Wright takes "Express Yourself" to Line Dancing

Charles Wright, producer, singer and founder of the classic soul Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is upbeat about his new album, Finally Got It Wright.

He sticks to the tradition of his early hits “Do Your Thing” and “Express Yourself,” released in 1968 and 1970.

The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm band exemplifies Los Angeles funk just like Chuck Brown personifies Washington, DC’s go-go music.

There’s a free mp3 download of “Line Dance Song” from Charles Wright’s new album available directly from his line dance web site.

Charles says: “I’m not Columbia, RCA or Capital, so I do not intend to pretend that I can compete on their level."

"I am a small company and will act accordingly. Therefore, if it takes me three, four or even five years to complete the job or more, I intend to concentrate on Finally Got It Wright because I honestly and truly believe in it."

Charles Wright was born near Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The family moved to Los Angeles when he was 12. He started on piano and later graduated to vocals, guitar, bass and drums.

As a teenager, Wright led and composed for several doo-wop groups, including the Twilighters, The Shields, and the Galahads.

Charles became one of Hollywood’s most sought after studio musicians while simultaneously becoming a nightclub sensation with his band Charles Wright and He Wright-Sounds.

After recording renowned Los Angeles Dee Jay Magnificent Montague’s theme song, “Spreading Honey,” Charles founded the history-making Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - the first successful rhythm & blues act for Warner Brothers.

The “Watts” band backed Bill Cosby on his first two musical albums, Silver Throat and The Salvation Army Band: Bill Cosby Sings.

Listen to 30 seconds of “Express Yourself."

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 01/10 at 12:02 AM
Audio • Interview • News • Songs • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

George Clinton is Commander in Chief of P-Funk

George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic were all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

P-funk master George, who will turn 68 next year, shows no sign of slowing down.

"One Nation Under a Groove,” Chocolate City,” “Atomic Dog,” “Flashlight."

George Clinton’s resume of funky hits are fan favorites.

Innovators usually work hard for their success, and in the early years, George was no exception.  He relates a very funny Parliament/Funkadelic story to Marc Taylor in Marc’s excellent book, A Touch of Classic Soul 2: The Late 1970’s.

George Clinton is Commander in Chief of P-Funk.  Catch the full back story on his official web site.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 12/04 at 12:02 AM
Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Corinne Bailey Rae Wins Song Honor

Congratulations to British song bird Corinne Bailey Rae, who has been honored by song publisher Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI).

Rae’s song, “Put Your Records On,” has been acknowledged as one of the most performed songs on U.S. radio and television during the past 12 months.

Rae is currently at Abbey Road Studios in London working with Herbie Hancock on his upcoming Joni Mitchell tribute album, River: The Joni Letters.

Letters will feature well-known jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 11/29 at 08:15 AM
News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Thursday, November 15, 2007

The Dells Stay In Your Corner

The Dells are among a small group of unique vocal groups who bridged the transition between 1950’s doo-wop and 1970’s classic soul.

3 Delights from The Dells:

  1. “Oh What A Night”
  2. “Stay In My Corner”
  3. “I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue”

Like Ray, Goodman and Brown, (formerly The Moments), The Dells borrowed from the harmonies of the doo-wop era, creatively integrating fresh vocals into the changing style of R&B as the group moved forward.

"Stay In My Corner” was a #1 R&B hit for The Dells in 1968.

"Oh What A Night” was a #1 R&B hit for the group in 1969.  The Dells first recorded the song in 1956 reaching #4 on the R&B charts using the song title “Oh What A Nite."

Through 1992, The Dells had 47 charted R&B hits.  Travel through the years with The Mighty Dells on their official web site to discover their amazing story.

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 11/15 at 12:02 AM
Biography • Flashback • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Angela Bofill Battles Life Beyond Music

After a couple of massive strokes, Angela Bofill continues rehabilitation treatment on the road to recovery.

Additional details are available on the official Angela Bofill web site.

Quite a bit has been written since her first stroke in 2006 about how her lack of health insurance has affected her ability to receive adequate health care.

The music community has rallied around her cause with financial donations.

Other friends have become involved in her plight by bringing awareness of her specific situation to the national U.S. health care debate - and the fact that many people don’t have any health insurance.

Ms. Bofill was 24 years old when she recorded her first album, Angie on the Arista GRP label in 1978.

She was born in New York City, grew up in the West Bronx, and attended Hunter High School, Manhattan School of Music, and Hartford Conservatory of Music.

Angie has one of those rare cross-over voices, equally suited for R&B or jazz.  She’s performed with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, and others.

On his new 2007 release Missing You, Peabo Bryson tackles Angela’s classic, “I Try,” a song that she wrote.  Her stellar version, on the record Angel of The Night, is still the best rendering of this torch song.

Her are 3 Angela Bofill albums you’ll love:

  1. Angel of The Night
  2. Platinum & Gold Collection
  3. Angie

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 11/06 at 12:02 AM
Biography • News • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

7 Jeffrey Osborne Melodies on the Wings of Love

Jeffrey Osborne, the golden voice of L.T.D., (Love, Togetherness, and Devotion), has had several successful solo hits.

The Providence, Rhode Island native hooked up with L.T.D. in Los Angeles in the 1970’s and spent a decade with the group first as a drummer, then exclusively as their lead vocalist.

Jeffrey has been one of the dominant male voices in classic soul, distinctive for his bellowing baritone.

He’s had several hits with many duet partners including Joyce Kennedy ("The Last Time I Made Love” - 1984), and Dionne Warwick, ("Love Power” - 1987).

In late 2005, Jeffrey released From The Soul, an excellent collection of classic soul favorites elegantly performed to perfection.

Here are 7 Melodies from Jeffrey Osborne’s solo songbook:

  1. “On The Wings of Love”
  2. “You Should Be Mine” (Woo Woo Song)
  3. “We’re Going All The Way”
  4. “Don’t You Get So Mad”
  5. “Stay With Me Tonight”
  6. “Room With A View”
  7. “So Emotional”

Jeffrey Osborne in Concert:

  • Tuesday October 23, 2007, Fairmont - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Thursday November 15, 2007, Apollo Theater, New York City
  • Monday, December 31, 2007, Hyatt Regency - Huntington Beach, California

5 Jeffrey Osborne hits with L.T.D.

  • “Love Ballad”
  • “Back In Love Again”
  • “Shine On
  • “Holding On (When Love Is Gone)”
  • “We Party Hearty”

Technorati tags:



Posted by King on 10/16 at 12:02 AM
Concerts • Songs • Website • (0) Comments • Permalink
Page 1 of 4 pages  1 2 3 >  Last »