Another recent loss was legendary music producer Jerry Wexler. Mike Finnigan, who worked with him, has a good remembrance. I’ll also pass on NPR’s piece. As with Wexler’s colleague, Ahmet Ertegün, he will be missed.
Every account I’ve heard about Jerry Wexler talks about what an encyclopedic knowledge of music he had, and how much he loved music and musicians. For the man who coined the term “Rhythm and Blues,” there’s another word that also comes to mind:
Fresh Air re-ran interviews with both Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac.
The Washington Post piece on Bernie Mac looks at the big differences between “the two Bernies,” his onstage persona versus the offstage man. His New York Times obituary ain’t bad (although reading “Mr. Mac” provides some unintentional comedy). Read more »
One of the more remarkable stories I’ve heard recently comes from a Fresh Air interview with Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez. It’s about Lopez and the relationship that developed between him and a homeless musician named Nathaniel Ayers. Lopez was struck by the beauty of Ayers’ playing, and was further amazed to discover Ayers was playing with only two strings on his violin. Next he found out that Ayers had been studying at Julliard, but had to drop out due to the onset of schizophrenia.
I was looking through some old files, records, and CDs today. I came upon this song and listened to it, marveling at how relevant it is today, September 26, 2007. Almost 40 years have passed since this song was first released about 1970. - JS
A friend sent me this video of Aussie trio Tripod, which I linked in the comments over at Shakesville, where it wound up as a post. These guys have musical and comedy chops! Gotta spread the geek love - and if you’re a fan of Flight of the Conchords, or a gamer, you’ll love this. Although as Melissa McEwan notes, to apply to bloggers, “they need a verse that includes “just let me finish this post…”"
Queen guitarist Brian May was on Thursday awarded a doctorate, more than 30 years after he first began studying a highly specialised area of astronomy.
May first started his thesis — titled, “Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud” — at Imperial College London in 1974, but abandoned it when Queen’s prospects began to brighten.
He finally dusted off his notes last year and handed in his 48,000-word doctoral thesis about three weeks ago to Imperial’s head of astrophysics Professor Paul Nandra.
“I’m feeling rather joyful. I cannot tell you how much of a weight off the mind it is,” May said after his assessors approved of his thesis and he passed an oral exam.
“What matters is that this stands up in the future and that there are no holes in it.”
He plans to celebrate his new title — he will now become Dr Brian May — by having a private meal with friends and family but will not be presented with his qualification until a ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall next May.
The guitarist, who famously played the national anthem on the top of Buckingham Palace at a party for Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee celebrations, has not completely neglected astronomy during his musical career.
Max Roach, a founder of modern jazz who rewrote the rules of drumming in the 1940’s and spent the rest of his career breaking musical barriers and defying listeners- expectations, died early today in Manhattan. He was 83.
Thursday’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death has been mapped out for years. But Lisa Marie Presley’s idea for how to best mark the date bloomed just three weeks ago.
“People have been asking me to do another duet with him forever, but I had to do my own thing before I went back there,” says Presley, 39, whose 20th anniversary duet with her father, Don’t Cry Daddy, was never available commercially.
“So I was ready. I just had to figure out what would be right. And suddenly it came to me, all at the eleventh hour.”
More than 75,000 fans have flowed into Memphis to celebrate their American idol during Elvis Week, exceeding earlier projections. On Thursday, some will be treated to the sight of Presley’s only child using the magic of digital technology to perform another duet with her dad, this time In the Ghetto, a tale of inner-city blues and redemption that was a staple of Elvis’ Vegas shows.
But the younger Presley has added her own touch to this father-daughter reunion: Proceeds from sales of the song, which will be available on iTunes, will benefit a soon-to-be-established New Orleans branch of Presley Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless families. It’s a gesture that her benefit concert-focused dad would appreciate.
Sunday, August 17th
May first started his thesis — titled, “Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud” — at Imperial College London in 1974, but abandoned it when Queen’s prospects began to brighten.
“People have been asking me to do another duet with him forever, but I had to do my own thing before I went back there,” says Presley, 39, whose 20th anniversary duet with her father, Don’t Cry Daddy, was never available commercially.
