the
Give me your music, your art, your huddled masses of words and rhythms, yearning to breathe free.
Give me your music, your art, your huddled masses of words and rhythms, yearning to breathe free.
the
Give me your music, your art, your huddled masses of words and rhythms, yearning to breathe free.
As a kid I had breakfast every morning with the 50,000-watt Godzilla of all AM radio stations - KDKA 1020, Pittsburgh, PA. The first commercial radio station in the world, launched by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, turns 95 years old today. My dad always had our kitchen radio tuned to 1020 on the dial. There was no fighting him on…
Chuck Berry is the head of my holy rock trinity, which includes John Lennon and Bob Dylan. And today's his 89th birthday. I'll always love this ornery old genius. I had only one chance to see him live, performing a short outdoor set during the Three Rivers Arts Festival in 1983. Sure, his guitar sound and style formed the foundation…
Here she is: the original...the one-and-only, Ms. Rita Hayworth. Feast your eyes on the screen goddess performing "Put the Blame on Mame" from the 1946 film noir classic "Gilda." It's one of Hollywood's most iconic scenes, and a top favorite of mine. And, as an added treat, you get to see the "Rita head toss" at the beginning of the…
"I'm sittin' in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination." Paul Simon was indeed sitting in a railway station when he wrote - or was inspired to write - those words to "Homeward Bound," an early Simon and Garfunkel single that peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts in December 1965. Paul had been traveling around England, on…
The popular music of North America is seasoned with the blood and sweat of every race and nationality: Anglos, Africans, Hispanics, Jews…rockers of all ethnic mixes. But what about the native peoples of North America? Many rock fans know that Cher, Rita Coolidge, and Robbie Robertson have native roots. But when was the last time you heard anything about a rock band comprised predominantly of indigenous peoples from the U.S. or Canada? Well, they're out there! Some have been making music for decades; others are new to the scene. And while many aren't headliners (yet), they're recording, touring, winning awards, and selling lots of music online. Thanks to YouTube and iTunes I've recently become familiar with a number of talented bands that are really catching fire.