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Post by 1finemrg on Mar 27, 2015 23:47:34 GMT -5
March 28: ... Continuing our run of keyboardists, John Evan from Jethro Tull. After being a session musician for the "Benefit" album, John joined Jethro Tull for their "Aqualung" album and continued until 1980. The white suit which he wore for performances became his trademark; Ian Anderson would jokingly introduce him as everyone's favorite ice cream man. He went on to form Tallis with fellow Tull band mate David Palmer. He left the music business shortly after, and ran his own construction company for many years. He eventually relocated to Australia, where he currently resides. The only single to be released from "Aqualung", it became their debut on the Hot 100 peaking at #91. Hymn 43 - Jethro Tull
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Post by 1finemrg on Mar 28, 2015 23:13:57 GMT -5
March 29: ...one of the founding members of the Parliaments, the late Ray "Stingray" Davis. Ray was the bass singer in the band when they formed in the late fifties, and was the only member besides George Clinton not to split from Parliament/Funkadelic in 1979. He toured with the P-Funk All Stars and Zapp in the eighties. In the nineties, he joined the Temptations replacing bass singer Melvin Franklin upon his passing. His tenure lasted only one album, leaving after a cancer diagnosis. He performed in Original P with other ex-P-Funk members until his passing in 2005. Their first Top 40 hit reached #20 during the summer of 1967. (I Wanna) Testify - The Parliaments
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Post by 1finemrg on Mar 29, 2015 23:01:47 GMT -5
March 30: ... the only original Moody Blues member still touring with the band, drummer Graeme Edge. He was in the band when they reached the Top 10 in 1965 with a Bessie Banks cover. Future Wings member Denny Laine sang the lead on "Go Now!". It was after Denny left the band that Graeme recruited Justin Heyward and John Lodge and the Moodies moved away from R&B toward writing and recording their own material. He, Justin and John will begin touring shortly focusing on their 80s material this time around (Polydor years). "Seventh Sojourn" was their final album released in 1972 before a five year hiatus. Although it was not their favorite album, it became their first one to top the charts. The hit single was "I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)", but my favorite track was one Graeme Edge wrote with Justin Hayward. You And Me - Moody Blues
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Post by 1finemrg on Mar 30, 2015 23:43:04 GMT -5
March 31: ...AC/DC guitarist Angus Young. He's a lad with the heart of a school boy, a stage presence derived from Chuck Berry, and guitar work that starts loud and goes from there. He was born in Scotland and his family emigrated to Australia when he was 8. His older brother George was the first to make his mark in rock and roll as rhythm guitarist with the Easybeats (Friday On My Mind). He would go on to co-produce a number of AC/DC albums, mostly during the Bon Scott years. Angus and his brother Malcolm followed George into the business forming AC/DC. Unfortunately, Malcolm has health issues but Angus will be on the road this summer in his trade mark schoolboy uniform. Their first Top 40 hit made it to #35 in 1980. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC Bonus: Today is birthday #330 for Johann Sebastian Bach. Interestingly, during his lifetime he was more widely respected as an organist rather than a composer. A revival in the early 1800s shined a candle on his composing skills, and he now ranks among the greatest of all time. A hauntingly beautiful song derived from Bach's "Air on the G String" sat at the top of the UK charts for 6 weeks in 1967. It was a million seller in the US, where it peaked at #5. A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procul Harum
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Post by 1finemrg on Mar 31, 2015 23:11:38 GMT -5
April 1: ...reggae/ska legend Jimmy Cliff. Born in St. James, Jamaica, his career began with a series of local singles starting in 1962. In 1964, he was chosen to represent Jamaica at the World's Fair in New York. He won the International Song Festival in 1967 with "Waterfall". In 1968 he released "Vietnam" a song that was his initial debut on the German, New Zealand, and UK charts. Bob Dylan called it the best protest song he had heard. In 1969, he debuted in the US Top 40 and retained his one hit wonder status for 24 years. He lost his status in 1993 when his version of "I Can See Clearly Now" became his highest charting US Top 40 single peaking at #18. In 1970, Jimmy reached the top ten in several countries with Cat Stevens' "Wild World" several months before Cat would release his own version. Jimmy was elected to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009. His US Top 40 debut peaked at #26, definitely a personal favorite. Wonderful World, Beautiful People - Jimmy Cliff
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 2, 2015 0:04:52 GMT -5
April 2: ...Leon Russell His talents were first realized as part of the Wrecking Crew, the Los Angeles group of session musicians that backed sixties recording artists such as the Mamas And Papas, Association, the Beach Boys and Cher . He was hired by Snuff Garrett as his assistant and creative developer. He played on Gary Lewis and the Playboys #1 hit "This Diamond Ring'" and was writer or co-writer on their "Everybody Loves A Clown" and "She's Just My Style" Top 10 hits. He would go on to join Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and also helped to organize and play on Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs And Englishmen tour. He's written standards such as "A Song For You" and "This Masquerade" as well as "Superstar", the Carpenters Top 10 smash. Leon just missed the Top 10 as a solo artist. "Tightrope" peaked at #11 in 1972. His other top 40 hit "Lady Blue" made it to #14 in 1975. More recently, Leon was elected to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010 and entered the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2011. He also recorded a highly successful album "The Union" with Elton John and Bernie Taupin in 2010. In 1972, he bought down the house with this live medley from the "Concert For Bangladesh". Medley: Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood - Leon Russell
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 2, 2015 23:40:22 GMT -5
April 3: ...Tony Orlando. He was discovered by Don Kirshner, and became a teen idol in the early sixties. He was the first vocalist to sign with Epic reocords, charting in the top 40 twice with "Bless You" and "Halfway To Paradise". In the mid-sixties he wrote a local Chicago hit for the New Colony Six, "I'm Just Waiting (Anticipating For Her To Show Up)". He ventured into the business side, becoming a vice-president at CBS records in the April-Blackwood division in the mid to late sixties working with the likes of James Taylor and Laura Nyro. As a favor to friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell, he agreed to be the demo voice on a song titled "Candida". It was released under the name Dawn, the first name of the record promoter director's daughter. It went to #1 and Dawn's career is very well chronicled from this point forward. He has performed in Branson, Missouri for over 20 years. In the nineties, he paired with Wayne Newton sharing a theater for a couple of years. The partnership failed as well as their personal relationship, weighed down by lawsuits and countersuits which were eventually dropped. Coincidentally Tony and Wayne also share the same birthday. Before Dawn, Tony reached #28 in 1969 as lead vocalist of this studio group. He channels Frankie Valli in this overlooked classic written by Joey Levine (Ohio Express, Reunion) and Bo Gentry. Make Believe - Wind
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 3, 2015 23:58:51 GMT -5
April 4: ...Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) who would have been 102 today. It could be Foghat or the Rolling Stones performing "I Just Want To Make Love To You". Maybe it's the Yardbirds or a young Rod Stewart taking on "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". Van Morrison with Them or Ted Nugent with the Amboy Dukes working up "Baby Please Don't Go" could have made you sit up and take notice. No matter which road of the above you take they all lead back to the Father of modern Chicago Blues, Muddy Waters. Of course when you're working Willie Dixon, Otis Spann, Little Walter Jacobs, Jimmy Rodgers, and Elgin Evans, musicians who were legends in their own right, something timeless is bound to happen. Rolling Stone ranked 4 of his songs among the Top 500 of all time. He won 6 Grammys before his passing in 1983, and he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987. Written by Preston Foster and originally performed by Ann Cole, Muddy's definitive rendition ranks #357 in the Rolling Stone 500 greatest hits of all time. Some of the other acts that covered this tune include Alexis Korner (1964), the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965), Canned Heat (1969), Elvis Presley (1970), Rory Gallagher (1971), J. J. Cale (1972), B. B. King (1977), Buddy Guy (1977), Otis Rush (1986), Etta James (2004), Eric Clapton (2011), and Johnny Winter (2011). Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 5, 2015 6:22:46 GMT -5
April 5: ...Allan Clarke of the Hollies Allan was a founding member of the Hollies, along with his childhood friend Graham Nash. He was lead vocalist on most of their hits through the sixties and early seventies. In the US, none of their 6 Top 10 singles topped the charts. Their biggest hit was "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)" which reached #2. He sang lead vocals and played guitar on that classic, then left the band until the mid-seventies. The Hollies had 32 singles chart in the UK, 17 of which made the Top 10. In 1988, a reissue of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" made it to #1. Their other #1 single did not crack the Hot 100 in the US, peaking at #103. It was the last single released before their initial US Top 40 breakthrough "Look Through Any Window". I'm Alive - Hollies
Allan also loaned his vocal talents to this FM radio staple from the late 70s. Breakdown - Alan Parsons Project
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 6, 2015 5:27:48 GMT -5
April 6: ...country legend, Merle Haggard. He's had thirty-eight #1 singles on the country charts, and was honored at the Kennedy Center in 2010. He's a 1994 inductee into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. He's even a one-hit wonder on the pop charts. His "If We Make It Through December" peaked at #28 in 1973. For all his memorable country standards such as "Okie From Muskogee", "The Fightin' Side Of Me", "Mama Tried" and "Workin' Man's Blues", his signature song was actually a "B" side of his #1 country smash "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde". It's been covered by a wide range of artists from Bettye Swann (peaked at #46 in the Hot 100), to Al Martino (Hot 100, #86), to Sammi Smith (Country Singles, #9). He co-wrote the song with his then-wife Bonnie Owens. Today I Started Loving You Again - Merle Haggard
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 7, 2015 5:30:03 GMT -5
April 7: ...John Oates In 1967, John was part of a Philly group the Masters who were in a band competition. Escaping from a gang battle, he met Daryl Hall then of the Temptones in a service elevator. They became friends eventually forming Hall & Oates in 1970. He's primarily known as the guitarist in the duo, but he co-wrote many of their hits. He's a 2004 Songwriter Hall of Fame and a 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (with Daryl Hall) inductee. They topped the Hot 100 six times. Outside the duo, he is noted for co-writing and backup vocals on Icehouse's Top 10 single "Electric Blue" in the late 80s. John takes the mike for this live version of a Daryl Hall and John Oates classic. The studio version became a Top 10 hit the third time it was released as a single. She's Gone (live) - John Oates
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 8, 2015 5:46:11 GMT -5
April 8: ...Julian Lennon With his mother Cynthia's passing a week ago, condolences are also offered. Like his grandmother Julia for whom he was named, Julian has also been a musical source of inspiration for the Beatles. "Hey Jude" was a song of consolation to Julian in the wake of his father's divorce from Cynthia. "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is based on a drawing Julian gave his father. "Goodnight" was written as a lullaby to Julian. Musically, his first appearance was at 11 tears old playing drums on "Ya Ya" a track from John's "Walls And Bridges" album. He has reached the Top 40 four times, two of which peaked in the Top 10. His highest charting single "Too Late For Goodbyes" peaked at #5. He has topped the Album Rock Tracks twice, and was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy in 1985. He has also achieved success with photography. His "Horizons" series is currently featured at the Emmanuel Fremin Gallery in New York. He has also published a book showcasing his Beatles memorabilia. Inspired by his father, he founded the White Feather Foundation which is involved with humanitarian and environmental issues. The title track from his first album was also a #9 single (a #9 dream if you will). Probably like many others, I thought it was John the first time I heard it. A great song. Valotte - Julian Lennon
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 9, 2015 5:29:41 GMT -5
April 9: ...the "King of Rockabilly", the late great Carl Perkins. He was a part of the legendary "Million Dollar Quartet" that gathered together that fateful day at Sun Records. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Several of his rockabilly classics like "Matchbox" and "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" were covered by the Beatles. His only Top 40 hit peaked at #4 in 1956 (#2 Cashbox). The recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame in 1986, and was the first million selling single for Sun records. Don't step on them... Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 10, 2015 5:45:20 GMT -5
April 10: ...Brian Setzer He was the front man for the Stray Cats, reviving rockabilly that was popularized in the 50s by acts like our April 9 spotlight Carl Perkins. They formed as the Tomcats and toured the Northeast in 1979-1980 gaining local notoriety. In 1980, the band decided to move to London. They believed the UK would be more open to their rockabilly style. The transition was successful, gaining popularity in the UK under the production guidance of Dave Edmunds. After releasing two successful albums and several singles, they made a breakthrough in the US with "Built For Speed" mostly a to-date compilation of their UK output. They reached the Top 10 three times in the US, the most popular being the #3 single "Stray Cat Strut". The band separated in 1984, but would reunite occasionally to tour and record albums into the early 90s. After the Stray Cats split, Brian would tour with the Honeydrippers as lead guitarist and played Eddie Cochran in the movie "La Bamba". He would also release a pair of solo albums "The Knife Feels Like Justice" and "Live Nude Guitars" which met with minor success commercially. The albums which carried forward the rockabilly Stray Cats style but steered the sound toward basic rock and roll were praised critically. In the mid-90s, Brian took the rockabilly sound to a different level integrating it with a 16 piece big band. The Brian Setzer Orchestra released a series of successful albums into the 2000s. He is currently set to tour as "Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot" with George Thorogood beginning in May. In 1998, the Brian Setzer Orchestra reached the Top 10 on the album charts with "The Dirty Boogie" and cracked the Hot 100 with this revival of a Louis Prima classic. Jump, Jive 'N Wail - Brian Setzer Orchestra
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Post by 1finemrg on Apr 10, 2015 23:39:53 GMT -5
April 11: Richard Berry who would have been 80 today. As mentioned on the January 25th birthday spotlight, he was the male voice on the Etta James #1 R&B hit "The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)". In 1955 he was performing with a Latin band, the Rhythm Rockers. While waiting to do his set, an instrumental by the Rhythm Rockers caught his attention. He thought it was a perfect tune to set to lyrics so he wrote them on a piece of toilet paper. The viewpoint of the song was that the title character was being talked to, not the one singing the song. He recorded it as a smooth love song and in 1956 released it as the "B" side to a country/R&B version of "You Are My Sunshine" on the Flip label. The song did not chart. Discouraged with the music business, in 1957 he sold the song's rights along with 4 others for $750 to a record company owner. It was forgotten until discovered in a record bin in the Portland, Oregon area by a local band. They recorded their version in a small recording studio. The mike was set so high that lead singer Jack Ely's vocals were not recorded clearly. The result was a raw three chord rock classic with vocals that were very difficult to understand. Although they had remained faithful to Richard's lyrics, rumors of them being suggestive caused a few radio stations to ban the recording. This did not stop the song from spending six weeks in the #2 position. It was introduced to a whole new generation in 1978 due to the widespread success of the movie "Animal House". Richard Berry commented on the song: "I could never understand the popularity of it. It was a song with three stupid guitar-chord changes in it. Every young musician I have met have told me that it was the first song they learned to play. I can believe that; it's such an easy song to play." With legal assistance, he was able to win back some of his rights to the song during the 80s. He passed away in 1997. "Me gotta go." Louie Louie - KingsmenLouie Louie - Richard Berry and the Pharaohs
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