Categories
-
0 Sheila E. Jams With Morris Day And The Time
- Video
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 09/25/2019
Sheila E. opens up a powerful 2019 evening featuring Morris Day & The Time in Atlantic City, NJ. In 1981, who were the original Time from Minneapolis, Minnesota? Morris Day (vocals), Jesse Johnson (guitar), Jimmy "Jam" Harris (keyboards), Monte Moir (keyboards), Terry Lewis (bass), and Jellybean Johnson (drums). Enjoy! Here's a two minute video package I shot at the show. Previous Post | Next Post
-
0 Prince, The Time, and Jesse Johnson
- Commentary
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 05/02/2019
We were lucky enough to be there for Celebration 2019 at Paisley Park (Prince's recording complex) in Minnesota last week and enjoyed Jesse Johnson's live performance. Shown above in our promotional copy of The Time album on the right is Jesse Johnson. In the past there was tension between Jesse and Prince. Jesse talked about trying to find peace with that relationship now that Prince is no longer with us. This was Johnson's first return to Paisley Park since Prince's passing. Here's more about Time guitarist Jesse Johnson airing his Prince grievances on the Celebration 2019 stage at Paisley Park. Read all about it. https://www.twincities.com/2019/04/25/time-guitarist-jesse-johnson-airs-his-prince-grievances-on-celebration-2019-stage-at-paisley-park Previous Post | Next Post
-
0 Michael Jackson: On The Wall
- News
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 08/30/2018
Forty-eight artists interpret "Michael Jackson: On the Wall" at the National Portrait Gallery in London until Oct. 21, 2018. Michael Jackson through the eyes of the world's top artists: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/michael-jackson-on-the-wall-national-portrait-gallery Previous Post | Next Post
-
- News
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 02/15/2018
Nina Simone attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City for one year. Her application to the Curtis Institute (School of Music) in Philadelphia was rejected while Simone studied at Julliard. Curtis Institute of Music would award the gifted performer a honorary degree in 2003. Watch Nina Simone's posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Previous Post | Next Post
-
- News
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 02/08/2018
Still listening to CD's in the car, in your home, or at your job? We've downloaded tons of music from iTunes, but we still love CD's too. On January 17, 2018 the Sony Music CD plant in Terre Haute, Indiana announced that 380 workers would lose their jobs when several parts of the plant are closed. Sony will outsource the manufacturing of DVDs and CDs to "Technicolor Home Entertainment," in California. Now Target and Best Buy look to phase out CD's. https://rainnews.com/best-buy-and-target-launch-efforts-to-scale-back-cd-sales/ Previous Post | Next Post
-
0 Charles Bradley And Sharon Jones
- Video
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 12/15/2017
We lost Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings in 2016 and Charles Bradley earlier this year. There are always new trailblazers who prove that talent with luck will rise to the top. Who says today's classic soul can't be as good as the songs from "the golden age." Both Jones and Bradley are late bloomers in the music business if one brands success by age. However, they are not overnight sensations by a long shot. Check out "Sail On," one of the last tracks recorded by Sharon Jones. After that, listen to Charles Bradley belt out Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." It's the "official" audio from Daptone Records. Enjoy them both! Previous Post | Next Post
-
- Audio
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 10/12/2017
Tavares, five brothers from New Bedford, Massachusetts were hard working harmony kings featuring a halo of heavyweight hits glowing from their song crown resume. Arthur, Ralph Vierra, Perry Lee, Antone, and Feliciano are the Tavares brothers. In the late 1960s they performed as Chubby (who is Antone) & The Turnpikes. "Check It Out" was their first R&B hit in 1973. For the album Hard Core Poetry in 1974, Tavares hooked up with producers Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter who had revived the career of The Four Tops. The Tavares - Lambert & Potter team found success off of Hard Core Poetry with these hits: "Too Late" #10 R&B in 1974 "Remember What I Told You To Forget" #4 R&B in 1975 "She's Gone" (see below) Claiming territory at the top of the R&B charts, they had three #1 hits: "She's Gone" 1974 (written by Hall & Oates who didn't have a hit with the song until 1976) "It Only Takes A Minute" 1975 "Whodunit" 1977 In The City (1975 album below) contains "It Only Takes A Minute," "The Love I Never Had," and "Free Ride." "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" (below) was a #3 R&B hit in 1976. It's from the album Sky-High produced by hit maker Freddie Perren (Peaches and Herb, The Sylvers, The Miracles, Jackson 5, Gloria Gaynor and others). The hits kept coming for Tavares by the end of the 1970s. The Bee Gees wrote "More Than A Woman" from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (December 1977) for Tavares. Here are two more Tavares albums. From 1982's New Directions you'll find two songs that made it to the R&B top 25, "Got To Find My Way Back To You" #24 in 1983, and the lovely "A Penny For Your Thoughts" #16 in 1982. Listen to 34 seconds of "A Penny For Your Thoughts" written by Kenny Nolan and co-produced with Jay Senter. Your browser does not support the audio element. The title track from Words And Music (below) reached #29 R&B in late 1983. In 1979, Tavares teamed up with producer Bobby Colomby (drummer for Blood, Sweat & Tears) for the stylish, jazzy, and somewhat hypnotic rhythm track on the #10 R&B hit "Bad Times." Colomby also worked with keyboard guy Bob James who may be playing on this song. Tavares delivers a lyric with a message on "Bad Times." The vocals shine on the track. The score is a fusion of soulful pop orchestration. Hats off to Tavares who were able to change with the times, update their style, and stay relevant across the musical landscape. As hitmakers their track record is undeniable. Previous Post | Next Post
-
0 The Queen of Sugar Hill Records: Sylvia Robinson
- Video
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 09/15/2017
It's good to be "The Queen" when you have the reputation of being one in the music business! Sylvia "Vanderpool" (1936 – 2011) had her first number one R&B song ("Love Is Strange") in 1956 as part of the vocal duo Mickey and Sylvia. She became singer/songwriter/producer Mrs. Sylvia Robinson after marrying Joe Robinson, owner of All-Platinum/Vibration Records. All Platinum eventually became Sugar Hill Records. Sylvia had another number one R&B hit in 1973 with "Pillow Talk." In 1974 her "Sweet Stuff" song peaked at number 4 on the R&B charts. By the end of the decade, Sylvia concentrated on harvesting the fresh young sound of the exploding, hip-hopping, street beat rap pioneers. These impresarios put Sugar Hill Records on the map. 1979's "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugar Hill Gang peaked at number 4 R&B giving the label an early hip-hop hit. In the video below you’ll see a few more noteworthy records by Sugar Hill artists. 60 seconds of Sylvia's "It's Good To Be The Queen" is featured in the label montage. "The Queen" throws down some amusing bougie lyrics. You know it's worth a laugh, so enjoy! Previous Post | Next Post
-
- Interview
- by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
- 08/22/2017
I've been a big fan of Ledisi since 2008 after writing about and listening to her holiday album in the update Ledisi Lifts Christmas Up with Musical Style. The New Orleans native has a lot to say in this brief six minute interview with the purveyors of You Know I Got Soul. She talks about the state of R&B music, her impressions of fan feedback, and gets us excited about a new album that she is about to drop. You can watch her thoughts below, and read the entire transcript of the conversation at Ledisi Interview: New Album "Let Love Rule", Evolving Sound, Having Fun With R&B at You Know I Got Soul. Previous Post | Next Post
-
0 Mercy Mercy Me: Carlos Santana and The Isley Brothers
- Audio
- by Kingsley H. Smith
- 07/23/2017
Back to 1969, the year both of these albums Santana and The Brothers Isley were dropped into the market! I've stacked them on top of each other before taking this shot. On The Brothers Isley you see left to right Rudolph, O'Kelly, and lead vocalist Ronald. Fast forward forty-eight years later, and now we experience Santana and the surviving brother of the original trio Ronald Isley (with Ernie Isley) teaming up to sing Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me." Their version is different and contemporary with a close that tips the hat to Marvin. Listen to Carlos Santana & The Isley Brothers sing Mercy Mercy Me from their album Power of Peace as featured by NPR. Previous Post | Next Post