Category Archives: Blues

Today’s Music: Lena Horne, Dave Van Ronk, Yngwie Malmsteen

Posted on June 30, 2012 by admin

Irreplaceable jazz vocalist and the definition of class Lena Horne was born today in 1917 (d. 2010). Here’s her signature tune from 1943: And a live performance many years later: Folk-bluesman and ‘Mayor of MacDougal Street’ Dave Van Ronk started … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Bernard Herrmann, Colin Hay

Posted on June 29, 2012 by admin

Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite film composer, Bernard Herrmann, was born this day in 1911 (d. 1975). In his long career, he scored not only the Hitchcock classics Psycho, Vertigo and North By Northwest, but a slew of other films, among them … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Hank Garland and Gary Burton, “All the Things You Are”

Posted on June 28, 2012 by admin

And now for something completely different (sort of), here’s country swing guitar king (and one-time Elvis guitarist) Hank Garland with Gary Burton: And here’s Hank wailing on his big hit, “Sugarfoot Rag”:

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Today’s Music: Oscar Peterson, “Sweet Georgia Brown” (1985) Plus

Posted on June 27, 2012 by admin

The Oscar Peterson Trio with Joe Pass on guitar, in a 1985 concert at the Bussoladomani, Lido di Camaiore, Italy. No drummer, but this track swings like crazy. Plus, Oscar playing his own composition, “Hymn to Freedom in F”: (‘Birthdays’ … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Big Bill Broonzy, Larry Taylor

Posted on June 26, 2012 by admin

Blues legend

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Today’s Music: Clifton Chenier, Harold Melvin, Carly Simon, Allen Lanier

Posted on June 25, 2012 by admin

Zydeco king Clifton Chenier entered the world today in 1925. (He sadly departed it in 1987.) Here are some samples of his Louisiana Cajun-Creole’swamp blues’ played on the accordion that have greatly influenced modern music. Harold Melvin, of Harold Melvin … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Mick Fleetwood, Jeff Beck

Posted on June 24, 2012 by admin

Mick Fleetwood, former drummer/co-founder of Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, was born this day in 1942. With The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band: With John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1967: Guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck greeted the world this day in 1944. … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: ‘Laurel and Hardy,’ “Dueling Banjos”

Posted on June 23, 2012 by admin

Actually, it’s Bob Anthonioz dressed up like Oliver Hardy on the guitar and Philippe Bourgeois as Stan Laurel on the banjo. And here’s Don Reno and Arthur Smith doing the original “Feudin’ Banjos” upon which “Dueling Banjos” was based, way … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Kris Kristofferson, Don Henley, Todd Rundgren

Posted on June 22, 2012 by admin

Singer, songwriter and sometime actor Kris Kristofferson was born today in 1936. Here are two of his most famous compositions: Don Henley, drummer, co-songwriter and vocalist for The Eagles, greeted the world in 1947. Here’s a different version of the … Continue reading →

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Today’s Music: Ray Davies, O.C. Smith

Posted on June 21, 2012 by admin

Founder of The Kinks, singer and songwriter Ray Davies was born today in 1944. For anyone who cares to chart the history of power-chord, heavy metal rock music, it really started with the two Kinks tunes below. When they first … Continue reading →

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