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(16339 of 16339)
Jul 5, 2008 1:26 AM
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Man, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven; 5 posts from kojannon! Then I saw it was the same post 5 times but I read them all anyway just for drill.
Stevie will always be da man. He may have gone out of style or not produced a new release for many years but he is top quality all the way.
He may have put on a few pounds and hos hairline is receding but the chops are undeniably still solid and you know he's never going to compromise on the quality of musicianship in his bands.
Sunflower I know nothing about. Never heard of it.
I guess Russell Thompkins has formed hos own version of the Stylistics but the outfit touring under that name in Albuquerque on the 26th is composed of the other originhal Stylistics and some members of the Delfonics and the Manhattans.
Montreal huh? Vacation or part of your professoership?
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(16338 of 16339)
Jul 5, 2008 1:10 AM
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Man, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven; 5 posts from kojannon!
But alas it was the same post 5 different times. I read 'em all anyway just for drill. 
Stevie will always be da man. He may have gone out of style or spent more years between releases than in the past but he is top quality all the way.
Can't tell ya about Sunflower. Not familiar with it at all.
Russell Thompkins has supposeedly started his own verision of the Stylistics but the group that will be playing in Albuquerque is another Stylistics with members of The Delfonics and The Manahattans fleshing out the lineup.
I don't think I'll attend. Russell's voice defined the Stylistics for me. I don't need no copycat version.
Was the trip to Montereal a vacation or was it a school related trip?
One of my best friends is a sound engineer up in Montreal with the Justin Time studio. He was the sound enginieer on Celine Dion's first albums/
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(16337 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 10:39 PM
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Thanks for the welcome back, Mort. Sorry again to have been a stranger for so long. The kids are great, but between them, the job and extracurriculars (a project just finished, which had sat on my desk since last October for one) I rarely saw th elight of day. Hopefully a thing of the past, as I actually cleared my desk off last week (although I mabnaged to lose several important paoers in th eprocess. Figures).
I was in Montreal for the jazz fest a little, but missed th emajority of the acts (I had business there too) and the kids' nap times tended to conicide with a lot of the free shows that we had the energy for. Otherwise I did enjoy just sitting around the hotel in air conditioning and drinking Coke. sad but true. That's how exhausted I've been.
Leon Russell, now did he do the original "Sunflower" which the Ojays recorded live in ca. 1974? Or am I mixing him up with someone else? I do know that he wrote "A Song For You", which Woody Herman recorded on the 1973 Grammy-winning "Giant Steps" album (yes, it has an arrangement of the Coltrane tune on it as well), but I've never heard th e original of that either.
Speaking of hot daughters, Stevie's sings backup with him and is breathtaking. A good singer, but of course will likely never climb out from under that shadow. And yes, the man walked on water vocally. Saw Aretha live a few years back, and while she was the god we all know she is, she has lost about half an octave. Stevie still sounds like he did in his prime, which is a little scary except that he's also not really that old either of course since he was what, 12 when Motown signed him? Yes, he did walk on water. His band was good, albeit not as scary top-to-bottom as Prince's (well, whose in popular music is in this day and age?), but his vocal abilities were the best I've heard live -- ever. Sorry if that sounds full blown, but as a huge fan of said Eddie Levert, Prince, Michael Jackson in his prime (I'm talking Jackoson Five in 1971 here), Dennis Edwards, kd lang, Elvis Costello, pretty much you name it, Stevie was the tops. It might also help that I loved so many of his tunes. To that end, the set list included the following (sorry it's not complete):
Master Blaster
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Isn't She Lovely
Livin' for the City
Golden Lady
Do I Do
Ribbons in the Sky (vocal highlight)
a cover of Corea's "Spain" (instrumental. Nice but unremarkable by comparison)
I Wish
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed Sealed Delivered
Superstition
I've probably forgotten a few. There were a couple of new numbers, both of which had those overly complicated harmonioc chorsuses that tend to leave you in the dust for "memorability" purposes. But he knew how to work the crowd, and you never got the feeling that this was yet another city on a long tour, which was really nice.
So, I think I can live through another year of zero to bad concerts after being treated to that one. Would love to catch the Stylistics though (as long as Russell Tompkins is there it's still them, no disrespect to the other guys). Enjoy.
Back soon. Happy Fourth of July!
(ok, tried posting this once and it didn't take, so if it happens twice, sorry)
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(16336 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 10:37 PM
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Thanks for the welcome back, Mort. Sorry again to have been a stranger for so long. The kids are great, but between them, the job and extracurriculars (a project just finished, which had sat on my desk since last October for one) I rarely saw th elight of day. Hopefully a thing of the past, as I actually cleared my desk off last week (although I mabnaged to lose several important paoers in th eprocess. Figures).
I was in Montreal for the jazz fest a little, but missed th emajority of the acts (I had business there too) and the kids' nap times tended to conicide with a lot of the free shows that we had the energy for. Otherwise I did enjoy just sitting around the hotel in air conditioning and drinking Coke. sad but true. That's how exhausted I've been.
Leon Russell, now did he do the original "Sunflower" which the Ojays recorded live in ca. 1974? Or am I mixing him up with someone else? I do know that he wrote "A Song For You", which Woody Herman recorded on the 1973 Grammy-winning "Giant Steps" album (yes, it has an arrangement of the Coltrane tune on it as well), but I've never heard th e original of that either.
Speaking of hot daughters, Stevie's sings backup with him and is breathtaking. A good singer, but of course will likely never climb out from under that shadow. And yes, the man walked on water vocally. Saw Aretha live a few years back, and while she was the god we all know she is, she has lost about half an octave. Stevie still sounds like he did in his prime, which is a little scary except that he's also not really that old either of course since he was what, 12 when Motown signed him? Yes, he did walk on water. His band was good, albeit not as scary top-to-bottom as Prince's (well, whose in popular music is in this day and age?), but his vocal abilities were the best I've heard live -- ever. Sorry if that sounds full blown, but as a huge fan of said Eddie Levert, Prince, Michael Jackson in his prime (I'm talking Jackoson Five in 1971 here), Dennis Edwards, kd lang, Elvis Costello, pretty much you name it, Stevie was the tops. It might also help that I loved so many of his tunes. To that end, the set list included the following (sorry it's not complete):
Master Blaster
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Isn't She Lovely
Livin' for the City
Golden Lady
Do I Do
Ribbons in the Sky (vocal highlight)
a cover of Corea's "Spain" (instrumental. Nice but unremarkable by comparison)
I Wish
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed Sealed Delivered
Superstition
I've probably forgotten a few. There were a couple of new numbers, both of which had those overly complicated harmonioc chorsuses that tend to leave you in the dust for "memorability" purposes. But he knew how to work the crowd, and you never got the feeling that this was yet another city on a long tour, which was really nice.
So, I think I can live through another year of zero to bad concerts after being treated to that one. Would love to catch the Stylistics though (as long as Russell Tompkins is there it's still them, no disrespect to the other guys). Enjoy.
Back soon. Happy Fourth of July!
(ok, tried posting this once and it didn't take, so if it happens twice, sorry)
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Posts:
1,412
Registered:
6/5/02
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(16335 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 10:36 PM
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Thanks for the welcome back, Mort. Sorry again to have been a stranger for so long. The kids are great, but between them, the job and extracurriculars (a project just finished, which had sat on my desk since last October for one) I rarely saw th elight of day. Hopefully a thing of the past, as I actually cleared my desk off last week (although I mabnaged to lose several important paoers in th eprocess. Figures).
I was in Montreal for the jazz fest a little, but missed th emajority of the acts (I had business there too) and the kids' nap times tended to conicide with a lot of the free shows that we had the energy for. Otherwise I did enjoy just sitting around the hotel in air conditioning and drinking Coke. sad but true. That's how exhausted I've been.
Leon Russell, now did he do the original "Sunflower" which the Ojays recorded live in ca. 1974? Or am I mixing him up with someone else? I do know that he wrote "A Song For You", which Woody Herman recorded on the 1973 Grammy-winning "Giant Steps" album (yes, it has an arrangement of the Coltrane tune on it as well), but I've never heard th e original of that either.
Speaking of hot daughters, Stevie's sings backup with him and is breathtaking. A good singer, but of course will likely never climb out from under that shadow. And yes, the man walked on water vocally. Saw Aretha live a few years back, and while she was the god we all know she is, she has lost about half an octave. Stevie still sounds like he did in his prime, which is a little scary except that he's also not really that old either of course since he was what, 12 when Motown signed him? Yes, he did walk on water. His band was good, albeit not as scary top-to-bottom as Prince's (well, whose in popular music is in this day and age?), but his vocal abilities were the best I've heard live -- ever. Sorry if that sounds full blown, but as a huge fan of said Eddie Levert, Prince, Michael Jackson in his prime (I'm talking Jackoson Five in 1971 here), Dennis Edwards, kd lang, Elvis Costello, pretty much you name it, Stevie was the tops. It might also help that I loved so many of his tunes. To that end, the set list included the following (sorry it's not complete):
Master Blaster
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Isn't She Lovely
Livin' for the City
Golden Lady
Do I Do
Ribbons in the Sky (vocal highlight)
a cover of Corea's "Spain" (instrumental. Nice but unremarkable by comparison)
I Wish
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed Sealed Delivered
Superstition
I've probably forgotten a few. There were a couple of new numbers, both of which had those overly complicated harmonioc chorsuses that tend to leave you in the dust for "memorability" purposes. But he knew how to work the crowd, and you never got the feeling that this was yet another city on a long tour, which was really nice.
So, I think I can live through another year of zero to bad concerts after being treated to that one. Would love to catch the Stylistics though (as long as Russell Tompkins is there it's still them, no disrespect to the other guys). Enjoy.
Back soon. Happy Fourth of July!
(ok, tried posting this once and it didn't take, so if it happens twice, sorry)
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Posts:
1,412
Registered:
6/5/02
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(16334 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 10:35 PM
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Thanks for the welcome back, Mort. Sorry again to have been a stranger for so long. The kids are great, but between them, the job and extracurriculars (a project just finished, which had sat on my desk since last October for one) I rarely saw th elight of day. Hopefully a thing of the past, as I actually cleared my desk off last week (although I mabnaged to lose several important paoers in th eprocess. Figures).
I was in Montreal for the jazz fest a little, but missed th emajority of the acts (I had business there too) and the kids' nap times tended to conicide with a lot of the free shows that we had the energy for. Otherwise I did enjoy just sitting around the hotel in air conditioning and drinking Coke. sad but true. That's how exhausted I've been.
Leon Russell, now did he do the original "Sunflower" which the Ojays recorded live in ca. 1974? Or am I mixing him up with someone else? I do know that he wrote "A Song For You", which Woody Herman recorded on the 1973 Grammy-winning "Giant Steps" album (yes, it has an arrangement of the Coltrane tune on it as well), but I've never heard th e original of that either.
Speaking of hot daughters, Stevie's sings backup with him and is breathtaking. A good singer, but of course will likely never climb out from under that shadow. And yes, the man walked on water vocally. Saw Aretha live a few years back, and while she was the god we all know she is, she has lost about half an octave. Stevie still sounds like he did in his prime, which is a little scary except that he's also not really that old either of course since he was what, 12 when Motown signed him? Yes, he did walk on water. His band was good, albeit not as scary top-to-bottom as Prince's (well, whose in popular music is in this day and age?), but his vocal abilities were the best I've heard live -- ever. Sorry if that sounds full blown, but as a huge fan of said Eddie Levert, Prince, Michael Jackson in his prime (I'm talking Jackoson Five in 1971 here), Dennis Edwards, kd lang, Elvis Costello, pretty much you name it, Stevie was the tops. It might also help that I loved so many of his tunes. To that end, the set list included the following (sorry it's not complete):
Master Blaster
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Isn't She Lovely
Livin' for the City
Golden Lady
Do I Do
Ribbons in the Sky (vocal highlight)
a cover of Corea's "Spain" (instrumental. Nice but unremarkable by comparison)
I Wish
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed Sealed Delivered
Superstition
I've probably forgotten a few. There were a couple of new numbers, both of which had those overly complicated harmonioc chorsuses that tend to leave you in the dust for "memorability" purposes. But he knew how to work the crowd, and you never got the feeling that this was yet another city on a long tour, which was really nice.
So, I think I can live through another year of zero to bad concerts after being treated to that one. Would love to catch the Stylistics though (as long as Russell Tompkins is there it's still them, no disrespect to the other guys). Enjoy.
Back soon. Happy Fourth of July!
(ok, tried posting this once and it didn't take, so if it happens twice, sorry)
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Posts:
1,412
Registered:
6/5/02
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(16333 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 10:33 PM
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Thanks for the welcome back, Mort. Sorry again to have been a stranger for so long. The kids are great, but between them, the job and extracurriculars (a project just finished, which had sat on my desk since last October for one) I rarely saw th elight of day. Hopefully a thing of the past, as I actually cleared my desk off last week (although I mabnaged to lose several important paoers in th eprocess. Figures).
I was in Montreal for the jazz fest a little, but missed th emajority of the acts (I had business there too) and the kids' nap times tended to conicide with a lot of the free shows that we had the energy for. Otherwise I did enjoy just sitting around the hotel in air conditioning and drinking Coke. sad but true. That's how exhausted I've been.
Leon Russell, now did he do the original "Sunflower" which the Ojays recorded live in ca. 1974? Or am I mixing him up with someone else? I do know that he wrote "A Song For You", which Woody Herman recorded on the 1973 Grammy-winning "Giant Steps" album (yes, it has an arrangement of the Coltrane tune on it as well), but I've never heard th e original of that either.
Speaking of hot daughters, Stevie's sings backup with him and is breathtaking. A good singer, but of course will likely never climb out from under that shadow. And yes, the man walked on water vocally. Saw Aretha live a few years back, and while she was the god we all know she is, she has lost about half an octave. Stevie still sounds like he did in his prime, which is a little scary except that he's also not really that old either of course since he was what, 12 when Motown signed him? Yes, he did walk on water. His band was good, albeit not as scary top-to-bottom as Prince's (well, whose in popular music is in this day and age?), but his vocal abilities were the best I've heard live -- ever. Sorry if that sounds full blown, but as a huge fan of said Eddie Levert, Prince, Michael Jackson in his prime (I'm talking Jackoson Five in 1971 here), Dennis Edwards, kd lang, Elvis Costello, pretty much you name it, Stevie was the tops. It might also help that I loved so many of his tunes. To that end, the set list included the following (sorry it's not complete):
Master Blaster
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Isn't She Lovely
Livin' for the City
Golden Lady
Do I Do
Ribbons in the Sky (vocal highlight)
a cover of Corea's "Spain" (instrumental. Nice but unremarkable by comparison)
I Wish
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed Sealed Delivered
Superstition
I've probably forgotten a few. There were a couple of new numbers, both of which had those overly complicated harmonioc chorsuses that tend to leave you in the dust for "memorability" purposes. But he knew how to work the crowd, and you never got the feeling that this was yet another city on a long tour, which was really nice.
So, I think I can live through another year of zero to bad concerts after being treated to that one. Would love to catch the Stylistics though (as long as Russell Tompkins is there it's still them, no disrespect to the other guys). Enjoy.
Back soon. Happy Fourth of July!
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Posts:
2,549
Registered:
6/22/02
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(16332 of 16339)
Jul 4, 2008 2:25 AM
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Kojannon! You're still here!
What's your 20?
Missed ya, good buddy (yeah, I remember CBs).
Stevie Wonder! OK, ou gotsta come back with the 411 on that one. (Mudhoney, not so much for me... and unforutnately I appear to be the only poster in this old ghost town for over a month now).
Leon Russell is in town on the 4th playing an outdoor venue at age 65. I understand he is still writing new material and his gorgeous half Cherokee daughter is singing with dad.
She brings back memories...mmmmm.....she fine, fine, fine and wasn't wearin' too much (hubba hubba) but I have to give her that it was a very hot night.
Ya see, I heard them here about 6 years ago in a small club that had terrible acoustics. You could hear the music alright but the vocals were pure mud. It was only because I was so familiar with the songs that I could tolerate it. My brain filled in the words.
But this ironic thing happpened. I'd had a few beers and had to go relieve myself during the set.
I'm standing there at the urinal (yeah, I know, too much of a visual, but sorry dude, you don't come around that often anymore so I'm going to make my best effort to entertain while I have the chance) and every time someone comes in and the bathroom door opens the vocals are just crystal clear! Weird.
No, I loves me some Leon but I'm savin' my pennies for Pharoah Sanders on the 18th at an intimate 500 seat theater with million dollar acoustics.
Just a quartet this time but I'll take Pharoah any way I can get him. He's getting up there in years too and less players means more saxophone so I can't complain and he will have longtime bandmate, the amazing William Henderson on piano so it's all good.
Next night is the Allen Tousssaint Quintet for free! Can't beat that. And the week after that it's The Stylistics for free. Life is good (although I have my doubts as to whether it will be the original lineup).
How the "new" baby doin'? And M.? Sibs getting along?
You're out for the summer now, aren't you? Do you ever get the old 'bone out and keep the slide limber?
Don't be such a stranger. 
--
Edited by mortitia at 07/03/2008 11:29 PM PDT
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(16331 of 16339)
Jul 3, 2008 10:54 PM
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OUCH! Just dug myself out of a massive hole. It will likely consume me again in a month or so, but will fight it. Mega apologies for the lack of input, I haven't even been able to lurk. But then I've barely watched any television over the last six months either.
Will get caught up asap, if possible, but Mortitia, good to read you again, As an old Mr. Peabody fan I loved the reference, as I also was a major Billy Preston fan back in the day (Not sure there are many songs in the world I love more than "Will it Go Round in Circles").
As for personal news, I missed just about everything of interest, except a few minutes of the Euro 2008 soccer championships, and "Iron Man", which I was happy to see inserted a few brief snippets of the old 1960s cartoon theme I loved so much ("amazing ar-MOOR, Iron Man...."), along with the expected Black Sabbath (ahh, but what were Suicidal Tendencies doing in there?). And for personal highlights, I did get to hear Mudhoney and Stevie Wonder live in the past three weeks. Both a major kick, and a sad reminder of what I've been missing from live shows recently. Will give more detailed accounts of both asap
Hope you're well Mort, and anyone else out there "with their ears on" (man, remember the cb radio fad? "Con-Voooooooooy!..."
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(16330 of 16339)
Jun 17, 2008 2:07 PM
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Saving MJ's Ass & Making Some Major Cash
From Comcast's Finance pages of all places, some fascinating behind the scenes info on how some big money players are trying to make a kind of last chance deal with Mike.
Michael Jackson: The Next Elvis?
By Ethan Smith , WSJ.com
2008-06-12 19:00:00
Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
A private-equity group is hoping to do for Michael Jackson something a long parade of music-industry veterans, lawyers and billionaire friends have failed to accomplish: Revive the pop star's dormant career after a 2005 child-molestation trial and a financial meltdown.
Colony Capital, which owns the Las Vegas Hilton and is a major shareholder in closely held Station Casinos, is in discussions with Mr. Jackson to get him back onstage and in the spotlight via a long-term stand in Las Vegas. It also wants the singer to sell his Neverland Ranch, the home of his private amusement park and menagerie and site of his controversial sleepovers with young children.
Colony and its executives aren't working with Mr. Jackson as managers or personal advisers. But they may nonetheless have a better chance of succeeding with Mr. Jackson than the many figures who have served in those capacities, thanks to Colony's major leverage with the pop star. The private-equity group in May bought from hedge fund Fortress Investment Group a $23 million loan backed by Neverland, in Los Olivos, Calif. Mr. Jackson, 49 years old, was in default on the loan and Fortress had initiated foreclosure proceedings. After buying the loan, Colony negotiated some short-term breathing room for Mr. Jackson. Under discussion is a scenario in which he would be allowed to put off making payments for a while, in exchange for more money further down the road.
"We bought the note and we've been having discussions with Mr. Jackson about a recapitalization and refinancing of Neverland in addition to various other business opportunities and mutual interests," says Colony CEO Tom Barrack.
Now Colony is urging the singer to emerge from the rural Nevada compound where he has recently been holed up with his family, to stage a residency performance -- either at one of its gambling and entertainment properties or elsewhere in Sin City.
Michael Amir, a spokesman for Mr. Jackson, confirms that the singer is in talks with Colony: "We're moving forward and looking to do some positive things in the future."
Since Mr. Jackson's 2005 acquittal on child-molestation charges, various entertainment-industry executives have pursued some kind of splashy comeback for him. For the most part, the singer hasn't played along. In February he backed out of a planned performance during the Grammy Awards telecast. Around the same time, he also declined a proposal to perform for 10 nights at a London arena. People who have spoken to Mr. Jackson say he has simply not felt up to the rigors of performing after his lengthy legal ordeal.
Recently the singer has been living in Pahrump, Nev., an unincorporated town 60 miles west of Las Vegas, where he has been writing new songs in a home studio and having his three children (ages 11, 10 and 6) home-schooled.
He did cooperate with Sony BMG Music Entertainment in the creation of a 25th-anniversary edition of his "Thriller" album, which posted unexpectedly strong sales in the U.S. and around the world. But even that undertaking -- which included one new song and remixes of several old hits -- may have contributed to Mr. Jackson's problems getting back to real work.
One person close to the famously distractible singer says that for a time he became preoccupied with making a feature-length movie based on the music video for the album's title track.
The current situation is the latest twist in a long-running saga that peaked three years ago. Funding his high-flying lifestyle with loans like the one backed by Neverland, he simultaneously stopped working and racked up millions of dollars in lawyers' bills to fight child-molestation charges.
The singer was acquitted in 2005 by a jury in Santa Maria, Calif. But he is still carrying almost $400 million in debt secured by his extensive music-publishing holdings, in addition to the smaller loan backed by Neverland.
Since then, according to people close to Mr. Jackson, he has cut back his personal spending somewhat. The biggest of Mr. Jackson's loans is backed by his share of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a joint venture he owns with the Japanese media and electronics giant. Mr. Jackson's stake is likely worth $500 million or more. But the partnership agreement is set to expire in two years, at which point provisions kick in allowing one side to buy out the other.
People familiar with the situation say Sony has always presumed that it would exercise that right -- and has even worked to prevent creditors from seizing Mr. Jackson's half of the company partly with the aim of buying it later. But if Mr. Jackson had a deep-pocketed partner like Colony, it could complicate such a transaction.
Adding to the chaos until now: Throughout much of that time, Mr. Jackson has put his business affairs in the hands of a rotating cast of advisers. Some of these have dealt honestly with the singer, but others have had previously-reported conflicts of interest.
Mr. Jackson has run into trouble making payments on his loans, which have been passed around among banks and other Wall Street players who have balanced the risk of default against the possibility of acquiring the valuable assets backing them.
Colony in recent weeks has presented Mr. Jackson with a range of possible Las Vegas comeback scenarios -- each of which borrows elements of other pop stars' highly successful long-term Las Vegas runs.
One option would be for Colony to create for Mr. Jackson a purpose-built theater at one of its hotel-casinos, where he would need to perform up to 180 nights a year. Céline Dion's four-year run at Caesars Palace grossed more than $400 million, while Barry Manilow earned $23.7 million for 88 shows at the Vegas Hilton in 2007. But the rigors of any such commitment would likely be too taxing for Mr. Jackson.
The most likely option would be to create something like "Love," the Cirque du Soleil show built around Beatles tunes. Mr. Jackson wouldn't be a regular part of the performance but would appear for 20 to 30 performances a year, possibly with his brothers.
Any of these scenarios would be paired with a plan to restore his image.
The first step in that plan is to distance the singer from Neverland, which, as a focal point for the trial, is indelibly linked with those charges in the eyes of the public. Mr. Jackson has vowed never to live at the ranch again, given its associations. But he nonetheless has entertained visions of turning it into a family-oriented theme park, with rides for children. Colony executives consider the residence completely toxic to Mr. Jackson's image, and are urging him to restore the property's original name, Sycamore Canyon Ranch, and to sell it as quickly as possible.
Colony is also urging him to make a public statement further distancing himself from the controversy, in a venue like Oprah Winfrey's talk show. A person familiar with the discussions says the general idea of such remarks would be for Mr. Jackson, who moved temporarily to Dubai following his acquittal, to say that the American legal system exonerated him, and that he now hopes to move on.
The final step would be for him to stage some kind of televised performance -- ideally in the context of a high-profile charity concert -- to prove to the world that he can still sing and dance.
If all goes according to plan -- a long shot, to be sure -- in three to five years, Colony would like to develop a Thriller Casino with Mr. Jackson. That is something Mr. Jackson has kicked around for more than 10 years.
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(16329 of 16339)
Jun 2, 2008 8:52 PM
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RIP Ellas Bates/McDaniel.
Rock Pioneer Bo Diddley Dies at Age 79
By RON WORD, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jun 2, 4:03 PM ET
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months of ill health. He was 79.
Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., spokeswoman Susan Clary said. He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.
The legendary singer and performer, known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat, was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and received a lifetime achievement award in 1999 at the Grammy Awards. In recent years he also played for the elder President Bush and President Clinton.
Diddley appreciated the honors he received, "but it didn't put no figures in my checkbook."
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," he quipped.
The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago, he said in a 1999 interview.
"I don't know where the kids got it, but the kids in grammar school gave me that name," he said, adding that he liked it so it became his stage name. Other times, he gave somewhat differing stories on where he got the name. Some experts believe a possible source for the name is a one-string instrument used in traditional blues music called a diddley bow.
His first single, "Bo Diddley," introduced record buyers in 1955 to his signature rhythm: bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp, often summarized as "shave and a haircut, two bits." The B side, "I'm a Man," with its slightly humorous take on macho pride, also became a rock standard.
The company that issued his early songs was Chess-Checkers records, the storied Chicago-based labels that also recorded Chuck Berry and other stars.
Howard Kramer, assistant curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, said in 2006 that Diddley's Chess recordings "stand among the best singular recordings of the 20th century."
Diddley's other major songs included, "Say Man," "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover," "Shave and a Haircut," "Uncle John," "Who Do You Love?" and "The Mule."
Diddley's influence was felt on both sides of the Atlantic. Buddy Holly borrowed the bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp rhythm for his song "Not Fade Away."
The Rolling Stones' bluesy remake of that Holly song gave them their first chart single in the United States, in 1964. The following year, another British band, the Yardbirds, had a Top 20 hit in the U.S. with their version of "I'm a Man."
Diddley was also one of the pioneers of the electric guitar, adding reverb and tremelo effects. He even rigged some of his guitars himself.
"He treats it like it was a drum, very rhythmic," E. Michael Harrington, professor of music theory and composition at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., said in 2006.
Many other artists, including the Who, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello copied aspects of Diddley's style.
Growing up, Diddley said he had no musical idols, and he wasn't entirely pleased that others drew on his innovations.
"I don't like to copy anybody. Everybody tries to do what I do, update it," he said. "I don't have any idols I copied after."
"They copied everything I did, upgraded it, messed it up. It seems to me that nobody can come up with their own thing, they have to put a little bit of Bo Diddley there," he said.
Despite his success, Diddley claimed he only received a small portion of the money he made during his career. Partly as a result, he continued to tour and record music until his stroke. Between tours, he made his home near Gainesville in north Florida.
"Seventy ain't nothing but a damn number," he told The Associated Press in 1999. "I'm writing and creating new stuff and putting together new different things. Trying to stay out there and roll with the punches. I ain't quit yet."
Diddley, like other artists of his generations, was paid a flat fee for his recordings and said he received no royalty payments on record sales. He also said he was never paid for many of his performances.
"I am owed. I've never got paid," he said. "A dude with a pencil is worse than a cat with a machine gun."
In the early 1950s, Diddley said, disc jockeys called his type of music, "Jungle Music." It was Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed who is credited with inventing the term "rock 'n' roll."
Diddley said Freed was talking about him, when he introduced him, saying, "Here is a man with an original sound, who is going to rock and roll you right out of your seat."
Diddley won attention from a new generation in 1989 when he took part in the "Bo Knows" ad campaign for Nike, built around football and baseball star Bo Jackson. Commenting on Jackson's guitar skills, Diddley turned to the camera and said, "He don't know Diddley."
"I never could figure out what it had to do with shoes, but it worked," Diddley said. "I got into a lot of new front rooms on the tube."
Born as Ellas Bates on Dec. 30, 1928, in McComb, Miss., Diddley was later adopted by his mother's cousin and took on the name Ellis McDaniel, which his wife always called him.
When he was 5, his family moved to Chicago, where he learned the violin at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. He learned guitar at 10 and entertained passers-by on street corners.
By his early teens, Diddley was playing Chicago's Maxwell Street.
"I came out of school and made something out of myself. I am known all over the globe, all over the world. There are guys who have done a lot of things that don't have the same impact that I had," he said.
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Edited by mortitia at 06/03/2008 9:31 PM PDT
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Edited by mortitia at 06/17/2008 11:08 AM PDT
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(16328 of 16339)
May 30, 2008 11:36 AM
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Home at Center of 50 Cent Lawsuit Destroyed by Fire
By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Authorities say six people are hospitalized after a "suspicious" fire burned down a multimillion-dollar Long Island home owned by Grammy-nominated rapper 50 Cent.
Arson squad investigators were on the scene of the Friday blaze.
The names of those injured have not been released. But a lawyer for the rapper's former girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, says the woman lived there with two of her children.
Dix Hills Fire Chief Larry Feld says all six people are hospitalized in stable condition after suffering smoke inhalation.
Earlier this year, Tompkins sued 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, claiming he had promised her the $2.4 million house more than a decade ago.
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May 30, 2008 11:34 AM
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Radiohead to Prince: Unblock 'Creep' Cover Videos By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer
Fri May 30, 7:30 AM ET
WASHINGTON - After word spread that Prince covered Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella, the tens of thousands who couldn't be there ran to YouTube for a peek. Everyone was quickly denied ? even Radiohead.
All videos of Prince's unique rendition of Radiohead's early hit were quickly taken down, leaving only a message that his label, NPG Records, had removed the clips, claiming a copyright violation. But the posted videos were shot by fans and, obviously, the song isn't Prince's.
In a recent interview, Thom Yorke said he heard about Prince's performance from a text message and thought it was "hilarious." Yorke laughed when his bandmate, guitarist Ed O'Brien, said the blocking had prevented him from seeing Prince's version of their song.
"Really? He's blocked it?" asked Yorke, who figured it was their song to block or not. "Surely we should block it. Hang on a moment."
Yorke added: "Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our ... song."
YouTube prohibits the posting of copyrighted material. If the site receives a complaint from a copyright owner, it will in most cases remove the video(s). Whether the same could be done for a company not holding a copyright is less clear, but Yorke's argument would seem to bear some credence according to YouTube's policies. YouTube, which is owned by Google, declined to comment.
Prince also did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The dispute was an interesting twist in debates over digital ownership, held between two major acts with differing views on music and the Internet. Radiohead famously released their most recent album, "In Rainbows," as a digital download with optional pricing. They also have a channel on YouTube.
When Prince performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 26, he prohibited the standard arrangement of allowing photographers to shoot near the stage during the first three songs of his set. Instead, he had a camera crew filming his performance.
Prince, who founded NPG Records in 1993, has been innovative when it comes to music distribution, too. He released his 1997 album, "Crystal Ball," on the Internet and in 2006 was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Webbys. In 2007, he gave away copies of his disc "Planet Earth" in a British Sunday newspaper.
But the Purple One has also shut down his official Web site and in September of last year said he would sue YouTube and eBay for not filtering unauthorized content.
Prince fans have organized to urge him to relent in his legal fights to control images and photographs of himself. As of Thursday, the most popular YouTube clip about Prince playing "Creep" is an expletive-laden rant from Sam Conti Jr., who describes himself as a "former Prince fan."
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May 30, 2008 11:26 AM
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Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs List
Well, you know how these list things go. It's all opinion anyway so have fun lauding or bashing the choices:
http://www.rollingstone.c...527/page/1
The good part is with this online version you can listen and in many cases watch the artists perform the tune. I've wasted far too much time on this this morning.
Enjoy!
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May 28, 2008 11:40 AM
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This may be a bit arcane for most posters here (are there any posters in here at all anymore?) but this guy was a solid contributor to the world of music in his time.
You may never have heard of him but chances are you certainly have heard him... and maybe even dueted with him.
If you've ever whistled along to the Andy Griffith TV Show theme song (Andy, Opie, Aunt Bea, Barney Fife etc.) you were whistling along with Earle who composed and performed that memorable theme song.
R.I.P. Earle Hagen
Earle Hagen, `Andy Griffith' Composer, Dies at 88
By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 27, 11:25 PM ET
LOS ANGELES - Earle H. Hagen, who co-wrote the jazz classic "Harlem Nocturne" and composed memorable themes for "The Andy Griffith Show," "I Spy," "The Mod Squad" and other TV shows, has died. He was 88.
Hagen, who is heard whistling the folksy tune for "The Andy Griffith Show," died Monday night at his home in Rancho Mirage, his wife, Laura, said Tuesday. He had been in ill health for several months.
During his long musical career, Hagen performed with the top bands of the swing era, composed for movies and television and wrote one of the first textbooks on movie composing.
He and Lionel Newman were nominated for an Academy Award for best music scoring for the 1960 Marilyn Monroe movie "Let's Make Love."
For television, he composed original music for more than 3,000 episodes, pilots and TV movies, including theme songs for "That Girl," "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."
"He loved it," his wife said. "The music just flowed from him, and he would take off one hat and put on another and go on to the next show."
Hagen enjoyed the immediacy of the small screen, he told the American Society of Music Arrangers & Composers in 2000.
"It was hard work, with long hours and endless deadlines, but being able to write something one day and hear it a few days later appealed to me," he said. "Besides, I was addicted to the ultimate narcosis in music, which is the rush you get when you give a downbeat and wonderful players breathe life into the notes you have put on paper."
Born July 9, 1919, in Chicago, Hagen moved to Los Angeles as a youngster. He began playing the trombone while in junior high school.
"The school actually furnished him with a tuba and his mother made him take it back," his wife said.
He became so proficient that he graduated early from Hollywood High School and at 16 was touring with big bands. He played trombone with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey and arranged for and played with Ray Noble's orchestra.
He and Dick Rogers wrote "Harlem Nocturne" for Noble in 1939. It has been covered many times since and served as the theme music for "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" television series in 1984.
In 1941, Hagen became a staff musician for CBS but the next year he enlisted in the military.
After the war, he worked as a composer and orchestrator for 20th Century-Fox studios on dozens of movies, including another Monroe classic, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
In the 1950s, he and Herbert Spencer formed an orchestra partnership that also wrote music for television, including scoring the Danny Thomas hit "Make Room for Daddy."
Later, he worked as musical director for producer Sheldon Leonard, sometimes working on as many of five shows a week.
One of his more notable TV scoring efforts was for the 1960s adventure series "I Spy," starring Bill Cosby and Robert Culp.
Because the show used exotic locations worldwide, Hagen often included ethnic touches in the incidental music, among them hiring Greek musicians to play for some episodes that took place in Greece. On other locations, he collected ethnic music to mix with Western music back in Hollywood.
After retiring from TV work in 1986, Hagen taught a workshop in film and television scoring.
He also wrote three books on scoring, including 1971's "Scoring for Films," one of the earliest textbooks on the subject. His 2002 autobiography was titled "Memoirs of a Famous Composer ? Nobody Ever Heard Of."
Besides his wife, Hagen is survived by his sons, Deane and James, both of Palm Desert; stepchildren Rebecca Roberts, of Irvine, Richard Roberts of Los Angeles and Rachael Roberts of Irvine; and four grandchildren. His first wife, Elouise Hagen, died in 2002 following 59 years of marriage.
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