Rhiannon Giddens

I recently discovered Rhiannon Giddens and there will very likely be an album purchase in my near future. Give a listen.

Video Killed the Radio Star

How about a little Postmodern Jukebox?

Forgotten Singer

In the late 1960s a young unknown singer named Vickie Jones was tricked into traveling to Florida and forced to impersonate Aretha Franklin. She was arrested and released with no charges filed, then had a brief career in her own name. I was going to post a video to go with this but I don't know if any exist. There are several Vickie Joneses on YouTube but I'm pretty sure none of them are her. Anyway, it's an interesting life story and it ended well, I think. Worthwhile reading.

My Current Musical Obsession

Roy Clark 1933-2018

My dad listened to country music, exclusively, so I grew up watching Hee Haw. I even laughed at some of the corny jokes. Of course I did; I was a kid. Even then, most of the music I could take or leave. Roy Clark did sing and play guitar on the show but I mostly thought of him as "one of the funny ones". Then one episode he played this. It really appealed to me and suddenly I started to take him more seriously.

PMJ Does Aerosmith

Sing A Song... If You Can Remember It

It's funny how memory works, and often doesn't. I don't think we ever really forget anything once it's in "long term memory". It just gets filed away, sometimes in a bottom file drawer in the dusty back room of our mental archives, never to be recalled unless something occurs to bring it out. What's puzzling to me is how things that were once important and exciting can be filed away and "forgotten" in this manner.

Yesterday I found this video over at Keys and Reeds. Back in the 70s this was my song. As someone who didn't fit in, and by that point didn't really want to, this song was very exciting to me. And yet, I hadn't thought of it in years.

I was thrilled to rediscover this song but then I was left with a disturbing puzzle. Who sang the version I loved when I was in high school? I could have used the Internet and found it in a minute but I was determined to figure it out for myself. Well, after a day of mentally beating myself over the head for not being able to remember I gave up.

I went directly to Youtube and searched. The first video that comes up is Cass Elliot. Well that's a bit of a surprise but... could be? So I listened. I didn't think so but I couldn't completely rule it out. Scrolling down, the next video that leaped out at me was by Bobby Sherman. I was pretty sure I was looking for a female singer but I had a huge 13-year-old's crush on Bobby Sherman so I listened to the first 15 to 20 seconds. Nope, definitely not it. And The Carpenters. That seemed like a strong possibility but I was curious as to what else would turn up and kept scrolling, thinking I would come back to it.

And then I saw it! I didn't even have to listen to know that this was it. I have this album! (vinyl, which I no longer have any way to listen to) And I suddenly remembered knowing it as part of the Sing/Make Your Own Kind of Music medley and HOW IN THE HELL COULD I EVER FORGET THIS?!

Beginning in 1974, the year the movie The Way We Were came out, I worshiped Barbra Streisand, which was one of the things that made me weird in high school because everyone else hated her. (I didn't really like the movie, loved the song)

Well, anyway, that's my little memory journey. I'm happy to have been reminded of this and still bothered and annoyed to have forgotten it. Another thing that's strangely annoying is that I think I like the Paloma Faith version a little better. Oh well, either way it's still my song.

Monteverdi

This music was mentioned in a book I recently finished reading, Firebird, by Tony Rothman. (More about the book later. If I get around to it.)

Mesmerizing Piano and Light Show

Music for Spring

Even if you're not fond of harp music you really must watch this amazing young harpist.

Rossini, Not An Overture

Black Composers

My intention was to observe Black History Month by posting videos of music by black composers two or three times a week. Well, I didn't quite make it. It turned out to be more like one a week. But I discovered a couple of composers I wasn't aware of and I really like what I've heard.

I'm going to end the month with probably the most famous African American composer, Scott Joplin. Like many people I was first introduced to Joplin's music by the movie, The Sting, still one of my favorite movies of all time. The arrangement of The Entertainer from the movie is still my favorite. Here's another favorite that I first heard in The Sting.

And from Joplin's opera Treemonisha

Bobby McFerrin

You probably remember Bobby McFerrin for his novelty song Don't Worry, Be Happy but he is much more than a one hit wonder and one man orchestra. He has remained active in music all these years since that fun, silly song, writing more serious songs as well as entertaining audiences with his unusual vocal talent.

Black Composers

Adolphus Hailstork "Sonata da Chiesa" for String Orchestra (1992)

This sonata sounds a bit like spring to me, which seems appropriate right now even though spring is still weeks away.

Black Composers

I was already slightly familiar with William Grant Still but I hadn't heard this particular piece before.

Black Composers

Another one by Florence Price

Black Composers

Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882 - 1943)

African-American Composers

Florence Price

Time Lapse

I heard this on the radio a few days ago - beautiful and serene, with a hint of drama.

The Christmas Song