BY KATHERINE COLE This is a very happy week for baseball fans the world over—the 2013 major league season officially started on Sunday March 31st, when the Houston Astros beat their in-state rival Texas Rangers 8-2. OK, calm down. This isn’t turning into a sports blog. But there’s a longtime love affair between music and […]
Too Much, Too Soon?
Posted March 28th, 2013 at 3:05 pm (UTC+0)
By Ray McDonald Reviewing Justin Bieber’s list of recent woes, I keep coming back to one well-known saying: “Be careful what you wish for. It just may come true.” The former clean-cut teen idol is stumbling from one PR crisis to another: run-ins with paparazzi; sudden hospital visits; and most recently, a nasty episode with a […]
The Musician’s Life Can Be Taxing
Posted March 27th, 2013 at 2:34 pm (UTC+0)
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By Eric Felten Dionne Warwick, the multi-Grammy-winning artist who sold millions of records with hits such as “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Walk On By,” has filed for bankruptcy. She’s not only millions of dollars in debt, but almost all of it is owed to the government in taxes. According to Warwick publicist Kevin […]
End the Beguine
Posted March 22nd, 2013 at 10:13 pm (UTC+0)
by Eric Felten Ray McDonald notes the new entries from the world of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Given how many classic recordings there are, no doubt one could argue over whether “Saturday Night Fever,” for instance, really belongs on the list. But permit me to quibble over a […]
Librarians for Rock and Roll
Posted March 22nd, 2013 at 8:54 pm (UTC+0)
By Ray McDonald James H. Billington, I salute you. Mr. Billington is the United States Librarian of Congress, and among his duties is the annual selection of 25 recordings for the National Recording Registry. Recognized for their cultural, artistic, and historic importance, they run the gamut from the earliest recorded sounds to magnificent musical achievements. […]
Jazz and Poetry
Posted March 22nd, 2013 at 4:29 pm (UTC+0)
Poets, in particular, have been drawn to jazz, looking to capture its sound and feel in their phrases
Quincy And Michael
Posted March 14th, 2013 at 6:57 pm (UTC+0)
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By Ray McDonald Quincy Jones celebrated his 80th birthday on March 14th. Over the course of his seven-decade career, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. has done it all: performer, composer, arranger, producer, businessman – if you want an idea of the scope of his career, this is a good place to begin. His achievements are far […]
Will They Ever Be Sophomores?
Posted March 11th, 2013 at 2:35 pm (UTC+0)
By Doug Levine The Four Freshmen are back. Actually, the vocal group that began on a small college campus 65 years ago never really went away. It was all the way back in 1948 that brothers Ross and Don Barbour, freshmen at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, started the group with Marvin Pruitt and Hal […]
Alvin Lee, 1944 – 2013
Posted March 7th, 2013 at 6:57 pm (UTC+0)
By Ray McDonald Last week, I wrote about “seizing the day” when it came to viewing and appreciating artists, especially those of advancing ages. We never know what tomorrow may bring, and today we mourn the passing of a great musician. On March 6th, guitarist Alvin Lee died from complications following what was reportedly a […]
Christine Fawson, Berklee Brass Chair
Posted March 5th, 2013 at 4:22 pm (UTC+0)
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Fawson is now the first-ever female Brass Chair at Berklee College of Music
