I always thought “Use Me” was a cool song with a neat groove. I also used to consider “Lean On Me” a bit of pop fluff. And “Lovely Day” was always a pleasant song. I’d never connected the three songs up until I bought a CD several years ago, The Best of Bill Withers–Lean on Me, whereupon I became enlightened. And I learned, for myself, what all the fuss was about.
Continue reading Bill Withers →

I’m saddened to report on the loss of one of the greatest figures in the music business: Ahmet Ertegun. His legacy is nearly unparalleled: starting on a shoestring budget in New York City recording blues sides, Ahmet and his partners (brother Nesuhi and partner Jerry Wexler) grew Atlantic records into one of the largest and most varied labels, hosting such popular bands and artists as Led Zeppelin, Chic, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, and two of his earliest and most popular discoveries: Big Joe Turner and the late, great Ray Charles. R.I.P., Ahmet!
Continue reading Ahmet Ertegun, R.I.P. →

I remember when holiday music used to be an event to look forward to. In recent years I have begun to dread going out in public, and hearing whatever abomination the stores are playing that passes for Christmas music. This past weekend was no exception: the “trash” was blaring at us through every P.A. system we encountered. Throughout the past century, holiday music has been recorded as a product of the styles of its day, so I don’t see why modern music should be any different…but it is. And I feel it’s not so much nostalgia as it is a dislike of lot of what passes for popular music fashions these days.
Continue reading Holiday Music 2006: Not Happening! →

The dictionary definition of melisma is: “A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in Gregorian chant.” My definition? Read on…
Continue reading Melisma: A Terrible Disease →