Thursday, February 28, 2013

SLIDESHOW FEATURING MUSIC ARTISTS IS TEMPORARILY DOWN!

Don't panic just because we did.  PHOTOBUCKET, where we created and edit our slideshow that you've seen under the name Wes Bryan, has "upgraded" and is not offering a slideshow option at this time.  We will replace it with another slideshow soon!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

(453) THE ASSOCIATION : A BEAUTIFUL BLEND OF VOICES AND AN UNFORGETTABLE SONG

A top 1966 hit on a few charts,  Cherish features a blend of beautiful voices.

The association has a website : ALONG COMES THE ASSOCIATION ; OFFICIAL SITE where you'll learn that they are still performing, hoping to put out a CD,  and The Association was included in the Los Angeles Times’ list as one of the best top 50 Los Angeles formed bands.  They have a lot of song samples which remind us of so many great songs we loved and love!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : (158) THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS : TREMENDOUS HARMONIES

Probably no other duo on earth has ever had the sound of the tremendous harmonies of Bobby Hatfield (who went to that Big Jam session in heaven himself in 2003) and Bill Medley (who is still performing!). Their music was not just harmonious, it was romantic - heartbreaking sometimes.

The Righteous Brothers were not brothers at all, but brother acts and a brotherly unity (even a fraternity unity like Elvis and his entourage and closest friends) were popular then. Phil and Don Everly were the prime example but the Smothers Brothers were also out there honing their country music and comedy. (Some people used to think Buddy Knox and I were brothers when we toured, even though we looked nothing like each other.)

Now, if you'll use the search feature of this Google blog you can see that we've posted on the brothers before in the Phil Spector -Wall of Sound blog. Here is more information on the Brothers... and more music to listen to...

The Righteous Brothers own official web site. RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS OFFICIAL

Christine here... This is one of my very favorite heartbreaker songs of all time. "Just Once In My Life..."
Seems to me I've felt this way - more than once!
 video replaced February 2013

Friday, February 15, 2013

"HARMONY" EXPLAINED BY ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANICCA

BRITANICCA HARMONY link

"Harmony, in music, the sound of two or more notes heard simultaneously. In practice, this broad definition can also include some instances of notes sounded one after the other. If the consecutively sounded notes call to mind the notes of a familiar chord (a group of notes sounded together), the ear creates its own simultaneity in the same way that the eye perceives movement in a motion picture. In such cases the ear perceives the harmony that would result if the notes had sounded together. In a narrower sense, harmony refers to the extensively developed system of chords and the ... "  (If you subscribe to the encyclopedia there are another 10,000 words or so to define the word!)

We're bringing this up because HARMONY was an important aspect to the music of the early to mid 1960's.   Think BACKGROUND SINGERS. Think Everly BrothersRighteous Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young...



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

(452) THE MAMAS and THE PAPAS ; 1966 WAS THEIR YEAR : HARMONIES THAT STILL CARRY THE AIRWAVES

American's contribution to the global airwaves!  The MAMAS AND THE THE PAPAS hit their stride after a trip to  the beach where they perfected their wonderful harmonies and figured out how to raise the money for plane tickets back home.  Michelle Phillips, who has lately stood for President Barack Obama and the California Dream Act, which would help people attain college educations,  tells a story about being down to their last $20 and rolling the dice to win 18 times in a row, winning enough to afford first class tickets. 

1966; it seemed that one hit after another was in the air;  California Dreamin, Monday Monday, and This Is Dedicated To The One I Love.  Cass Elliot's voice, one of the best ever.  Singer Songwriter John Phillips and. Dennis Doherty a.k.a Denny, as in trying to get a fish on the line.


ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES : MAMAS AND THE PAPAS link here!

EXCERPT: "What made the Mamas and the Papas stand out was the mix of male (John Phillips, Denny Doherty) and female (Cass Elliot, Michelle Phillips) voices. Combined with sharp songwriting and arrangements from Phillips and musical contributions from some of Los Angeles’ finest session musicians-especially drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Joe Osborne and keyboardist Larry Knechtel-the Mamas and the Papas cut some of the most unforgettable songs of the Sixties. “California Dreamin’,” in particular, endures as an anthem of those heady times."


  THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE

ELVIS PRESLEY SURPRISE! HE CHECKED OUT A BOOK CALLED COURAGEOUS HEART

 photo elvis-library-card_zps4ffcd378.jpgHe was 13 years old.  This is the earlies known library book card - checked out to Elvis Presley.  The card made it around on Twitter and showed up on a page belonging to LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library) the other day.  Not sure of the original source!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

HELLO TO ROMANIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, PORTUGAL, TURKEY, IRELAND, ITALY, and SOUTH KOREA!

We are happy to know that our blog interests people who love music, the great unifier, all around the world! 

Monday, February 11, 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013

RITCHIE VALENS : SMITHSONIAN HONORED HIM WITH AN EXHIBIT : NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE HONORED

RITCHIE VALENS OFFICIAL SITE link here!  (The family is involved in this site and has an interesting news portion!)

Smithsonian Exhibit for Ritchie Valens


"The National Museum of The American Indian presented "Up Where We Belong" an Exhibit of Native Americans who have contributed to American Music, This exhibit sponsored by the Smithsonian in New York City, presented a wonderful tribute. Congratulations to all the inductees. Connie and Irma Ritchie's sisters attended along with Irma's husband Randy.

On loan to the Museum are Ritchie's Gold Records, Donna and La Bamba, there is also a nice poster on dispaly with Ritchie's photo and information on his achievements. The Museum also opened an inter-active video area where visitors can view footage on all the indectees. For Ritchie there is short documentary with Ritchie's siblings speaking about Ritchie's music and archival photos..

Ritchie's mother would have been proud that her Indian Heritage has been honored through her son and his music."

Friday, February 8, 2013

BUDDY HOLLY and THE CRICKETS : CRICKETS WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN 2012

  The Crickets who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 were Jerry Allison, Joe B. - Joe B. Mauldin, Niki Sullivan, and Sonny Curtis.  The picture is of Jerry and Sonny with Buddy.

Here's an updated link! ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME PAGE - THE CRICKETS

Buddy left Sonny and Joe B behind when he went on the tour where the plane crashed and killed him, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, so they survived and went on.  They played surf inspired music in the early 1960's.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

THE ROSES : BUDDY HOLLY and the CRICKETS BACK UP SINGERS : ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME LINK!

Back on May 10, 2010, post (308) we posted a link to the Roses ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME page.  Here it is again : THE ROSES : ROCKABILLY HALL   Robert Linville, tenor; Ray Rush, baritone; and David Bigham, bass.

To quote the page, "In March of 1957, "The Roses" traveled with Roy Orbison to Clovis, New Mexico to record at the Norm Petty Recording Studio. At this time, they met Buddy Holly and the Crickets. "The Roses" got an opportunity to work with Buddy and the band when another group didn't show for the session. Norman Petty liked their work and asked "The Roses" to move to Clovis to be available as a staff vocal group. During 1957, "The Roses" did vocal back-up for numerous artists."

These included, Buddy Knox: "Somebody Touched Me," "To Be with You," "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself"

Well, friends, I was there when Buddy recorded those songs with the Roses backing him, and I recorded with them backing me too!

Thanks to our friend Arne who posted this YouTube video you can hear The 1957 era Roses (and me!)

Saturday, February 2, 2013

BUDDY HOLLY HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS

OFFICIAL BUDDY HOLLY SITE  link here!

“Buddy did everything he could to make sure that talented young
musicians and songwriters got a real chance,” says Maria Elena Holly.

“He even started his own label – he called it ‘Prism’ – to make this
possible. He would be especially thrilled, as I am, that so many
outstanding artists are part of this effort to honor his personal

commitment to recognize and help great young musical talent.”

What's "new" about Buddy.  In May of 2012 there was a special celebration and tribute album.  It was Buddy's 75th birthday...

Here's the sound sampler...

Friday, February 1, 2013

WESBRYANHEPCATMAGCOVERportion