Recently 24 Los Angeles County Museums staged a free day over a weekend and I took full advantage, heading for the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.
I called Wes from the museum to tell him that I just got chills when I saw the simple red jacket that Ritchie Valens had worn for his first publicity photo. Also on display was Elvis Presley's family bible circa 1936 and letters from Elvis to a fan on Blue Moon Boys era pink stationary. Can you help but compare your own handwriting to that of the famous artist? How about a letter from Buddy Holly to his mother?
The museum boasts cutting edge techological achievement. There are NEARLY 200 MUSICAL GENRES to explore and you can watch performances, listen to famous songwriters talk about collaboration (I listened to Hal David and Carole King) or play at recording in booths with famous producers coaching you from small video screens.
Now listen. We know Grammys TM and Academy Awards TM are amazing. But we also know that the vast majority of musicians, songwriters, entertainers, actors - ARTISTS - never get near such recognition but are still deserving of praise, if for no other reason than it's damn difficult to be true to yourself as an artist and make a living.
So be inspired by the Grammy Museum and then keep on doing what you do, prizes or not!
Christine Trzyna
Showing posts with label Carole King. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carole King. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Monday, April 7, 2008
(128) THE FIRST SURGE OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION / THE SHIRELLES & SONGWRITER CAROLE KING
Girl Groups were a rage in the 1950's and this carried into the very early 1960's. The Shirelles, a New York based girl group was maybe the most successful in that period. Shirley Alston Reeves, Addie “Micki” Harris, Doris Kenner Jackson, and Beverly Lee, New Jersey schoolgirls, formed the group and sang their way to stardom. Beatle John Lennon went on record with praise for them. (John is also known for thinking the world of Elvis, though the Beatles meeting with Elvis left much to be desired!)
The Shirelles scored a hit in early 1961 with a song called "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," which was one of the first songs sung by women, from a woman's point of view, that acknowledged that women too were sexual. It was the beginnings of the sexual revolution and they even sang it at a J.F.K. Inauguration party.
Here's a YouTube presentation of the Shirelles Singing "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," written by songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. This song was the first number one hit by a girl group and the first number one hit for Carole and Gerry, who were part of the songwriting factory system in the Brill Building in New York. (See previous posts on the Brill Building scene, where I myself once worked.)
SHIRELLES ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
updated September 2012
The Shirelles scored a hit in early 1961 with a song called "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," which was one of the first songs sung by women, from a woman's point of view, that acknowledged that women too were sexual. It was the beginnings of the sexual revolution and they even sang it at a J.F.K. Inauguration party.
Here's a YouTube presentation of the Shirelles Singing "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," written by songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. This song was the first number one hit by a girl group and the first number one hit for Carole and Gerry, who were part of the songwriting factory system in the Brill Building in New York. (See previous posts on the Brill Building scene, where I myself once worked.)
Here is what Oldies.com has to say about the Shirelles' influence on other groups.
Rock and Roll of Fame Inductees - The Shirelles!
SHIRELLES ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
updated September 2012
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