R.I.P Ozzie Osbourne

 Ozzie Osbourne the Dark Prince of Black Sabbath, the successful solo artist, the reality TV show, the artist behind this year's biggest concert has passed away. 

                                                "Mama I'm Coming Home"

Black Sabbeth "Paranoid"

Ozzy "Ordinary Man" featuring Elton John

All aboard the "Crazy Train"

What was your favorite Ozzy Osbourne song? Any memory you would like to share? He was a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy award winning singer, a rock icon!

 

Battle of the Bands Results: Kenny Chesney Routes Jimmy Buffett

 Mac McAnally might call himself Mr. Nobody but folks like Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney have taken his songs to the world. This month Battle of the Bands featured Mac's song "Back Where I Come From." Kenny defeated Jimmy Buffett 6 to 1,

We celebrate winners! So, today's post is all about Kenny Chesney!

                                            "No Shirts, No Shoes, No Problems"

"Young"

"There Goes My Life"

A new Battle is coming up September 1!

Battle of the Bands Results: July Summertime Willie Nelson

 Willie Nelson defeated Billie Holiday 7 to 1 in July's Battle of the Bands over "Summertime." Honestly, I thought the Battle would be closer between the two musical giants. We celebrate winners here so sit back and enjoy some Willie Nelson.

                                                                  "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"

"On the Road Again"

"Always on my Mind"

Hope you enjoy! I will have August's results up soon and stay tuned for a new Battle coming September 1! 

Battle of the Bands: Summertime

 Gershwin's Summertime is a standard. The last time I used this song I battled with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. The song has been covered so often. This battle I chose two more musical giants in Willie Nelson and Billie Holiday

 

                                                      Contender One: Willie Nelson

Contender Two: Billie Holiday

In the comments let me know who you like, in a week or so I will post about the winner.

Battle of the Bands Results: Pete Townsend holds off Passenger

 Pete Townsend holds off Passenger in my long overdue return to Battle of the Bands and my blog. The first five votes went Pete's way. Then the final 2 went for Passenger. The shut out went bye-bye and so did Passenger. In the tradition of old, we celebrate the winner.

                                               "Let My Love Open the Door"

"Rough Boys"

"Slit Skirts"

Yes, Pete is the guitarist and principal songwriter for The Who, but I decided to highlight his solo work for this celebration.  Join me on April 1st for a new Battle of the Bands. 

Battle of the Bands Result: Angelique Kidjo wins 4 to 1

 Angelique Kidjo uniqueness won over Zakk Wylde's sonic acoustic guitar version of Jimi's "Voodoo Chile." Getting back to normalcy in my blogging we celebrate winners and the fact that I didn't pitch a shutout in my first Battle since August. 

                                             Here she performs her African hit "Agolo"

"Mother Nature" featuring Sting

I will be back on the first with a new Battle of the Bands and in the days between I hope to post a few more posts. Until then enjoy!

R.I.P Lisa Marie Presley

 Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's only daughter has passed away at the age of 54. Lisa Marie released three albums of her own.

ABC News remembrance...

One of her songs "Lights Out"

May she rest in peace! 

Battle of the Bands: Summer Wind

 From Gypsy Jazz to jazz standards as May has faded into June. The song Summer Wind was penned by Heinz Meier and Hans Bradtke. The lyrics were German, so Johnny Mercer added English lyrics and Wayne Newton recorded the first English version.

Let's make this fun with the contenders!

Contender One: Frank Sinatra

Contender Two: Willie Nelson

So Frank versus Willie, tell me who you like!

Battle of the Bands Results: Swingtime in Springtime Reve Bohme wins

 Last month the musical genre was Gypsy Guitar Jazz. Reve Bohme won 4 to 1, the Danish Gypsy Jazz Quartet can proudly display their victory. The win and 100 bucks might be able to fill their tour bus with a tank of gas. 

Here they perform "Swing Gitane."

Will let me come up with a new Battle.

Battle of the Bands: Swingtime in Springtime

 It seems like a long time since the last Battle of the Bands. A good time to switch gears.  So first the original Django Reinhardt....

                                            

Below are the two competitors....

                                             Paul Mehling/Nate Ketner Quintet 

Reve Boheme

Next you let me know which ones you like best in the comments, I count them up and announce a winner usually in about a week or so. Okay at least before June.

Battle of the Bands: Black Dog Hart Vs Heart

 The winner of my last Battle of the Bands was Pomplamoose beating Weezer 4 to 1. Pomplamoose does mostly covers so no celebratory post this time around. Anyway this time around I am getting the Led out with Led Zeppelin's Black Dog.

Contender One: Beth Hart

Contender Two: Heart

Tell me which version you liked the best in the comments Beth Hart or Heart. I count the votes and in about a week or so I announce the winner in a new post. Hope you enjoyed the battle.

Happy Birthday Eric Clapton

 Today Eric Clapton turns 77 today.  In celebration we are just going to stick with music.

                                              "Louise" with the Yardbirds live in 1964

Cream "White Room" live in 1968

Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home" live 1969

Derek and the Dominos "Got to Get Better in a Little While"

Eric Clapton "Pretending"

I think this was a career spanning celebration of Slowhand on his birthday. 

R.I.P John Miles

                                                     "Music"

0

John Miles passed away. He was an English singer, musician00 re0ally, he was known to play the organ or guitar as well. I open the post with one his 70's English hits "00Music." Music is how I became aware of him. It was 1988 and I was into the music of Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page had released his solo album "Outrider."

"Wasting My Time"

Alan Parsons Project "Shadow of a Lonely Man"

Thought I would throw in a video of John Miles working with The Alan Parsons Project.

John Miles willl be missed by his fans, friends, family and fellow musicians.

                                

R.I.P BJ Thomas

 I am sure I heard other songs on the radio, but one of the first I remember hearing was "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head."

Three years ago, much later than when I first her the song, I was able to see him life in a very small concert hall.

"The Eyes of a New York Woman"

I left that song out when I wrote about seeing him on a Monday's Music Moves Me post, but someone said in the comments it was his favorite.

"Hooked on a Feeling" with Sara Niemietz. She is a talented singer who sang with him when she was 4.  Her post was how I heard the news.

The world lost a talented singer, songwriter may he rest in peace!

Remembering Shock G

 Gregory Edwards Jacobs better known by his hip hop professional name Shock G passed away last month. His rise to fame was being the lead vocalist for the Digital Underground. (music disclaimer some music might work in the club but not at work)

                                                         "The Humpty Dance"

"Same Song" featuring Tupac

He became more a sideman, a producer working with the likes of Tupac. He also worked with KRS-One, Bobby Brown and Prince to name a few. He will be missed in the Hip Hop world.

Battle of the Bands Results: See You Later Alligator

 In this Battle I pitted Bobby Charles original against the more famous Bill Haley version. We ended up with a 2 to 2 tie.

Rare footage of Bobby Charles performing "Way Down in Louisiana" .....

Bill Haley and his Comets "Rock Around the Clock"

This was the battle from April 1 I will be posting the results for the Battle on the 15th soon!

Battle of the Bands: Up Jumped Spring

 Riding March out staying in the Jazz genre. Spring is just around the corner and will be here by the time I announce the winner. "Up Jumped Spring" sounds like an appropriate tune to welcome Spring. The tune originally by Freddie Hubbard is considered a jazz standard.

Freddie Hubbard

Next I will present two contenders. You tell me in the comments which one you liked the best, or which one you hated the least. I count up the votes and announce a winner in a new post a week or so later.

Contender One: Curtis Fuller

Contender Two: Christian McBride Big Band

One standard, two contestants Curtis versus Christian I did my part. Now I need you to tell me which one you preferred in the comments.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon!

R.I.P Michael Stanley

 Michael Stanley passed away yesterday. Cancer claimed another rocker. He was also a popular radio personality in Cleveland.                    

                                             Let's "Strike Up The Band"

                                              

                                                His last Top 40 hit "My Town"

"He Can't Love You" was his first

Cleveland lost one of their musical heroes. He will be missed by his city, his family, friends and fans.

       

R.I.P Bunny Wailer

 Neville O' Riley Livingston  passed away yesterday at the age of 73. He was better known as Bunny Wailer, a pioneer of reggae and a founder of The Wailers. Besides playing with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh  Bunny also won three Grammy Awards. 

                                                       "Cool Runnings"

"Another Dance"

Bunny with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley "Stir it Up"

A legend has passed but his music will live on.

Monday's Music Moves Me: The Leadership Edition

 Ironically I am following this morning. I see all my blogging friends are doing the Monday's Music Moves Me thing. Well here I am.

Let's start this thing!

Shangri-La's "Leader of the Pack"

B.B. King "Paying the Cost to be the Boss"

Jimmy Reed "Big Boss Man"

Not to be sexist, woman can be the boss. Mick Jagger "She's the Boss"

To tie this in with Valentine's Day that just passed

Papa Roach "Leader of Broken Hearts"

Hope you enjoyed and I will see you soon!