David Bowie’s Influence on Music…

David Bowie died in early 2016… his mark on the music industry is both, influential and controversial. Reviewing his past, one can indeed provide many twists and turns that contributed to our music industry.

via GIPHY

The press release below provides more insights regarding the unfortunate (early aged) departure of David Bowie…

Jam On!
-Ron

Credit Given via:https://www.bbc.com/news/

“The artist’s hits include Let’s Dance, Changes, Space Oddity, Starman, Modern Love, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel Rebel and Life on Mars.

He was also well known for creating his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

The singer (ed. Bowie), who had been living in New York in recent years, released his latest album Blackstar only last (ed. early 2016) Friday, his birthday.

The album has been well received by critics and was intended as a “parting gift” to the world, according to long-time friend and producer Tony Visconti.”

Read the rest of this story about David Bowie’s death here…

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35278872

Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary…

In the year of the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, the quintessential jam band appears to have greater currency than ever among the indie, the underground, and the generally weird.

Here’s a recap of GD’s July 4th Chicago, Soldier Field gig.

It’s hard to imagine the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia… but, remembering their mainstay as the most respected rock band in the industry is a must, indeed. This article provides a decent insight into their last stand on the music scene…
Jam On!
-Ron

By Rob Mitchum via: https://pitchfork.com

Not too long ago, the Grateful Dead might have been forbidden territory for this scene. The image surrounding the Dead for much of their later years—a traveling drug-fueled circus of ’60s nostalgia, soundtracked by lengthy, solo-filled jams—was the antithesis of the punk/alternative/indie ethos…

Grammy Award Winner Stevie Wonder…

25-time Grammy award winner, Stevie Wonder is scheduled to air on Feb 16, 2015. Whether you’re a Stevie fan or not, you’d have to consider the millage that he has retained over the many years of making music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) states that the show will feature some of the biggest names in the music industry. Might be worth the viewing when released…
Jam On!
-Ron

Remember back then?…

( by Dale Davidson via-guardian living voice)

The organizers of the show to be held following the Grammy awards celebration, where Stevie Wonder is honored with an all-star tribute, continues in the same vein as last year’s show, which was held to honor the Beatles. The concerts may become an annual event, as the Beatles: The Night That Changed America , celebrated the 50th anniversary of the appearance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show…Read more at…
https://guardianlv.com/2014/12/stevie-wonder-honored-with-tribute-after-grammy-awards-show/#Cgi044GCkROzumxM.99

Creativity and the Mad Genius…

Combining the left and right brain in songwriting, jamming and listening to music, promotes a deep and meaningful fascination. Where does creativity and mad genius start and stop? What do you feel and think when you are jamming… Are you a participant or are you the observer? This article gives more to ponder on this subject matter.
Jam On!
-Ron

(The Imprinted Brain by… Christopher Badcock Ph.D. via:psychologytoday.com)

Can You Be Both Mad and Creative?

How genes set the balance between autism and psychosis… A study of all major British and Irish poets born between 1705 and 1805 found a strikingly high rate of mood disorders, suicide, and institutionalization within this group of writers and their families. By comparison with the rate of manic-depressive illness in the general population, these British poets were 30 times more likely to suffer from manic-depression…
… read rest of article here:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-imprinted-brain/201408/can-you-be-both-mad-and-creative

Music celebrities creating silly waves…

The events of popular musicians making outrageous publicity due to their ridiculous adventures, eg., Justin Beiber finding himself in more-than-once trouble… one has to wonder if these shenanigans are nothing more than a way to draw attention, albeit negative, to their cause of creating silly waves of publicity to sell more stuff… Is it really worth it?
This recent article from Chicago Tribune sums it up…
Jam On!
-Ron

(via: Chicago Sun Times – by: Mikael Wood)

“Sorry seems to be the hardest word,” Elton John once sang, but for celebrities that no longer appears to be the case.

Apologies from high-profile musicians and actors have been piling up recently, reflecting regret (or at least its image) for a wide variety of perceived offenses, from the seriously damaging to the laughably slight.

There was Justin Bieber seeking atonement after videos surfaced…
-> read the complete article here… <-

Forming Your Band…

So, I found this thread (below) that has a wonderful discussion… ‘How long does it take to form a band?’ What I enjoyed about it was the fact that some of the essential elements of forming a band are detailed. eg., the biggest factor is if the forming band-member has a gig or more in the bag… as this does indeed contribute to experienced players paying attention to answering ads and to practice time…
Jam On!
-Ron

(via:TalkBass.com/forum)

I am currently in the process of recruiting 6 musicians for a new funk cover band. In two weeks, I have filled 2 of the 6 positions using my current contacts. Not a bad start, I suppose…
… read more here:
https://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/how-long-does-take-form-band-1067847/

YouTube, the good and the bad for musicians…

YouTube has provided (and continues to do so) a great platform for listing views for your musical works, eg., bands, solos, (live and video mixes) et. al. However, hence its inception YT has lost some revenue generating power. Using Utube to display your works is still a powerful platform indeed, yet as a revenue producer… well, Jack Conte of the Pomplamoose YouTube fame has some great updates and tips to expand your musical income considerations…
Jam On!
– Ron

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and filmmaker Jack Conte may be best known as one-half of Pomplamoose, the indie-pop duo that racked up over 80 million views for their “VideoSongs” on YouTube

Recorded in September 2013 at XOXO, an arts and technology festival in Portland, Oregon celebrating independent artists using the Internet to make a living doing what they love. For more, visit https://xoxofest.com.

Possibly Glenn Campbell’s Final Recording…

Glenn Campbell is turning 75 and battling Alzheimer’s…

You may know this already but, Glenn played in a special group of studio and session musicians that jammed anonymously on many records in Los Angeles, California during the 1960s. Known as The Wrecking Crew – it backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful groups of studio musicians in music history…
Jam On!
-Ron

(by: Neil Cossar -via HuffingtonPost.co.uk)
Campbell has released more than 70 albums. He has sold 45 million records. He was in great demand as a session musician in the 1960s and worked as part of the studio musicians’ clique known as “the Wrecking Crew.” He played guitar on the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds album, as well as on recordings by artists from Elvis to Sinatra. On top of all this, Campbell hosted his own weekly variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour…

Read the rest of this article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/neil-cossar/wichita-lineman-glen-campbell_b_4479036.html

The Shure SM58 Continues to be Musicians Fav…

Shure SM58 microphone vocal mainstay…

If I asked you to name one of the most-used stage equipment items, I just bet that the Shure-58 microphone would probably come to the top of your mind. The legendary Shure SM58® vocal microphone continues to be designed for professional vocal use in live performance, sound reinforcement, and studio recording. It was tailored for singing or speech response and is (of course) a world standard.
Jam On!
-Ron

(by: Wikipedia)
Like all directional microphones, the SM58 is subject to proximity effect, a low frequency boost when used close to the source. The cardioid response reduces pickup from the side and rear, helping to avoid feedback onstage. It uses the balanced XLR three-pin connection. There are wired (with and without on/off switch) and wireless versions. The SM58 uses an internal shock mount to reduce handling noise…

More wiki data here -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shure_SM58

White Boys and Metal Music…

The Heavy Metal minority includes women and blacks. Interestingly enough, some music does have a fair amount of race and gender exclusions… some that you’d never think would be the case…

Ron-

(by Mike Bell, Postmedia News)

What shouldn’t happen and what is entirely inexcusable, though, is when the self-proclaimed gatekeepers of a certain musical style let more important things such as race and gender enter into their “membership requirements,” and do all that they can to make sure those who don’t fit the bill know they’re interlopers…
Read On Here ->
https://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/heavy+metal+minority/8975442/story.html