My Ding A Ling – Chuck Berry

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Kneeknee

My Ding A Ling – Chuck Berry

My Ding A Ling - Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry’s music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because he is truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as “The Father of Rock & Roll”, gained success by watching the audience’s reaction and playing accordingly, putting his listeners’ amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Memphis” have become anthems to an integrated American youth and popular culture. Berry is a musical icon who established rock and roll as a musical form and brought the worlds of black and white together in song.

Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 Berry had many influences on his life that shaped his musical style. He emulated the smooth vocal clarity of his idol, Nat King Cole, while playing blues songs from bands like Muddy Waters. For his first stage performance, Berry chose to sing a Jay McShann song called “Confessin’ the Blues.” It was at his high school’s student musical performance, when the blues was well-liked but not considered appropriate for such an event. He got a thunderous applause for his daring choice, and from then on, Berry had to be onstage.

Berry took up the guitar after that, inspired by his partner in the school production. He found that if he learned rhythm changes and blues chords, he could play most of the popular songs on the radio at the time. His friend, Ira Harris, showed him techniques on the guitar that would become the foundation of Berry’s original sound. Then in 1952, he began playing guitar and singing in a club band whose song list ranged from blues to ballads to calypso to country. Berry was becoming an accomplished showman, incorporating gestures and facial expressions to go with the lyrics.

It was in 1953 that Chuck Berry joined the Sir John’s Trio (eventually renamed the Chuck Berry Combo), which played the popular Cosmopolitan Club in St. Louis. Country-western music was big at the time, so Berry decided to use some of the riffs and create his own unique hillbilly sound. The black audience thought he was crazy at first, but couldn’t resist trying to dance along with it. Since country was popular with white people, they began to come to the shows, and the audience was at some points almost 40 percent white. Berry’s stage show antics were getting attention, but the other band members did their parts as well. In his own words: “I would slur my strings to make a passage that Johnnie (Johnson) could not produce with piano keys but the answer would be so close that he would get a tremendous ovation. His answer would sound similar to some that Jerry Lee Lewis’s fingers later began to flay.”

Read more…..www.chuckberry.com

Picture source…..www.chuckberry.com

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Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Paper Lace

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Kneeknee

Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Paper Lace

Billy Don't Be A Hero - Paper Lace

Formed in 1969 in Nottingham, England, and made up of Michael Vaughn, Chris Morris, Carlo Santana, Cliff Fish, and Phillip Wright, Paper Lace was one of hundreds of pop bands in England looking for the big time while slogging their way through small club gigs and brief television appearances.

Their big break came in 1974 when their version of the tear-jerking bubblegum tune “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” won top honours on Opportunity Knocks, a nationwide talent-show on ITV. They rode that song all the way to the top of the U.K. charts but were aced out of any sales in the U.S. by Bo Donaldson & the Haywood’s’ transcendent version.

Their next single, “The Night Chicago Died,” did manage to hit the number one slot on the U.S. charts (number three in the U.K.) and then that was it. The group released two albums, Paper Lace and Other Bits of Material in 1974 and First Edition in 1975, and did a quick fade from the public eye. In 1978 they surfaced briefly with a sing-along version of “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” with their local football team, Nottingham Forest FC, and the disappeared forever.

Info source…..www.allmusic.com

Picture source…..www.lynpaulwebsite.org

Oh You Are A Mucky Kid – Danny Doyle

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Kneeknee

Oh You Are A Mucky Kid – Danny Doyle

Oh You Are A Mucky Kid - Danny Doyle

Leaving school at fourteen years of age, he started doing odd jobs, including general factotum in Dublin’s Pike Theatre, where he began to pick up, from the travelling players, songs from the Irish countryside.

During the 1960s and 1970s, he was one of the top Irish singers, regularly featuring in the Irish charts and scoring three No.1 singles (notably displacing ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” after just one week at the top). He has recorded 25 albums, including Emigrant Eyes, a collaboration with his sister Geraldine, a comedienne popular in Australia. He is probably best known for his 1967 Number One hit “Whiskey on a Sunday”.

He has appeared in concert throughout the world, including Carnegie Hall, New York and the Albert Hall, London.

Although retired from performing, he joined numerous musicians on stage at the end of the 2010 Milwaukee Irish Fest, in what is known as the Scattering.

Biography Source…..en.wikipedia.org

Picture source…..www.allmusic.com

Who`d be a lizard

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Kneeknee

Who`d be a lizard

Why LizardsShould Never Bungee Jump

Bummer….

Who`d be a lizard

Picture source……www.mayaexpeditions.com

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Jack Russell And A Duck Run Amok – Moto And Murray

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Kneeknee

Jack Russell And A Duck Run Amok – Moto And Murray

Jack Russell And A Duck Run Amok - Moto And Murray

Picture source…..i1.ytimg.com

Moto the Jack Russell and Murry the Mallard.

Could this dog and duck duo be having any more fun in each others’ company?

Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Kneeknee

Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

July, 1967. ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ is the #1 song in the world. But it’s more than that. This is an era of rock revelations; each year has seen the deepening of rock as art. The Beatles have gone from ‘Hard Day’s Night’ to ‘Revolver’ to ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ And now there is ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale,’ one song that has instantly defined something new: ‘classical rock.’ It’s the melding of rock’s electric guitar, powerful vocals and bombastic drums with thoughtful lyrics and the artful complexities of classical melody and arrangement. The very name of the group suggested something far deeper than ordinary pop music … PROCOL HARUM.

The oddly-named band had arrived out of nowhere with a #1 hit. To add to the thrill and confusion, the song was enigmatic (many to this day aren’t exactly sure what it’s about), the group was already fractured by changes in personnel, and by the time people learned what the band’s name meant (even if to this day they rarely seem to spell it right), the group’s stunning #1 reign was over. The #1 hit was like a massive earthquake; unforgettable but unrepeatable. Over the next decade, there were plenty of songs that could have been #1 hits. For fans, every new album became a classic, filled with memorable and moving songs. And while rock critics argued whether the next lp should be ‘more rock’ or ‘more classical,’ and whether singles like ‘Homburg’ and ‘Conquistador’ were as good as the legendary ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale,’ and indeed, amid the confusing disappearance of various band members, all fans hoped was that ‘still there’ll be more.’

If you’re new to the band, this ‘history’ of the band might help you find your way through the years. If you’re an old friend and fan, maybe you’ll find some glimpses of nirvana in recalling with me the memories that still shine on brightly. Gary Brooker (vocals, piano) Robin Trower (guitar) and B.J. Wilson (drums) joined forces in the early 60’s. Their band was THE PARAMOUNTS influenced, as were so many British bands, by American R&B. Their first single, released in 1963, was a cover of The Coasters’ ‘Poison Ivy.’ (They also did a wicked version of ‘Bad Blood,’ and a few originals co-written by the team of Brooker/Trower). The Beatles had chart hits with old Chuck Berry tunes, The Animals adapted ‘House of the Rising Sun,’ but these and other bands soon found their own voices via original material. Read More…..www.sing365.com

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Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World South Vietnam

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Kneeknee

Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World South Vietnam

Louis Armstrong -
Louis Armstrong was a famous jazz trumpet player and singer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential musicians in the history of jazz music.

Early life
Louis Daniel Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. He was one of two children born to Willie Armstrong, a turpentine worker, and Mary Ann Armstrong, whose grandparents had been slaves. As a youngster, he sang on the streets with friends. His parents separated when he was five. He lived with his sister, mother, and grandmother in a rundown area of New Orleans known as “the Battlefield” because of the gambling, drunkenness, fighting, and shooting that frequently occurred there.In 1913 Armstrong was arrested for firing a gun into the air on New Year’s Eve. He was sent to the Waif’s Home (a reform school), where he took up the cornet (a trumpet-like instrument) and eventually played in a band. After his release he worked odd jobs and began performing with local groups. He was also befriended by Joe “King” Oliver, leader of the first great African American band to make records, who gave him trumpet lessons. Armstrong joined Oliver in Chicago, Illinois, in 1922, remaining there until 1924, when he went to New York City to play with Fletcher Henderson’s band.

Jazz pioneer

When Armstrong returned to Chicago in the fall of 1925, he organized a band and began to record one of the greatest series in the history of jazz. These Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings show his skill and experimentation with the trumpet. In 1928 he started recording with drummer Zutty Singleton and pianist Earl Hines, the latter a musician whose skill matched Armstrong’s. Many of the resulting records are masterpieces of detailed construction and adventurous rhythms. During these years Armstrong was working with big bands in Chicago clubs and theatres. His vocals, featured on most records after 1925, are an extension of his trumpet playing in their rhythmic liveliness and are delivered in a unique throaty style. He was also the inventor of scat singing (the random use of nonsense syllables), which originated after he dropped his sheet music while recording a song and could not remember the lyrics.

By 1929 Armstrong was in New York City leading a nightclub band. Appearing in the theatrical revue Hot Chocolates, he sang “Fats” Waller’s (1904–1943) “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Armstrong’s first popular song hit. From this period Armstrong performed mainly popular

Image Source…..www.notablebiographies.com

The Monkees – I’m A Believer

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Kneeknee

The Monkees – I’m A Believer

The Monkees - I'm A Believer

Unlike most bands of the time, the Monkees were not formed by its members, but rather by TV producers: they were a fictional band in the TV show of the same name.

TV producers, Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, formulated an idea for a show about a Beatles-like band, then put ads in newspapers, seeking musicians to star in the series.

The band was composed of Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork. All of the members had some musical experience.

The show debuted on NBC in 1966 and became a huge hit. When the series got the greenlight to go ahead, development of the musical side of the project accelerated with Columbia Screen Gems and RCA Records forming a partnership called Colgems Records to distribute Monkees records.

Each week the group would sing a song or two written by top industry names like Carole King, Neil Diamond and Gerry Goffin, while instrumentation was provided by talented musicians, including Stephen Stills and Harry Nilsson.

‘Last Train to Clarksville’ was the band’s first single was released in August 1966 before the debut of the show and it became a huge hit. Their first album ‘The Monkees’ was released a month later and shot to the top of the chart.

The Monkees’ principle audience consisted of young teenagers and children. Nonetheless, singles like ‘I’m a Believer’ became Top 10 hits, and the ‘Prefab Four’ became media icons. By 1967 the Monkees were the most popular band in the US, their records outselling the Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Other top hits included ‘I’m a Believer’ (1966), ‘A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You’ (1967), ‘Mary Mary’ (1968) and ‘I’m Not Your Stepping Stone’, with the group selling over 65 million records worldwide.

But the Monkees themselves grew frustrated at not being able to play their own instruments or write their own songs, and began to rebel against their producers and record company.

The Monkees began playing some of their instruments and writing some songs on 1967’s ‘Headquarters’. That year they embarked on a major tour, proving they could perform live.

By 1968 the Monkees were already deviating from their manufactured image and straining for credibility, starring in the bizarre psychedelic movie ‘Head’. It was not a commercial success but has since gained a cult status. Read More…www.thebiographychannel.co.uk

Picture Source…..www.showbiz411.com

I Like Big Butts – Sir Mix-A-Lot

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Kneeknee

I Like Big Butts – Sir Mix-A-Lot

I Like Big Butts - Sir Mix-A-Lot

Inextricably linked with his pop culture touchstone “Baby Got Back,” Sir Mix-A-Lot parlayed a gonzo tribute to women with large buttocks into hip-hop immortality, even despite his failure to score another hit of its magnitude. But even before he struck crossover gold, Sir Mix-A-Lot was one of rap’s great D.I.Y. success stories. Coming from a city — Seattle — with barely any hip-hop scene to speak of, Mix-A-Lot co-founded his own record label, promoted his music himself, produced all his own tracks, and essentially pulled himself up by the proverbial American bootstraps.

Even before “Baby Got Back,” Mix-A-Lot was a platinum-selling album artist with a strong following in the hip-hop community, known for bouncy, danceable, bass-heavy tracks indebted to old-school electro. However, it took signing with Rick Rubin’s Def American label — coupled with an exaggerated, parodic pimp image — to carry him into the mainstream. Perceived as a one-hit novelty, he found it difficult to follow his breakout success, but kept on recording, and even toured as part of a rap-rock supergroup called Subset, a collaboration with the Presidents of the United States of America.

Sir Mix-A-Lot was born Anthony Ray in Seattle on August 12, 1963. An eclectic music fan but a rabid hip-hop devotee, he was already actively rapping in the early ’80s, and co-founded the Nastymix record label in 1983 with his DJ, Nasty Nes, who also hosted Seattle’s first hip-hop radio show. His first single was 1987’s “Posse on Broadway,” which referred to a street in Seattle, not New York; it became a local hit, and paved the way for his first LP, 1988’s Swass, which also featured the popular novelty “Square Dance Rap,” and a Run-D.M.C.-style cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” with backing by Seattle thrashers Metal Church. The video for “Posse on Broadway” landed some airplay on MTV, and became Sir Mix-A-Lot’s first national chart single in late 1988; that in turn pushed Swass into the Top 20 of the R&B album chart, and by 1989, it had sold over a million copies. Also in 1989, Mix-A-Lot released his follow up album Seminar, which produced three charting singles in “Beepers,” “My Hooptie,” and “I Got Game”; while none were significant crossover hits with pop or R&B audiences, all performed well on the rap singles chart, and helped Seminar become Mix-A-Lot’s second straight platinum album.
Read More…allmusic.com

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Inner Circle – Sweat – A La La Long

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Kneeknee

Inner Circle – Sweat – A La La Long

Inner Circle - Sweat - A La La Long

Inner Circle is a Jamaican reggae group. The group was formed in 1968 by the brothers Ian and Roger Lewis in Jamaica. With Jacob Miller as their frontman and lead singer the band was one of the most popular in Jamaica during the 70’s, and one of few reggae bands that performed live. They are responsible for the 1987 song “Bad Boys,” which serves as the theme song for Fox Network’s long-running television program COPS. However, at first they covered soul and R&B hits from the United States, and then also a few reggae songs, predominantly from Bob Marley.

Career

The band released its debut album in 1974 on the famed record label, Trojan Records, and resigned in 1979 to Island Records, where the internationally successful album Everything Is Great originated. This album reached top 20 in the UK and preceded their other chart success by some years.

The original Inner Circle included Ibo Cooper (keyboards), Stephen Cat Core (guitar), Funky Brown (vocals), Prilly (vocals), Ian and Roger Lewis, and Mr. Lewis. The band’s residence was originally on Holborn Road in New Kingston. In latter years they had a horn section that included Douglas Gutherie on alto sax and Leighton Johnson on trumpet; both were former members of the Excelsior High School band. During that time the band toured extensively to North America and Bermuda. At the end of this time, Ibo and Cat started their own band, Third World, whose hits included, “Now That We Found Love” and “Ninety Six Degrees in the Shade”. Ibo, Cat, and Funky Brown were at this time students of the University of the West Indies studying for various degrees.

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My Ding A Ling – Chuck Berry