Archive for the ‘Rock ‘n’ roll’ Category
Fans pay tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper
Written by admin on February 3, 2012 – 1:38 pm -| Fans around the world are commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) today.
Among the main events is the annual four-day commemoration of the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. This was the last venue that the stars played before boarding the plane that would tragically crash shortly after take off. The Surf Ballroom has been designated a historical landmark by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places last year. |
 |
Tags: Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens
Posted in Rock 'n' roll | Comments Off on Fans pay tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper
Etta James dies aged 73
Written by admin on January 20, 2012 – 6:16 pm -| Etta James died today from complications of leukaemia, aged 73. Etta passed away at Riverside Community Hospital in California with her husband and sons at her side.
Etta was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles on January 25, 1938 and began singing in a church choir before moving to San Francisco where she formed a group called the Creolettes with two other girls. The group were auditioned by Johnny Otis, who renamed them The Peaches and also came up with the Etta James stage name. Otis, who died earlier this week, would write and produce their number one R&B hit, “The Wallflower,” also known as “Roll With Me, Henry” and “Dance With Me, Henry.” |
 |
Tags: Etta James, Etta James At Last, Etta James death, Etta James I Just Want To Make Love To You, Etta James I'd Rather Go Blind, Etta James obituary, Etta James The Wallflower
Posted in Obituaries, Rock 'n' roll | Comments Off on Etta James dies aged 73
Johnny Otis obituary – 1921-2012
Written by admin on January 19, 2012 – 4:53 pm -The “Godfather of R&B,” Johnny Otis, has passed away at the age of 90. The R&B performer, songwriter and producer, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday (January 17).
| Otis was born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes on December 28, 1921, in Vallejo, California, the son of Greek immigrant parents. He lived in a primarily black neighbourhood where he was exposed to and greatly influenced by jazz and blues music. He took a keen interest in the drums, piano and vibraphone as a teenager, and soon took on paying gigs as a drummer with various local jazz combos and big bands, including the Lloyd Hunter Band. |  |
Tags: Double Crossing Blues, Harlem Nocturne, Johnny Otis death, Johnny Otis obituary, Johnny Otis Orchestra, Johnny Otis Quintette, Johnny Otis Show, Willie and the Hand Jive
Posted in Obituaries, Rock 'n' roll | Comments Off on Johnny Otis obituary – 1921-2012
Song of the Week #89 – “Folsom Prison Blues”
Written by admin on January 16, 2012 – 7:45 pm -| Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.
“Folsom Prison Blues” was first released as a Sun Records single on December 15, 1955, backed with “So Doggone Lonesome.” It also appeared on his first album, “With His Hot and Blue Guitar,” issued by Sun in September 1957. |
 |
Tags: Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison
Posted in Rock 'n' roll, Song of the Week | Comments Off on Song of the Week #89 – “Folsom Prison Blues”
New releases update – January 2012
Written by admin on January 4, 2012 – 7:44 am -The New Releases page has been updated to include music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for January.
Highlights for January include:
- “Elvis Country – Legacy Edition” – Jan 3
- a number of releases in the Original Album Classics series from the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Journey, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and David Bowie – Jan 17
- the Doors’ “L.A. Woman – 40th Anniversary Edition” and “Mr. Mojo Risin'” DVD and Blu-ray releases – Jan 24
- Dion DiMucci’s “Tank Full of Blues” – Jan 24
- Leonard Cohen’s “Old Ideas” on CD and vinyl – Jan 31.
Tags: new CDs, new music Blu-rays, new music DVDs, new music releases, new releases
Posted in 60s pop, American Rock, British Invasion, Elvis, Folk, New releases, Rock 'n' roll, Soul | Comments Off on New releases update – January 2012
