All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Photo Gallery: Sam Roberts Band with Ice Cream at Toronto’s OLG Play Stage
Calgary’s Folk-Roots-Jazz-Punk Collective BENT ROADS TAVERN Revisit Fan Faves with “The Legend of Bent Roads Tavern Volume 3 & 4”
Canadian collective that is Bent Roads Tavern are revisiting their iconic campus days with the issuance of completely remastered and restored works in the form of The Legend of Bent Roads Tavern Volume 3 & 4 — and stand-out single “Steeples And Turntables III” — available now.
“Our sound is unapologetic,” frontman Collen Middleton offers of the seven-piece. “There’s flashes of protest punk mixed in with modern jazz, folk and roots.
“We got together in 2001 and now we’re catching new listeners up on the history of what we think is one of the most elusive corners of the Canadian music and cultural landscape.”
Top 20 Musicians of All Time
Guest Post
Music has the power to unite people from all walks of life and through listening to our favourite musicians, we are elevated to beautiful worlds. So, who are the best musicians of all time that brought the world sensational music and memorable performances? Of course, it is debatable and will be based on people’s preference in music genres. Surely, it’s not as easy as deciding who the best football club is or what the top slots online are. Nonetheless, here’s a list of the top 20 musicians of all time crossing all genres. You’re bound to be in agreement with this profound list.
1. Queen
Undoubtedly, Queen remains one of the world’s most important and influential bands. Their unique expression, anthemic and inspiring songs captured the world over. From “Don’t Stop Me Now” to “We Will Rock You”, Queen’s songs continue to find their way into the younger generation’s music library. Their songs have a way of sending goosebumps down your spine as you belt out the catchy words. The band consisted of Freddie Mercury (lead vocalist), Brian May (lead guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), and John Deacon (bass).
2. Madonna
Madonna is amongst one of the best-selling artists of all time and a cultural icon. Considered the Queen of Pop, Madonna was known for always reinventing her look, fashion, and music style. One thing is for sure, she always knows how to stay relevant and set new trends. Through her music, she pushed social boundaries and addressed many taboo issues. Madonna was definitely a pioneer in affording women the ability to explore their power and independence through music. If you think back to the 80s, you’d be forgiven for hearing songs such as “Like a Prayer” and “Papa Don’t Preach” playing in your mind as Madonna pretty much dominated the radio stations.
3. Whitney Houston
A true legend, Whitney Houston was always destined for greatness. The daughter of a famed gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of Dionne Warwick, and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin, she was surrounded by powerful women. Whitney started singing in church where she consistently captivated the audience with her powerful vocals. At the age of 15, she was discovered by a photographer who admired her natural beauty and she then began modelling. It was Clive Davis who discovered Whitney, at the age of 19 and immediately signed her after he heard her perform at a nightclub. The rest as they say is history. Throughout her 20+ year career, Whitney sold out concerts, acted in hit movies such as “Waiting To Exhale” and “The Bodyguard”, and released hit after hit songs that still capture people today! Whitney has serenaded the world with songs such as “I Will Always Love You”, “I Have Nothing”, and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”. She has won over 415 awards in total, including Grammys, American Music Awards, Oscars, and more.
4. Mariah Carey
Since her debut in 1990, Mariah Carey has inspired and entertained the world with her powerful vocals. She incredibly possesses a five-octave vocal range that has stunned many people over the years. In 1988, the executive for Columbia Records listened to Mariah’s demo tape and signed her to the label. In 2006, Mariah went on to win three Grammy Awards, including the Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best R&B Song, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Along with her impressive singing career, Mariah has also acted in movies such as “Glitter” and “Precious”. There is no other like Mariah Carey and she has confidently paved the way for many young girls to belt their hearts out too.
5. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was a singer, songwriter, and dancer dubbed the King of Pop. Jackson sold over 75 million albums in the United States, and he ranks no. 7 on the RIAA’s list of top-selling artists of all time. Along with his four brothers, they formed the group Jackson 5 who made pop history as the first group to have their first four singles hit no. 1. In 1982, Jackson released the famous “Thriller” album which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame along with the hit album “Off The Wall”. Of course, we have to talk about Jackson’s dancing and the famous moonwalk he did during his “Billie Jean” performance. The moonwalk quickly became a world phenomenon and still to this day, people are attempting to do their best rendition of this famous dance move.
Alt: Elton John performs during the first night of Sanremo Italian Song’s Festival at Ariston theater in Sanremo
6. Elton John
With hits such as “I’m Still Standing” and “Can You Feel the Love”, the classically trained pianist Elton John is hands down one of the top musicians of all time. John has accumulated 38 gold and 31 platinum or multi-platinum albums and he sold more than 250 million records worldwide!
7. Stevie Wonder
The uber-talented Stevie Wonder gave the world so much magic through his music. One of the world’s most loved pop icons, Stevie Wonder has made numerous albums, including “Talking Book”, “Innervisions”, and “Hotter than July”. He has had ten US no.1 hits on the pop charts and sold over 100 million records.
8. Eric Clapton
One of the most influential guitarists in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Eric Clapton became a significant singer-songwriter. He produced a great range of albums, including “Slowhand”, “Backless”, and the hit “Tears in Heaven” which was written after the death of his son.
9. Bob Marley
The Jamaican singer, musician and songwriter Bob Marley brought healing to this world through his music and activism. The reggae maestro gifted us with classics such as “One Love” and “No Woman No Cry”. Marley is a true legend of the 21st century and his image continues to adorn many t-shirts and walls with various other artists covering his songs too.
10. George Michael
George Michael released five studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, and 47 singles. The English singer sold over 100 million records worldwide. With hits such as “Faith” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, Michael deserves a spot on this top 20 list.
Other top musicians who made the top 20 cut
11. Fela Kuti
12. The Beatles
13. Simon & Garfunkel
14. Aerosmith
15. Billy Joel
16. Led Zeppelin
17. Bruce Springsteen
18. Nina Simone
19. Eric Clapton
20. Kenny G
There you have it, a list of the top 20 musicians of all time who have graced us with their incredible talent.
Productions in a Pandemic Webinar Is FREE and Is A Must-Watch
Join CIMA as theyhave invited recording engineers and producers discuss best practices in the world of recording during today’s unconventional times. What has changed in this climate, or has it remained the same? Are there creative workarounds, workflow solutions to minimize sacrifices and/or compromises? Join CIMA and top recording engineers and producers as they discuss their viewpoints on today’s recording world.
This free webinar is targeted toward Labels, Artist Managers, Producers and people who represent an artist. Artists can represent themselves as well. These are for people interested in learning how engineers and producers are working through this pandemic and what they’re doing to get the job done. What are the sacrifices, if any?
Check out what Eric Ratz, George Seara, Annelise Noronha, and Jeff Dalziel has to say, and it’s going to brilliant. It happens on October 1, and sign up here.
Ani DiFranco Releases Powerful, Timely Anthem And Video “Do Or Die”
oday, singer/songwriter/feminist/activist/author DIY icon Ani DiFranco releases “Do or Die,” a poignant statement about our society as we head into a landmark election. The lead single from DiFranco stays true to what she started nearly thirty years ago, speaking truth to power. With “Do or Die” DiFranco implores her fellow citizens to vote to maintain democracy during these historically unprecedented times. Vote like our lives depend on it, because they do. DiFranco came out of isolation during Covid to record “Do or Die” with talented musicians Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Brevan Hampden, Matt Douglas and Van Westerland in Durham NC. Later her touring partners Terence Higgins and Todd Sickafoose added finishing touches to the track. DiFranco created the “Do or Die” video in collaboration with Dancing Grounds and New Orleans Dance Collective, local organizations in her residence of New Orleans.
About “Do or Die,” DiFranco says, “Nothing will stem the tide of suffering from COVID-19, economic crisis, police brutality, mass incarceration, endemic poverty, entrenched white supremacy and misogyny, deportation and detainment, gun violence, fire, flood, disease, pollution, irradiation, exploitation, forced reproduction, gender and sexuality-based violence and oppression, dis-information, propaganda, corruption, and greed… short of a functioning democracy! Let’s harness our outrage and vote. We can do this, if we try, if we do this like it’s do or die.”
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990. While she has been known as the “Little Folksinger,” her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica and even more distant sounds. Her collaborators have included everyone from Utah Phillips to legendary R&B saxophonist Maceo Parker to Prince. She has shared stages with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, Greg Brown, Billy Bragg, Michael Franti, Chuck D., and many more. Her last studio album Binary was released in June 2017 on Righteous Babe Records. Her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was released in May 2019, and DiFranco released a No Walls Mixtape alongside the book, offering a new take on songs related to the memoir.
Mick Fleetwood Releases New Music and Video For “These Strange Times”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Mick Fleetwood released today a new recording and video for Mick Fleetwood’s Da*da*ism “These Strange Times,” available on Rhino Records. Originally released on Fleetwood Mac’s 16th studio album Time in 1995, the song was re-recorded adding thirty seconds of Peter Green’s “Albatross” to the end of the song and set to a brand-new video.
Inspired by an eighteenth-century painting, the newly released video and accompanying single artwork are centered around the idea of something greater than us, which lies at the core of our very human struggle to be our best selves.
“The project is about the energy of choice, of deciding if you want to be a part of the dark or the light when push comes to shove, which seems very apropos at this moment in history,” Fleetwood says. “It’s about how you read things, which is very important today. Everyone needs to be carefully paying attention to the information coming our way. There is subtext to everything and we need to be aware of that. When I first encountered the painting that inspired the photoshoot, it was a soul-searching exercise that I was driven to do but I didn’t know when would be the time to release it. Now I know why: the when is now.”
The spoken-word poem at the center of the song finds the narrator, Fleetwood, questioning his feelings and his thoughts, as he has found himself stuck between the dark and the light. The video is meant to be as thought provoking as the song is hypnotic, as the lyrics detail the struggle of the narrator.
“I hope the song conveys that life is about choice,” Fleetwood says. “God is everything, no matter what your belief system is. Being in love is God, no matter your creed. There’s a rejoicing at the end of the song when the narrator chooses the side of the light. The song is about all of us making that choice ourselves and the relief we feel when we are no longer caught in the middle.”
“This is something I wrote many years ago,” Fleetwood says, “and I want it to be nothing more than thought provoking. I want people to see and hear what they will in it. My hope is that by sharing these thought-provoking moments in my world that I can somehow open the eyes of others to things in their world and to the existence we all share, which is more and more endangered with each passing day.”
My Next Read: “The Big Life of Little Richard” by Mark Ribowsky
Little Richard blazed the trail for generations of musicians―The Beatles, James Brown, the Everly Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Prince . . . the list seems endless. He was “The Originator,” “The Innovator,” and the self-anointed “King and Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll.” When he died on May 9, 2020, The Big Life of Little Richard―a nearly-completed book―was immediately updated to cover the international response to his death. It is the first major biography of Macon, Georgia’s Richard Wayne Penniman, who was, until his passing, the last rock god standing.
Mark Ribowsky, acclaimed biographer of musical icons―the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding―takes readers through venues, gigs, and studios, conveying the sweaty energy of music sessions limited to a few tracks on an Ampex tape machine and vocals sung along with a live band. He explores Little Richard’s musicianship; his family life; his uphill battle against racism; his interactions with famous contemporaries and the media; and his lifelong inner conflict between his religion and his sexuality.
The Big Life of Little Richard not only explores a legendary stage persona, but also a complex life under the makeup and pomade, the neon-lit duds and piano pyrotechnics, along with a full-body dive into the waters of sexual fluidity.
By 2020, eighty-seven-year-old Little Richard’s electrifying smile was still intact, as were his bona fides as rock’s kingly architect: the ’50s defined his reign, and he extended elder statesmanship ever since. His biggest smash, “Tutti Frutti,” is one of history’s most covered songs―a staple of the pre-Invasion Beatles―and Elvis pivoted from country to blues rock after Little Richard made R&B’s sexual overtones a fundament of the new musical order. Even Hendrix, the greatest instrumentalist in rock history, toured with him before launching a meteoric solo career.
Whenever someone pushes the music and culture of rock to its outer borders, one should turn to Little Richard for assurance that anything is possible.
Video: John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones Perform “Boogie Chillen'” In 1989
Known to music fans around the world as the “King of the Boogie,” John Lee Hooker endures as one of the true superstars of the blues genre. His work is widely recognized for its impact on modern music – his simple, yet deeply effective songs transcend borders and languages around the globe. Each decade of Hooker’s long career brought a new generation of fans and fresh opportunities for the ever-evolving artist, and he regularly toured and recorded up until his passing in 2001.
Harry Styles’ Isolated Vocals For “Watermelon Sugar”
Tastes like strawberries on a summer evenin’
And it sounds just like a song
I want more berries and that summer feelin’
It’s so wonderful and warm