Nestled among the South Memphis neighborhoods that produced musicians Aretha Franklin, Booker T. Jones and Earth, Wind and Fire founding member Maurice White, the Stax Museum of American Soul on Saturday helped ensure the beat will go on for other local musicians.
At "Takin' It Back To Stax," the museum helped raise funds for the Memphis Musicians Healthcare plan, an initiative by the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission to provide affordable health care for local musicians.
Stax and the commission sold copies of "A Taste of Memphis Music: The Cookbook" and A Taste of Memphis Music: The CD at the event, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the plan.
Attendees were treated to samples from the cookbook, which features recipes from Memphis musicians like Larry Dodson and Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, and live music from several local performers.
Johnnie Walker, the commission's executive director, said the gig- to-gig lifestyle of some musicians makes having health care a financial challenge. Preserving Memphis' legacy as a musical powerhouse means taking care of its current and future artists, she said.
"We're keeping our musicians moving," Walker said. "When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Musicians in Tennessee who earn at least 51 percent of their income through performing are eligible for the plan, with programs ranging from basic emergency care to primary care. The plan also provides inexpensive diagnostic and laboratory tests for musicians.
"Memphis music is really like the soundtrack of America," Walker said. "There are many sounds that originated here that you hear in songs everywhere, so it's real important for Memphians to value what was started here."
Tim Sampson, communications director of the museum, also said that while musicians generally don't have the health care benefits afforded to employees of big companies, they need them.
"Musicians work really hard, with their long hours and their travel, and they have to have health insurance," Sampson said.
Lisa Allen, interim director of the museum, said it was important for the record label that "put soul music on the map" with artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes to participate in the initiative.
"We like to support our local musicians."
--------------------
"We're keeping our musicians moving. When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Johnnie Walker, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission executive director.
Source: California Chronicle
Elvis Presley, Memphis and Pop Culture
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Elvis Costello In Nashville
Earlier this year, Elvis Costello stood in the middle of the studio floor at Sound Emporium, conducting musicians while he sang. Producer T Bone Burnett and engineer Mike Piersante perched behind the soundboard, charged with capturing real, live music in real time.
“An awful lot of the records we love the most were made under these conditions,” said Costello, recalling the making of his new National Ransom album, out Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Hear Music. “We take advantage of modern techniques of editing, but 95 percent of what you hear on this record you could hear when we declared it to tape.”
These were not three-chord country songs Costello was intent on capturing. Costello was leading Nashville musicians including vocalist Jim Lauderdale, Dobro great Jerry Douglas, bass man Dennis Crouch and guitarist Buddy Miller through works of considerable complexity and nuance. And while most studio vocalization is done without theatrics or visible emotion, Costello performed as if in front of a packed concert hall.
“He was absolutely on fire, and it was inspiring to watch,” said Lauderdale, a Grammy–winning singer-songwriter who tours in Costello’s band, The Sugarcanes. “He had so much energy and was intent on everyone understanding the stuff that he had created so clearly in his head. You knew there was musical greatness being created. What everybody who makes records aspires to, Elvis was doing.”
A lifetime of experience
Costello is far from a Nashville stranger: His tours stop with some regularity at the Ryman Auditorium; his 2009 Secret, Profane and Sugarcane album was made here; and he has been recording albums in Nashville since 1981’s Almost Blue collection of country covers.
British-born Costello’s interest in Nashville music and musicians stemmed from his love of The Byrds’ 1968 Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, an early country-rock effort that featured enduring country talents including steel guitarist Lloyd Green and multi-instrumentalist John Hartford. The discovery of Sweetheart of the Rodeo led to an interest in Byrds member Gram Parsons’ solo albums, which featured young harmony vocalist Emmylou Harris. Harris’ debut solo album, 1975’s Pieces of the Sky, featured her cover of Nashville producer/songwriter Billy Sherrill’s “Too Far Gone,” and Costello sought Sherrill’s production help when it came time to make Almost Blue.
“It was like jumping off a 15-foot diving board, into this music,” said Costello, who recorded Almost Blue at a time when he was best known for pugnacious rock ’n’ roll. “It was against all expectations. It wasn’t elegant, but there was nothing tentative. Now when I come to Nashville it’s very different, because of this lifetime of experience.”
While working on National Ransom, Costello spent time with veteran music-makers including Hank Cochran, Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts and Cowboy Jack Clement. He also popped into local clubs to take in live music.
“He really enjoyed going to hear The Time Jumpers at the Station Inn,” Lauderdale said, referring to the western swing band that plays weekly at the Inn. “He would have been working in the studio all day, but was still excited about going down there. He’s such a music lover, and that’s a beautiful thing to see.”
‘This was the time’
National Ransom, which was recorded with The Sugarcanes and a long list of outside contributors including Vince Gill and Leon Russell, is intended for listeners with musical passions similar to Costello’s. It is a 16-song album with myriad stylistic shifts and dense lyrical passages, and Costello shudders a bit to think of people downloading inferior, MP3 versions of the album rather than listening to more pristine versions.
“Perhaps some will download this without thought to the quality or the provenance of the download, but the real record is a vinyl, double LP,” he said. “That’s what was written, that’s the scope of the record and that’s what we’re offering. It looks best like that, and it sounds best like that, and that is the statement. But you may listen to it at your convenience, any way you wish.”
From Costello’s perspective, the statement includes “the best musicians, the best producer and the best group of songs I’d written in a good while.”
“If I was ever going to make a double album, this was the time,” he said. “And if it doesn’t work out to everyone’s satisfaction, it won’t be for want of trying.”
Source: Tune In
“An awful lot of the records we love the most were made under these conditions,” said Costello, recalling the making of his new National Ransom album, out Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Hear Music. “We take advantage of modern techniques of editing, but 95 percent of what you hear on this record you could hear when we declared it to tape.”
These were not three-chord country songs Costello was intent on capturing. Costello was leading Nashville musicians including vocalist Jim Lauderdale, Dobro great Jerry Douglas, bass man Dennis Crouch and guitarist Buddy Miller through works of considerable complexity and nuance. And while most studio vocalization is done without theatrics or visible emotion, Costello performed as if in front of a packed concert hall.
“He was absolutely on fire, and it was inspiring to watch,” said Lauderdale, a Grammy–winning singer-songwriter who tours in Costello’s band, The Sugarcanes. “He had so much energy and was intent on everyone understanding the stuff that he had created so clearly in his head. You knew there was musical greatness being created. What everybody who makes records aspires to, Elvis was doing.”
A lifetime of experience
Costello is far from a Nashville stranger: His tours stop with some regularity at the Ryman Auditorium; his 2009 Secret, Profane and Sugarcane album was made here; and he has been recording albums in Nashville since 1981’s Almost Blue collection of country covers.
British-born Costello’s interest in Nashville music and musicians stemmed from his love of The Byrds’ 1968 Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, an early country-rock effort that featured enduring country talents including steel guitarist Lloyd Green and multi-instrumentalist John Hartford. The discovery of Sweetheart of the Rodeo led to an interest in Byrds member Gram Parsons’ solo albums, which featured young harmony vocalist Emmylou Harris. Harris’ debut solo album, 1975’s Pieces of the Sky, featured her cover of Nashville producer/songwriter Billy Sherrill’s “Too Far Gone,” and Costello sought Sherrill’s production help when it came time to make Almost Blue.
“It was like jumping off a 15-foot diving board, into this music,” said Costello, who recorded Almost Blue at a time when he was best known for pugnacious rock ’n’ roll. “It was against all expectations. It wasn’t elegant, but there was nothing tentative. Now when I come to Nashville it’s very different, because of this lifetime of experience.”
While working on National Ransom, Costello spent time with veteran music-makers including Hank Cochran, Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts and Cowboy Jack Clement. He also popped into local clubs to take in live music.
“He really enjoyed going to hear The Time Jumpers at the Station Inn,” Lauderdale said, referring to the western swing band that plays weekly at the Inn. “He would have been working in the studio all day, but was still excited about going down there. He’s such a music lover, and that’s a beautiful thing to see.”
‘This was the time’
National Ransom, which was recorded with The Sugarcanes and a long list of outside contributors including Vince Gill and Leon Russell, is intended for listeners with musical passions similar to Costello’s. It is a 16-song album with myriad stylistic shifts and dense lyrical passages, and Costello shudders a bit to think of people downloading inferior, MP3 versions of the album rather than listening to more pristine versions.
“Perhaps some will download this without thought to the quality or the provenance of the download, but the real record is a vinyl, double LP,” he said. “That’s what was written, that’s the scope of the record and that’s what we’re offering. It looks best like that, and it sounds best like that, and that is the statement. But you may listen to it at your convenience, any way you wish.”
From Costello’s perspective, the statement includes “the best musicians, the best producer and the best group of songs I’d written in a good while.”
“If I was ever going to make a double album, this was the time,” he said. “And if it doesn’t work out to everyone’s satisfaction, it won’t be for want of trying.”
Source: Tune In
Jakob Dylan To Appear on Sun Studio Sessions
Jakob Dylan ( Bob Dylan's son) brought his band “Three Legs” to Memphis, Tennessee this past Friday to tape an episode of Sun Studio Sessions, at the legendary studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Howlin’ Wolf, Carl Perkins and other icons got their start. Dylan performed tracks from his latest record, Women & Country, including “Nothing but the Whole Wide World” and “Everybody’s Hurting.” The episode is set to air in Season 2 of Sun Studio Sessions in early 2011.
Sun Studio Sessions Season 1 aired on 150+ PBS affiliates across the U.S., including some remaining airings in select markets such as Denver (CPT) and Los Angeles (KCET). Season 2 will also feature The Walkmen, Langhorne Slim, Grace Potter, and Truth & Salvage Company.
Sun Studio Sessions Season 1 aired on 150+ PBS affiliates across the U.S., including some remaining airings in select markets such as Denver (CPT) and Los Angeles (KCET). Season 2 will also feature The Walkmen, Langhorne Slim, Grace Potter, and Truth & Salvage Company.
Jerry Lee Lewis Live in Budapest on Halloween!
Jerry Lee Lewis spent his Halloween performing live in Budapest!
Source: Szabo
 |
| Jerry Lee Lewis performing in Budapest |
Jerry Lee Lewis spent his Halloween performing live in Budapest!
Source: Szabo
Elvis Presley Blvd Gets $470,000 Dollars From The US Goverment For Improvement
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Memphis more than $470,000 for improvements on Elvis Presley Boulevard.
This money will be used to study how to enhance quality of life, reduce congestion, and improve overall transportation on the boulevard
The new federal funds will be used to provide preliminary engineering and environmental work associated with improving U.S. Highway 51/Elvis Presley Boulevard from Craft Road to Winchester Road.
The project proposes to widen segments of U.S. 51; relocate utilities; and construct sidewalks, medians, crosswalks, bicycle facilities, and street scape in order to meet future multi-modal needs and stimulate reinvestment in this economically challenged section of the city.
This money will be used to study how to enhance quality of life, reduce congestion, and improve overall transportation on the boulevard
The new federal funds will be used to provide preliminary engineering and environmental work associated with improving U.S. Highway 51/Elvis Presley Boulevard from Craft Road to Winchester Road.
The project proposes to widen segments of U.S. 51; relocate utilities; and construct sidewalks, medians, crosswalks, bicycle facilities, and street scape in order to meet future multi-modal needs and stimulate reinvestment in this economically challenged section of the city.
Priscilla Presley Sends Tribute Message To Tom Jones
Tom Jones, legend, national treasure and international superstar was honoured last night with the prestigious annual Music Industry Trusts Award sponsored by Ingenious, PPL, PRS for Muisc and Spotify, In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music.Tom Jones was presented with the accolade by Award-winning film director Tim Burton.
The BRIT School Choir kicked off proceedings with a memorable Tom Jones medley and continuing the Welsh theme for the evening Cerys Matthews gave a very special performance in honour of tonight’s Award recipient. A specially made tribute film about his life was shown as he collected his Music Industry Trusts’ Award featuring tribute messages from friends and contemporaries, including Priscilla Presley who said, “They would sing songs together and jam together, for Elvis to do that he really had to have a lot of trust in someone because he admired Tom's voice so much.” Kelly Jones, Don Black, Paul Anka and many more also passed on their congratulations.
Closing the evening on a true high, Tom Jones took to the stage with Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones and Cerys Matthews to perform some of his greatest hits.
Sky News
Myrna Smith Update From Carole Drexler
Myrna's condition continues to be serious. As of Oct. 31, Myrna is back at the Canyon Oaks center after again spending time in the hospital with an infection. The repeated infections & the dialysis treatments take their toll & make her weak. Please know that Myrna very much appreciates your cards & prayers. She is so grateful to those who have helped her financially. It means a lot to Myrna to know how may people love her. Please keep Myrna in your prayers.
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