Etta James: A Legendary Voice is Stilled

Sadly, after a prolonged illness, musical icon Etta James passed away this past week, just five days before her 74th birthday. Thankfully her family was by her side.

With a musical style that spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz, Etta was truly a singer’s singer.

She began her singing career in the mid-Fifties and before the decade ended she scored several R&B hits including the rollicking Dance With Me Henry. 

Though an incredibly gifted vocalist, Ella was a troubled soul who suffered through some very hard times due to her years of drug abuse. Fortunately, in the 1980s the singer recovered her health and was able to begin a significant and well-deserved comeback. 

Etta spent the last decade and a half of her life being thought of as a jazz queen, a soul diva and of course as the Matriarch of the Blues. Her return to the spotlight introduced a whole new audience to her earlier music, including her legendary Chess Records recordings.

Her Blue Gardenia CD was inspired by her life-long idol, Billie Holiday. The disc includes her wonderfully soulful recording of Jimmy McHugh’s Don’t Blame Me.

We send our sympathy and kindest thoughts to her family.

http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=38750&ac=now

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN PLAYED JIMMY McHUGH'S 'WHERE ARE YOU' AND OLD BLUE EYES CHIMED IN

The Huffington Post recently ran a terrific article about the inimitable Michael Feinstein and his newest album, The Sinatra Project, Vol. II.
The piece, written by Dustin Fitzharris, describes how  Michael's friendship with 'Old Blue Eyes' began.
Here's an excerpt:

"The first time they met, he was hired to play at a party for Sinatra's wife (Barbara). At one point in the evening, Marvin Davis, who owned 20th Century Fox at the time, disappeared. Sinatra yelled out, 'Where did Marvin go? Where did the bum go?' 

A young Feinstein took the cue and began playing the Jimmy McHugh song, 'Where Are You?' 

Sinatra started belting the tune out in full voice. (Feinstein likes to fondly say that he accompanied Sinatra for two bars.) Later in the evening Sinatra, who was amazed how someone so young knew so many classic songs, invited Feinstein to sit down and talk. Hearing Sinatra tell stories left Feinstein speechless."

Here's a link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dustin-fitzharris/michael-feinstein-intervi_b_1098098.html

michaelfeinstein.com

JOHNNIE RAY: A TRUE 1950s ICON

As singer Johnnie Ray has been largely forgotten over the years, it may be hard to believe what a huge star he was throughout the Fifties.

Inspired by LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter, Ray cultivated a unique vocal style which combined pre-rock Rhythm & Blues with a more conventional pop approach.

In 1952, his smash 'The Little White Cloud That Cried', was the first of a long string of hit records for Johnnie,  transforming him into an overnight sensation.
Suddenly he was the heart-throb and pin-up boy for millions of teenage girls across America and England.

His unorthodox, over-the-top performances included tearing at his hair, falling to his knees and endless crocodile tears. Interestingly, his shows hinted at the sort of theatrics which, just a few years later, would be associated with Rock & Roll.

Needless to say, the media loved Johnnie's outrageous style, dubbing him Mr. Emotion, The Nabob of Sob, and The Prince of Wails.
Long after his career cooled off in the US, Johnnie continued to perform for appreciative audiences throughout the UK.

We thought you might enjoy a little taste of Johnnie Ray.

Below is a link to his hit recording of Jimmy's 'Don't Blame Me'.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-rim&v=0Uh6hI7ZbE4