Music Diary – 25th January

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 25th January!

Etta James (25th January 1938 – 20th January 2012)

Happy birthday to Jamesetta Hawkins aka Etta James, who was born on the 25th January 1938 in Los Angeles, Callifornia (USA)!

At the age of five years, Jamesetta received her first vocal training from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir, at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Turned 14, she founded the girl group called „The Creolettes“ and shortly after that, the talented and young singer met musician Johnny Otis, who took her under his wings. Otis changed the band name into „The Peaches“ and Jamesetta into the stage name Etta James. In early 1955 the single „Dance with Me, Henry“ was released, which reached number one on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Tracks chart. Due to this success, The Peaches got an opening spot on Little Richard’s national tour.

After leaving the band, Etta was signed by the legendary label Chess Records. With male singer Harvey Fuqua she recorded the singles“If I Can’t Have You“ and „Spoonful„. With „All I Could Do Was Cry“ (1960), Etta had her first solo hit. In the same year her album debut „At Last!“ was released, which offered a varied choice of Jazz standards, Blues tunes, Doo-Wop elements and Rhythm & Blues. Especially James‘ interpretations of the title song, „I Just Want to Make Love to You“ and „A Sunday Kind of Love“ became classics. In 1961 her second LP „The Second Time Around“ featuring the two hits „Fool That I Am“ and „Don’t Cry Baby“. Etta James expanded her style with more Gospel elements – this can be heard on the two recordings „Something’s Got a Hold on Me“ and „Stop the Wedding“. In 1967, the LP „Tell Mama“ hit the stores. The title track and also the tracks „Security“ and „I’d Rather Go Blind“ became further hits.

In the seventies, Etta James continued recording and more albums were released, although she had no big hits anymore. In 1978 she was the opening act for The Rolling Stones and also performed at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Then she left Chess Records, stopped working and began struggeling with drug addiction and alcoholism. In 1989 Etta signed with Island Records and her albums „Seven Year Itch“ and „Stickin‘ to My Guns“ were released. Three years later, the LP „The Right Time“ (on Elektra Records) followed and in 1992 Etta James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With her tribute album to Billie Holiday called „Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday“ (1993), Etta James won her first Grammy Award in the category „Best Jazz Vocal Performance“ and ten years later, she was honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. And she picked her next Grammy  (in the category „Best Contemporary Blues Album„) for „Let’s Roll“ in 2005.

Etta became seriously sick and suffered from dementia and leukemia. In November 2011 her last album „The Dreamer“ was released. On the 20th January 2012, Etta James died at the Riverside Communiy Hospital in Riverside (California) – just five days before her 74th birthday and only three days after the passing of Johnny Otis, who discovered her in the fifties.

Get your Etta James stuff here (for Austrian customer):

                                 Shop for ETTA JAMES here (wordwide):

                     
GERMANY                                      UK                                            USA

 

Werbung

Music Diary – 31st December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 31st December!

AC/DC (1973/1974)

On the 31st December 1973 a historic perfomance happened in Sydney, Australia: AC/DC played their very first live show at the Chequers Bar!

Beside Malcolm and Angus Young, the line-up consisted of bassist and saxophone player Larry Van Kriedt, vocalist Dave Evans and Colin Burgess on drums. AC/DC was booked for several shows in the first week of 1974 and the band had to play at least three sets every evening.

Angus Young remembers about these first concerts (from the book „AC/DC: Maximum Rock’n’Roll“):
„I do think we played some Stones stuff, a lot of Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Songs like „Nadine„, „School Days“ and „No particular Place to go„. Also we had the Beatles track „I want you (She’s so heavy)“ on the setlist.“

                                GERMANY                                        UK                                              USA

Music Diary – 10th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 10th December!

Otis Redding (9th September 1941 – 10th December 1967)

On the 10th December 1967 the American soul singer Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash. The airplane (carrying the musician and his whole band) crashed at 3.28 pm into the Lake Monomo near Madison, Wisconsin. Beside Redding (born on 9th September 1941) the members of the Band „The Bar-Kays“ – Jimmy King (guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (organ), Phalon Jones (saxophone) and Carl Cunningham (drums) – died also. The only survivor was trumpet player Ben Cauley. Redding and his band were booked that day for a show at the Factory nightclub, which was located next to the University of Wisconsin. This tragedy happened just three days after Otis Redding recorded „(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”. This song should become Redding’s biggest hit.

 

Get your Otis Redding stuff here (for Austrian customer):

                                             Shop for OTIS REDDING here:

                                  GERMANY                                       UK                                              USA

 

Music Diary – 5th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 5th December!

Happy birthday to Rock’n’Roll legend Little Richard, who was born under his real name Richard Wayne Penniman on the 5th December 1932 in Macon, Georgia (USA). The American musician, singer and piano player recorded many hits and classics of the Rock’n’Roll era like „Lucille“ (1957), „Long Tall Sally“ (1956) and“Tutti Frutti“ (1955), which was included in the Library of Congress‘ National Recording Registry in 2010, claiming the „unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music.“

From 1951 until 1954 Little Richard recorded six singles, which didn’t succeed. In October 1955 the singer has his big breakthrough with „Tutti Frutti“, which reached No. 2 in the R&B chart in the USA. In March 1956 he had his first No. 1 with „Long Tall Sally“ (also on the R&B chart). With „Rip it up“ (1956) and „Lucille“ (1957) he had two more number one hits in his country. Also his debut album „Here’s Little Richards“ (1957) charted. Becoming a millionaire, Little Richard bought himsalef a mansion and moved to Los Angeles. In October 1957 he changed his mind completely and announced his decision to follow a life in the ministry. He explained his decision later that during a flight he had seen the plane’s red hot engines and felt angels were holding it up. And during a concert in Australia he saw a bright red fireball flying across the sky above him – for him it was sign from God to stop his wild Rock’n’Roll lifestyle and to start performing secular music and enter the ministry. He kept on recording Gospel songs over the years and concentrated on his life as a preacher.

                                        Shop for LITTLE RICHARD here:
                                GERMANY                                  UK                                        USA

Music Diary – 29th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 29th September!

Jerry Lee Lewis

On the 29th September 1935 Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis aka „The Killer“ was born in the town of Ferriday, Louisiana (USA). The singer and pianist is considered as one of the greatest Rock’n’Roll musicians in history. At the age of 21, Jerry Lee Lewis traveled for an audition to the legendary Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Jack Clement recorded the cover version of „Crazy Arms“ (formerly recorded by Ray Price) and Lewis‘ own composition „End of the Road“. One month later, in December 1956, Lewis started his solo career and became also a sessions musician for Sun Records. His unique piano playing can be heard on many recordings for artits like Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

On the 4th December 1956 the historic jam session featuring Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins,  Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis happened. Label owner Sam Phillips recorded it. 25 year later is was available titled as „Million Dollar Quartet„.

In 1957 Lewis recorded his first hit „Whole Lotta Shakin‘ Going On„. And more chartbreaker followed like „Great Balls of Fire„, „Breathless“ and „High School Confidential„. After his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin Myra in the same year, his popularity was quickly gone due to this scandal. He still recorded all over the years and especially his wild live performances in the sixties became legendary. The live album „Live at the Star Club, Hamburg“ (1964) proves this: „‚Live at the Star Club‘ is extraordinary, the purest, hardest rock & roll ever committed to record“, so music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Allmusic).

In 1989 the biographical movie „Great Balls of Fire!“ directed by Jim McBride with Dennis Quaid starring as „The Killer“ and Winona Ryder as Myra was released. For the soundtrack Jerry Lee Lewis re-recorded his songs.

After the induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), Lewis toured again in 1998 with the two Rock’n’Roll legends Chuck Berry and Little Richard. In 2006 the album „Last Man Standing “ was released. Three years later the record „Mean Old Man“ hit the stores. For the 18 new songs he worked together with people like Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, Kid Rock, Slash, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson and Ronnie Wood – just to name a few.

Shop for Jerry Lee Lewis (Germany/Europe):           Shop for Jerry Lee Lewis (USA):                                   

Music Diary – 18th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 18th September!

James Marshall „Jimi“ Hendrix (27th November 1942 – 18th September 1970)

On the 18th September 1970 another outstanding musician passed away far too early:
Mr. James Marshall „Jimi“ Hendrix died at the age of only 27 years. Hendrix is still considered as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. He started his career in the backing band of The Isley Brothers. Then he worked for Little Richard until the mid-1965 and after that he was in the band of Curtis Knight called Curtis Knight and the Squires. In late 1966 Chas Chandler from The Animals discovered the outstanding talent of Jimi Hendrix and so he moved from the USA to England to start his own band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. With this group he recorded the three legendary albums „Are You Experienced„, „Axis: Bold as Love“ (both 1967) and „Electic Ladyland“ (1968). In 1969 Hendrix headlined the festival in Woodstock and one year later at the Isle of Wight. On the 18th September 1970 Hendrix died from barbiturate-related asphyxia at the age of 27.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimi Hendrix shop (More CDs, Vinyls, Shirts, Merchandising etc.) for Europe/Germany:

Jimi Hendrix shop (CDs, Vinyls, Shirts, Merchandising etc.) for USA:

Buy recommendations – The Albums (Europe/Germany):

   

Buy recommendations – The Albums (USA):

   

 

 

 

Music Diary – 9th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th September!

Otis Redding (9th September 1941 – 10th December 1967)

On the 9th September 1941 Mr. Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was born in Dawson, Georgia. He was one of the most outstanding Soul singers in music history. At the age of 15 he left school and started supporting Little Richard‘s backing band „The Upsetters“. Then he joined Johnny Jenkins‚ group „The Pinetoppers“. In 1962 he recorded his first single „These Arms of mine“ for Stax records. Otis Redding’s debut album „Pain in my Heart“ was released two years later. In 1967 he performed at the legendary Monterey Pop Fesival and shortly after that he recorded with Steve Cropper from Booker T. & The M.G.’s „(Sittin‘ on) The Dock of the Bay“ . The final recordings of this song were done on the 8th December 1967.

Two days later, on the 10th December 1967, Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash. His very last recording „(Sittin‘ on) The Dock of the Bay“ became the first posthumous number-one record on the Billboard charts. The afterwards released album of the same name reached the first place in the UK charts.

Buy recommendations (Europe/Germany):
 

Buy recommendations (USA):