Jimi Hendrix psychedelic guitarist
Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists ever and holds a special place in my heart as I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall in the eighties.
Born in Seattle, Washington of African, European, Cherokee Indian and Mexican descent, Jimi only released three studio albums Are You Experienced (1967), Axis: Bold as Love (1967) and Electric Ladyland (1968).
Despite years of hard work touring the States playing back-up guitar for various R&B bands including Little Richard, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, the Isley Brothers, King Curtis and Curtis Knight, he found fame and fortune in London, UK with the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
David Bowie in Manchester Square 1965
David Bowie was born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, south London.
He first caught the public’s attention in the autumn of 1969 when ‘Space Oddity’ reached the top five of the UK singles chart but this was only after a few years of flirtation with the London music scene.
In 1963, having moved to more suburban Bromley he joined The King Bees. He is also to be in a number of other bands in the ’60s, such as The Konrads, The Manish Boys, George And The Dragons, and, most famously, The Lower Third.
However, his first appearance on British TV came, aged 17, in 1964, when he was defending his choice of growing long hair. In the same year, Davy Jones And The King Bees released the single “Liza Jane’ which didn’t chart.
David regularly appeared at London’s legendary Marquee club, at this venue, David and The Lower Third supported The High Numbers, later to become The Who.
In 1966, now named, David Bowie joined the trendy British label, Deram, in 1966 - made famous by The Moody Blues. ‘Rubber Band’ was his strange first single on this label, and the B-side, ‘The London Boys’, related to drugs, peer pressure, and teenage angst.
Other tracks recorded at this time also, included ‘Sell Me A Coat’, ‘When I Live My Dream’, ‘There Is A Happy Land’, ‘Karma Man’, ‘The Laughing Gnome’, ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ and ‘Please Mr Gravedigger’.
“I never got the feeling from David that he was ambitious. I remember he’d buy antiques if he had a hit, when he should have saved the money.” – Marc Bolan.
All was to change in 1969, David’s father died and had to sort out his dad’s estate at the tender age of 22. This was also the year Bowie first met his future wife Angie. He had a small role in the film, ‘The Virgin Soldiers’, and ‘Space Oddity’ reached number 5 in the UK charts - the week man first walked on the moon.
No idea about where the above picture came from. Why Manchester Square? All I know is that EMI’s headquarters were there at the time, the site of the “famous up the stairs” shots of the Beatles was taken in 1963 and again in 1969 that adorned the Beatles Red and Blue compilation albums.
Led Zeppelin colorized
Led Zeppelin formed in September 1968. Led Zeppelin consisted of Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass guitar/keyboards) and John Bonham (drums).
Keith Moon and John Entwistle suggested that a possible supergroup containing themselves, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck would go down like a lead zeppelin, a term Entwistle used to describe a bad gig. The group deliberately dropped the ‘a’ in Lead to aid pronunciation. Jimmy Page had already been a bassist and guitarist in the Yardbirds, John Paul Jones was a session musician, John Bonham and Robert Plant were musicians from the Birmingham area. They came together through mutual connections.
Their manager, Peter Grant, secured an advance deal of $200,000 from Atlantic Records in November 1968, then the biggest deal of its kind for a new band. Atlantic signed Led Zeppelin without having ever seen them, largely on the recommendation of Dusty Springfield. Under the terms of the contract, the band alone would decide when they would release albums and tour, and had final say over the contents and design of each album. They also would decide which (if any) tracks to select as singles. “Stairway to Heaven” was never released as a single, although others were without the band’s consent.
Led Zeppelin I, the band’s first album, cost £1,750 to produce (including artwork) and by 1975, it had grossed $7,000,000.
During much of the seventies the group was considered the biggest and best rock group around.
On 10 December 2007 the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited for a one-off concert in memory of Ahmet Ertegün, with Jason Bonham (the late John Bonham’s son) on drums. The concert was to help raise money for the Ahmet Ertegün Education Fund, which pays for university scholarships in the UK, US and Turkey.
Recently both Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have both revealed that they are prepared to embark upon a world tour with Led Zeppelin or at least the odd gig, however due to Robert Plant’s tour commitments with Alison Krauss, such plans will not be announced until at least September 2008.
Amy Winehouse colourful image
Amy Jade Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of Enfield, north London on 14 September 1983.
She has dominated the 50th Grammy Awards – the Oscars of the music industry – taking home five of the most prestigious awards, including three of the “Big Four”: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Comment news, vews, comment on Amy Winehouse. Have your say and discuss! Follow the link to Amy Winehouse forum.
Blurry, colourful Sean Kingston image
Kisean Anderson (Sean Kingston) was born February 3, 1990 in Miami, Florida. Although he was born in the United States, he was predominantly raised in Kingston, Jamaica, after moving there at the age of six. His stage name “Sean Kingston” pays homage to Kingston, Jamaica.
“Beautiful girls” was the first single from his debut album Sean KingstonThe song uses digital pitch correction technology on the vocals. The beat for the song is derived from Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”.
“Me Love” was the second single. It is produced by J. R. Rotem and is actually a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Mak’er”.
Having celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, February 3, Sean Kingston has created a new version of Alice Cooper’s song, “I’m Eighteen” and his fifth single. Sean recorded the song in Los Angeles for the national nonpartisan, nonprofit youth voting initiative, Declare Yourself, to encourage America’s 18-year-olds to register and vote in the 2008 presidential primaries and general election. The single is currently available as a free download on iTunes.
This is the song that Johnny Rotten mimed to at the Sex boutique, which got him the job of lead singer of the Sex Pistols.
Lupe Fiasco Chicago image
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, Lupe Fiasco, was born February 16, 1982 and rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. Jay-Z describes him as a “breath of fresh air”.
On his website it says:
Hip-hop music, once a platform for creative expression and friendly competition, has, sadly, become a popularity contest. With record sales down and ringtone dollars up, rookies searching for that “one big hit” seem solely concerned with being deemed “cool.” Lyrics have side-stepped, giving way to dance-instructing “rappers” more concerned with sparking the new “Macarena” than being hailed as an MC.
Nas’ 1996 album, It Was Written, which he heard at the age of 17 inspired him to pursue a rap career.
Rihanna pop art image
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados. In 2003, one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers whilst on holiday in Barbados. Rogers helped her record material in the states which was sent to various people including Jay-Z who signed her to Def Jam Records.
Three hugely successful albums later, international star Rihanna will be the headliner for Smile Jamaica-Africa Unite, a concert which takes place at James Bond Beach in Jamaica on Saturday, 23 February 2008, in tribute to Bob Marley.
The event is an effort of the Marley family to unite Africa with members of the African Diaspora through music so that Bob’s message of love, confidence in self and hope, will be perpetuated. It’s a combination of two ventures, the Smile Jamaica concert which was held in 1976, and the Rita Marley Africa Unite initiative which will be held in Jamaica for the first time. The concert is even more special this year with February officially designated Reggae Month by Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Pharrell picture with dots
Pharrell Williams was born April 5, 1973. He is a producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brand Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Footwear, though in most music videos, his clothing covers the logo.
Pharrell entered a high school talent show with some friends where they were discovered by Teddy Riley, whose studio was close to Pharrell’s school Princess Anne High School. Teddy Riley, the driving force behind Guy and BLACKstreet, gave us No Diggerty. Princess Anne is Prince William’s aunt.
Kanye West pop art picture looking down
Born June 8, 1977. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and his third album Graduation in 2007. His albums have received numerous awards (including six Grammys), critical acclaim and commercial success.
Some would say one of the few rappers today with a noticeable sound and something to say.
His father was Ray West, a former Black Panther and photojournalist and is now a Christian counsellor, his late mother, Dr. Donda West, worked as a Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University.
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