“Puff the Magic Dragon” is one of folk music’s greatest songs. Sure, songs like “This Land Is Your Land” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” epitomize folk’s socio-political spirit. Yet I ask you this: how many songs have been – and continue to be – sung by generations of children. I’m fairly certain just hearing the […]
Monday Morning Video – Sam & Dave
When I think back to the pivotal artists that cemented my lifelong love of music, Sam & Dave rank high on the list. I stumbled across the Atlantic Records R&B Anthology and was immediately drawn to Sam and Dave’s magic. The energy, the songs, the voices – they were all something special. Sam Moore passed […]
In Memoriam – Kris Kristofferson
“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.” Aside from the national anthem, perhaps no other lyrics are as broadly known as those ten words. That hook paralleled a subtle change in popular songs that no one mastered better than Kris Kristofferson. He certainly wasn’t the first writer to make the protagonist of […]
Monday Morning Video – Kris Kristofferson
Another country legend is gone with the passing of Kris Kristofferson this weekend. Kristofferson first established himself as a songwriter, writing such notable songs as “Sunday Morning Coming Down” (most notably recorded by Johnny Cash in 1970) and “Me and Bobby McGee” (made famous by Janis Joplin). He then embarked on his own highly successful […]
Monday Morning Video – “Fairytale of New York”
This holiday classic takes on extra meaning this year given the recent passing of songwriter Shane MacGowan. Glen Hasard and Lisa O’Neill led this beautiful performance at MacGowan’s funeral a few weeks ago.
Monday Morning Video – Shane MacGowan
Last week brought the news that Shane MacGowan, co-founder and singer-songwriter for Ireland’s legendary the Pogues, had passed away. MacGowan’s songs, not to mention his interpretations of other folk songs, were as stirring as his life was complex. Even though he had only performed sporadically over the last decade, the impact of his music has […]
Monday Morning Video – Jimmy Buffett
We lost another legend this weekend with the passing of Jimmy Buffett. Buffett’s legacy stretches beyond music that is revered by countless fans. He also helped shape the business of music, creating an empire that made him a cultural icon. It’s hard to pick just one classic from a catalog that is filled with them. […]
In Memoriam – Jimmy Buffett
Long before artists like Reba and Garth took their music and turned it into a brand, there was Jimmy Buffett. If the erstwhile Nashvillian had launched his career in the last couple of decades, his combination of laid back rhythms and tales of industrious avoidance of adult responsibility would have no doubt landed him in […]
Monday Morning Video – Robertson, Rodriguez, and O’Connor
It’s been a rough couple of weeks in the world of the music. The passing of Robbie Robertson, Sixto Rodriguez, and Sinead O’Connor have taken from us three artists who, each in their own way, made an indelible mark on audiences around the world. Here is a brief video playlist that features just small pieces […]
Monday Morning Video – Tina Turner
We lost another legend with the passing of Tina Turner last week. Turner didn’t just sing songs, she owned them. Need proof?