One-hit wonders have made a number of appearances on the ol' GMC and I wouldn't even begin to try to list them, but one thing does occur to me. Some of them were probably lucky to have had that one hit, while others were so talented that they deserved more. The latter description would certainly … Continue reading Doris Troy Just Wanted To Sing
Category: Blues
Jimmy Ruffin’s Turning Point
A familiar name in the history of R&B music is that of the Temptations, a singing group with many years of success and countless adoring fans. But what you might not know is the story of Jimmy Ruffin, who turned down a chance to sing in the group and instead recommended his little brother, but … Continue reading Jimmy Ruffin’s Turning Point
Minnie Riperton – A Voice Stilled Too Early
I've written many times about musical performers who died before they could enjoy the kind of long career that their talent deserved. In a lot of cases their own self-destructive behavior led to a tragic end, but some were brought down by fate. The incredible voice of Minnie Riperton was stilled at just age 31 … Continue reading Minnie Riperton – A Voice Stilled Too Early
REVIEW: Lil’ Pookie – Just Want To Be Me
Those readers who have been around since the earlier days of this blog (which is now over 4 years old) will recall that I used to regularly review new albums. Over the first 3+ years I generated well over 200 reviews, and had reached the point where I was pretty much flooded with review requests … Continue reading REVIEW: Lil’ Pookie – Just Want To Be Me
Workin’ Hard – The Delta Rhythm Boys
To paraphrase one of James Brown's best-known descriptions, you could make a good case that the Delta Rhythm Boys were 'the hardest working close-rhythm singing group in show business'. Of course, there have been many combos that could make the same claim, but it would be difficult to top the longevity, versatility, and wide range … Continue reading Workin’ Hard – The Delta Rhythm Boys
The Tragedy Of Little Willie John
Tragic stories have always been a part of music history, and have played out in almost as many varieties as there are performers who've lived them. But one of the most most poignant types of tragedies is when a performer throws away his opportunity, and that would be the case with R&B pioneer Little Willie … Continue reading The Tragedy Of Little Willie John
Reconsidering Roy Head
It probably isn't that unusual for someone to turn in outstanding performances in several types of music and still fall short of sustained stardom. But it is a little surprising that someone as talented as Roy Head, who conquered everything from rock to traditional country to blue-eyed soul, topping the charts with his unforgettable "Treat … Continue reading Reconsidering Roy Head
Earl Bostic – Taking Jazz In A New Direction
As much as I've always enjoyed the traditional big band sound of guys like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Glenn Miller, I've also had a certain amount of admiration for those who came along with something a little different. A good example of that would be the bebop revolution of the post-war years, when guys … Continue reading Earl Bostic – Taking Jazz In A New Direction
Joe Tex Was Not A Giant Robotic Cowboy
I thought I should start with a confession. Until a few years ago, I didn't really remember much about Joe Tex. His name might have been a little familiar to me, but if pressed I'd probably have guessed that Joe Tex was the name given to the giant robotic cowboy who greets visitors at the … Continue reading Joe Tex Was Not A Giant Robotic Cowboy
Queen Ida Still Rules
I've always maintained that music lovers of my generation have surprisingly varied tastes in music. I've tried to reflect that fact in the pieces I write, touching on a lot of different genres from time to time. However, it occurred to me that I've sort of neglected one of my favorites -- the music of … Continue reading Queen Ida Still Rules
Geezer Music Club 