Frank Sinatra - It Was A Very Good Year (1965)
Sinatra was born 110 years ago today.
This song resonates more and more with me.
But now the days are short, I’m in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wi-ne from fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs, it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year
Cheers my friends 
I’d like to pay tribute to the American singer and guitarist Raul Malo, who lost his battle against cancer on Monday this week at the age of 60. He was the singer in The Mavericks, a country rock band with some considerable success since 1989 (with a couple of breaks) up until more or less today.
Raul Malo was a very fine singer, with a voice sounding almost like a Roy Orbison Jr. Here’s a couple of tracks celebrating his memory. Listen to that voice. Thank you for the music Raul, may you be remembered
The Mavericks - Born to be Blue (2013)
The Mavericks - O What A Thrill (1994)
Since we got in a classic rock mood with two posts almost right above this, I might as well continue, and say Happy Birthday to Cliff Williams, long time bassist in AC/DC. He is turning 76 today
AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
This post is to the memory of a guitarist who’s mostly unknown to the larger public, but who’s been around the block more than once. His name is Dick Wagner (1942-2014), and he is best known for playing with Alice Cooper. He played some uncredited guitar on the last three albums of the Alice Cooper band. Then when Alice went solo with Welcome to My Nightmare in 1975, Dick Wagner stayed with him for several of the records to come for the rest of the 70’s and into the 80’s, both as guitarist and as co-songwriter.
On Welcome to My Nightmare Dick Wagner co-wrote six of the eleven songs, among them the title track and the hit single Only Women Bleed. The latter was a song he had written years before, but he could not get the lyrics right. During the sessions for the album, Alice put new lyrics to it, and it became the song we know today.
Alice Cooper - Only Women Bleed
Apart from Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner’s most noteble appearances has been with Lou Reed (the Berlin album and the following Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal tour and on Peter Gabriels’ debut solo album. He also played some uncredited guitar on two albums each by Kiss and Aerosmith. And to end with a little rock history trivia, in one of Dick Wagner’s early bands, the keyboardist was Billy Joel. We all got to start somewhere.
Dick Wagner was born 83 years ago today. Here’s to his memory
I like harp
Amanda Ventura, Harmonica Blues
The Way
Country Blues
Sunrise Blues
Trip Hop Style Jam
One of my all time favourite Bands Foo Fighters
another Foo Fighters classic Walk
I’d like to pay tribute to the American singer, songwriter and guitarist Joe Ely, who passed away yesterday at the age of 78. Although he never had any big hits, he’s been prominent figure on the country rock scene in the US and in Europe since his self titled debut album in 1977.
Joe Ely was a genre crossing musician, sometimes playing straight up country, sometimes pure rock and sometimes mixing the two. At times he also added a flavour of Mexican music to his songs. He collaborated with a wide range of artists, from country singers like Lyle Lovett, via Irish folk band The Chieftains to Bruce Springsteen and The Clash.
With The Clash he toured successfully both in the US and in Europe, by that introducing country to punk audiences and punk to country audiences. He got pretty close to The Clash for a while, and sang backing vocals on their big hit Should I Stay Or Should I Go.
Joe Ely is an artist I’ve really enjoyed since I discovered him around the mid 1980’s. I still have several of his records. I did see him live once in 1987. To honour his memory, here’s a couple of my favourite songs of his. Thank you for the music Joe, may you be remembered
Joe Ely - Honky Tonk Masquerade (1978)
Joe Ely - Row of Dominoes (1987)
so have you been part of this?
1000 musicians play Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters to ask Dave Grohl to come and play in Cesena, Italy.
Today Englands’s first teen idol and rock ‘n’ roll star is turning 89. So it’s Happy Birthday to Tommy Steele. He made his debut in 1956, and had several hits in the UK for the next five years, one of them at number 1. Into the 60’s the interest in Tommy Steele faded. One of the reasons is that musical trends shifted towards The Shadows, The Beatles, The Stones and so on.
Another reason may be that Tommy Steele didn’t have the biggest singing talent. His legacy in rock history is disputed. He has been described as “the genie who fell into the bottle, without being a genie”. In other words, he was simply lucky to be at the right place at the right time. No matter his talent, he was a good entertainer. And he paved the way for what was to come (Shadows, Beatles Stones etc.) So he is a name well worth mentioning in the history of rock.
After his musical career, Tommy Steele turned to acting. He appeared in several movies and TV-shows. He is also a respected sculptor, and has written a couple of novels. And his music is not forgotten. As late as 2009 a compilation album of his peaked at number 22 in the UK charts. To celebrate his birthday, here’s his number 1 song from 1957. Happy Birthday to Tommy Steele 
Tommy Steele - Singing the Blues
To end with a little trivia again, on the 18. of June 1960 Tommy Steele married Ann Donoghue. They have one daughter and they are still married! That is 65 years of marriage! Till death do us part.
Free - The Stealer (1970)
Once again it is Happy Birthday to one of the finest singers in rock ever. Paul Rodgers (Free and Bad Company) is turning 76 today 
Keith Richards turns 82 today!
Still alive and rocking!
The Rolling Stones — Jumpin’ Jack Flash
At most of their concerts, the guys raise the average age of everyone present by 10 years.
