Let us celebrate the memory of Pink Floyd’s keyboard player Rick Wright. He would have turned 81 today if he hadn’t passed away in 2008. He was a pivotal part of Pink Floyd’s music, with arrangement as well as composing.
Among other things, Rick Wright wrote the music for The Great Gig in the Sky, which seems a most fitting way to celebrate his memory. Here he is, live from 1990, on the piano behind Clare Torry’s soaring vocals. I raise my glass to the memory of Rick Wright
Today it’s 50 years ago since American singer Ellen Naomi Cohen passed away. While also known as “the Queen of Laurel Canyon”, she is withoud a doubt best known as Mama Cass, a nickname she apparently did not like herself.
Mama Cass is best known for her time with The Mamas & the Papas, but she was also part of two folk groups prior to that, and she did eight solo albums. As a tribute to Mama Cass on this day, I choose a song from the first of her folk bands, The Big Three. I propose a toast in memory of Mama Cass
The Big Three - Young Girl’s Lament (1963)
While we’re at it, such a fine singer as Mama Cass deserves one more. This song was recorded in July 1973. Sadly the title of this song were not to be for her. About one year later she died at the age of 32, 50 years ago today.
Mama Cass - I’m Coming To the Best Part of My Life
Came across a “strange” record. I thought it could be suitable here as an invitation (perhaps mostly for guys, but you never know). The text is on YouTube
Happy Birthday to another of the grand old men in rock music. Garth Hudson of The Band is turning 87 today! He played keyboards and occasionally other instruments on the The Band’s classic albums from back in the 1960’s and 70’s. He was the oldest in The Band, yet he is the last surving member of their classic line-up
After The Band split, Garth Hudson has done some solo albums, and a lot of session work. While in The Band he mostly stayed in the background, and he was the only member who did not sing. So it’s difficult to find a representative song for Garth Hudson’s birthday.
It Makes No Difference from The Band’s farewell concert The Last Waltz may be as good a choice as any. His organ can be heard through the song, and towards the end he steps up front for a saxophone solo
The Only Bay & His Superstar Friends - Whole Lotta Love
Awesome kids! The little fellow on the guitar is nine years old, and his name is Bay Melnick Virgolino. He’ll probably never meet Jimmy Page, but I suspect he’ll pick up a few more guitar licks on his own anyway
Having a strange day filled up of YouTube, with a little VHTV on the side. Or is it the other way around? Shit, I don’t even know myself
In spite of everything that has been going down, that is going down and is going to go down, what a wonderful world we have. Let’s do our best to take care of it together. And each other, while we’re at it
This may be a fitting tribute to celbrate the memory of one of the biggest and most influential musicians in the history of modern popular music. Louis Armstrong was born 123 years ago today. Salute to Satchmo!
