ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE TO SET SAIL LATER THIS YEAR WITH ALL-STAR BAND
LINE-UP
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION TAPS ZZ TOP, GEORGE THOROGOOD AND OTHERS TO ROCK THE WAVES ABOARD LIBERTY OF THE SEAS
The first-ever Rock Legends Cruise in support of the work of the Native American Heritage Association is slated to depart Fort Lauderdale on December 1 of this year aboard The Royal Caribbean Line’s Liberty of the Seas. Headlining the five day cruise is "That little ol' band from Texas," Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and George Thorogood and The Destroyers who bring their “Bad To The Bone” approach to the high seas. The unprecedented cruise will benefit NAHA’s mission to provide emergency assistance and self-help programs to the Sioux Native Americans living on reservations in South Dakota. Along with ZZ Top and Thorogood, the Rock Legends Cruise includes
multiple performances from John Kay and Steppenwolf, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Johnny Winter, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Blackfoot, Pat Travers, and SwampDaWamp.
It is expected that upwards of 3,200 music fans will be aboard the ship, one of the most biggest, fastest and luxurious passenger vessels in service today, served by a crew of 1,300 on 18 decks. With a gross tonnage of 160,000, it can truly be said that the rock-themed benefit voyage will be a "heavy" experience for both bands and fans. The ship,
almost as long as four football fields, cruises at 21.6 knots, is scheduled for port stops in the Bahamas that include Coco Cay and Nassau. The main attraction of the cruise is, of course, multiple performances by the Rock Legends bands aboard in four different on-
board venues, The Deck, The Platinum Theater, Studio B and The Sphinx. The ship also features on-board surfing thanks to its FlowRider wave generator, an ice skating rink, a boxing ring, a full-sized volleyball / basketball court, cantilevered whirlpools and range of gourmet restaurants.
NAHA President David G. Myers commented, “We are very excited to be offering music fans and friends a unique opportunity to experience five days of brilliant musical performances from these true Rock Legends in a setting that is without equal. Our hope is that this innovative approach to fundraising will increase our ability to serve Native American communities in need tenfold.”
Rock Legends Cruise info / ticket purchase: www.rocklegendscruise.com
Rock Legends Cruise toll free number (888) 666-1499
About the artists:
ZZ Top – Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard came together as ZZ Top in Houston, TX, 41 years ago and have the distinction of being the longest running unchanged personnel line-up of any major band in history. Their numerous hits include “LaGrange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and others. The band has been named Official Heroes of the State of Texas and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
George Thorogood and The Destroyers – George Thorogood has released twenty-six albums over the course of a career that began thirty-five years ago in his native Delaware. Among the hits associated with Thorogood are “Bad to the Bone, “ “Move It On Over,” “House Rent Boogie,” “Who Do You Love,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” Band members include Jim Suhler, Buddy Leach, Jeff Simon and Billy Blough. The last named members have been with The Destroyers since the mid-1970s.
John Kay and Steppenwolf – The origins of the band date back to 1968 when East German - born John Kay (nee Joachim Fritz Krauledat) formed the original Steppenwolf in Los Angeles. Their initial hits included the biker anthem “Born To Be Wild,” (featured in the film Easy Rider) as well as “Magic Carpet Ride, “Rock Me” and “Monster.” The band’s
current line-up includes Michael Wilk, Ron Hurst, Danny Johnson and, of course, “the alpha wolf” John Kay.
The Marshall Tucker Band – The band, since its formation in Spartanburg, SC in 1971, has been one of the standard-bearers of ‘Southern Rock.” Their eclectic approach which fused jazz and country with rock has earned them legions of fans as did their touring with the Allman Brothers Band. Their albums have sold in the millions and their big hits “Can’t You See” and “Heard It In A Love Song” are staples of the classic rock radio format. The current MTB line-up is Doug Gray, Pat Elwood, B.B. Borden, Marcus James Henderson, Stuart Swanlund and Rick Willis.
Dickey Betts & Great Southern - A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts is the writer and voice of the group’s breakthrough hit “Ramblin Man.” He also wrote the band’s Grammy-winning “Jessica” and, among other compositions, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Blue Sky.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and is listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Foghat - Founded in the UK as a spin-off from Savoy Brown in the 1970s, Foghat’s blues - rock / boogie approach earned the band five gold albums. Their hits include “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” and “Fool For The City” and their current Anglo-American line-up, including founding member Roger Earl, has been in place for the past six years.
Johnny Winter – Beaumont, TX was where Winter began a musical career that is totally rooted in the blues. Widely known along his native Gulf Coast, his big break came in 1968 when Mike Bloomfield invited him to join with him at the Fillmore East for a “Super Session” concert that included Al Kooper. He was soon signed directly to Columbia Records and given what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry. He was a featured performer at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1988
Molly Hatchet – The band was founded in Jacksonville, FL in 1975 and would, after signing with Epic Records, chalked up a string of three consecutive Platinum-certified album: their self-titled debut, Flirtin’ with Disaster, the follow up that went Double Platinum, and Beatin’ The Odds. Today, Molly Hatchet is Bobby Ingram, Phil McCormack, John Galvin, Dave Hlubek, Tim Lindsey and Shawn Beamer.
The Outlaws – Formed in Tampa, FL in the earlier 1970’s, The Outlaws broke through nationally with “Green Grass and High Tides” and earned a reputation as one of the greatest touring live bands of all time fuels by guitar-driven country-rock and stellar three-part harmonies. Today’s Outlaws are original singer / guitarist Hendry Paul and original drummer Monte Yoho with Chris Anderson, Billy Crain, Randy Threet and Jon Coleman.
Blackfoot – Jacksonville was also the site of Blackfoot’s founding. The band transcended the Southern Rock genre with its hard-edged approach. The group’s name is a reflection of the Native American heritage of three of its founding members including Greg T. Walker who is of Creek ancestry and remains with the band today. Other current members include Mike Estes, Charlie Hargrett and Kurt Pietro.
Pat Travers – As a child, the Toronto-born guitar great saw Jimi Hendrix live in Ottawa in 1968, an event that changed the course of his life. He was a proficient guitarist by the age of 14 and moved to London to pursue his rock ‘n’ roll dreams in the 1970s and has released more than 30 albums during the course of his career. His music is metal-infused so it’s no surprise that Metallica’s Kirk Hamment called Travers one of his favorite guitarists.
SwampDaWamp – Though their history does not extend as far back as the other Rock Legends Cruise bands, this six-piece group from Charlotte, NC band reflects the blues / rock / country heritage that all of the bands have in common. Their blue-collar ethos and fun-loving sound make the party band, nonpareil. Their self-assigned mission is to “ROCK THIS COUNTRY!”
About the Native American Heritage Association:
Since 1993, Native American Heritage Association worked with Lakota (Sioux) Reservations strengthening the Native American communities and families one member at a time. The challenges are difficult as unemployment rates on the Reservations are at 80%, 70% have no transportation, the average life expectancy is 58 years of age, infant mortality is 10 times the national average and 31% of Native American children under the age of 4 are obese because of lack of proper nutrition. NAHA, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, in partnership with Feeding America and Gifts In Kind International, has provided food, clothing, heating assistance, personal care items and home care items to the many Native Americans in need. NAHA has a 17-year history of executing its mission in a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charities. Thanks to its financially sound business practices, NAHA has earned 6 consecutive 4 star rating with www.charitynavigator.org
92.4% of all NAHA revenue goes toward its program services.
More at http://www.naha-inc.org/=
Sounds like some "Southern Hospitality" for sure on THIS adventure! Hope some of you are able to check it out! (kk)
re: NEW RELEASES:
Santana / Journey Legend Gregg Rolie Releases New Solo EP
A personal and intimate reworking of Santana and Journey classics as well as Gregg's own compositions through solo voice and piano
Austin, TX – 2/21/2011 – Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Rolie, co-founder of two multi-platinum super groups, Santana and Journey, and the voice of such timeless classics as “Black Magic Woman” and 'Evil Ways', has released new solo EP, 'Five Days'. A personal and intimate reworking of Santana and Journey classics as well as Gregg's own compositions through solo voice and piano, 'Five Days' was recorded in the living room of his Central Texas home on the piano given to him by his father in the early days of Santana. “It's from my house to yours,” says Gregg, whose new EP includes the songs “Black Magic Woman”, “Anytime”, “Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore”, “If I Went Home”, “Trouble In Mind” and “Cool Little Mama”.
Gregg Rolie makes his first-ever solo appearance, Saturday, March 5th at 9:00 pm, on the grand piano in the lobby bar of The Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. This special performance is in celebration of his new solo EP, “Five Days”. Gregg, along with his special guest, blues guitarist Alan Haynes, will be playing selections from the new EP along with many old favorites. He’ll share stores from his 40-plus year career and answer questions from the audience during the show. Afterwards, Gregg will be on hand for pictures and autographs. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.
Gregg Rolie is responsible for co-founding two phenomenally popular, multi-platinum super groups - Santana and Journey. In 1998, the world class keyboardist / vocalist / producer was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as part of the original Santana band. Formed in San Francisco in 1969, the multi-cultural ensemble produced three groundbreaking hit albums which yielded several FM staples. You've heard Gregg's voice and keyboards on such classic Santana hits as "Black Magic Woman", "Evil Ways", "No One To Depend On", "Everybody's Everything" and "Oye Como Va".
"There's one unique ability of the band," Gregg told music critic Ben Fong-Torres, "and that was that it created music that there is no name for ... Santana's music is such a jell of different material that there just is no name for it."
Departing after the pioneering jazz fusion offering 'Caravansarai' in 1972, both band members Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon went on to form quintessential 1980s hit-makers Journey. After co-writing and producing the band's first 7 albums, along with constant touring, Gregg decided to leave Journey once the hugely successful 1981 live double LP 'Captured' was issued. During the '80s, Rolie wrote, produced and played on the Santana albums 'Shango' and 'Freedom', and released his debut, self-titled 1985 solo album and its 1987 follow-up 'Gringo', before co-founding the all-new Journey-esque rock group The Storm at the tail end of the decade. The Storm released two albums: ‘92’s eponymous disc that yielded the #13 Billboard Hot 100 hit “I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love” and ‘96’s 'Eye Of the Storm'. That same year, Rolie, along with five other original Santana members, formed Abraxas Pool, a spirited collaboration that resulted in the 1997 critically acclaimed album of the same name.
Thirty-five years after Gregg and Carlos met in San Francisco, 2001 marked the release of Rolie's third solo album 'Roots'. The first-ever release on Bay-Area based Tower Records' new proprietary label 33rd Street, 'Roots' finds Gregg revisiting the incredible brew of sounds he helped conjure up in the late 60's. Rolie calls Roots' twelve original selections "Latin rock plus"; the instrumentation is Latin percussion, with organ, guitar, horns, and lots of great solo work and songwriting", adding that "I really wanted to go all the way back to my Santana roots".
Formed in 2006, the Gregg Rolie Band consists of Adrian Areas (son of original Santana percussionist Jose Chepito Areas) on Timbales, drummer Ron Wikso (who was also in The Storm), Rocket Ritchotte on guitars, internationally acclaimed bassist Gary Brown, percussionist Elliot “Toby” Borrero and former Jean Luc Ponty keyboardist Wally Minko. Last year, Gregg caused a flurry of excitement amongst the music press with the release of his latest CD 'Rain Dance". This live CD captures Gregg and his all-star band performing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2007. The music press and fans alike have been raving about the new CD and have even compared Rolie's band to that of the original Santana group, in which Rolie was a founding member.
We featured a track from Gregg's recent live CD a few months back in Forgotten Hits ... he is still in GREAT voice and exploring new avenues in music all the time. This new EP should be an interesting release ... and his upcoming concert appearance promises to be an up close and personal encounter with a true rock and roll legend. We're hoping a few of our readers are able to attend and can report back to us about the show. (kk)
re: WE ALWAYS TELL YOU ABOUT UP-COMING RELEASES ...
NOW COMES WORD OF A CANCELLED RELEASE!:
Best,
JJ
re: RECENT AND UPCOMING SHOWS:
"One Night of Elvis," a musical salute to Elvis Presley, comes to Aldario's Restaurant, 240 Naugatuck Avenue in Milford, Connecticut on Friday, March 4, 2011. The show features New York's Brian Enoch. Brian has been an Elvis fan since he was 8 years old and has been performing his tribute show since 1998. Brian was a finalist in the 2005 CSRA Elvis Impersonator Contest, and he brings not only the voice, the look but also the personality to every show. This is his first area appearance.
In tribute to the music and memory of Elvis, Brian Enoch will perform two sets, one at 8:30 pm and one at 9:45 pm, but doors open at 7 pm for dinner. Along with the full night of entertainment, the price of admission also includes the restaurant's complete buffet dinner and also a full open bar. The event is open to all ages, but guests must be over 21 to drink.
The event commemorates the 50th anniversary of Elvis' historic concert in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. As legend has it, Elvis Presley was one of the main reasons that a Pearl Harbor monument exists. Nobody would fund it, so he did a fund-raising concert in March of 1961 to raise the cash.
It was also 35 years ago that Elvis played Connecticut. His concert at the New Haven Veteran's Memorial Coliseum was a landmark concert for the venue in 1976. He was booked to play the Hartford Civic Center one year later, on August 21, 1977, but he died five days before the scheduled show.
Before and after the live sets at "One Night of Elvis," there will be dancing to music provided by Boppers DJ Charles F. Rosenay!!! of Liverpool Productions, playing a mix of golden oldies from the 50s and 60s mixed in with some interactive dances, contests and prize giveaways.
After five sold-out Beatle nights, Aldario's Restaurant in Milford decided it was time to honor Elvis Presley with a dinner dance party similar in format to the highly-successful past events catering to Beatles fans. "One Night of Elvis" dinner dance party is actually the second in Aldario's three-part Winter Concert Series, which concludes on April 1st with "One Sweet Dream: The Paul McCartney Experience," a tribute to Sir Paul McCartney with music from his Beatles era, Wings years and also his solo career. It features McCartney impersonator / look-alike Mike Miller on bass and lead vocals and Milford's Jeffrey DiCera on drums.
For reservations to "One Night of Elvis" or menu information, call Aldario's Restaurant at (203) 874-6096. For any other information on the Winter Concert Series, call (203) 795-4737. Space is limited, and past Dinner Dance Parties have been sell-outs.
re: SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME:
Kent ...
Check out who's going into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame on June 16th.
Frank B.
re: ROCK, POP AND DOO WOP / AIRPLAY:
Kent -
From my understanding, it will be on Channel 11 in Chicago on Saturday, March 12, at 7:00 and 9:05 PM.
THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO
Mike De Martino
President of the Lovejoy Music Club
Dear Kent
I'll never win one of your contests. There are too many people who know way more than me. Most of the people at TOP SHELF OLDIES run rings around me (and they aren't gold rings that I can reach out, grab, and sell).
But I still want a copy of AIRPLAY, when you get them. PLEASEEEEEEEEEE.
the great and wonderful Malcolm
Well, once we get the go-ahead, we'll let you know about it ... if you can't win a copy, you'll certainly have the opportunity to BUY a copy!!! (lol) kk
re: ARTIST UPDATE:
Walter Egan is a substitute school teacher who works at a school where a friend of mine teaches here in Tennessee.
David
I wonder if during science class he demonstrates the relationship between a magnet and steel??? (kk)
re: SAN BERNARDINO:
A totally different song than the Christie track that you featured, but this is what we in the mid-south think of when someone says San Bernardino. It was done by Lemonade Chrade and didn't break into the charts at all, as far as I know - but was really big in Tennessee, and maybe even parts of Alabama and Georgia. These guys are a local Nashville band who often played the same gigs as The Allman Joys (yeah, their earlier name) in the late sixties. They also played on the same bill as Herman's Hermits, The Buckinghams, The Beau Brummels, Sam the Sham, The Swinging Medallions, The Gentrys, and The Kingsmen ... so they were more than your average neighborhood garage combo.
Nope ... this one didn't go anywhere ... sounds like one of those early '70's soft rock hits that would have gotten played for a week or two and then disappeared forever ... but it looks like it didn't make Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart either! (kk)
re: YELLOW RIVER:
>>>When I was 13, my parents sent me to "church camp" for a week. We weren't allowed to bring radios, but I couldn't imagine not listening to music for a whole week, so I brought mine anyway. One day when we had free time I snuck into the woods with the radio. I was afraid of getting caught, so I only stayed for a few minutes. The only song I heard was "Yellow River", so I'll always remember it fondly. (Clete6)
The Tremeloes recorded the very first version of "Yellow River". It was the backing track of this recording that served for Christie's hit.".
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/images/yellow-2.mp3
Almost as interesting as reading The Wrecking Crew helped / was part of The Beach Boys :-) Great song; either way!!
Jersey John
re: ON THE RADIO:
Kent,
I am pleased to announce my latest radio interview show that I just posted. It's with a truly extraordinary man of music.
Among other things (and there are so many) Billy Mure is a record-breaker when it comes to my interviewing career. He is the oldest person whom I have ever interviewed and also the person with most experience in the music business.
I first heard of him back in 1958 when I became familiar with the Daddy-O's record of "Got A Match?." He produced that and was the guitar-playing Daddy-O on that national top 40 hit. (That's been a popular one on my Record Page for some time). For years I had no idea that his career consisted of so much more besides that recording and the legendary "A String Of Trumpets" which featured, among others, Doc Severinson.
When Billy agreed to do a show with me, I did an exhaustive amount of research. Among other things, I learned that he is a guitar virtuoso (and also an expert banjo player) who has released approximately 20 guitar albums and that he arranged and/or played on dozens and dozens of hit recordings. I did know, of course, that he produced the Delicates recording of "Black and White Thunderbird" backed with "Ronnie Is My Lover."
It was Billy who came up with the hooks on many of those hit records and he discusses many of his secrets during this interview. He worked with Arthur Godfrey at one time and he has his own opinion about Godfrey's firing of Julius LaRosa: we play that momentous moment in broadcasting history during this show.
There so much more I could say here but I would prefer that you be surprised. As a bonus, Billy's close friend and fiancee, Debbie Brown Murphy, participates toward the end of the show: she was the girl singer with big bands including Johnny Long, Billy May, and Pee Wee Hunt. She also revealed (and Billy didn't deny it) what Billy's secret to his long life is: he eats a certain food every day, namely ***** **********.
No you can't buy vowels, you have to listen to the show to find out what it is!
Billy is 95 but he sounds like he could be in his 30s! He is truly amazing and has such wonderful musical memories to share. This was truly one of the most enjoyable interviews that I've ever done.
Below is a partial track list for this show. I prefer to keep the hit records on which he played a surprise. And please keep in mind, what we play during this show is really a small representative sample of this man's amazing career.
Unless specified, the tracks listed below are either excerpts or edits:
1 Maria Elena -- Billy Mure (played underneath my introduction)
2 Eh Cumpari -- Julius LaRosa
3 Arthur Godfrey fires Julius LaRosa on the air
4 Tiger Guitars -- Billy Mure
5 Got A Match? -- The Daddy-O's
6 Got A Match? -- Frank Gallup
7 Trumpet Cha Cha Cha -- Danny Davis
8 String Of Trumpets (complete version) -- The Trumpeteers
NOTE: some copies say "Billy Mure's Trumpeteers")
9 Murray The K Theme (written by Billy Mure)
10 Ronnie Is My Lover -- The Delicates
11 Black And White Thunderbird -- The Delicates
12-21 (hit records that Billy played on; he also arranged some of them)
22 Peanut Vendor -- Billy Mure
23 I Found Me A Girl (complete version) -- Billy Mure
24 Ma, What Time Is It? -- Billy Mure
25 (another hit record that Billy played on)
26 We'll Build A Bungalow -- 17-year-old Debbie Brown with the Johnny Long Orchestra and the Long Shots vocal group
27 Here's That Rainy Day (complete) -- Debbie Murphy (same artist as #26 but much more mature!) with Billy Mure on guitar
28 Toy Balloons -- Russ Conway
29 Toy Balloons -- The Mure Sisters
30 When Will It End? When Will It End? When Will It End? (complete) -- Billy Mure (this is on YouTube and the artist is listed as "Johnny Upstairs", which is a pseudonym)
Special points of interest:
The Godfrey firing of Julius LaRosa: I included the tail end of Julie's "swan song" followed by the dreaded event
#24 is a really strange song. That's all I say. Right up my alley of course!
My Billy Mure radio interview show -- recorded exclusively for the Jersey Girls Sing website -- is on the following page, along with more than 100 others that I've done for that website: Ronnie's Radio Page In the unlikely event that you don't see Billy's picture, please press the F5 key to bring up the latest version of the page.
Ronnie
Baltimore Net Radio Announces DORIS DAY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
April 3rd 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (New York Time)
Baltimore Net Radio is happy to announce it will once again celebrate the birthday of America's Sweetheart, Miss Doris Day on her birthday Sunday, April 3rd. The Tribute will be commercial free, streaming LIVE from www.baltimorenetradio.com
from 3L00 PM to 5:00 PM (New York Time).
See our YouTube announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watchtv=nUv2chEbjes We invite you to call in your birthday greeting to Miss Day as soon as possible to make sure your call will be included in this special tribute. Miss Day will be receiving a copy of the entire show.
In the USA - call 877-577-2630 (Option # 6) or, if outside the USA, please call 540-288-4001, (Option # 6)
Last year was the first year BaltimoreNetRadio hosted Doris's Birthday Tribute. Fans from all over the world called in, plus many of her celebrity friends including: Jackie Joseph, Betty White, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Bennett, Janis Paige, Les Brown, Jr., Vickie Lawrence, Billy Gray, Wayne Newton, Bruce "Beach Boys" Johnston and Dr Robert Schuller.
If you think last year's Tribute was special, just wait for this year's show ... Join Keith, Diane and Mary Anne for a very special Birthday Tribute for a very special lady, Miss Doris Day. There will be some surprises so please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 3, 2011!
re: RE-WHIPPED:
Just stumbled across this one. The cover is nowhere near as good as the original but the music and arrangements are pretty darn cool.
... Ed44
Yeah, we've featured this one before ... in fact, the whole gatefold is pretty cool (and fun to look at) ...
but NOTHING beats the original!!! (kk)
(Have you guys seen one this before???)