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Legendary producer Jerry Wexler dies at 91
Legendary record producer Jerry Wexler, who helped shape R&B music with influential recordings of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and other greats, and later made key recordings with the likes of Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, has died, says his co-author, David Ritz. He was 91. Read More... Legendary record producer Jerry Wexler, who helped shape R&B music with influential recordings of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and... more
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Jerry Wexler 1917-2008
Jerry Wexler was a World War II hero and one of the most successful and influential music producers of his time. From the time he became a partner at Atlantic Records in 1953 he helped cultivate the musical careers of such artists as Ray Charles, the Drifters, Aretha Franklink, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and George Michael. An inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Wexler enjoyed close to 30 years of success in the industry he helped mold. Jerry Wexler was a World War II hero and one of the most successful and influential music producers of his time. From the time he beca... more
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The Life of Joss Stone
Joss Stone's lyrics come from her personal life and her musical inspiration comes from American R&B/Soul legends.
JossStone.com Joss Stone's lyrics come from her personal life and her musical inspiration comes from American R&B/Soul legends. ... more -
Aretha's Dilemma: The House Or The Fur Coats?
PETA is no fan of Aretha Franklin. She upset the animal rights organization by wearing a full-length fur coat to a Grammy event last month. But after the TMZ gossip site reported that ‘The Empress of All Music’ (as she's now calling herself post- Beyoncégate) was about to loose her home due to an IRS claim for approximately $19,000 in back taxes, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk offered to bury the hatchet, and help out the troubled singer.
PETA has pledged to pay Franklin's tax bill on condition that the pelt-loving diva promises never to wear fur again. They are also asking Franklin to donate her furs to the organization as Mariah Carey and Kim Cattrall have done. "Our offer is a win-win situation," says Newkirk in an open letter. "You get to keep your home, and animals get to keep their lives. We are rooting for you to please give animals the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that they deserve by giving up fur." Sounds like a no-brainer to us.
http://www.dailymantra.com PETA is no fan of Aretha Franklin. She upset the animal rights organization by wearing a full-length fur coat to a Grammy event last m... more -
Aretha Franklin Hits Bum Note With Peta
by Nicole
Aretha Franklin may have got some respect from the Daily Mantra after we saw her perform last week (see story), but she's not getting any props from Peta. It seems the "Empress of All Music," as she's referring to herself post Beyoncégate, upset the animal rights activist group after she was photographed wearing a white, full-length fur coat to the Grammys.
In an open letter to Franklin, PETA's VP Dan Mathews says, "Music lovers may think of you as a 'queen,' but to animal lovers, you are a court jester. I'm sorry, Aretha, but your furs make you look like a clown. Why not shed the old-fashioned look that adds pounds to your frame and detracts from your beautiful voice? Won't you donate your furs to the poor as "queen of compassion," Mariah Carey, did? You'll get a tax credit for the donation, and we at PETA will all sing your praises."
Indeed today may be a good one for Ms. Franklin to donate her offending coats since the Los Angeles Mission is holding its annual March For Human Dignity but a stones throw from The Nokia Theatre, where Franklin performed last week. The annual event aims to spread awareness about what the Los Angeles Mission is doing to help the homeless of Skid Row. During the event, volunteers are on hand to collect much needed clothing. As well as coats to keep the homeless warm, the Mission distributes around 49,000 pairs of new underwear to the homeless each year. Perhaps Franklin has some diva-size duds she can drop off with her furs.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra by Nicole ... more -
Aretha Franklin: Empress of All Music
by Nicole
The Daily Mantra paid our respects to Aretha Franklin at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles last night. After randomly catching The Blues Brothers on TV the night before, and shopping at Whole Foods to the sounds of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" yesterday, when some free tickets materialized at the last minute, we took it as a sign that the Universe wanted us to go see her, and we're certainly glad we did.
After the storm in a tea cup at the Grammys, when Beyoncé referred to Tina Turner as "The Queen," which upset Franklin since "The Queen of Soul" is a title she has long laid claim too, it was notable that the Nokia Theatre master of ceremonies kicked the performance off by introducing the legendary singer as the "Empress of All Music" (top that Beyoncé).
The night's performance seemed effortless to Franklin, who didn't break a sweat as she busted out classic after classic. When you watch the Aretha wannabes on American Idol, they always make you aware when they're going for a tough note, conveying the difficulty of the feat they're about to achieve as if to highlight their skill. While our new American Idols push and strain to attain pitch and volume, Franklin's only challenge is the fight to hold back and control her overwhelming vocal power.
The true magic of a great performer lies in making it all look so easy, rather than making the audience hit the edge of their seats every time they sense a challenging note coming along as today's so-called idols do. With the finale came a gospel choir, as if to underscore the fact that Franklin's talent doesn't lie in soulless vocal gymnastics, but is born of spirituality, and impassioned pleas to a higher power to raise all our spirits to a better place.
http://www.dailymantra.com by Nicole ... more -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: The Dreamer
This was tribute I did to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oddly, I put this together in 30 minutes, but when you combine Aretha Franklin, a song from Les Misrables and Dr. King, you can't really go wrong.
It is one of two tributes (the other to my fellow servicemen). It is also one of my most viewed Youtube post. Enjoy! This was tribute I did to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oddly, I put this together in 30 minutes, but when you combine Aretha Franklin, ... more
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Aretha Franklin
