Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Artist: Love Sculpture
A British blues-rock band of the late '60s that, despite being very good, would normally be relegated to footnote status if it were not for the fact that the lead guitarist of this trio was the soon-to-be-famous Dave Edmunds. Like many similar bands of the times, Love Sculpture was really a showpiece for Edmunds' guitar-playing talents (which on... [+] Read More
Artist: Doug E. Fresh
The first human beatbox in the rap world, and still the best of all time, Doug E. Fresh amazed audiences with his note-perfect imitations of drum machines, effects, and often large samples of hip-hop classics. Fresh was born Doug E. Davis in Barbados, and his first appearance came in 1983 on a single for Spotlight called "Pass the Budda," with... [+] Read More
Artist: Burning Inside
One of the few death metal bands to develop true technical skill, Burning Inside aims at keeping the glory of its genre and witchery alive. The band was formed during the cold winter of 1995, in Missouri, by Steve Childers (lead and rhythm guitar) and Richard Christy (drums, who also played for Control Denied, Death, and Acheron), after they... [+] Read More
Artist: Romeo Nelson
"Now Sister Fullbosom and Brother Lowdown" sings boogie-woogie pianist Romeo Nelson at the beginning of his song "Getting Dirty Just Shaking That Thing," setting the stage for a barrelhouse blues so raunchy that it might still raise eyebrows in the age of rap music. The song is one of a handful this artist recorded, a small supply of titles to... [+] Read More
Artist: Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst was among those few classical composers to exert a major influence on rock music and popular music in the mid- to late- 20th century -- which is all rather ironic, since he passed away in 1934. Holst was part of the early- 20th century school of English composers usually referred to as post-Romantics -- along with his friend Ralph... [+] Read More
Artist: Booker T. Sapps
To many people, the Booker T. Sapps might bring to mind a blackjack company run as a sideline by a funky rhythm & blues organist, or perhaps the name would mean nothing at all. To a blues harmonica player, it is the name of a mysterious figure who managed to get in the crosshairs of microphones and portable tape recording equipment being... [+] Read More
Artist: Peter James
Born Peter James Accardy in the Big Apple, this performer started out as a boxer, then in a radical shift switched to chorus boy. Comedian Ted Healy was the one who sniffed out comic potential in James, and he ought to know, being the fellow that launched the Three Stooges. With Healy's encouragement, James began performing in vaudeville and... [+] Read More
Artist: J.E. Mainer
Mainer's Mountaineers, with their leader J.E. Mainer on fiddle, were one of the most popular string bands of the 1930s. They formed an important link between old-time string music and bluegrass, and their musical life exemplified several important aspects of the musical culture of the mountain southeast: the importance of the brother duet, the... [+] Read More
Artist: Frank Banta
Banter concerning historic pianists will sooner or later come around to Banta. The early American musician Frank Banta was one of the nation's first major recording artists. During the early days of recording, when the ongoing change between piano rolls, cylinders, and primitive 78s made the compact disc revolution of the '80s seem like static... [+] Read More
Artist: Ady Rosner
Ady Rosner is a notable figure in 20th century European music history, who was unfortunately subject to persecution by repressive governments more than once during his career. Born Adolph Ignatievich Rosner, he was creating jazz in Poland long before the days of big budget -- at least in comparison -- festivals and Polish jazz artists appearing... [+] Read More
