Search Results for: blog at the crossroads with robert johnson

At the Crossroads with Robert Johnson

I was out in my Jeep today, running errands, when I head the song “Crossroads” by Cream on the radio. I hadn’t heard it in a while and listening to it reminded me what a great bluesy rock song this was. You may be wondering why a band like Cream would sing about the crossroads. Heck, you may not even know what they mean by the crossroads. Well, let me tell you… “Crossroads” was actually written by bluesman Robert Johnson, although he called it “Cross Road Blues.” Cream took the lyrics from that song and combined it with some lines … Continue reading →

Rockers Give Back

Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant are two of the most celebrated rock legends of all time. Daltrey is the front man for The Who while Plant is the front man for Led Zepplin. There are probably plenty of wild rock stories out there about these two bands in their heyday, but now, with both rockers in their 60s, they seem to have given up rock pleasures such as groupies and alcohol for more philanthropic pleasures. Last Friday, Daltrey and Plant announced the formation of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Youth Adult Cancer Program. In case you don’t know, that “Townshend” … Continue reading →

Sundance in Full Bloom

Believe it or not, there are other events going on in the world other than Barack Obama’s inauguration today. For example, the famed Sundance Film Festival is currently going on in Park City, Utah and those stars that aren’t in Washington, D.C. are surely there hobnobbing with each other. This year, rock documentaries are big with Tom DiCillo’s When You’re Strange. When You’re Strange contains footage of Doors frontman Jim Morrison and keyboardist Ray Manzarek that was shot by a UCLA film school buddy between 1966 and 1971. DiCillo wanted to do a Doors film because he himself is a … Continue reading →

Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Bo Diddley Dead at the Age of 79

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Guitarist pioneer Bo Diddley, known for songs lilke “Who Do You Love?” and “Bo Diddley” has died at the age of 79 due to heart failure. He had suffered from diabetes for many years, but even so, he continued to tour through 2006. Diddley is known for his signature beat, which is often known as the “Bo Diddley Beat.” It is an African-based 5/4 rhythm pattern which was picked up by many other rock ‘n’ roll greats such as Buddy Holly, Johnny Otis, the Strangeloves, U2, and even George Michael. Many, many artists have done covers of Bo’s songs over … Continue reading →

Rod Stewart to Sing Country Music?

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The answer to the title is thankfully, no! Rod Stewart has had a long, successful run as a recording artist. After all, he well into the fifth decade of his musical career. He started out in the early Sixties. He helped found the Ray Davies Quartet, which went on to become a band you may have heard of – The Kinks! From there, Stewart moved on to other bands in the Sixties, including the Shotgun Express (which included future Fleetwood Mac leader Mick Fleetwood) and the Jeff Beck Group (where he played with future Rolling Stone Ron Wood). After leaving … Continue reading →

When a Reunion Isn’t Really a Reunion

I read today that Led Zeppelin “long-awaited reunion” may lead to more concerts. The group will be performing on December 10th at London’s 02 Arena in a benefit tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun. Ertegun was the co-founder of Atlantic Records (along with Herb Abramson) who passed away last year. I only have one problem with this. The “reunion” of Led Zeppelin doesn’t include all the original members. The original members of the band, formed in 1968, were Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. I am not that big a Led Zeppelin fan, but to me, the … Continue reading →

Forever 27: The Others

So we know that Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain all died tragically at the age of 27. But there are more members of the infamous club who never reached the superstardom of the ones I have already mentioned. Here is a list of the other musicians who died at the age of 27: Louis Chauvin Chauvin was a ragtime musician who died in 1908 of syphilis. Jesse Belvin Belvin was an R&B singer/songwriter who died in a car accident in 1960. His biggest hit was “Goodnight My Love,” which reached #7 on … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Jimi Hendrix

Last blog, I talked about Brian Jones, a founding member of the Rolling Stones who is also a member of the infamous 27 Club. In case you missed that blog, the 27 club is the name given to several blues and rock stars who never made it past the age of 27. Many of those in the 27 Club, such as in the case of guitar god Jimi Hendrix, succumbed due to drug use. Jimi Hendrix has been dead for almost 40 years, yet there is hardly a young boy with rock-n-roll dreams that doesn’t pick up a guitar and … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Brian Jones

The other day, I blogged about blues great Robert Johnson. He died at the very young age of 27. And, 27 is actually a very scary age for a musician. Did you know there is a “27 Club” – a group of rock and blues musicians who all died at the age of 27? Some of the greatest musicians of all times never made it past this tender age. Let’s take a look at those who lived more in 27 years than many of us will in 80: Brian Jones A foundering member of the Rolling Stones, you would think … Continue reading →