Issue Articles
Searching for Stardom: Barbara Barnes Sims participated in Sun Records’ Golden Years
Barbara Barnes Sims’ firsthand account of Sun Records presents an insider’s view of the legendary Memphis label. From 1957 to 1960, Sims worked at Sun, promoting and publicizing Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and the company’s lesser-known acts. Even though Elvis Presley left the label two years before Sims’ arrival, much more rock and roll history was made after his departure.
Here’s Little Richard: A complicated character with a complicated story
Last year saw the release of two documentaries and a book about Little Richard. British music journalist Jordan Bassett wrote Here’s Little Richard, an entry in the 33 1/3 book series based on classic albums.
Lucinda Williams Talks Back
Last year was one of accomplishment and resilience for Lucinda Williams. In June, the Louisiana-born singer whose songs drip with poetic Southern-laced realism released a new album, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart. In April, Random House published her truth-telling memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You. Both projects received major media coverage and acclaim. The memoir debuted at number five among The New York Times bestsellers and the album appeared on year-end best lists.
Have Yourself A Merry Little “Bayou Christmas” with Serabee
Have Yourself A Merry Little “Bayou Christmas” with Serabee
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram: Live In London (Alligator Records)
A Grammy-winning blues star at twenty-four years old, Mississippi’s Christone “Kingfish” Ingram documents his blues power in Live In London. Leading his trio—drummer Christopher Black, bassist Paul Rogers and keyboardist Deshawn “D-Vibes” Alexander—Ingram makes a mighty stand at The Garage, a long-running indie-rock venue in Highbury, north London.
Instigators of Funk and Rock and Roll: Tipitina’s tribute show fetes Fats Domino and Huey “Piano” Smith
This year’s Tipitina’s tribute to classic New Orleans musician’s honors two piano-playing stars of the 1950s and ’60s. A Tribute to the Instigators of Funk and Rock and Roll: Antoine “Fats” Domino and Huey “Piano” Smith, taking place November 22, follows earlier tributes to Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Earl King and Allen Toussaint.
Sticking to the Bass-ics: Robert Snow’s original music is new and fresh
They call Robert Snow the king of the sidemen.
“That’s what everybody calls me,” bassist Robert Snow said. “They say, ‘Oh, you play with everybody.’ But you’ve got to do that in New Orleans. You’ve got to play with a bunch of different bands.”
Rejected Celebrity: The Fixx, one of the biggest bands of the ’80s, reaps longevity
Forty years after the Fixx scored Top 40 hits in the United States, the British band remains a potent recording and performing entity. And its membership is exactly as it was in 1983. That’s the year the band released Reach the Beach, a Top 10 album featuring the Fixx classics “Saved by Zero” and “One Thing Leads to Another.”
Greg Barnhill Talks Back
The Ozone Songwriter Festival in Mandeville features more than one-hundred and fifty performances on four stages. In its sixth year, the festival begins November 3 with a showcase concert headlined by Jason Scheff, former lead singer with Chicago. A fundraising event for the festival, the Friday night showcase also features The Voice finalists Morgan Myles, Kim Cruse and Gabriel Broussard.
Neo-Psychedelic Cinematic Dream-Pop: Steve Kilbey talks about The Church’s upcoming House of Blues show
Steve Kilbey and his bandmates in the Church have been weaving neo-psychedelic cinematic dream-pop since 1980. The Australian band hit its chart summit in 1988 with the global hit, “Under the Milky Way,” and corresponding album, Starfish. This year’s well-received new album from the Church, The Hypnogogue, demonstrates Kilbey’s still shining creativity. The Church’s 26th studio album, The Hypnogogue is the first concept album in the band’s 43-year history and the most prog-rock project to date.
