In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Joseph Simmons, better known as Run of RUN DMC, the early crossover rap trio of the 1980s (go here). Since becoming an ordained minister, he's now known as Rev Run. We talked about his years growing up in Hollis, Queens, for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section. He also talked about his poet father, who was responsible for many of the group's rap lyrics. [Photo above of Joseph Simmons at his home in New Jersey, courtesy of HarperCollins]
Here's It's Tricky (1986), with cameos by Penn and Teller...
Last week, I was on SiriusXM's Feedback (Ch. 106) with Nik Carter and Lori Majewski to talk about Redbone's Come and Get Your Love and the influence that Native-American music has had on American pop music, including jazz, blues and rock. [Photo above of the New York studios of SiriusXM by Marc Myers]
To listen, go here...
Duke Ellington. Following my post last week on newly posted Duke Ellington video clips at YouTube, I received the following from Michael O'Daniel...
Greetings Marc, as you know, Ellington wrote for reeds in a manner that no other composer ever has, jazz, classical or any other genre. The secret to the sound of his reed section was actually very simple, and it's amazing that no one else has ever tried to emulate it. A group called Clarinet Thing just did an all-Ellington program in Albany, Calif.
Here's a review, and here's a video clip...
Frankie Randall. Last week, after posting about singer Frankie Randall, I received the following from Steve Weinberg...
Marc, Thank you very much for profiling Frankie Randall. I knew him in the late '70’s, where he played piano and sang at a private club called Joe Scott's here in West L.A. To this day, I tell people that if you had closed your eyes, you would have thought it was Sinatra singing. I agree he should have been better known. He was an entertainer's entertainer. While he played at Joe Scott’s, famous singers came in to the club to enjoy Frankie, and some sang a song or two. The list included Vic Damone, Trini Lopez and Billy Daniels, who sang That Old Black Magic. Even the younger people in the club, who had never heard of Billy Daniels, were enthralled. Another night Milton Berle dropped in to see Frankie play piano.
What was New York like 100 years ago, in 1920? Jonathan Goldman should know. He just built a site that features essays and photographs that take a look at the turning-point year. Go here.
What the heck: Here are the Beatles playing and singing Revolution...
Oddball album cover of the week.
The cover says "dreams of a continental affair," whatever that means, but her face says, "Wait, you booked one room?"
