Here is a list of Music Blogs ordered by Most Liked, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
Only the BLACK KEYS...
Amazing, but you can make very melodic music by playing only the black keys on a piano.
There's F sharp, G sharp, B flat, C sharp, E flat
There's F sharp, G sharp, B flat, C sharp, E flat
Singer, Song Writer & Musician Bill Withers dies of heart problems at 81
From CNN;
In response to:
Bill Withers, 'Lean On Me' and 'Lovely Day' singer, has died at 81
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
Updated 5:05 PM ET, Fri April 3, 2020
Bill Withers, the singer-songwriter whose soulful hits "Lean On Me," Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day" became part of the soundtrack for a generation, has died.
He was 81.
Withers died Monday in Los Angeles of heart complications, according to his family.
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other," his family said in a statement obtained by CNN. "As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world. In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones."
His songs have been considered timeless and "Lean On Me" has experienced a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic because of its uplifting message of community support.
"Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen," musician Quest Love told Rolling Stone in 2015.
Withers passing was mourned Friday across musical genres and walks of life on Twitter.
"Rest in power Bill Withers. Your voice, songs, and total expression gave us love, hope, and strength," rocker Lenny Kravitz tweeted. "My soul always has & always will be full of your music. Your humility displayed & depth of your power as you carried us all to a better place. You're still & always will be Bill."
Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers overcame a stutter as a child and joined the Navy as a teen.
After a nine year stint in the military, Withers moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to pursue a career in music, taking a job at the Boeing aircraft company where he made toilet seats during the day.
At night Withers cut demos and eventually met the head of Sussex Records, the now famed music impresario Clarence Avant.
Wither's first album, "Just As I Am," was released in 1971 and included the singles "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands."
"Ain't No Sunshine" was a hit and in 1972 Withers took home a Grammy for the single.
That same year, "Lean On Me," a song Withers wrote after being inspired by his childhood growing up in West Virginia, went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.
The hit has since been covered by several other artists, including Club Nouveau. Their version won Withers a Grammy in 1987 as the songwriter.
The song is also the theme for the 1989 Morgan Freeman film of the same name and was performed at the inaugurations for both President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
His 1972 album, "Still Bill," launched another hit with "Use Me."
A legal battle with Sussex led to him signing with Columbia Records where he recorded "Lovely Day" as part of the 1977 album, "Menagerie." Withers co-wrote the 1980 hit "Just The Two of Us," which he recorded with saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. The tune won him his second best R&B song Grammy in 1981.
Withers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
His songwriting ability was as hailed as his singing.
"We lost a giant of songwriting today," Paul Williams, president and chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said in a statement. "Bill Withers' songs are among the most treasured and profound in the American songbook -- universal in the way they touch people all over the world, transcending genre and generation. "
"He was a beautiful man with a stunning sense of humor and a gift for truth," Williams added. "I will miss him personally as will the entire ASCAP family. We love you, Bill. Our hearts go out to his family."...........
Bill Withers, 'Lean On Me' and 'Lovely Day' singer, has died at 81
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
Updated 5:05 PM ET, Fri April 3, 2020
Bill Withers, the singer-songwriter whose soulful hits "Lean On Me," Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day" became part of the soundtrack for a generation, has died.
He was 81.
Withers died Monday in Los Angeles of heart complications, according to his family.
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other," his family said in a statement obtained by CNN. "As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world. In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones."
His songs have been considered timeless and "Lean On Me" has experienced a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic because of its uplifting message of community support.
"Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen," musician Quest Love told Rolling Stone in 2015.
Withers passing was mourned Friday across musical genres and walks of life on Twitter.
"Rest in power Bill Withers. Your voice, songs, and total expression gave us love, hope, and strength," rocker Lenny Kravitz tweeted. "My soul always has & always will be full of your music. Your humility displayed & depth of your power as you carried us all to a better place. You're still & always will be Bill."
Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers overcame a stutter as a child and joined the Navy as a teen.
After a nine year stint in the military, Withers moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to pursue a career in music, taking a job at the Boeing aircraft company where he made toilet seats during the day.
At night Withers cut demos and eventually met the head of Sussex Records, the now famed music impresario Clarence Avant.
Wither's first album, "Just As I Am," was released in 1971 and included the singles "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands."
"Ain't No Sunshine" was a hit and in 1972 Withers took home a Grammy for the single.
That same year, "Lean On Me," a song Withers wrote after being inspired by his childhood growing up in West Virginia, went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.
The hit has since been covered by several other artists, including Club Nouveau. Their version won Withers a Grammy in 1987 as the songwriter.
The song is also the theme for the 1989 Morgan Freeman film of the same name and was performed at the inaugurations for both President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
His 1972 album, "Still Bill," launched another hit with "Use Me."
A legal battle with Sussex led to him signing with Columbia Records where he recorded "Lovely Day" as part of the 1977 album, "Menagerie." Withers co-wrote the 1980 hit "Just The Two of Us," which he recorded with saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. The tune won him his second best R&B song Grammy in 1981.
Withers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
His songwriting ability was as hailed as his singing.
"We lost a giant of songwriting today," Paul Williams, president and chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said in a statement. "Bill Withers' songs are among the most treasured and profound in the American songbook -- universal in the way they touch people all over the world, transcending genre and generation. "
"He was a beautiful man with a stunning sense of humor and a gift for truth," Williams added. "I will miss him personally as will the entire ASCAP family. We love you, Bill. Our hearts go out to his family."...........
I'm in Love........with a woman already in a relationship, in fact a few of them.
And this isn't the first time. Now, before you scold me, this time it's different.
The other times, the gals were at least separated from their husband.
In this instance, she spends a lot of her time less than 2 feet from her partner. Well, that hasn't stopped me, even though she doesn't even know, that I exist. I guess you might call this a case of unrequited love.
But, it gets a little weirder. Because I've never even met her and she's in her 30's.
Plus, I don't love all of her, just her voice.
I'd like you to meet Rachel Price and this is where I first 'met' her;
The other times, the gals were at least separated from their husband.
In this instance, she spends a lot of her time less than 2 feet from her partner. Well, that hasn't stopped me, even though she doesn't even know, that I exist. I guess you might call this a case of unrequited love.
But, it gets a little weirder. Because I've never even met her and she's in her 30's.
Plus, I don't love all of her, just her voice.
I'd like you to meet Rachel Price and this is where I first 'met' her;
Ventilators...
Need a break from COVID-19 and intubation ventilators? You've come to the right place!
To do this correctly, I need to give you some background first.
Some time ago, I did a blog about the Hammond organ. Inside the heart of this amazing instrument is a motorized tone wheel generator. The user has drawbars that can be adjusted in or out to blend octaves and harmonics. In the beginning, Hammond used speaker cabinets similar to guitar/musical instruments. Not long after, Mr. Leslie came along with wooden louvered boxes that had revolving speakers and horns that made a wavering (coral) effect and offered it to Hammond who rejected the idea.
Leslie continued making his cabinets that caught on with Hammond owners and soon Hammond lost the sales of his speakers as everyone was buying Leslie Tone Cabinets!
A Hammond organ is literally a piece of furniture and the Leslie cabinet matches in appearance.
The connection from the organ was special round multi-prong plug for power, audio and switching for the speed control as the Leslie had 2 speeds of rotation. The video below is a Leslie with the back panels removed so you can see the inner workings and watch how the horns speed up and slow down creating the unique sound. Notice it takes a few seconds for the rotating effect to speed up and slow down. It's one of the unique effects of the Leslie.
A generation later guitarists like Eric Clapton and David Gilmour had custom adapters so they can plug their guitars into Leslie cabinets. This led to a smaller version of the rotating speaker built into a conventional guitar amplifier appearance.
As micro-circuits developed, companies started making add-on sound effects that simulated the revolving speaker effect so musicians didn't need to carry more amplifiers, they could simply plug their guitars into the device and get the Leslie Tone Cabinet sound.
The problem is they all sounded like simulations and didn't capture the true Leslie sound...
To do this correctly, I need to give you some background first.
Some time ago, I did a blog about the Hammond organ. Inside the heart of this amazing instrument is a motorized tone wheel generator. The user has drawbars that can be adjusted in or out to blend octaves and harmonics. In the beginning, Hammond used speaker cabinets similar to guitar/musical instruments. Not long after, Mr. Leslie came along with wooden louvered boxes that had revolving speakers and horns that made a wavering (coral) effect and offered it to Hammond who rejected the idea.
Leslie continued making his cabinets that caught on with Hammond owners and soon Hammond lost the sales of his speakers as everyone was buying Leslie Tone Cabinets!
A Hammond organ is literally a piece of furniture and the Leslie cabinet matches in appearance.
The connection from the organ was special round multi-prong plug for power, audio and switching for the speed control as the Leslie had 2 speeds of rotation. The video below is a Leslie with the back panels removed so you can see the inner workings and watch how the horns speed up and slow down creating the unique sound. Notice it takes a few seconds for the rotating effect to speed up and slow down. It's one of the unique effects of the Leslie.
A generation later guitarists like Eric Clapton and David Gilmour had custom adapters so they can plug their guitars into Leslie cabinets. This led to a smaller version of the rotating speaker built into a conventional guitar amplifier appearance.
As micro-circuits developed, companies started making add-on sound effects that simulated the revolving speaker effect so musicians didn't need to carry more amplifiers, they could simply plug their guitars into the device and get the Leslie Tone Cabinet sound.
The problem is they all sounded like simulations and didn't capture the true Leslie sound...
SLAP...
I started playing bass guitar around 1967. Music then was a mixture that included folk songs, soul music and rock & roll. Some of the name acts used studio musicians and the songs I listened to often had the same musicians who played on hundreds of records. Since they were paid union wages for their recording time, it was normal for them to be anonymous and receive no album credits.
My original idea was blog was to blog about them (musicians collectively) but today this blog starts with a few bassists who shaped the music we all grew up listening to. It was many years later when I found out who they were. Yeah, there are more and I'll introduce them and how their styles differed the sound of the electric bass.
James Jamerson, originally played upright bass, switched to a Fender electric bass. Plucked the strings with his first finger (like an upright bassist would normally do) that created his iconic Motown style.
Carol Kaye, a guitar teacher did some studio work and filled in for an absent bassist that started her career in 1963. Carol used a pick but I've read she put foam under the strings (near the bridge) to dampen the sound slightly making it sound like she was picking with her fingers.
For years, that's all my ears heard.
Rock music brought us THE WHO and bassist John Entwistle who attacked the bass with lots of treble, pick, 3 or 4 fingers in rapid strokes... it didn't matter. John was later nicknamed Thunder Fingers.
Right after that was the YES group and Chris Squire. Again another bassist using sharp treble sound on a bass. But, the style wasn't too far from conventional.
Bring on Larry Graham, multi-instrumentalist who created a thumping style of bass playing. He could tap a string and pluck another giving it a syncopated (funky) sound. Marcus Miller was doing much the same.
This "slapping" created an entirely new sound and style to bass guitar that brings it to the front as a soloist instrument.
The world is filling up with slap bassists and it would appear if you want to be a 'somebody' slap has to be in your arsenal.
My original idea was blog was to blog about them (musicians collectively) but today this blog starts with a few bassists who shaped the music we all grew up listening to. It was many years later when I found out who they were. Yeah, there are more and I'll introduce them and how their styles differed the sound of the electric bass.
James Jamerson, originally played upright bass, switched to a Fender electric bass. Plucked the strings with his first finger (like an upright bassist would normally do) that created his iconic Motown style.
Carol Kaye, a guitar teacher did some studio work and filled in for an absent bassist that started her career in 1963. Carol used a pick but I've read she put foam under the strings (near the bridge) to dampen the sound slightly making it sound like she was picking with her fingers.
For years, that's all my ears heard.
Rock music brought us THE WHO and bassist John Entwistle who attacked the bass with lots of treble, pick, 3 or 4 fingers in rapid strokes... it didn't matter. John was later nicknamed Thunder Fingers.
Right after that was the YES group and Chris Squire. Again another bassist using sharp treble sound on a bass. But, the style wasn't too far from conventional.
Bring on Larry Graham, multi-instrumentalist who created a thumping style of bass playing. He could tap a string and pluck another giving it a syncopated (funky) sound. Marcus Miller was doing much the same.
This "slapping" created an entirely new sound and style to bass guitar that brings it to the front as a soloist instrument.
The world is filling up with slap bassists and it would appear if you want to be a 'somebody' slap has to be in your arsenal.
A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, your thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you have learned. It's your own page on Connecting Singles that you can update on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. You can write about an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with Connecting Singles members. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about members you have met here. Please be sure to read the blog rules before posting.
Would YOU like to post a blog on Connecting Singles? Have you written blogs that you'd like to share with other members? Posting your blogs shows your skill and creativity and helps members get to know you better. Your blog will appear on the Connecting Singles Blogs page and also in a link on your profile page. Click here to post a blog »