Showing 31 - 40 of 52
Summer's here and the time is right
Life, John Clewley, Published on 07/06/2016
» The European world-music-festival season is in full swing as bands head to stages across the continent, while at the same time, the festival circuits in North America and Japan are also busy as people take advantage of the long days of summer to get out and enjoy some music.
Sounds from Soweto
Life, John Clewley, Published on 08/03/2016
» I first saw the all-singing, all-dancing Mahotella Queens back in the late 1980s, when they were on their epic tour of Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with their incomparable backing band, Makgona Tsohle, and leader singer, Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde. After years of having their movements restricted in their own country, they found themselves celebrated all over the world for their irresistible mbaqanga music, a genre they helped create in South Africa's "townships" in the 1960s.
March of the brass bands
Life, John Clewley, Published on 25/08/2015
» Military marching bands brought Western music to Asia, beginning a process of cultural fusion and interaction that continues to this day. Christian religious music came along at the same time, often in the form of hymns, but I'm not sure that hymns had the same impact as the dramatic, crashing sound of brass instruments played by marching musicians.
Bangkok Sh-Boom!
Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/11/2014
» The year 1954 was a busy one for R&B. Seminal and influential songs such as blues shouter Big Joe Turner’s Shake, Rattle And Roll; It Should Have Been Me by Ray Charles; Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite by the Spaniels; Sh-Boom by The Chords; and Just Make Love To Me by Muddy Waters dominated the R&B charts.
Farewell to Ken Dalao
Life, John Clewley, Published on 21/10/2014
» One of Thailand’s greatest exponents of traditional Thai music genre lam glawn, molam singer Ken Dalao passed away earlier this month at the age of 84. Ken was one of the most influential and well-loved molam singers of his generation. He was made a National Artist in Performing Arts in 1989. He performed with his late wife Boonpheng Faiphewchai, and also Chaweewan Damnoen, both of whom were also National Artists. For many years he was the chairman of the All-Thailand Molam Association and during his career taught scores of young molam singers.
Legendary molam star unleashed again
Life, John Clewley, Published on 08/07/2014
» Fans of the legendary molam singer Angkanang Kunchai will be delighted to know that a compilation of her early singles, Isan Lam Plearn, a version of which was originally released in 1975, has been released by Zudrangma Records of Thailand, EM Records and Soi 48 of Japan. The LP, which is available in vinyl and CD formats, was released in Japan last month, with the great lady attending events in Japan to celebrate the launch.
No pigeonholes for Ry Cooder
Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/03/2014
» In the early part of his career, during the 1960s, master guitarist Ry Cooder could walk down any street in the US and not be recognised. Born in Santa Monica, as a young guitar prodigy he played rhythm guitar as Ryland Cooder for Taj Mahal’s blues band. After this he played with Captain Beefheart and his slide guitar work attracted the attention of many big stars during the 1960s; he played on the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers and Let It Bleed albums and Van Morrison and Van Dyke Parks also used his services.
Rock the archipelago
Life, John Clewley, Published on 25/02/2014
» Indonesian music has been blasting from the World Beat sound system during the past few weeks, mainly from two excellent compilations: Early Popular Music Of Indonesia (Office Sambinha, 2013, Japan) and Those Shocking, Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk: 1970-1978 (Now Again Records, USA, 2010).
Big ban creates hot hit
Life, John Clewley, Published on 28/01/2014
» LA-based R&B singer Richard Berry wrote one of rock 'n' roll's most enduring anthems, Louie Louie, in 1955, releasing it on the Flip 321 label in 1957 on the B-side of a 7-inch single. You Are My Sunshine was the song on the A-side. It was released again later in 1957. Berry had a minor hit in the Northwest, but the song failed to reach the charts. Berry tried several follow-ups but to no avail. In 1959, he sold his rights to the song to the head of Flip 321 for US$750 (he was getting married and need the cash).
Far-flung sounds
Life, John Clewley, Published on 14/01/2014
» This year marks the 20th anniversary of the World Beat column, which started in February 1994, way back in the last century. At that time, CDs ruled the roost and there were plenty of stores selling "world music" in Bangkok; international chains like Tower Records had a significant presence, supported by local chains selling Thai and international music. Cassettes were slowly being phased out in provincial towns, replaced by CDs, while downloads were in the distant future.