Showing 1 - 5 of 5
Celebrating three decades of discovery
Life, John Clewley, Published on 27/02/2024
» World Beat celebrates 30 years on the music trail this month. The column started in Feb 1994 when Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party was in his first term as Prime Minister.
A woman in a man's world
Life, John Clewley, Published on 19/07/2022
» US R&B legend Big Mama Thornton is one of the forgotten "originators", to use Dr John's term for Professor Longhair, of rock'n'roll. The late Alabama native, who died almost exactly 38 years ago on July 25, 1984, recorded the first version of Leiber and Stoller's Hound Dog in 1952. After the record was released in 1953, it reached the top spot on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records Chart and sold 2 million copies. It was her biggest hit, but it paled in comparison to young Elvis Presley's version, which sold more than 10 million copies and helped propel Presley to global fame.
African ambassadors of music
Life, John Clewley, Published on 03/11/2015
» Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, one of West Africa's most famous dance bands, reunited last year to play shows in Europe and to celebrate Stern Music's release of a wonderful compilation of their early, formative music from the band's residency at the Motel de Bamako.
Compilation showcases Congolese pop pioneer
Life, John Clewley, Published on 12/08/2014
» Bandleader, songwriter and singer Joseph Kabasele, known by his nickname "Le Grand Kalle", was one of the pioneers of Congolese popular music. He certainly blazed a trail for Congolese rumba, the most popular style in Central and East Africa during the 1960s and 1970s, which he, and a few others, developed from the marriage between local tribal rhythms and Cuban music (which came originally from Congolese music taken to Cuba by slaves). With his seven/eight member band, African Jazz, he created the blueprint for many bands ("orchestras") to follow, and he was the first to place the Africanised electric guitar at the heart of his music (in the 1950s), with his two master guitarists Dr Nico and Papa Noel being key in developing the characteristic intertwining guitar sound of Congolese rumba.
Howlings of a haunted Wolf
Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/10/2012
» Howlin' Wolf was one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. His music influenced rock 'n' roll and the development of modern popular music; his stage act, in which he dropped to all fours, crawling and howlin', inspired countless imitators, as did his deep, rich baritone voice. But unless you were, to paraphrase a line from one of Willie Dixon's songs (expressly written for the Wolf), over 300lbs (135kg) and wore size 14 shoes, you would be hard-pressed to measure up to one of the USA's great musical icons.