“Angie Baby”
Introduction You live your life in the songs you hear On the rock and roll radio — Alan O’Day (“Angie Baby”) It’s hard to imagine that the 1974 pop hit “Angie Baby” tops anyone’s list of “best murder ballads”, if … Continue reading →
Who Killed…John Lennon
John Lennon IntroductionIf you had asked me two days ago where I was when I learned that John Lennon was shot, I would have said, “watching Monday Night Football, like everybody else.” Now that I’ve gone back and reviewed TV … Continue reading →
Who Killed…Fred Hampton?
Fred Hampton (1948-1969) I have to start with a disclaimer. The songwriter of today’s song is my fellow blogger, Pat Blackman, who has been my good friend for over twenty years. So, there’s not much critical distance here from the … Continue reading →
Afropop Worldwide Celebrates 25 Years
Afropop Worldwide is celebrating 25 years on public radio and they’d love if you and your friends would join them on Sept. 19 in New York City for their 25th Anniversary Concert Gala, featuring Grammy nominee and African lute virtuoso … Continue reading →
Who Killed…Davey Moore?
Boxer Davey Moore, immediately after the March 21, 1963 fight with Sugar Ramos, beforecollapsing into a coma and dying 75 hours later. “I did not want to hurt Moore. In the ring the fighters are partners. They put on the … Continue reading →
Upcoming Festivals: May
Alongside our listing this week, we’ve got the unfortunate news that the Sarasota Blues Festival in Florida will need to take a hiatus for this year. More info here. Sing Out! provides an international listing of folk music festivals and … Continue reading →
Who Killed…Norma Jean?
Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson) Pete Seeger opens Chapter 11 “Money and Music” in his book The Incompleat Folksinger (Bison Book, 1972) with this reflection. Who Killed Norma Jean? I once had a vision of a beast with hollow fangs. … Continue reading →
Who Killed…Cock Robin?
“I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow” Introduction There are at least two things I’m not going to do in today’s post. There are at least two things I am going to do. The first thing I am … Continue reading →
Stagolee: A Digital Compendium – “Stagolee, he’s still alive…” The 21st Century, Part 1
This is Chapter 5 of Stagolee: A Digital Compendium. See also Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4. Introduction The original idea for this post was to look at Stagolee in the 21st century, to see what’s happened to this … Continue reading →
Roots Musician Sid Selvidge Passes
(This post was originally featured on Mike Regenstreif’s Folk Roots/Folk Branches blog) I was deeply saddened this evening to learn that Sid Selvidge, the great Memphis folk and blues artist, passed away today after a battle with cancer. Sid had … Continue reading →