http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Blues_Summary.html Blues is a musical genre that has African American origins and is characterized by using three phrases to a stanza and that can be sung accompanied by instruments or being merely instrumental. Blues come from the chants, shouts, spiritual and praise songs of African slaves. That can be seen today in the call-and-response nature of blues. Moreover, blues is often associated to depression and sadness. The subject matter of this genre is diverse and ranges from a lost love to policy cruelty. Johnny Winter, Howlin’ Wolf, and B.B. King are some of the artists who belong to this genre. en-us http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_10856.html Fri, 05 May 2006 12:16:01 CST
The “King of the Swingers” was born December 7, 1910 in New Orleans; from Italian American descent, Louis Prima was a great trumpeter, singer and actor whose musical career got its top during the 1950’s and who is considered as one of the most important jazz and blues representatives. With a very extrovert personality, Prima developed a unique sound and voice interpretation, as well as being influenced by the grand developers of jazz, as in the case of Louis Armstrong.

When he was a child, he studied violin and his brother Leon was already a bandleader; therefore, he decided on following his family’s legacy and what he had learned. At his brother’s band, Irving Fazola, he played the trumpet. A few years later, he formed his own group, which he called Louis Prima’s New Orleans Gang. By 1934, Prima settled down in New York and eventually worked on 52nd Street, with some of his friends Eddie Miller, Pee Wee Russell, and George Brunies.

He also lived in Los Angeles, where he performed at the Famous Door Nightclub. Louis Prima got married for the first time with Keely Smith, with whom he had a famous live interpretation, somewhat likely to Sonny and Cher’s popular presentation. They both recorded a song which later became a classic: “That Old Black Magic”.  Smith and Prima got divorced in 1962 and during this same year, Louis remarried singer Gia Maione.

Louis Prima died on August 24, 1978; his death was caused by a brain tumor, which made him go into coma, producing serious headaches and memory problems. Although Prima passed away, he will be remembered for being a person with a unique charisma and a clear sense of what real jazz and swing music is.

We invite you to check his official web site and listen to some of his greatest hits! http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_10851.html Fri, 05 May 2006 12:01:29 CST
What adjective would better describe a blues singer? Talented, brilliant, creative… and what word would better describe Taj Mahal’s blues performance and professional career? It’s a difficult job for blues music devotees to refer only to one side of a multi talented musician; in spite of his other personal occupations, Henry Saint Clair Fredericks has dedicated his aptitude towards blues to produce excellent songs for his fans and has helped to spread the transcendence of blues.

Taj Mahal, as he named himself on stage, was born May 17, 1942, in Harlem, New York City; his family moved to Massachusetts, specifically they lived in Springfield. He comes from a high quality family of musicians: his father, of Jamaican descent, was a composer, a talented jazz pianist and a great arranger; on the other hand, his mother was from South Carolina and she was a teacher who loved to sing gospel.

Before becoming an exceptional blues representative, Taj Mahal studied animal husbandry at University of Massachusetts; while he attended school, he formed his first band, called Taj Mahal andamp; the Elektras. The band first got a contract with Columbia Records, but they only recorded a single and an album. After some time, Mahal decided to go by himself and quit the band. He continued working with Columbia and in 1968 he released his second album called “Natch’l Blues”.

Since he has his parent’s influence, his music is an extraordinary fusion of South Pacific, gospel, bluegrass, and reggae sounds; and because of his flair and this combination of sounds and harmony, Taj Mahal has been granted the Grammy Award in two opportunities; the first one, he got it in 1997 for the album “Señor Blues” in the category of the “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and the second time, in 2000 for his production “Shoutin’ In Key”.

What is even more interesting about Taj Mahal performance and abilities is that he never took music lessons, neither was he taught to play the more than twenty instruments he actually plays. Even though Taj became famous, he never forgot his mother’s thoughts about their cultural descent; this is the main reason why he is so proud of where he comes from and he portrays this home schooling in his songs and arrangements.

His latest production, called “Hanapepe Dream”, was released in 2003 and has proved to be a great success, exactly what his fans were waiting for. Of course Taj Mahal’s projection to the musical environment has helped to give independent musicians an opportunity to share their talent with him and with the world; Taj in fact owns his independent label, which name is Kandu Records.

Just an advice: listen to his albums and share his production with your friends! http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7712.html Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:02:40 CST On June 10, 1910, Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin’ Wolf, was born in West Point, Mississippi. He was known as one of the most influential blues singer, songwriter, and harmonica and guitar player. His nickname was given by his grandfather, who used to tell him stories about wolves. Several times the same Howlin’ Wolf mentioned he was quite influenced by the sounds of Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and Tommy Johnson.
Howlin’ Wolf worked as a farmer during the 1930s. During the World War II, he served as a radioman in the United States Army in the Pacific Northwest. By 1948, he had already formed his first band with some well known musicians. With his band, he soon became a local celebrity. His first recordings came in 1951. In that same year, Howlin’ Wolf recorded sides for Ike Turner. Later on, he settled in Chicago, Illinois. Here, his huge voice and subtle phrasing had its effect on the public. With hits such as “Evil” and “Smokestack Lightnin’”, he consolidated his career as an Randamp;B singer. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7711.html Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:01:25 CST On February 26, 1928, Antoine Dominique “Fats” Domino was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Recognized as a classic Randamp;B and rock and roll pianist, songwriter and singer, “Fats” Domino became the best-selling African-American Singer in the 50s and 60s.  Domino uses an individualistic bluesy style which shows boogie-woogie influences.
In 1949, Imperial Records produced “The Fat Man”, the first rock and roll record, which featured a rolling piano with Domino doing wah-wah vocalizing. This record was a huge hit, and accomplished to sell more than one million copies and positioned itself in the number 2 place on the Billboard Randamp;B Charts. “The Fat Man” was a reworking of “Junker’s Blues” by Champion Jack Dupree. Until today, Fat Domino has sold more than 110 million copies. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7605.html Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:27:28 CST On March 30, 1945; Eric Patrick Clapton , one of the most talented guitar players and composers was born at his grandparent’s home at 1 The Green, Ripley, Surrey, England. His mother was only 16 years old when she had him and she found it extremely difficult to raise a child on her own. His grandparents stepped in as surrogate parents and took him under their care. Eric grew up believing his mother was his sister.
At home, Clapton was surrounded by music. His grandmother played the piano and she together with Eric’s uncle enjoyed listening to the big bands. His mom told Eric Clapton’s official biographer that Clapton’s father was a gifted musician who used to play the piano in Surrey. Those who met him in that time affirm he was a quiet and polite boy, who always demonstrated aptitudes for art. Nevertheless, when he was 9 he learned the truth about his parents. This event hurt him deeply, and after knowing it, he became distant and moody and failed school. They ended up sending him to the art branch of Holyfield Road School. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7206.html Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:29:45 CST Om January 27, 1930, Robert Calvin Bland was born in Rosemark, Tennessee. Years later, this baby was to be known as Bobby “Blue” Bland. His music career started from singing with local gospel groups. Later on, Bobby Bland began frequenting the city’s famous Beale Street, where he met the Beale Streeters and began playing with them. By the 1950’s, Bobby recorded his first singles with the group, but still it was easy to tell his desire for individuality.
By the 1960’s, Bobby Bland enjoyed several of his singles entering the Randamp;B charts continuously. Nevertheless, his work was somehow eclipsed by a wave of new performers. In 1968, financial problems ended up in a break up of his group. With this, he started a period of depression and alcoholism that accompanied him until 1971, when he finally stopped drinking. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7269.html Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:27:57 CST Popularly known as Dr. John, Malcolm John Rebennack Jr was born on November 21, 1940 in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. John’s unique style has positioned him as the most colorful songwriter, singer and pianist. Thanks to the smart combination of boogie woogie, blues and rock and roll he puts in his music, he has earned himself an important place in the taste of the Americans.
During the 1950s, Dr. John participated as a session musician in New Orleans. In this way, his music career began; he played the guitar and called himself Mac Rebennack. Later on, he started playing the bass and soon after a shooting in which he lost his index finger, he learned to play the piano. Nevertheless, fame came to him until the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he started combining rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock. Along with the extravagance of his music, Dr. John added a touch of glamour by wearing elaborate costumes and headdress. Actually, he got his name after a popular and legendary voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century whose name was Doctor John. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7272.html Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:19:58 CST One of the best American blues, gospel and Randamp;B singer is Jamesetta Hawkins, popularly known as Etta James. She was born on January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California. Etta James was immersed in the music world since she was 5, and received professional vocal training from James Earle Hines, the musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St. Paul Baptist Church. In 1950, her family moved to San Francisco, California and here, she formed a trio named “The Creolettes” with two of her friends.
In San Francisco, her trio caught the attention of John Otis, a well known producer of that time. He looked for her, and by 1954 she had already recorded a few singles with the John Otis band. Etta was able to make a hit in the white market, and she signed with Chess Records in 1960. From the 60s until the 90s, Etta enjoyed a limited success. Etta recorded various duets who endure until today. Nevertheless, in 1994, she won the Grammy for best jazz vocal with her CD, Mystery Lady. In 2003, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was given to her and in 2004; she won the Grammy for best contemporary blues album with Let’s Roll. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7242.html Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:50:24 CST Dinah Washington was born as Ruth Jones, in the little town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She grew up in Chicago, where she learned to play the piano and became the director of her church choir. Her interest in music was always remarkable, which is why her musical career was always active. She studied music at DuSable High School, and soon started performing in clubs under her artistic name and kept on singing at church as Ruth Jones.
Once she started singing, she enchanted every person who was present: her penetrating voice, her excellent timing and her crystal-clear enunciation became the most important part of her exclusive and distinctive style. She was amazing recording either jazz or blues or Randamp;B, she could adapt every single note to the best of her voice. She always separated the secular from the spiritual, and once she started singing non-religious music, she refused to sing gospel. http://www.vagmusic.com/articles/Genres_7241.html Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:49:05 CST You can say it is in her genes, or you can call it pure merit, the truth is that Bonnie Raitt came to the world on a sunny afternoon of November 8, 1949; offering the world its great talent which lead her to the road of success as a songwriter, singer and guitar virtuoso. Recognized as an institution within the United States, Bonnie Raitt has proven to the world that she is the best-selling, respected, expressive and accomplished artist.
Bonnie Raitt was born in Burbank, California. She was raised in an environment full of Quaker traditions, respect for the arts and commitment to social activism. When she was eight, she was given a Stella guitar which is to blame for her first true passion for music. In the late 60’s, she moved to Massachusetts. Here, she got involved in the city’s political and cultural activities as she was studying Social Relations and African Studies. It was then when Bonnie started her first contacts with folk music and blues.