Tag Archives: Musicians

Scary Places: The Hotel Chelsea in New York City

Ever notice how ghosts tend to haunt old dwellings where many tortured souls lived? Such is the case of the historic Hotel Chelsea in New York City. The Chelsea was built in 1883, when that particular area was the center of the theater district. Maybe that is why it always seemed to attract talented, yet troubled artists. It was first divided into private apartments, and then turned into a hotel, but regardless, it has seen its share of celebrities. (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5) Sir Arthur C. Clarke penned “2001: a Space Odyssey” while … Continue reading →

When Two Hit Wonders Attack – Part 4

Here’s my final installment of Two Hit Wonders: Naked Eyes – “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises” Another 80s band that I was not particularly fond of (and that is putting it mildly) was Naked Eyes. They hit the charts in 1983 with their weepy love song while I was more interested in the new wave music that was becoming more popular. The duo of Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher soon broke up after the release of their second album Fuel for the Fire, which was not well received. Naked Eyes Update: Any chance of a … Continue reading →

When Two Hit Wonders Attack – Part 3

Earlier this week, I was blogging about Two Hit Wonders – bands or artists that have two hits then disappear from the charts (usually not of their own choosing). Here are some more two hit wonders: Tone Loc – “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” Tone Loc’s 1989 album Loc-ed After Dark produced both “Wild Thing,” which went to #2 and “Funky Cold Medina,” which went to #3. The album itself went to #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. His follow-up, Cool Hand Loc, only reached #46 on the charts, but it was still certified gold. Tone Loc Update: Tone Loc … Continue reading →

When Two Hit Wonders Attack – Part 2

Yesterday, I was discussing Two Hit Wonders – the artists who have two big hits then fade away. Here are a few more that just didn’t have the staying power: Paula Cole – “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” and “I Don’t Wanna Wait” Female singers had an incredible run in the late 90s and Paula Cole was no exception. “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” went to #8 and “I Don’t Wanna Wait” (you may remember it as the “Dawson’s Creek” theme song) went to #11. But 1997 was the last time Paula would be on the charts – … Continue reading →

The Story of Tim “Ripper” Owens

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Yesterday, I blogged about Tommy DeCarlo, a guy from North Carolina whose rock ‘n’ roll dreams came true due to his daughter posting a video of him singing on MySpace. He is now the new lead singer of the band Boston. But, he is not the first uber-fan to fill the lead singer shoes of his favorite band. Back in the Nineties, Tim “Ripper” Owens was the lead singer of a band called British Steel. British Steel was a tribute band (that is they played primarily another band’s songs) for heavy metal pioneers Judas Priest. In fact, the band took … Continue reading →

Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Bo Diddley Dead at the Age of 79

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Guitarist pioneer Bo Diddley, known for songs lilke “Who Do You Love?” and “Bo Diddley” has died at the age of 79 due to heart failure. He had suffered from diabetes for many years, but even so, he continued to tour through 2006. Diddley is known for his signature beat, which is often known as the “Bo Diddley Beat.” It is an African-based 5/4 rhythm pattern which was picked up by many other rock ‘n’ roll greats such as Buddy Holly, Johnny Otis, the Strangeloves, U2, and even George Michael. Many, many artists have done covers of Bo’s songs over … Continue reading →

Rock of Ages

Ah, apparently you are never too old to rock. Imagine a 92 year old war bride (that is World War II!) singing The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” Or, how about a 78-year-old man grooving out to James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” If you are having a hard time conjuring up this picture, fear not – there is a new documentary called Young at Heart that will show you the senior rockers that have been rocking out for some 25 years. The group hails from Northampton, Massachusetts, a small town of 30,000 people. Called the Young@Heart chorus, … Continue reading →

Dan Fogelberg – 1951-2007

Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg died today at the age of 56. He died three years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. His web site said, “He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side. His strength, dignity, and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him.” Dan was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1951. He came from a musical family – his father was a high school band director and his mother was a pianist. In fact, his … Continue reading →

Ike Turner Dead at 67

One of my earliest memories of television was seeing the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. I remember them singing “Proud Mary.” It amazed me how slowly the song started out with Ike’s deep baritone voice, then switched to a quick tempo with Tina and the back up singers lively dancing. To this day, I love that song, so it sadden me a bit to hear that Ike Turner died today at his home in San Diego today the age of 67. Of course, I was a child when I fell in love with “Proud Mary” and had no idea of … Continue reading →

Amy Winehouse…Britain’s Britney?

Amy Winehouse is a very talented songstress, but lately, just like Britney Spears, her private life has begun to overshadow her talent. Her first album was nominated for the Mercury Prize, the music award for Best Album in the United Kingdom. Her second album Back to Black has sold almost a million and a half copies. Yet, with all that success, her personal life seems to be a mess. It has long been suspected that she and husband Blake Fielder-Civil have a problem with drugs. Winehouse herself sang a song that contained the lyrics “They’re tryin to make me go … Continue reading →