Monthly Archives: January 2012

Youssou n’Dour’s run for the Presidency in trouble

  January 29, 2012 - 5:53 pm | ,
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(Photo from his 2008 concert as part of the Toronto International Film Festival) The Senegalese star’s plan to run for the presidency of that country hit a major roadblock recently. The Constitutional Council of Senegal on Friday rejected his bid, claiming he had many invalid signatures on his application. However, it did approve 85 year old President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term — something n’Dour and other opposition figures claim is illegal and unconstitutional. From the Vancouver Sun, Jan. 28: N’Dour described the outcome as a “takeover by force” by Wade, who was first elected in 2000 for … Continue reading →

Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Jr Lockwood: on film, 1942

  January 29, 2012 - 3:48 am |
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Amazing colour film footage from 1942 of Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) and Robert Jr Lockwood playing on the front porch of an Arkansas grocery store in 1942. It also features some shots of Williamson playing with his band in 1952. No sound, but as one YouTube commenter wrote, “The music is there! You just can’t hear it”. This is quite an amazing artifact. It was apparently shot by Max Moore, the owner of the King Biscuit Flour company which sponsored the now-legendary (an overused word, but in this context, highly appropriate) King Biscuit Time radio show on KFFA … Continue reading →

Etta James & Johnny Otis

  January 26, 2012 - 4:14 am | , , , ,
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It’s been more than a week since the deaths of those two giant figures of American R&B: Johnny Otis, and his greatest discovery, Etta James. My initial comments on Otis’ death are in a post below, and they’ve both received significant media coverage, especially James, although Lynn Crosbie in the Globe & Mail this week wondered why it took her death for James to receive such wide recognition. “But if she is such a legend, why was she not pushed forward more in her life?” There was nothing simple, or easily mainstreamed, about the way James sang. Pure soul is … Continue reading →

Howlin’ Wolf: “What is the Soul of Man?”

  January 25, 2012 - 3:34 am | , ,
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In early December, I made my yearly note that the Oxford American‘s annual Music Issue was about to hit the streets.  Usually full of interesting takes on musicians, unknown, little known, or well known, it includes a CD of music by all artists profiled. (NOTE: The issue has been out for some time, but Soundscapes on College always gets in a good stock. Information on the issue, along with some articles, and online music is available on the OA website ) This year’s issue focuses on the music of Mississippi, and the cover features Howlin’ Wolf, who’s the subject of … Continue reading →

RIP, Johnny Otis

  January 20, 2012 - 4:26 am | , , , ,
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A giant of American popular music died on January 17 at the age of 90. Johnny Otis discovered, produced, recorded Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Esther Phillips and so many others; He helped create the R&B sound in the 1950’s and kept many of its early stars touring and performing through the 60’s and 70’s. Otis was the son of Greek immigrants, but as an obituary in the LA Times noted, ” in the 1920s, Otis decided as a youth that he’d rather be black”, and, according to one YouTube commenter he claimed “I was Greek by birth but black … Continue reading →

Jan. 26: Fundraiser for Andy Frank

  January 11, 2012 - 3:33 am |
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  Andy Frank has been a tireless contributor to Toronto’s broadcast & music scene. Several years ago he hosted various CIUT radio shows, and created and hosted its morning show, Take 5. More recently he created Frankcasting, an independent company producing webTV and videography, much dedicated to promoting Toronto-area roots music. He also co-created and runs the excellent Roots Music Canada website: www.rootsmusic.ca   He  was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, and as he now needs to dedicates his time and energy to treatment and his health, he will not be able to work as much, and the music community … Continue reading →

CKLN gone; Radio Regent now online

  January 11, 2012 - 2:57 am | ,
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A parallel story to the post below about CIUT’s 25th anniversary, and a lesson about the vulnerabilities of local, non-commercial radio… As most readers know, what was Toronto’s first and longest-running community radio station, CKLN (88.1) sadly went off the air last year and lost its broadcast license. It continued broadcasting online from a studio in Regent Park, but officially dissloved at the end of September. On January 1, many of its programs and hosts moved to Radio Regent, an online radio station. Check it out and tune in at www.radioregent.com For some background on CKLN and what happened see … Continue reading →

CIUT FM: 25th Anniversary Open House and party: Jan. 15

  January 11, 2012 - 2:39 am | ,
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Given the precarious state of community and other non-commercial radio, this Sunday marks a remarkable event: 25 years since CIUT began broadcasting on the FM dial. So the station is inviting all listeners & supporters to a 25 anniversary celebration: Sunday, Jan 15, 1-6pm Music Room, Hart House, University of Toronto (Map) CIUT hosts, staff, alumni and others will be there, along with live performances by Donné Roberts Los Caballers del Son Memoryhouse Barry Livingston & Darren Moore Canadian Space Opera Company See this page for more goodies & details. The station’s history actually goes back much further, to the … Continue reading →

Townes Van Zandt: new book, old interview

  January 11, 2012 - 2:19 am | , ,
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Sometimes I don’t know where This dirty road is taking me Sometimes I can’t even see the reason why I guess I keep a-gamblin’ Lots of booze and lots of ramblin’ It’s easier than just waitin’ around to die —from “Waitin’ Round to Die”, Townes Van Zandt One of the greatest Americana singer-songwriters, Townes Van Zandt died 15 years ago this past New Year’s Day, and a new book, A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt, written by Robert Earl Hardy has just been published. Townes was never famous, and never had a hit. He’s most … Continue reading →