GAVIN DEGRAW: SINGER/SONGWRITER

Gavin DeGraw, released his 4th studio album SWEETER, the pop rock singer/songwriter from New York, is on a roll. Two of the songs on the album were produced by Ryan Teddar. ‘Sweeter’, and ‘Not Over You’,  are two of the songs included in the list of records that earned Teddar the Grammy Nomination for Producer of the Year for 2011, along with various others.


In August, DeGraw was assaulted in New York City, by a group of men who attacked him in the early morning hours near The National Underground. Minutes after the attack he was struck by a taxi. He was hospitalized with a broken nose, a concussion, two black eyes and cuts to the face. But no worries, he was back at it after a very short recovery period.

Gavin along with his brother, Joey, opened the The National Underground in December 2007, a New York City music venue that is a roots rock Americana music bar located in Manhattan's Lower East Side.  They developed the venue so they would have a place to hang out, and where other musicians could come and listen and enjoy good music.

DeGraw has had success with top charting songs like ‘I Don’t Want To Be’, 'In Love With A Girl’, ‘Chariot’ and his latest single ‘Not Over You’. He has appeared on Leno, Letterman, Ellen, Regis & Kelly, and toured with Sister Hazel, The Barenaked Ladies, Maroon 5, Train, Jason Mraz, The Allman Brothers Band, and more,  and most recently with David Cook. In February he is off on a European Tour. His music is associated with various movies and TV (One Tree Hill) shows, and on 12/23/11 he appeared on the CBS “Home For the Holidays” special.

SWEETER, is a little more low-key than the previous albums, but a definite album for the Gavin DeGraw fans, and interested persons. The pop/rock musician will get you rocking and singing along to the well written songs and production of this studio album. He is a guy to watch, as he gets better with each album.

http://www.gavindegraw.com/news

‘Not Over You’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDWhfsQHq1o


“I Don’t Want To Be’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gFCW3PHBws


‘Chariot’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkUnBPdR9RU

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ETTA JAMES

ETTA JAMES:  An American R&B Soul singer released her last album; THE DREAMER, her 28th studio album (1961-2011) out November 8, 2011.


Sadly, the 73-year-old singer – is suffering the end stages of terminal leukemia, and dementia, and was recently hospitalized with sepsis, from a urinary tract infection, and placed on a breathing machine.


While this is her last album, we can’t forget her contribution as an original Rhythm and Blues, Doo Wop singer who bridged the gap between Rhythm and Blues and Rock and Roll. In the 1960’s she broke into the traditional pop style singer, who influenced the Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Beyoncé, Janis Joplin and dozens of others of yesterday and today with her powerful bluesy voice, and unique style.


Plagued by drug and alcoholism addiction she was arrested for her drug addiction, accused of cashing bad checks, forgery and possession of heroin. In and out of treatment center s for several decades with her final stint in rehab in 2010 for prescription drug addiction.  All of this was going on when she was recording such greats as ‘Dance With Me Henry’, ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me’, ‘At Last’, ‘Fools Rush In’, and many more memorable singles (58).


THE DREAMER, while not the album of the past decades, as her voice has deepened, and coarsened, her style has changed into a soul/jazz genre of music; it is her last album and worth adding to the Etta James Collection to commemorate the Grammy, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient, and many more accolades, as one of the top singers in our lifetime. Our hats are off to Etta James.


Etta 1962:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzibSiJv8hc
Etta:  1992
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCL2cSk8QcE&feature=related
Etta; 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGDt5izxIg&feature=related

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AMY WINEHOUSE: SINGER/SONGWRITER

Amy Winehouse: The sultry contralto vocalist, died 7/23/2011 of alcohol poisoning. She left to us a very short catalog of music that should have spanned many decades, and she would have been an artist for all the ages, and could have been a living legend late into her life, instead of ending at the age of 27. She had it all, but should of, would have, could have didn’t stop the demons within her from taking her away from us much too early.

Her family posthumously released her 3rd album, a compilation of unreleased songs and demo’s, which also includes her recent duet with Tony Bennett “Body and Soul”. From his DUETS II Album, released as a single in September 2011. The album, titled
 LIONESS: HIDDEN TREASURES, released on iTunes, December 2011. Rumor has it she was working on an album, due out in 2011, but the same story was announced in 2010, and 2009, and nothing materialized, in fact she had not released any recording since 2007.

Tony Bennett said “she was a true jazz singer”, her bluesy, R&B soul, pop jazz styling came to the attention of most of us when BACK TO BLACK, her second studio album came out in 2006. She earned six  Grammy nominations and took home five with that album. She said her next album was going to be like BACK TO BLACK, but that’s it, no more studio albums. Rumor has it there are other recordings out there that will come out later, but nothing is for sure.

Her voice and lyrical style are incredible; there is no one out there to compare her to. This album while not a studio album, is a wonderful addition to any collection and the sale of this album will benefit The Amy Winehouse Foundation. The foundation is set-up to help vulnerable young adults with addiction problems.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OFMkCeP6ok

The link below is from the earlier years playing the guitar, you can see she has no ink, and looks healthy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FIOSbJsrZY&feature=related



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GARLAND JEFFERYS: SINGER/SONGWRITER

Garland Jeffreys, the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter released his 13th studio album September 2011.
THE KING OF IN BETWEEN. .
The neo-classic, rock/blues rock, R&B, and light Reggae singer sounds as hip as ever and brings a breath of fresh air from the old school rocker. The 67 year old has a skip in is step with this entertaining and upbeat album. His last album release was 1997.

Jeffrey’s is kind of like Dylan, Springsteen, Mayfield, and Lenny Kravitz, THE KING OF IN BETWEEN, and denotes his life in music. He is better known in European countries than the USA, but those who know him have a very high regard for his talent.

His music reflects his life at home in New York City, his daughter, racial injustice, and whatever is at the forefront of his life at the time. Hal Horawitz’s of allmusic.com reviewed this album and writes “Regardless of the serious topics, Jeffreys' music is almost giddy in its approach, a perfect contrast to words that are generally far less joyful. It's a melancholy but never depressing 50 minutes that proves what an under-the-radar talent Jeffreys remains, and indicates that his best work might even be ahead of him. But not if he waits another 13 years to release it”.

Ken Tucker of nprmusic.org writes “Jeffreys' music has always been rich with his diverse interest in all sorts of popular music, as well as his heritage as a man born to a black father and a Puerto Rican mother. He's written incisive songs about mixed race and mixed feelings: "Too black to be white, too white to be black," he's sung ruefully. And he's never forgotten where he was born: 22 stops on the subway from Manhattan, where he started playing professionally with jazz and rock musicians”.

Tom Shea, of masslive.com writes: Garland Jeffreys, Dave Alvin tie for "album of the year"

Check out a couple of youtube clips from the past - enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSSqcuuDZoU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsXg2zYbzsM&feature=relatedgoog_1479532737

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ROBIN THICKE: SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER

Robin Thicke, just released his new album LOVE AFTER WAR, out now in stores, and out on iTunes December 6th. Currently on sale at Target for $9.99 . The R&B Soul Singer/Songwriter, and Producer finally is getting to where he should be, on this his 5th album singing R&B Soul and leaving the Hip Hop to the other guys. Hip Hop has done him well, but he can sing and he has the talent, and this album has a few tunes that really showcase his vocals.


“Love After War”, sounds a bit like DeBarge, but he does a really fine job. “Mission” is slow and Prince like, but again a good one. “I Don’t Know How It Feels To Be You” showcases his vocal range, and a nice one at that. “What Would Be”, notably good. This is a 17 track album and the last part of the album is more appealing than the first part. The deluxe version includes 3 additional songs 1. “Stupid Things”, 2. “Compass or Map” 3. “We a Family”

He has been around since 1994, and is a 3 time Grammy winner. He is song writer and/or producer for Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Mary J Blige , The Carter III album, Brandy, Guy Sebastian, and many more. He is currently on tour with Jennifer Hudson.

We will probably see Robin Thicke around for a long time, he is talented as a singer, a songwriter and a producer. We can expect the ‘Best’ is yet to come from him as time goes by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwFtfnUGJfg

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