Spin That 45

Talking about one of my favorite tracks by this wonderful group.  "São Paulo" is the B side of Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) from Chic's debut album. I loved this song so much that as a teen I wore down the vinyl - which by the way, I still have this 45!  1977 and everybody was into disco! And the top Disco hit was Chic's "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" This song was so different than what I had heard on my AM radio station, that I had to have the 45!! After playing "Dance, Dance, Dance" over and over, I wanted more of Chic. I hadn't bought the LP yet but wanted to find out what was on the other side, hoping for something similar.  So one night I decided to flip that 45 over and was just floored by what I was hearing! This song definitely turned my 16-year-old world upside down! It was so fine  - it was so funky, I couldn't believe how great this song was! From the moment that I heard those ocean waves and th...

  It's Hug A Bassist Day!! Very fortunate to meet and hug a few. Nathan East - Eric Clapton, Phil Collins David Hungate - Toto Jimmy Haslip - The Yellowjackets, Gino Vannelli, Jeff Lorber Richard Brown - Entertaiment Director of Fantasy Springs Casino Tommy Sims - composer of "Change The World," Michael McDonald, Sheryl Crow Leland Sklar - Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, James Taylor Rocco Prestia - Tower of Power Jerry Barnes - Nile Rodgers' Chic Roy Mitchell-Cardenas - Mutemath Tim Tim Nordwind - OK GO Conrad Lozano - Los Lobos Abraham Laboriel Marcus Miller - David Sanborn, Luther Vandross, Grover Washington Jr. Verdine White - Earth, Wind & Fire Victor Wooten - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, SMV Marc van Wageningen - Tower of Power #hugabassistday #bassplayer #greatmusicians #supportlivemusic #musicmatters

Tower of Power Official Facebook posted on their page today that bassist, Rocco Prestia is very ill. Stating; " Our brother and original Tower bassist, Rocco Prestia, needs our love, prayer and good vibrations more than ever before, as he is now resting and comfortable in hospice." It was not said what he is ill with but it's for those who have been longtime fans of ToP, Rocco has had several major health issues, including a liver transplant, which was successful. Rocco has recorded 22 albums with ToP. Those albums are the soundtrack of my life. Their songs are totally intertwined with my childhood. Like; "What Is Hip?," "You're Still A Young Man," "You Got to Funkifize,"  "Clever Girl," and soooo many others!!!   His unique "Fingerstyle Funk" of playing on the bass is so iconic and different than how a bass was played back then. To watch him in person was magical. Truly a talent. But as always, Rocco like to stick to...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day National Hispanic Heritage Month Edition Honoring Carlos Santana (mejicano), Orestes Vilató (cubano), Armando Peraza (cubano), Raúl Rekow (cubano) and Artist Cristobal Gonzáles (mejicano) Trying to choose my last Pick for this week, was so incredibly hard because there are just so many artists/musicians/bands out there that I have loved and grown up with. But this one is important. When I think of the band; Santana, I go back all the way to my childhood, growing up in East Los Angeles / San Gabriel, California. Families gathering for a wedding or quinceañera and always, ALWAYS - everyone would get up to dance to "Evil Ways," "Oye Como Va," "Black Magic Woman" and more! From the time Santana came out in 1969 and myself being only 8 years old, I've literally grown up on this band. Memories of my older brother and his "Pachuco" buddies hanging around listening to Abraxas or Santan...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day National Hispanic Heritage Month Edition Honoring Abraham Laboriel (mejicano), Alex Aluña (peruviano), Justo Almario (colombiano) and Dan Garcia (not sure but will guess mejicano or Mexican-American born). Let me just begin by saying that there isn’t ONE PERSON on this album that doesn’t deserve to be mentioned. They are all heavy hitters and legends in their own right.  😃  And man, do I love the projects they have been on. That being said, this Pick is based on honoring those who are Hispanic / Latino respectively and their contributions to music. Let me just tell you all who the band members were: Bill Maxwell, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuña, Hadley Hockensmith, Harlan Rogers, Dean Parks, John Phillips, Justo Almario and later; Lou Pardini (of Chicago) Released in 1983, spear headed by drummer; Bill Maxwell and Abraham Laboriel, this album was the debut by some guys who were studio musicians...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day National Hispanic Heritage Month Edition honoring Jimmy Haslip and Tejano / Pop Artist Selena I think we can all agree that we know that   Jimmy Haslip   is one BAAAD musician!!! His rep of those he has played with is so vast. How I personally knew about him before I realized that I loved West Coast music was when he toured with Chaka Khan along with my high school friend; keyboardist Tony Patler. That was the first time I'd ever heard of Jimmy. But he'd been out and made a name for himself before that; starting with CSN and one of my favorite albums, "Brother To Brother" by Gino Vannelli. Jimmy Haslip is one of the most intuitive musicians I've ever listened to and had the pleasure to see live. Case in point; this song by another Latina I would like to acknowledge; Selena. Written by Franne Golde and Tom Snow, "Dreaming Of You" is probably one of the most beautifully written songs from th...