Spin That 45

           Famed Drummer Shares Memories of Working with George Harrison It's been nearly 2 decades since the younger Beatles passed away. For myself, I’ve been a fan of The Beatles since I was 3 years old and that was a long time ago! I’ve also been a fan of them as individual artists. When John Lennon was tragically killed in 1980, I was devastated. Then to find out that George Harrison would later pass away from Cancer on this day; in 2001, cut me deep. Of course I never had the privilege of meeting any of these wonderful men, but I know someone who has. My friend; famed drummer, Alvin Taylor.  Inside cover of 33 1/3 Alvin's skills as a drummer can be heard on one of my personal favorite LP’s. George Harrison's 1976 release of   33 1/ॐ   which included, Billy Preston, David Foster, Emil Richards, Gary Wright, Richard Tee, Tom Scott and Willie Weeks.  The feedback on  33 1/ॐ was incredible with reviews better than George's "All Th...

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...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as my Pick of The Day: "The Higher You Rise" from the high def test record; "The Sheffield Track & Drum Record" featuring Robbie Buchanan and James Newton Howard, keyboards, Lenny Castro, percussion, Nathan East, bass, Mike Landau, guitar, and Carlos Vega, drums. National Hispanic Heritage Month Edition Today begins the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. As a Latina, I am very proud of my Hispanic roots and felt that it was only proper to feature two of  Inside MusiCast's favorites for my Pick today; Lenny Castro and the sorely missed; Carlos Vega. Recorded May 22, 1982 at the Sheffield Lab Studios at MGM in Culver City, this album was designed for systems and component testing and evaluation. Sheffield Lab Recordings, founded by engineer great; Doug Sax and legendary musician / arranger; Lincoln Mayorga, it is an audiophile label which produced direct-to-disc classical and jazz albums. What a fantastic ...

Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast , my Pick of The Day: "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & The Gang from their album "Wild And Peaceful" The music world has lost another legend. Ronald Bell, aka Khalis Bayyan co-founder of one of the best funk bands ever; "Kool & The Gang" with brother Robert "Kool" Bell.  Growing up in the desert of Palm Springs California, what was available to hear the latest in music was one radio station. When this song came out in 1973, I was about 12 years old. I remember hearing  this it on the radio and thinking - “what the heck is this?? Give me more!” And then to see them on Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was great to see them moving and grooving, especially since my parents didn’t have a problem with me staying up late to watch the last two shows. Because we all have a soundtrack to moments in our lives, buying the 45 record was so memorable for me. . . My d...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day Longtime “Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)” artist Jon Gibson has created music for about 40 years. . . his way - his rules. Jon is the epitome of that West Coast / Blue-Eyed Soul sound. Considered early in his career as the “white Stevie Wonder,” Jon has proved over and over that he has always been the real deal. This tune has that funky feel that is synonymous with 80's synth funk and soul. The message is clear, but delivered in a way that makes you want to get up a move yo'self, body and soul. The personnel on this are definitely "A" list. On sax is Jon's longtime friend, jazz artist; Eric Marienthal, whose solo has that "Huey Lewis and The News" feel. My own long time friend, Tony Patler is playing on this as well. . . guitar and keys. Bob Somma is on guitar. You might remember Bob's work on Paula Abdul's 1988 release; "Forever Your Girl," and 80's funk group ...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day This album has to be at the top of my list of treasured albums. Especially for me, because I tend to gravitate towards more male vocalists than female. When I play this album, I am always taken back to the first time I heard her single "Magic Smile" on Los Angeles' 94.7 The Wave. I was so crazed!! I was like - "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!? I LOVE IT!" At the time, there was really nothing else similar on the radio waves. I not only bought the album but the cassette because of course, I had to listen to it on the way home. The vibe of "2nd Emotion" is so bouncy and ultra cool. Perfect for the mid-80's aerobics! Hearing that gorgeous velvety voice with her slight cool, airy vibrator and the band playing along side her is truly a match made in heaven. For me at least.  ;) Written by Rosie Vela, this tune features the best musicians in the business; Donald Fagen and Aaron Zigman on synth, Jim...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day Today is another special day for this lady! July 1st, marks the day I was welcomed as a team member of Inside MusiCast in 2014. To commemorate that day, I'd like to re-post one of my first posts as a correspondent. This one is perfect too. As most of us have been on lockdown, being that I am in Seattle, I am wishing I could be cruising down my beloved Pacific Coast Highway in Souther California. When I wrote this Pick 6 years ago, I had been in California driving that ocean highway Written by Jeff, his tune is the soundtrack of the Pacific Coast Highway. California music at it's best. Man, the vibe of this song is just too cool. From the beginning, with the two strums of the guitar, then percussion and then synth. This is soft funk with a whole lotta soul! Jeff Lorber takes his keyboards and brings it home with his 80's jazz fusion, making you feel so good. . .you just want to keep on driving. And I di...