Blues Brothers Bassist Donald Duck Dunn dead at 70

Famed member of Stax Records and Booker T & the MGs passes away

Donald “Duck” Dunn playing bass behind The Blues Brothers, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody’

Donald “Duck” Dunn one of R&B and rock and rolls best bassist died on May 13, 2012 in his sleep on tour in Japan. Donald “Duck” Dunn was well known in the music business and became famous as the bass player in the John Belushi – Dan” Aykroyd comedy and tribute to Stax R&B, The Blues Brothers.

The nickname came from watching Disney cartoons on television and his bass playing was self-taught which gave one of the unique and best bass lines in the business. His love for pipe smoking created the iconic image of a pipe smoking bass guitar player seemingly in his own world on the stage.
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Hendrix does Dylan All Along The Watchtower most popular cover

Song voted most popular cover by Jimi Hendrix – Dylan still performing the song at 71


‘All Along The Watchtower’ – Bob Dylan, Santiago Chile 2012

Readers of Rolling Stone Magazine voted Bob Dylan’s ‘All Along The Watchtower’ covered by Jimi Hendrix the most popular cover of all time.

On May 23, 2012 Bob Dylan will celebrate his 71st birthday and he’s still rocking it out, here recorded in Chile on April 30, 2012.
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Bob Dylan to get Presidential Medal of Freedom

Famed artists who sang ‘don’t follow leaders’ will accept the highest civilian honor from President Obama, the leader of the free world

"Don't follow leaders, watch your parking meters" - Bob Dylan 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'

The US White House announced that singer songwriter, writer, and actor Bob Dylan will receive the the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

To followers of the iconic leader of baby boomer counter culture, the award has some irony. But then we were all younger then, we’re older than that now. Continue reading

Rock musician Levon Helm passes away

Famed member of The Band and Bob Dylan touring rock band dies from complications of cancer

Levon Helm (b. 1940 - d. 2012) famous rock musician Fredericton Harvest Blues Festival 2011 (photo Stephen Pate)

His family posted this brief message on Facebook

“Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.”

He had suffered from throat cancer which has been in remission, although his singing voice never fully recovered.

Update – Remembering Levon Helm

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Rock and Roll legend Levon Helm near death says family

The authentic voice behind the songs, the beat and one of the singers in The Band is in the final stages of cancer

Levon Helm at the Fredericton Harvest Blues and Jazz Festival 2011 (photo Stephen Pate)

Three hours ago his family posted this message on Facebook.

“Dear Friends,
Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey. …

Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration… he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage…

We appreciate all the love and support and concern.

From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy”

Update -  Rock musician Levon Helm passes away

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Review – Bonnie Raitt CD “Slipstream” arriving April 10th

First record in 7 years and tour puts blues guitarist and sultry singer Bonnie Raitt front and center

After a 7 year recording drought, Bonnie Raitt returns with her new CD “Slipstream” on April 10, 2012.

“Slipstream” is a soulful and fun romp through the blues and ballads by one of America’s musical treasures.

Slipstream is available for pre-order from Amazon.com. Check out the details at the end of this article.  Continue reading

Pete Seeger’s Greatest Hits – Turn Turn Turn

Pete Seeger is no stranger to hits – Turn Turn Turn was a # 1 hit for The Byrds


“Turn, Turn, Turn” from Forrest Gump soundtrack

With words from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Pete Seeger wrote a timeless song that became a #1 hit for The Byrds in 1965.

A populist movement is working to give Pete Seeger his first personal # 1 hit with his cover of Bob Dylan’s Forever Young.
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Joe Perry Man of Peace

Famed guitar hero Joe Perry rocks out Bob Dylan for Amnesty International

Joe Perry, lead guitarist for Arrowsmith, rocks out Dylan’s Man of Peace for Amnesty International on Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan.  Profit from the sale of the CDs goes to support humanitarian work of Amnesty International.

The raunchy sound is just perfect – this is a song with attitude. One of 73 covers of Bob Dylan, listening to this song is why my job is so great.
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Make Pete Seeger the Oldest Person With a #1 Hit

At 92 years old, Pete Seeger’s version of “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan headed for record books


“Forever Young” sung by Pete Seeger for Amnesty International.

Updated with click-able links – At 92, Pete Seeger the folk troubadour is headed for the first #1 hit of his career. Tony Bennett just had his first # 1 hit album at 85. This will make Pete Seeger the oldest person with a hit record.
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Bob Dylan Complete CD Box Set Fall 2012

Forbes has broken a story about new $300 CD set with free digital downloads but will it be a bust?

Bob Dylan and his band in Ireland 2010

Dylanologists will be ecstatic -  or not – this fall when Sony / Columbia releases a complete box set of everything Bob Dylan has recorded. The set will include singles and songs like George Jackson which have never been released before.

This could be great news or a counter attack against Dylan and other artists who will see their copyrights revert by Act of Congress in 2013. Sony could be just blowing the value of the Dylan catalog out the window in one last nasty parting shot.  Continue reading

Artists donated to Amnesty International on Chimes of Freedom

Preserving Freedom of speech is the theme for the 4-CD set honoring Bob Dylan which gets richer with each listening

The artists on Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, the monumental anthem to freedom of speech, talk about why they worked for no fees the project and what Dylan means to them.

It’s good to remember that Human Rights is not a luxury in a time when most of us are consumed with worry about jobs and the economy.  Continue reading