Rock and Roll legend Levon Helm near death says family

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Stephen Pate

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

Continue reading →

Ron Hynes – 30 For 60 – a Hail Mary bet

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Canada’s Man of a Thousand Songs hits a genuine note

“Stealing Genius” which contains “30 for 60″ is a great gem for Newfoundlanders and people who wish they were Newfoundlanders – which pretty much takes up most of mankind.

The phrase “30 for 60″ means an all-out-bid in the Irish game of Forty-Five’s (45′s). When your down in the game, it’s a Hail Mary bid to beat your opponent with a 60 point upside or downside.

Continue reading →

Is the CMA jealous of Taylor Swift ?

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Taylor Swift, the most popular Country artist of 2011, was not asked to perform at the CMA Awards and was dissed all night long

Taylor Swift wins CMA Entertainer of the Year

It certainly seems from Sunday night’s CMA Award extravaganza that the Country Music Association is sick of Taylor Swift. Of the five finalists for Country Music Entertainer of the Year, only Taylor Swift didn’t perform.

Co-host Blake Shelton lobbed one bad joke after another at Swift’s expense until he became a rather large boor. All she could do was smile weakly at Shelton’s oafish behavior. Continue reading →

Earl Scruggs King of the Bluegrass Banjo Dies at 88

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Stephen Pate

He created the modern sound of 5-string banjo and bluegrass music with Bill Monroe and became a household name with The Beverly Hillbillies

Earl Scruggs (photo credit - whittlz Flickr)

By Stephen Pate – Earl Scruggs, the man behind bluegrass banjo and The Beverley Hillbillies theme song “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” died in Nashville, TN at 88 on March 28, 2012.

Bill Monroe sang the high lonesome sound of bluegrass but it was the lightning 3-finger picking of Earl Scruggs’ banjo that propelled the music.

Scruggs left the claw hammer style of banjo, which is similar to thumb picking and strumming the guitar, and popularized the clever and fast 3-finger picking style.

Although other banjo players played 3-finger style, it was Earl Scruggs job with Bill Monroe in 1945 that catapulted the style to the forefront. Scruggs-style is the defacto standard for banjo players today. Continue reading →

Top Country Song – guess what Taylor Swift and “Ours”

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Taylor Swift’s “Ours” claims the crown on Billboard’s country song chart. (CMT)

Taylor Swift goes from strength to strength by topping the country charts this week with last years song “Ours” from the CD “Speak Now.”

It’s a sweet sentimental song about love and the power to overcome alienation in the modern world. It is spring right?
Continue reading →

Taylor Swift talks to her cat and boosts career

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Country pop star gives Meredith the adopted cat a lesson on CMA awards and asks for advice

By Stephen Pate – Mike Masnick at TechDirt preaches that musicians should connect with fans to promote their music. He didn’t suggest a conversation with your cat.

However, for cutie country star Taylor Swift, cat chat is exactly what got her 375,000 YouTube views in 3 days without singing a note.

Continue reading →

Mumford and Sons sing new song at Nashville gigs

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Stephen Pate

“Where Are You Now” a hit at Ryman Auditorium along with new and old songs including Simon and Garfunkel cover

“Where Are You Know” Mumford and Sons

By Stephen Pate – Mumford and Sons performed at the Ryman in Nashville, TN on March 6th, 7th and 8th. The band of young folk rock enthusiasts delighted the crowd with new material and songs from their popular CD.

Mumford and Sons are touring constantly. The played the White House on Wednesday evening this week. They play SXSW this weekend.
Continue reading →

Taylor Swift – Eyes Open

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Stephen Pate

With The Hunger Games opening March 23, the new Taylor Swift song Open Eyes gets a preview

Updated with full audio – The Hunger Games is sci-fi movie set in the future where teenagers fight to the death on television, sort of The Running Man without Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The song is a foray into our lack of privacy with words like “Everybody’s waiting / Everybody’s watching / Even when you’re sleeping, keep your eyes open.”
Continue reading →

Mumford and Sons in new film at SXSW

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Big Easy Express is a train ride from LA to New Orléans with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Old Crow Medicine Show

Continue reading →

Miley Cyrus video Bob Dylan You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Part of Chimes of Freedom The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International

Updated with new video – OK I’m not a Miley Cyrus fan but she does acquit herself nicely on the 4 CD set honoring Dylan and Amnesty International. The 4-CD set of Dylan covers grows on you.
Continue reading →

Taylor Swift wins at Grammy Awards video

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Depression era wardrobe didn’t spoil Taylor Swift’s musical and fresh performance

Mean by Taylor Swift

212212213725 by YardieGoals

Proving that Bob Lefsetz was dead wrong, Taylor Swift wowed the audience and this viewer with spot-on sassy singing, banjo strumming, and choreography on Mean. She’s just so darn good at her performance and good looking to boot. Continue reading →