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Appreciation: Robin Gibb, The Bee Gees Defined a Music Era

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Bee Gee Robin Gibb, in failing health for the last year died today, after battling valiantly to beat a variety of ailments, including cancer, Along with him, the iconic pop group The Bee Gees is passing into history. As a group, the brothers Gibb, Robin, twin Maurice and older brother Barry, defied almost insurmountable odds to become an iconic entity like no other. ...
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Florence Welch Captivates at Radio City Music Hall

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When Florence Welch first hit these shores from Britain two years back with her stunningly beautiful “Dog Days Are Over,” it was a revelation. Yet another Brit-singer was making noise here across the pond. She debuted last night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and she was suitably humble. In fact, she kept saying she couldn’t believe she was at such prestigious venue....
REVIEWS
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Phil Collins' Iconic 'Live at Montreux 2004' Out on DVD

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When singer, songwriter Phil Collins first played his song “In The Air Tonight,” Atlantic Records chieftain Ahmet Ertegun, had some suggestions that ultimately gave birth to a drum line heard throughout the 1980s. Truth be told, it even holds up today and has been captured on Eagle Rock Entertainment’s double DVD set, Phil Collins Live At Montreux 2004...
BETWEEN THE LINESROCK
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Robin Gibb Failing Health, Coma Mark End of Era

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Bee Gee Robin Gibb, in failing health for the last year, has slipped into a coma, and the end is feared near. The Bee Gees as a group has defied almost insurmountable odds to become an iconic entity like no other. From "How Deep Is Your Love," to "Night Fever," to "If I Can't Have You," we can't really recall any other music that so fit a film. Of course the 1977 film, based on writer Nik Cohen’s novel, "The Tribal Rites of Saturday Night," was epic in every sense of the word....
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Ahmet Ertegun's Legacy Secured With Oxford University Fund

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When those in the know talk about the major behind-the-scene players in the music business, three names always come up: Clive Davis, Mo Ostin and Ahmet Ertegun. Ertegun’s legacy was secured in February when his widow gave $26 million to Oxford University. The money will pay for at least 35 graduate scholarships every year through the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Scholarship Fund....
BETWEEN THE LINESMusic

Peter Gabriel Solo Career Captured on Two-CD Set

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Peter Gabriel began his solo career with the terrific song “Solsbury Hill,” from the first of several solo albums that were all self-titled. The results are now on a staggering, mesmerizing two CD set called Live Blood from Eagle Rock Entertainment. The music for his CD set was recorded live at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo on March 23 last year, and several of the songs are now legendary, among them “Sledgehammer,” “Don't Give Up” and “Red Rain.”...
BETWEEN THE LINESROCK
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Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Has Another Side–Survivor

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Before Aretha Franklin was a pop legend, she was a gospel and blues singer. Like Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington before her, she has had to overcome prejudice, frustration, a teen pregnancy, weight problems and devastating emotional trauma during her career. Fortunately, Aretha has been able to channel her feelings into some of the most memorable and soulful music of the 20th century. ...
R & B
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Jim Morrison, Doors Ride Again for 40th Anniversary

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Jim Morrison and The Doors final album, L.A. Woman, from 1971, is being celebrated with a special two-CD release from Rhino Records and a behind-the-scenes DVD/Blu-Ray from our friends at Eagle Rock Entertainment. The album included The Door's signature hits “Love Her Madly,” “Riders On The Storm” and the iconic album title track. The Rhino release features a never before-heard song, “She Smells So Nice.”...
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Carlos Santana's Classic Style Endures Since Woodstock

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Carlos Santana first broke into the big time at Woodstock in 1969. I wasn't there, but I marveled at his prowess even back then. I'm also struck by how he and his music have remained relevant to this day. To tell you how much of a fan I am, I still have never been able to completely grasp the fact that the song “Black Magic Woman,” was written in 1968 by Peter Green, then a mainstay of Fleetwood Mac. But Santana made it a worldwide hit in 1970....
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Adrian Niles Takes Gritty Memphis Blues to TV on F/X

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Musician Adrian Niles had just released his latest album Roll & Move, featuring the sublime single “Skylark," when we last spoke with him. That was a year ago. Now his great songs being recognized, again. Two will be featured next week in the F/X show "Justified," which was just renewed for a fourth season. The episode, titled "Loose Ends," stars Timothy Olyphant....
BETWEEN THE LINESBLUESMusic
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Behind the Media Frenzy Following Davy Jones' Death

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Famed Monkee Davy Jones unexpectedly passed away last week, touching off a media frenzy for bandmates like Micky Dolenz. “Micky was in New York to rehearse for a projected new play Garage Band,” when he heard the news, according to spokesman David Salidor. In the next 24 hours, Dolenz appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan, followed up by The Today Show, Access Hollywood, ABC's "Good Morning America" and Good Day New York, with Roseanne Scotto and Greg Kelly....
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Bruce Springsteen's Second Coming as Seminal Rock Voice

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Bruce Springsteen's performance on Jimmy Fallon's show this week in advance of his new album, Wrecking Ball convinces me that his newest effort is not only his best work yet, but that he has indeed become the voice of a generation. Honestly, no one writes like him anymore; it's pure, unadulterated craftsmanship. And, his rag-tag E Street Band is just totally in sync; they're flawless in their execution....
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Adele Heralds a Second British Invasion Equal to First

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Are you as jazzed as I am about the fact that Adele went six-for-six at the Grammys? With all the fantastic Brit singers who have hit these shores in the last few years, we are going through a British invasion that rivals the 1960s. Back then, led by the Beatles, the UK produced a wave of top bands from the Rolling Stones to Chad & Jeremy, Peter and Gordon, The Animals, Manfred Mann, Petula Clark, Freddie and the Dreamers, Dusty Springfield and Herman's Hermits, just to name a few....
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Smash So-So, But Katharine McPhee Makes It Worth Watching

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As a sometime player in the Broadway follies, I was most excited to finally see NBC’s "Smash" debut last week, after a more-than-relentless series of promotional ploys. I mean, I saw promos, adverts and hype, literally, everywhere. There was even a special premiere at the esteemed Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Executive Producer Steven Spielberg didn't show, but everyone else did. The cast, crew, writers, it was quite the scene....
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Winchester

Winchester is a pseudonym for a long-time New York City entertainment writer and public relations guru. He writes frequently for The New York Independent.