By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

Here, I'm talking about people who either introduced a whole new sound and/or took music to new exciting places, and Higher Grounds. Dig it? Here are a few of mine:

Louis Armstrong
Charlie "Bird" Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Chuck Berry
Dave Brubeck
The Beatles
Stevie Wonder (After Talking Book)
Marvin Gaye (after "What's Going On")
Barry White
Joni Mitchell
The Last Poets
Prince
Rakim
Chuck-D
Bjork

By STUBASS (206.135.204.254) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

PICASSO...
REMBRANDT...
CHIGALL...
WARHOL...
OOPS...WRONG TYPE OF ARTISTS!!!...
STU(WITH A FULL PALATE)BASS

By Des (81.152.235.236) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 07:52 pm:

Moanman/You haven't missed too many in yr first post!!! Minor point before entering the fray -
Surely Music Of My Mind was the 'innovative' groundbreaker and propelled Stevie from there on in and up to Hotter Than July.From Talking Book onwards,I'd say he became less innovative whilst delivering refinements(for want of a better phrase)- in the form of truly magnificent songs - on the template that was MOMM.
Regarding Marvin - I thought long and hard about this (along the lines of my Stevie thoughts) and concluded you're right.'Innovation' is attributable to Marvins' Let's Get It On and future albums,due to the multi-tracked vocals,harmonising/counterpointing with himself etc. What's Going On was just ('just' huh???) a classic,enduring album - with a more conventional take on the vocals than what followed.You could argue that as far as Black 'soul' music,WGO was innovative in its' conceptual nature......can't think of any mainstream Black music albums earlier than WGO that truly fit that 'concept album' category - could be open to debate.
My input to your Thread :
1969-80 Carlos Santana
Tom Jobim/Joao Gilberto/Stan Getz
Burt Bacharach
Todd Rundgren
Jam & Lewis
Gil Evans (particularly with Miles)
Steely Dan
70's Elvis Costello
Pat Metheny
Brian Wilson/Beach Boys

Hope I've not strayed too far into artists 'I love' and not truly in line with yr Thread....
Des

By STUBASS (206.135.204.254) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 08:10 pm:

LITTLE RICHARD...
ELVIS...
CHUCK BERRY...
COLTRANE/YARDBIRD...
BENNY GOODMAN...
OTIS REDDING (OF COURSE)...
MOZART...
BEATLES...
BRIAN WILSON...
ARETHA...
SELENA...
VICENTE FERNANDEZ (THE MEXICAN FRANK SINATRA)...
FREDDIE HUBBARD...
WES MONTGOMERY...
BARBARA STREISAND...
TEMPTATIONS...
BUDDY RICH...
MINGUS...
HANK WILLIAMS...
PATSY CLINE...
GLORIA ESTEFAN...
WHEW!!!...
STUBASS!!!...

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

Des, thanks for your post, you actually cited reasons why some of the artists were significant or influential.
Getz/Jobim/Gilberto get credit for introducing the bossa craze to America in the early 60s (actually Charlie Byrd had more than one hand in that mix).
I like Steely Dan, but I don't know why they were significant or influential. Was it the jazz/rock 'thing'?

Gil Evans, yeah he was a master. His arrangements for Claude Thornhill in the 40s were damn sharp. He was kinda like Mary Lou Williams, a great teacher/innovator. And his collaborations with Miles are stunning.

By Des (81.152.235.236) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 08:45 pm:

Jim G/
Re.Bossa Nova,Jim,I'd always look to the writers and original performers as the source of 'innovation',new sound or taking music to 'Higher Grounds' -- I was trying to stay "on Thread" and I believe the Brasilian recordings in the late 50's,particularly by Joao-G,are where the innovations were born.Charlie and,it has to be said,Stan popularised for the U.S./global market.Despite the genres occasional lapses into elevator music(another discussion altogether,of course),the melodies were so memorable and Tom Jobim went on to ,again,refine his craft for decades and,IMO,is an artist of the highest order - thus,my inclusion here in that deliberate name order.
Steely Dan - you may have read me talkin' them up before on this Forum -- anyway,they fall into this Threads' category of taking music to 'higher grounds'. The Dan package is many layered IMO - Lyrically,by turns smart/elusive/amusing/cryptic and so on. Musically - ok,they're very much my cup of tea - from fine 'pop writing' of Can't Buy A Thrill through their evolution to exquisite jazz-blues hipsters of latter albums(their jazz chops even detectable on CBAT eg Turn That Heartbeat Over Again). I honestly feel they sit comfortably on this Forum - but can accept that,let's just say,idiosyncratic vocals from Donald Fagen(OK,STU??) can detract from their musical effectiveness for some.That's why they're on my list,Jim.
Are you gonna add to the list? - it's becoming a shorter set of options....
Des

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

Sure, I'll toss a couple of innovators into the mix.
Yusef Lateef - a pioneeer of world music. He introduced 'odd' instruments into his bands, like the rabat, oud and oboe.
Yusef composed Mid Eastern-structured pieces and didn't isolate them in performance, rather he blended these influences into jazz.
The man also has one of the most soulful sounds ever heard on a tenor saxophone.

Woodrow Wilson "Buddy" Johnson - pianist/bandleader/composer/arranger/vocalist

Buddy was one of the first, if not the first, swing bandleader to incorporate rock and roll rhythm into a big band setting. Along with Lionel Hampton's band, Buddy's band had a strong backbeat. His early recordings, for Decca (home of Louis Jordan) clearly show his moves. Buddy had tremendous singers in his sister Ella ("Since I Fell For You") and Arthur Prysock ("Ever Since The One I Love's Been Gone").
Buddy also wrote some beautiful 'blues ballads' too.

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 09:51 pm:

Des

We can most definitely debate the marvels of Marvin, and the dawning of the new Super Stevie. Yes, �Music of My Mind� kicked it hard, and showed the promise of a smarter, more daring musicianship that was fully realized in later albums. But I think, clearly from a new music, new instrumentation, experimental pov, along with more cutting-edge social commentary, the albums I sited first are what led me to the whole �innovative� train of thought, in the case of both Marvin and Stevie. To be even more technical about Stevie; I think he jumped it to an Even Higher Level with the release of �Innervisions�. But, hell, by then, he was already a Master of this New Thing which was beyond anything Motown had put out before that time.

I�m sure I�ve missed quite a few people, as there are many artists who made a difference and a provided a significant contribution. I was tempted to add more women to my list, namely Ella ( for her pure scat-appeal alone; though I believe Satchmo might�ve scatted on wax first ), and also Billie-- but as much props & respect as she�s due, I don�t personally consider her an innovator�- more of a fantastically creative Stylist. I do wish I did know of more sisters/women in the game who laid it down & brought it up to that higher ground. Any suggestions? School me.

I think Laurie Anderson is in that league when it comes to bringing something totally different to the musical table, but I just can�t tolerate her sound.

I happen to love �The Dan� & have for many years, despite Fagin�s lack of vocal muscle or dexterity. Many of their jazzier compositions ring to my ear more like Jazz sessions, and because of this, I debated whether I�d truly consider them �innovative� per-se, or exceptional musicians/writers/lyricists who have a knack for drawing in the best of studio players to flesh out their ideas. But I�m glad you & others thought to name them, because, as I stated, I�ve got much love for them.

Dig a lot of Brazilian/ Bossa-nova sounds, but I�m nowhere near a scholar of who put what down first, or who made it sing to the point of making a new wave in sound technology. I tend to stay away from subjects I�m ignorant on, and go with what I know. People on this site can often kick the ballistics of seasoned musicologists. Me. I'm simply a new-jack, thus, these are only my opinions.

Peace

By SteveS (68.41.250.190) on Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 10:07 pm:

I guess everybody defines innovation in a slightly different way. For me, it means people who permanently change the way things are done, raising the bar for all that follow. Most of these people were / are so distinctive that it takes years for people to catch up (in some cases they never do). There are many great musicians, but only a handful that really have that kind of impact. A few that come to mind, in addition to those already listed:

Art Tatum
Wes Montgomery
George Benson
McCoy Tyner
James Jamerson
Chick Corea
Herbie Hancock

By Des (81.152.235.236) on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 03:26 am:

Moanman/ For sure I agree with you on 'these are only my opinions' -- I certainly lay no claim to title of musicologist.I'm just an ordinary Joe.
I used the various sub-categories of your Thread to suit my comments - particularly taking music to 'higher ground'.
I certainly agree with Steve S and his comment '...everybody defines innovation in a slightly different way.'
Fine Thread.....IMO !!!
Des

By B. Foster (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:38 am:

At first I was not comfortable with including Steely Dan in this discussion, but I did a little research and was most impressed by the fact that Donald Fagen is a man who honors those who came before him.

By Eddie Welk, Champagne Music drinker (12.47.224.13) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:47 am:

The guy on the left looks A LOT like a bass player in my cousin Larry's band. He tried to bite Kathy Lennon's butt once and Larry fired him on the spot! Larry didn't put up with that kind of crap!

By TonyRussi (68.210.9.227) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:55 am:

JAMES BROWN from 1964 to 1974.The New Breed FUNK.

By B. Foster (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:59 am:

Eddie,

When it comes to butt-biting, it's not really the guy on the left you need to worry about. Also, in reviewing my notes, I see that I may have become confused,thus, I am not exactly sure which gentleman is Fagen and which is Lugosi. However, I believe that the person on the left may actually be the "other" Lennon sister, Jermaine.

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 10:32 am:

Hey Fellas (& ladies)

This is my first thread on this site, and I liked the way flow was going. There was a certain respect for the artists listed, and I dig the whole ebb & flow of opinions, comments, and the exchange of intelligent thought-provoking ideas. It's teaching me, & surely others who read this something about THE MUSIC.

So, could we please continue in that spirit & not degrade it with off-topic, sex-baiting, bordering on insulting feedback? I feel as if it's somehow dishonoring the very people/artists I (& the others) were trying to give honor to... I can take a joke as easy as the next cat-- so no need to tell me to "lighten up". I was just hoping for something a little Better here. Feel me?

Don't hate. Celebrate!

Peace

By B. Foster (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 10:41 am:

Moanman,

You're right, this is a good thread, and I apologize for leading it astray. I'll cease and desist (but you do have to admit that resemblance is striking).

By Des (81.152.238.56) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 11:02 am:

Hey,Moanman/
I also see what you're saying.In my estimation,however,Becker&Fagen would take B.Fosters' photo and text posts with a smile.Their lyrics constantly reveal a wicked sense of humour,too - not to mention their website,which is chockfull of smartass asides and self-deprecating observations.
It is also excellent of B.Foster to subsequently comment as he/she's done.......and the beat goes on.
Des

By NY-DELL (12.14.39.66) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 11:12 am:

NO BARRY WHITE......NO LUTHER (just one guy's opinion)

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 11:23 am:

Isaac Hayes? What came first to record? "Hot Buttered Soul" or Barry's first major LP?

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 11:25 am:

Not sure if your "No" means nix them, or "No" as in no mention of them, here. I did include Mr. Barry White in my original list. He practically single-handedly created symphonic disco & took the sheer celebration of love/sex/lust/passion to new "Unlimited" places.

Luther... wonderful, wunnerful, WONDERFUL singer. But innovative? I think not.

P.S. Thanks fellas for the respect & for not taking my earlier comments the wrong way.

peace

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:54 am:

The Following are a few egregious slights from my original list of "Innovative" Artists:

Robert Johnson
Duke Ellington
Muddy Waters
BB King
Papa John Creach
Thelonious Monk
Jimi Hendrix
George Clinton (& dem)
Sly & The Family Stone
War

AND

The Amazing, One-of-a-Kind Fantastically Gifted:

Rashaan Roland Kirk

By medusa (66.73.8.227) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 08:34 am:

Berry Gordy & "The MOTOWN SOUND"

By STUBASS (206.135.204.254) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 11:12 am:

AMEN TO *THAT* ONE MED!!!...ALSO...RAY CHARLES...BUILDING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN R&B AND SOUL MUSIC!!!...STUBASS

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:45 pm:

Good call Medusa. B.G. of course should be listed in this thread. My bad.

I also think both Mr. Gordy & Ray Charles would give props & a debt of gratitude to a gentleman who is perhaps the Grandaddy of modern R & B,
Mr. Louis Jordon. Ah! History is a wonderful thing.

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

The mighty MC5...

By Eli (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 05:00 pm:

Here are some of my picks for innovative people.

Rufus Harley
Sun Ra
Ornette Coleman
Andreas Vollenweider
Yo Yo Ma
Miles
Les Paul
Leo Fender
Theloneous Monk
Jimmy Scott
Wes Montgomery
Django Rhinehart
Pat Martino
Thomas A. Dorsey
Sly & the Family Stone
Steely Dan
Nat Cole
Ella
Nancy
Hank Williams
Sam Phillips
Jim Stewart
HDH
Willie Mitchell
Bird
Professor Longhair
Cosimo Matassa
Phil Spector

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:26 pm:

Looks like Bobby Eli mooched from my list again! Here's who I think were the most innovative:

Stevie Wonder
Marvin Gaye
Ray Charles
Sly & the Family Stone
Santana
Otis Redding
Brian Wilson
Lennon & McCartney
Chuck Berry
Gamble & Huff
Thom Bell
Bobby Martin
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Smokey Robinson
Ella Fitzgerald
Jimmy Scott
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66
Norman Whitfield
Billie Holiday
Oliver Nelson
Wes Montgomery
Jimmy Smith
B.B. King
Booker T. & the MGs
Dizzy Gillespie
Charlie Parker
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Paul Desmond & Dave Brubeck
Gerry Mulligan
Tony Macaulay
Roger Cook & Roger Greenway
Roquel Billy Davis
Charles Stepney
Richard Evans
Earth Wind & Fire
Minnie Riperton
Rotary Connection
Eric Clapton
Stevie Winwood
Peter Gabriel
Paul Weller & Michael Talbot (Style Council)
MFSB
The Funk Brothers
Willie Mitchell & the Hi Records Rhythm Section
Curtis Mayfield
Carl Davis
Sonny Sanders
Tom Tom 84 (Tom Washington)
Session players of Chicago, IL
Phil Spector
The Wrecking Crew
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Berry Gordy

I will stop here...
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

Hey Eli,

Apppreciate your learned input. A couple of the artists you list above are very interesting, dynamic choices, as I would had never thought of them. Pardon my ignorance, but just who is "Cosimo Mastassa"? I feel as if I should know this, but I regretfully, I don't. Please, school a brotha.

P.S. Much props also go out to *you* on your history of writing songs that have stood the test of time.

Peace.

By SteveS (68.41.250.190) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:33 pm:

Bobby - Cool that you included Pat Martino on your list. Did you get to know him around Philly at all?

By SB (199.183.163.174) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:48 pm:

Sam "The Smooth & Soul Stirring", Cooke.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 08:43 pm:

Moanman:
If I may since my boss is a colleague of Mr. Matassa's.

Cosimo Matassa was the owner of J&M/Cosimo's Studios in New Orleans. This was THE studio where many Rock & Soul classics were recorded between the late 1940s & the late 1960s.

What made Cosimo's studios legendary were the acoustics and Cosimo's engineering style - he miked the instruments closely and placed his musicians where their instruments would best resonate. When he mixed, it sounded like you were hearing the band/artist at a club. He also employed some of the best studio musicians in the land from Dr. John to Allen Toussaint to the late James Booker

Here's the honor roll:
Blueberry Hill, Ain't That A Shame, I'm Walkin', My Blue Heaven, The Fat Man, Blue Monday and almost every other hit FATS DOMINO recorded in the 1940s & 1950s
Tutti Fruitti, Good Golly Miss Molly, Lucille, Jenny Jenny - Little Richard
I'm A Fool To Care - Joe Barry
Mother In Law - Ernie K-Doe
I Like It Like That - Chris Kenner
Ya-Ya, Ride Your Pony, Working In The Coal Mine, Holy Cow - Lee Dorsey
Ray Charles cut some of his early Atlantic hits at Cosimo's/J&M
Gonzo - James Booker
Teasin' You/Walking Up A One Way Street - Willie Tee
Sea Cruise - Frankie Ford
It Ain't My Fault - Smokey Johnson
Barefootin' - Robert Parker
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
Cissy Strut/Sophisticated Sissy - The Meters

And those were just SOME of the hits that came out of Matassa's studio. Cosimo Matassa also ran Dover Records and Dover Distribution. However, tax problems forced him to leave the business. He shut down Dover & sold the studio to Allen Toussaint & Marshall Seahorn, who renamed it Sea-Saint Studios.

The original J&M Studio is now a state landmark and if you're ever in New Orleans you can go visit the landmark & see the original J&M Studio sign still painted onto the wall outside of the building

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

KevGo

Dag! Those are some serious credits. Thanks for the education. This man should've been given one of those Lifetime Achievement Grammys for his contributions to the industry. Maybe he received that honor & I'm just unaware of it. Well, I'm a little more informed on who Cosimo Matassa was, and why he deserves legendary props.

Thanks.

By Clyde (167.167.44.218) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

Jimi Hendrix

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 11:18 pm:

HEY KEV!!!...THAT AMAZING MAN MUST HAVE A TERRANA SOMEWHERE IN HIS FAMILY TREE!!!...STUBASS

By Humid (67.249.57.164) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 11:25 pm:

Huey "Piano" Smith is a New Orleans songwriter and pianist who's never blown his own horn and probably dislikes being called a "legend." But here are some words from Dr. John on Huey Smith, composer of "Sea Cruise," "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," "High Blood Pressure" and "Don't You Just Know It."

"You listen to what Huey did on Bobby Marchan�s �Chickee Wah Wah.� He made that record. What he did on �Blow Wind Blow� for Izzycoo (Gordon). I�m not taking nothing away from the artists, no, but what Huey did, his thing, he made a picture that made those records special. And the thing he did on �High Blood Pressure,� it�s just three little notes, but the note he puts in the middle of it, it�s a Huey Smith signature. That very lick is one thing that Allen (Toussaint) used in Chris Kenner�s �Something You Got.� It was used a million other ways by me, everybody else, but it originally came from Huey.�

By Humid (67.249.57.164) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 11:27 pm:

Huey "Piano" Smith is a New Orleans songwriter and pianist who's never blown his own horn and probably dislikes being called a "legend." But here are some words from Dr. John on Huey Smith, composer of "Sea Cruise," "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," "High Blood Pressure" and "Don't You Just Know It."

"You listen to what Huey did on Bobby Marchan�s �Chickee Wah Wah.� He made that record. What he did on �Blow Wind Blow� for Izzycoo (Gordon). I�m not taking nothing away from the artists, no, but what Huey did, his thing, he made a picture that made those records special. And the thing he did on �High Blood Pressure,� it�s just three little notes, but the note he puts in the middle of it, it�s a Huey Smith signature. That very lick is one thing that Allen (Toussaint) used in Chris Kenner�s �Something You Got.� It was used a million other ways by me, everybody else, but it originally came from Huey.�

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 06:58 am:

Humid, thanks for the info! I love Huey too, but didn't know how influential he was. Thanks for citing reasons why he was innovative.

By soulboy (81.103.86.215) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 07:54 am:

To my ears anything Motown,Philly,or Stax sounds good,but if there are certain artists whose records should be credited with being innovative then:

Temptations (whitfield productions)
The Byrds
Stevie wonder
Marvin Gaye
Sly and the family stone
Jimi Hendrix
Jefferson Airplane
Buffalo Springfield
Beach Boys (pet sounds)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 11:13 am:

I agree with Humid - Huey "Piano" Smith played a major role in pop music with his innovations.

The oldies community only recognizes Smith's efforts with his group the Clowns. In reality, he played on several recording sessions in New Orleans going back to the late 1940s as well as composing several tunes. He was also the backbone of Frankie Ford's own company Spinett Records and played piano (uncredited) on sessions for the label.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 11:17 am:

BTW:
Huey "Piano" Smith also recorded his now-classic tunes at J&M/Cosimo's Studios.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Humid (67.249.57.147) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

Jim G and KevGo:
New Orleans drummer Earl Palmer, the best player during the 1950s in a city rich with drummers, remembers Huey being a wheel even before Professor Longhair. Fess, as he's called, is the singer-pianist whose career resurrection in the 1970s led to his outright canonization as New Orleans� patron saint of piano.
�Huey was the personification of New Orleans piano players,� Palmer said. �And I�m talking about before Professor Longhair, because I know when Fess used to be playing on Liberty and St. Phillip for a drink. Long before anybody took Fess serious, Huey was already playing Huey Smith then, doing a lot of things and going all over town.
�I remember the first time Fess went out of town, on Fats Domino�s first tour. One of the funniest gigs that we had out of that tour was in Kansas City, Kansas. Fess blew everybody away. But the man didn�t want to pay us because Fess had kicked the hell out of the piano. He wasn�t go pay us nothing. I was a little half-boxing at that time. I say, �You gonna pay me. I got children waiting at home to eat on this money. You go pay me, mister.� But when we heard Fess in Kansas City, man, he sound like Huey Smith. We say, �Fess learned how to play. He sound like Huey now.�
�The simplicity in Huey�s playing was so New Orleans. To me he was the man that got more out of simplicity than anybody in New Orleans. Everything Huey did, it was just wrapped in New Orleans.�

By Humid (67.249.57.147) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

Jim G and KevGo:
I wanted to add, though, that when Huey Smith heard what Earl Palmer said about him, humble Huey characteristically said: "Let Fess have his glory."

By Mark (64.252.121.40) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

Miles. Hands down.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 01:49 pm:

Humid:
My employer has known Huey Piano Smith for many years and even reissued his Imperial sides on CD a few years back. You described Huey's personality to a T.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.106.8) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

In 1963 I was working at the Peppermint Lounge on 79th st. in Miami Beach for the winter.We were the house band and alternated sets (or backed up a group if they had no band) from 9pm till around 5am with anybody that had a name that was booked for a week or so.

We had everyone from Gary U.S.Bonds,the Drifters,Steve Alaimo,Conway Twitty, Troy Seals and the Jesters with an 18 year old Lonnie Mack on guitar.It was a long winter and we had a lot of acts.

The group that blew me away the most was a unknown bar band from New orleans.

I guess the owner had an open two weeks so he booked this band from New Orleans to help play alternate sets.
The band was about five or six older looking guys(I was 21,so anyone over 35 seemed older).

On my break the first night they played,I don't think I left the table closest to the drums except to order a beer or use the restroom.

(except on record)I had never seen a band that played that off the wall,funky,syncopated,style of music in person that we now call the New Orleans sound.
MAN,could they play! I asked the drummer what was that off the wall beat he was playing(remember this was in 63),he told me that it's called the Louisiana fat-back beat.
For the two weeks they were there I never left that club on my breaks,thinking that if I did I'd miss something they did.

I can't remember the groups name but it made me into a huge fan of the New orleans style of playing. Those guys got it!!!

A Wild Tchoupitoulas Fan(Meet De Boys On The BattleFront)
Lynn

By Eli (151.197.33.80) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 05:24 pm:

the original site of J&M/Cosimos is at Rampart & Dumaine.

Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn built their "new" studio in an industrial complex in the "burbs"
Lady Marmalade was cut there.

It was a nice sized studio with a rather wide control room with the large monitors set angled very wide apart.

I visite dhter eduring the time I was rehearsing with jean Knight and it was there that I had the honor of meeting and "interviewing" Cosimo.

By Eli (141.151.15.35) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 12:39 am:

I should have mentioner that in 1957 Cosimo moved the studio to Governor Nicholas where some of the greatest N.O.L.A. records were cut such as , the Huey Smith hits, Franlie Fords Sea Cruise, Mother in law, Ohh Poo pah Doo,etc..
In 1966 he moved to Camp street where he opened Jazz City where he recordrd Chris Kenner, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, Benny Spellman the Meters and many more.

He nows runs a grocery store in the French Quarter.

By Humid (67.249.57.136) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 01:20 am:

Eli:
Cosmo is probably at that French Quarter grocery store every day. I heard he keeps the books.
As for "Sea Cruise," Huey Smith wrote and recorded it and intended it to be a Huey Smith and the Clowns record. But then "Sea Cruise" and its flip side got new vocals from an 18-year-old white singer, Frankie Ford. Ace Records owner Johnny Vincent reportedly said, "We were trying to git the white audience." Frankie Ford was supposed to be the new Elvis, or something like that. But Huey's "Sea Cruise" is the only major hit that Ford, who's real name is Frank Guzzo, got.

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 06:21 pm:

A Thousand & one apologies for this major oversight:

JON HENDRICKS!

By Larry (68.164.129.47) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 07:21 pm:

Trying to find some folks you cats missed:

John McLaughlin - Miles named a tune after him. John brought a fire to the instrument I'd never heard prior.
Stanley Jordan - tap technique.
Lenny Breau - he sounds like 2 guys playing. thank you SteveS
Jaco
Coleman Hawkins - Body and Soul. nuff said.
Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin
Jack Ashford - who else played like that first?
Zappa & Beefheart - ok I'm stretchin' here.
Robert Fripp - mxr blue box!
Eno - mr. ambient himself.

By janebse (68.63.5.177) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

I think you guys like music, and anyone who is involved brings something of himself into it.

Well, now wait, you didn't list Roseanne.

By Soul Sister (65.43.148.15) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 09:27 pm:

King Olivier
Louis "Pops" Armstrong
Lionel Hampton
Lester "Prez" Young
Charles "Yardbird" Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
T.S. Monk
Bessie Smith
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Dinah Washington
Betty Carter
Sarah Vaughn
Elvis
James Brown
Janis Joplin
Jimi Hendrix
Of course being influencial on so many other singers and unique in his own singing style Jimmy Scott.

By Soul Sister (65.43.148.15) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 09:32 pm:

Oops forgot:

Professor Longhair
Django Rheinhardt
Bob Marley

By M.McLeanTec (66.218.60.227) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

What a joke!

Bach
Mozart
Haydn
Handel
Beethoven
Schubert
Wagner
Rossini
Strauss, Richard
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Sibelius
Shoshtakovitch

To argue about trash, when great art works stand unappreciated, is the greatest tragedy of all.

How long do you music lovers expect to live? Why not stop screwing around with "POP" trash, and start loving the best music? You only live once!

Mike McLean

By duck! (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 09:48 pm:

Uh oh, it's MD 20/20 time again

By Soul Sister (65.43.148.15) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 09:48 pm:

Thats right Mike, stop screwing around with "POP" music trash and start loving the best music, deep into R&B and SOUL !! (SMILE)

SoulwhoknowsSister