Simon Kirke and Paul Rogers were on top of the world; their song ‘All Right Now” was climbing the charts, their band Free couldn’t find enough dates to book. Unfortunately life mimics rock and roll, and the highs of being so cool didn’t last long. When Free broke up, Paul and Simon began to look […]
Category: Oldies
The Biggest Hits From the Decade We Loved So Much
The 70s was an interesting decade. The Vietnam War was winding down, the Carpenters had hit songs on the radio, and the evil sounds of Disco were about to mangle the best years of our lives. Rock and roll artists and bands struggled to find radio airplay, which eventually bore the explosion of FM radio. […]
Foreigner Then and Now
“Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” are signature songs from one of the greatest rock bands of our time – Foreigner. The band looks a bit different from the initial lineup, now showcasing the talents of Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson […]
Our Favorite Stars and More on One Fantastic Cruise Ship
How about taking a cruise with the singers and bands that gave you the soundtrack of your life? Get ready for the 2017 Malt Shop Memories Cruise starring the Beach Boys, Dion, Charles Thomas’ Drifters, The Contours, Righteous Brothers, Jan and Deans Dean Torrence, Jay and the Americans, Brenda Lee, Bobby Rydell and more. The […]
Monday’s Music Headlines
There aren’t that many shopping days till Christmas, so be sure to check that gift list for your upcoming trek to the stores. It’s Monday, let’s share a few music news headlines… There may never be another Woodstock music festival, but the lineup for the 2017 Mountain Jam, in upstate New York was recently announced. […]
Why Many Owe Sly and the Family Stone a Great Deal of Thanks
Sly and the Family Stone was an incredible rock/funk/pop band that had a ton of soulful and pop hits in the late 60s and 70s. It’s safe to say that the soul bands that sprouted across the US in the 80s and 90s owe a debt of gratitude to Sly. In 2016, there was good […]
Rockers That Left Us Way Too Soon
Recent rock and roll deaths include Bill Ham (the first ZZ Top manager), Leon Russell, and Tony Barrow (former Beatles press agent credited for coining the term ‘Fab Four’ nickname). How is it that a few of our favorite stars who drank and dabbled in drugs could still be alive, while others died? Many notable […]
The Makings of Motown Records
Motown Records began when Berry Gordy threw his boxing gloves down and abandoned his dreams of being a prizefighter in the late 50s. Berry borrowed $800 from his uncle, rearranged his house on Grand Boulevard in downtown Detroit, and started to audition and sign singers and bands under his new Motown Records label. Without the […]
Many Many Reasons to Visit Las Vegas
Our favorite singers got smart a few years ago and got off the road on typical tours to take residencies in Las Vegas, making their fans come to them. It’s a ‘win win’ to visit Vegas, the city that never sleeps, and see your favorite star in concert. As you begin to think about the […]
Memphis’ Unique Hall of Fame and Its Members
There are many Halls of Fame. There’s the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH (the Cooperstown of Halls) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, among many others. Did you know that most states have ‘Halls’ to recognize their native sons? Rarely are there Hall of Fames dedicated to cities… Among the short […]