singer

Happy Birthday: Huey Lewis

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

hueylewis.jpgHappy Birthday musician Huey Lewis

Born: July 5, 1950 in New York City, New York, USA

Married to: Sidney Conroy (1983 – present) (2 children)

“The Power of Love” from Back to the Future (1985) earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

On Elvis: A lot has been written and said about why he was so great, but I think the best way to appreciate his greatness is just to go back and play some of the old records. Time has a way of being very unkind to old records, but Elvis’ keep getting better and better.

Died Today (July 3rd): Jim Morrison (1943–1971)

festreviews Died Today, Uncategorized , , ,

jimmorrison.jpgDied Today Jim Morrison (1943–1971)

Born: December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida, USA

Died: July 3, 1971 (age 27) in Paris, France

During 1965-1966, before The Doors were established, Morrison, camping out on Venice rooftops, would peep on girls changing in neighboring apartments, recording everything he witnessed in notebooks (one of which survives).

Longtime girlfriend Pamela Courson died of a heroin overdose in 1974.

QUOTES:

[Los Angeles, 1969] Let’s just say I was testing the bounds of reality. I was curious to see what would happen. That’s all it was: just curiosity.

[Dinner Key Auditorium, 3/1/69, the infamous concert where he allegedly exposed himself] We are not talking about no revolution! I’m not talking about no demonstration! I’m talking about having some fun! I’m talking about dancing! I’m talking about love your neighbor ’til it hurts! I’m talking about love! […] This is your show, anything you want goes!

I’ve always been attracted to ideas that were about revolt against authority. When you make peace with authority, you become an authority.

Music is a pure expression of joy.

Happy Birthday: Chris Isaak

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

chrisisaak.jpgHappy Birthay singer Chris Isaak

Born: June 26, 1956 in Stockton, California, USA

The 1991 black and white music video for “Wicked Game” was directed by Herb Ritts, and featured Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen.

The 1999 music video for “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” was directed by Herb Ritts, and featured Isaak and French supermodel Laetitia Casta.

His father was a forklift driver/operator and his mother, of Peruvian decent, was a factory worker.

When he visits his mother, who is still living in his childhood home in Stockton, California, he still cleans the yard for her.

Collects small red sculptural pieces which light up electronically.

Was an amateur boxer while in college.

Bruce Weber shot the photo art for his self titled second album, “Chris Isaak” in 1986.

Happy Birthday: Ariana Grande

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , , , ,

arianagrande.jpgHappy Birthday singer Ariana Grande

Born: June 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida, USA

QUOTES:

You have to be thankful and I think being in this business is one of the most important things is to give back because there’s no better feeling than knowing that your work is being appreciated by people.

One of the most terrible feelings in the world is knowing that someone else doesn’t like you. Especially when you don’t know what you’ve done to deserve it.

Happy Birthday: Carly Simon

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

carlysimonHappy Birthday musician Carly Simon

Born: June 25, 1945 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Married to: James Hart (23 December 1987 – 2007) (divorced)

James Taylor (3 November 1972 – 1983) (divorced) (2 children)

Though Carly sang the popular theme song “Nobody Does It Better” from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), this was not her first liaison with 007. When she (then 20) and sister Lucy (22) were traveling on a liner from England to New York in 1965, they met Sean Connery (35) who invited them to his cabin for drinks and later proposed a ménage à trois. They purportedly declined and the proposal was later coined a “Simon sisters sandwich” by their friends.

Happy Birthday: George Michael

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

georgemichaelHappy Birthday musician George Michael

Born: June 25, 1963 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK

QUOTES:

I do think that Live Aid (1985) was a great thing, it focused people, I think it showed young kids the way in many respects and I think a lot of people are still inspired by what happened in the mid-Eighties.

I still believe that music is one of the greatest gifts that God gave to man.

Even though it’s become a really cliched thing to see musicians working for charity, it’s still effective and it still has to be done.

It was my own stupid fault. I was in possession of class C drugs which is an offence and I have no complaints about the police, who were professional throughout.

“The trajectory of my particular soap opera with the press launched from that statement Elton made about eighteen months ago when Elton hadn’t seen me for years. Elton said he thought I was really miserable for some reason. From that point on I’ve been trying to prove that I’m not. Unfortunately it made me incredibly vulnerable to the press.” (April 2006)
I have been doing this on and off since I was a teenager and never once seen violence. If I want to see violence or what I call shameful behaviour, the idea that women in clubs these days have to hold their hand over their drink for fear of being drugged … Please don’t tell me as a member of the straight community that I am taking risks. I know what I do and I am sorry, but we should not be taking questions like this, from straight women in particular … I do not deserve the criticism. What I don’t have respect for is some demand for answers from an openly gay man who is living his own life. I have not cheated or lied about my sex life to anybody in my life, in my entire life. I hate not to be able to rise above it, but there is only so much you can take. I’m suing the individual involved who I have never, ever seen, let alone wanted to have any kind of sexual encounter with, and I’m currently investigating suing the secondary sources of libel. I am taking legal action against the photographers because they’re harassing me and I should not have to worry about who’s watching me at 2:30 in the morning.

Happy Birthday: Cyndi Lauper

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

cyndilauper.jpgHappy Birthday musician Cyndi Lauper

Born: June 22, 1953 in Ozone Park, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Married to: David Thornton (24 November 1991 – present) (1 child)

QUOTES:

You always have to remember – no matter what you’re told – that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway.

I absolutely refuse to reveal my age. What am I – a car?

You can laugh when I talk, but not when I sing. People used to throw rocks at me for my clothes… now they wanna know where I buy them.

On being a feminist: I’m a bra-burner from way back!

I lucked out when I started to sing. I’d already experienced failing at everything else

You can’t stamp out individuality – there’s too many of us.

(on her album “At Last”) It was an idea to do a special project. because people would come see me live and go, “Gee, I didn’t know she could sing.” And I’d be like, “Yeah, you ever tried to sing ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, pal?”.

There have been great things that happened to me. If they didn’t happen to me, I wouldn’t be here. Everything was supposed to happen to me. I wouldn’t have the sight that I have, I wouldn’t have the creative moments that I have, I wouldn’t be able to articulate what I need to articulate. I wouldn’t have my son. I wouldn’t have my husband. I’m a lucky woman. Everything. Every single thing. There are no mistakes.

Happy Birthday: Lana Del Rey

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

lanadelrey.jpgHappy Birthday musician Lana Del Rey

Born: June 21, 1985 in New York City, New York, USA

QUOTES:

[on being a fan of Britney Spears] I’m not really interested in a ton of female musicians but there is something about Britney that compelled me – the way she sings and just the way she looks.

I’m a writer first and a singer second.

Fashion is inspired by youth and nostalgia and draws inspiration from the best of the past.

I’m not a natural performer or exhibitionist. When I was younger, I hated the focus, and it made me feel strange.

I used to wonder if it was God’s plan that I should be alone for so much of my life. But I found peace. I found happiness within people and the world.

When I was very young I was sort of floored by the fact that my mother and my father and everyone I knew was going to die one day, and myself too. I had a sort of a philosophical crisis. I couldn’t believe that we were mortal.

A lot of the time when I write about the person that I love, I feel like I’m writing about New York.

I have a personal ambition to live my life honestly and honor the true love that I’ve had and also the people I’ve had around me.

Having a simple career as a musician who liked music was good enough for me.

Happy Birthday: Brian Wilson

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

brianwilson.jpgHappy Birthday musician Brian Wilson

Born: June 20, 1942 in Inglewood, California, USA

Married to: Melinda Kae Ledbetter (6 February 1995 – present) (5 children)
Marilyn Wilson (7 December 1964 – 1979) (divorced) (2 children)

Founded “Sea of Tunes” as The Beach Boys’ publishing company with his father Murry Wilson; eventually lost all his 1960s song copyrights when Murry sold the company at the band’s late-1960s low point. It was later proved that Brian had been tricked and hounded into signing over control to Murry, and documentation for the company was faulty or nonexistent – and “Sea of Tunes” buyers Irving Music had profited directly from this. While Brian couldn’t regain ownership of his early songs, he was ultimately awarded $25 million by a California court, for his loss. Cousin and co-writer Mike Love, in turn, filed for a share of this from Brian, for songs – including “California Girls” – Murry had never credited him with, and was awarded $12 million. (There was reportedly no malice involved in the suit; with the two men unable to come to terms on their own, they turned to the courts to settle the matter.).

Recently revisited his long-shelved “Smile” album (co-written with Van Dyke Parks), finally completing the project, with plans to both release the album and perform it live on tour, with current backup band, Wondermints (March 2004).

The Beach Boys were voted the 12th Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Artists of all time by “Rolling Stone” magazine.

Happy Birthday: Paul McCartney

festreviews Happy Birthday, Uncategorized , , ,

paulmccartneyHappy Birthday musician Paul McCartney

Born: June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Married: Nancy Shevell (9 October 2011 – present)

Heather Mills (11 June 2002 – 17 March 2008) (divorced) (1 child)

Linda McCartney (12 March 1969 – 17 April 1998) (her death) (4 children)

QUOTES:

If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. It’s staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty.

On his knighthood in 1997: It’s a fantastic honor and I am very gratefully receiving it on behalf of all the people of Liverpool and the other Beatles, without whom it wouldn’t have been possible.

Playing live was great then – and it’s great now. The big difference is you can hear what you’re doing. It was more like a football match in the old days. We were all part of some big celebration. Now with modern stage equipment, good sound and video screens it’s much easier. I remember going to see Genesis at Wembley Stadium and I couldn’t see who was on stage. All I saw were these little matchstick people miles away. I couldn’t tell which one was Phil Collins. It was like…where is he? So I developed the idea that if somebody was right at the back of the venue they’d still be a part of my show. I enjoy playing live more now. I’m a lot more comfortable with it.

When you start off in the music business you have the idea people are gonna hate you. You think, ‘I’m no good and they’re gonna boo me off.’ I’ve now got to the stage where I think, ‘The tickets are sold out so these people probably want to see me.’ Treat the audience like they’re your mates. I feel like I’m playing to family.

John and George were real mates. I have a huge fondness for them. They were both part of my life and who I am. There are little reminders of them all the time. Today, somebody brought me a new book by 1960s photographer Duffy and I saw a picture of John in it. Now, if I write a song, I’m always cross-checking in my mind, ‘Would John have let me write that line or is it just too soppy?’ Sometimes, I just think, ‘Too bad, it’s my song.’ But I’m always cross-checking with him.

The combination of those four guys was pretty interesting. We weren’t together that long but think of the work we put in. Every album was different. Album after album, single after single beat the last one. The nice thing now is I don’t have to be modest about The Beatles any more. I can call them great because it’s over. There was something very special about The Beatles.