One of the most overlooked of the 1950's acts that helped shape the coming Rock ‘n’ Roll explosion is The Clovers. Bill Lucas and friends--comprising of vocalists John "Buddy" Bailey, Matthew McQuater, Harold Winley, plus guitarist Bill Harris---would alter the entire R&B landscape. There were also delectable hints in their style of the Soul train that would eventually take flight. Along with Ruth Brown, the Clovers h …

When something works well the first time, there’s no reason it shouldn’t work equally well next time. That’s the case with Janiva Magness on her latest release Do I Move You?--a reunion with producer Colin Linden who performed similar duties on last year’s Bury Him At The Crossroads. Magness always delivers the goods with her passionate, high class delivery, and oftentimes brash style, the very qualities that put her in the lineage of Bessie Smith, Ruth Brown, Etta James, Aretha F …

This 6-piece Western Swing posse, based in Toronto, is aptly summarized by these lyrics from the Roger Miller song: "They swing like a pendulum do." Authentic to the core and thoroughly versed in the timeless tradiation, it would be very easy to figure the Bebop Cowboys originate from Tulsa, Austin, Santa Fe, or Bakersfield, rather than the Great White North. Guitarist extraordinaire and music historian Steve Briggs, the co-founder along with harmonica wiz Howard Willett, fortuitously bumped …

Solomon Burke’s arrival at Toronto’s Massey Hall after a 15-year hiatus was greeted with a burst of applause seldom heard around these parts. It signaled the beginning of festivities that would shake the venerable concert hall to its foundation. I’ve never witnessed as warm and as embracing a welcome as the one afforded the King Of Rock And Soul, who is nearing his 70th year. This adulation was full acknowledgement of a triumphal career, one that has spanned nearly six decades.

It was a privilege to have attended the Ultimate Doo Wop Show, a touring package that appeared recently at Buffalo’s majestic Shea’s Performing Arts Center. For starters, Pookie Hudson of Spaniels' fame qualifies as the highlight of this nostalgic extravaganza, but a host of Doo Wop greats helped set the stage for the much esteemed Mr. Hudson who is back-in-action after being sidelined with cancer. This is the gentleman who gave us "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight"&nb