Etta James' Funeral Arrangements Announced

re-posted from Noise11.com (breaking music news and interviews)

R&B great Etta James, who passed away last Friday from leukemia, will be laid to rest on Saturday after a public viewing on Friday night.
James’ family announced on Tuesday that there will be a public viewing on Friday night from 5 to 10 PM at the Manchester Chapel of the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary in Inglewood, CA.
A private funeral for “immediate family and friends” will be held on Saturday at 10 AM at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena, CA. Security is expected to be on hand and there will be “limited media access.” The Reverend Al Sharpton will present the eulogy and there will be performances by a number of artists; however, they have not been named.
The family has asked that donations be directed to the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Legendary Etta James Dies

The great Etta James passed away this morning just five days short of her 74th birthday. She had battled leukemia and dementia for some time.

I’m proud to be one of her biggest fans. I was privileged to see her six times in concert, and I’ve read her autobiography twice. The best concert experience I had with her was at the LA House of Blues with Niece Shannon. We stood about 10 feet in front of the great lady and could see every wink, grin and eye rolling by Miss James. She gets pretty raunchy in live performance. She can slip gracefully from suggestive jokes and motions into the silky sounds of ‘At Last’ and ‘My Funny Valentine.’

I also had the opportunity to see her at LA’s House of Blues when she was being filmed for a DVD. I looked hard at the finished product and found myself a few times in audience shots. I doubt that anyone else could spot me, but it was a thrill nonetheless.

Miss James had a turbulent life – heroin addiction, alcohol, bad men, obesity, and other health problems. Her voice got huskier and more edgy, but it only made her better. She received four Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I’ve said it before and am doing so again: Someone needs to make a movie of her life and Jennifer Hudson should play the lead. Beyonce played Etta in the movie Cadillac Records and didn’t even come close. She just doesn’t have the attitude.

The following link leads to a CNN story that provides more biographical information.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/showbiz/etta-james-obit/index.html

Naturally, I have to post a few of her songs, but if you only have time for one, this is it, my very favorite.
Damn Your Eyes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INrYDcQCoxs

My Funny Valentine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7eqkPXO8A

You Can Leave Your Hat On (a raunchy great)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01L21HayIcU

At Last – This is a wonderful concert video of probably her most famous song. We used her original recording of this as our wedding march when Mike and I married in ’04.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADDigK8LwyE

I join the rest of the world in condolences to Miss James’ family and friends. I will miss her, too.

God Only Knows

This was fun before, so let's try it again. Same song -- four different artists. Interesting and sometimes scary. See what you think about God Only Knows.

The Beach Boys (original from their Pet Sounds album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc

Mandy Moore & Michael Stipe (never heard of them)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGSyPlctIxE

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (The race car driver? Oh, yes.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ8MSVLWTdw

David Bowie (This is spooky.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2OHP7jXowY&feature=related

Elton John (Always brilliant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMWGDyggSQ&feature=related

'Song for You'

Leon Russell is an amazing songwriter and performer. "Song for You" is one o his best and has been recorded by so many, many artists. What I have for you below are three versions of that song.

The first is the 1971 rendition by Russell. Next is the incredible Ray Charles. He will never be equaled. Finally, is Karen Carpenter. Russell wrote many songs for the Carpenters. Until I listen to her again, I tend to forget what a beautiful voice, especially in the low ranges, that she possessed.

Although they're all terrific versions, I must say that I prefer the emotional delivery of Leon Russell himself. Which do you prefer?

Leon Russell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dw2r45Xzg

Ray Charles - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSlv_n-gBmk&feature=related

Karen Carpenter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PMgmgDq2Fo&feature=related

Musical Mystery

In the last few years, Mike has noticed that I know the melody and lyrics of old songs he’s never even heard of. It comes about when some ancient song begins on something we’re watching on tv. I’ll burst into song and sing along for its entirety. “How do you do that?” he asks.

Today I decided to test myself. I hit google for popular songs in the 1930s. I wasn’t too surprised to learn that I knew many of them. To name a few:

Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen

It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie

Goody, Goody

In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town

The Very Thought of You

Flat Foot Floogee

Little Brown Jug

The Object Of My Affection

Let's Fall In Love

Lullabye Of Broadway

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby

So, the question arises: How could I possibly know these songs and others of the big band era when I had not yet been born? We developed three possibilities.

1. Did my mother sing them to me? Mother sang some of the silly songs from the ‘40s to me like “down in the meadow in the iddy bitty pool” and “cement mixer, putty, putty.” But she didn’t sing big band songs.

2. Did my father, a former singer, sing these songs to me? That’s possible, but I only remember his singing a few songs to me. Maybe a couple would fit this category, but not the quantity that I know.

3. Which leaves this solution. I am the reincarnation of a girl big band singer who tragically died young.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Birthday on Beale

For my birthday outing yesterday, Mike and I went down to Beale Street for the unveiling of a brass music note for Jim Dickinson on the street’s Walk of Fame. Dickinson was a Memphis music icon who worked with, among others, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. (http://plunkchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/02/birth-of-memphis-sound.html). He was a major influence on Memphis music.

The event was held in front of the New Daisy Theater which opened to the public in 1936 – that’s what we call “new” in the South. We were joined by our long-time friend, artist and singer John Robinette to hang out and visit with the many musicians who showed up to honor Dickinson.

Speakers at the event included Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Antonio “2 Shay” Parkinson, Knox Phillips (son of Sun Studio legend Sam Phillips), Mary Dickinson and her sons Luther and Cody (well known for their band the North Mississippi All-Stars).

Mike and John enjoyed reminiscing after the ceremony with Knox telling stories from back in the day when Mike and John were with Jimmy Day and the Knights. Knox’s younger brother Jerry played guitar with the band, and they did some recording at Sun. I remember sitting with Jimmy’s girlfriend Lucy in the control room while Knox worked the board. Seems like just a few years ago.

After the post-ceremony chatting, the crowd moved into the beautiful Old Daisy across the street for an acoustic concert. The Old Daisy was built in 1902 and has presented some amazing music over the years. You can read more about it at http://plunkchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/01/beale-streets-daisy-theater.html.

On stage yesterday were Luther and Cody Dickinson and Sid Selvidge, all on guitars, and Jimmy Crosthwait on washboard.

We finished the evening by walking up to Main Street to the Majestic Grille for a wonderful birthday dinner. It’s been on our “go to” list since it was named Best Restaurant in ’08. After my excellent meal last night, we shouldn’t have waited so long.

The Majestic was originally built in 1913 as a silent picture house that entertained Memphians for 30 years. In keeping with the building’s original purpose, the interior has been beautifully restored in Beaux Arts décor and a large movie screen runs black and white cartoons and silent films.

It was a delightful dining experience. I just have one warning. Don’t plan on a big dessert. Their dessert tray features a variety of sweets – but they’re served in slightly oversized shot glasses. To have a “real” dessert, you’d need to order two or three. My view last night, however, was that they were saving me from myself. One “shot” of key lime pie was probably all I needed.

In the photos below: Mike & I; John Robinette & Knox Phillips; John & I' Mike & I with John.

California Visitors

When Mike and I were in California, he played with a really great band -- Brian Lynn Jones & The Misfit Cowboys. All were amazing musicians and really nice people. We still miss them. So we were really happy when Brian notified us a while back that some of them were coming to Tennessee to check out country music capital Nashville and to visit the King's shrine, Graceland.

We met up with them, introduced them to real Memphis barbecue and took them on a tour of Beale Street. Great time. We hope to get together with them on our next CA trip.

In the group photo (from left): drummer Steve Jerand, songbird Cynthia Berry, Brian's lady sweet Sarah Pechette, vocalist/front man & git-tar picker Brian Lynn Jones, the "new" bass player Tommy Dean, Mike and me.

Here's a link to the band's website.

http://www.brianlynnjones.com/

Good News About Etta

I found a news story today that said R&B/blues legend Etta James is improving and wants to get back to performing. That may not be in her future, but it certainly speaks to her strong spirit and her first love -- singing. Read the story below.

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0001089.html

Birth of The Memphis Sound

Memphis music legend Jim Dickinson was a triple threat – at the very least. He was a skilled musician, singer, producer and songwriter. In addition, he had the sensitivity and musical depth to see connections, linkages and evolutions in music.
In a career that stretched over four decades, Dickinson was credited with influencing the shape of The Memphis Sound.

Dickinson built a worldwide reputation as a session player for the likes of Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Dylan, who was a longtime friend and collaborator, acknowledged “Mississippi Jim” as a “brother” while accepting a Grammy for 1997’s Time Out of Mind. The Rolling Stones brought Dickinson in to add his soulful piano touch to their classic Sticky Fingers ballad “Wild Horses.”

The 67-year-old Dickinson died in August 2009, but left much to the world of music. His sons, Cody and Luther (the North Mississippi Allstars), continue his style and influence. He also left his observations about music and its development.

The link below takes you to a discussion with Dickinson about the origin of The Memphis Sound which became highly popular and sought after in R&B and rock ‘n roll. Dickinson’s assertion is that it all began just across the river in West Memphis, AR at a club called the Plantation Inn (PI). (I will confess to going there, under age, on a double date back when I was . . . well, too young.).

This is where it starts sounding like a game of Kevin Bacon seven degrees of separation. The popular band at the PI had two horn players, not commonplace at the time. Packy Axton was a young Memphis sax player who learned to play sax from the PI’s saxophone player. Packy’s mother was Estelle Axton, co-founder of the famous Stax Records in Memphis.

According to Dickinson, it was Packy who brought the sound back across the river and persuaded his mom and her business partner Jim Stewart, to incorporate the sound and feel in records they were recording.

Stax became internationally renowned for R&B and artists including Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett, Luther Ingram, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, Booker T. & the MG's, Johnnie Taylor, and Rufus and Carla Thomas. Much of the soul music you think came from Detroit actually came from Memphis.

Follow this link to a video of Jim Dickinson talking about the birth of The Memphis Sound - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3EOffeZ9s8

Just a side note: In the late ‘50s, Axton was the founding member of the Mar-Keys, a band that became very popular and well known. Mike played a Mar-Keys gig around 1965. The traditional horn section by then was trumpet, tenor sax and baritone sax. Packy played tenor and they needed a sub on bari, so Mike got the call. So that puts Mike in the degress of separation linking back to the birth of The Memphis Sound.

Happy Birthday, Elvis

Today would have been the 76th birthday of the King of rock ‘n roll, Elvis Presley. In Memphis, this winter celebration attracts hundreds of loyal fans for concerts, conversations with former El associates and the birthday bash, but it garners a much smaller pilgrimage than the August weeklong event to acknowledge Elvis’ passing.

The highlight of this year’s event was the guest of honor, Edison Pena, one of the 33 rescued Chilean miners. When rescuers first broke through to the trapped men and learned that Pena was a self-avowed Elvis fanatic who had been singing the King’s hits to bolster the morale of his co-workers, an MP3 player loaded with Presley songs was quickly dispatched to the mine site and, reportedly, helped sustain Pena and others.

The visit to Memphis was promised when the miners were lifted to safety, and it’s been a whirlwind for Pena who was treated to many special events. He stayed at the historic Hotel Peabody where he was accorded the privilege of serving as honorary “duckmaster.” (Learn about the march of the ducks at http://plunkchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/05/texans-come-to-town.html) Pena also visited a practice of Memphis’ NBA team, the Grizzlies, and was a half-time honoree at this week’s game.

But I’m sure his favorite activity was the personal tour of Graceland and Elvis’ birthplace in nearby Tupelo, MS.

Today, the miner and hundreds of fans sang birthday greetings to the King in front of a four-foot-high cake decorated to look like stacked television sets.

Although Pena does not speak English, he can belt out perfect renditions of Elvis’ hits. Check it out.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12143311

Happy Birthday! Long live the King.

An Elvis New Year's Greeting

While clearing up a few first-of-the-year things and pulling together my next post, here's an interesting little ditty for you. It's the New Year's greeting from a website in the Netherlands titled "ElvisMatters." It's very professional and has a large fan base. It's the group that co-sponsored the European tour Mike was a part of with James Burton a couple of years ago. But I digress. After reading this, I wondered if Elvis didn't actually die back in the '70s, but just moved overseas. Hmmmm



HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FRIENDS ALL OVER THE WORLD - LONG LIVE THE KING! MAY 2011 BRING YOU PROSPERITY, LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND JOY - BUT ABOVE ALL: A GOOD HEALTH. KEEP ON TCB'ING IN 2011, AND KNOW THAT THE ELVISMATTERS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE KING AND HIS LOYAL FANS. SOME THINGS JUST DON'T CHANGE, NOT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, NOT EVER. LONG MAY HE REIGN!

Unlikely Duets

You wouldn't be surprised to hear Luciano Pavarotti perform a duet with Sarah Brightman. Wouldn't bat an eye if he sang with Michael Crawford. But James Brown, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Stevie Wonder? Oh yes. Take a listen to these amazing duets.

Pavarotti & James Brown, "It's a Man's World" - http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=Febr_t_qa9U

Pavarotti & Eric Clapton, "Holy Mother" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmfIDQGVqQc

Pavarotti & Elton John, "Live Like Horses" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw_gEpGqnqQ

Pavarotti & Stevie Wonder, "Peace Just Wanted to be Free" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kg2K8dKYyA&NR=1

Plunk Reunion 2010

It’s always fun to go to the Plunk family reunion. About 40 attended this year. This group is descended from Mike’s father, Hercial, and his six siblings. There are lots of other Plunk lines, and they’re all related.

To help visualize the family tree, our hosts (Stefanie & “Little” Jerry Plunk) set out stakes bearing the individual’s name plus birth and, if appropriate, death dates. It was a great way to follow the trail back many generations. What a great idea.

I’m a newcomer to the event, but some traditions are obvious. There’s always good conversation, great food – and music. It seems that virtually all Plunks are musical. Follow these links for the sound of a Plunk reunion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fql3IXxW0oclose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kk9Ci7FSvg

WHER: 1000 Beautiful Watts

Mike and I were reminded on a recent episode of Memphis Beat (our vote’s still out on that show) of the way-back Memphis radio station WHER, the first “all girl” radio station in the nation.

The station was born in 1955, the brainchild of legendary Sam Phillips who discovered Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. Phillips, always the innovator, had long wanted his own radio station – and wanted one with a twist. Women were nowhere to be seen in ‘50s broadcasting. Women weren’t visible anywhere in corporate America. Phillips created the groundbreaking format with money he raised from selling Elvis Presley’s Sun Studio contract to RCA. The balance of funding came from another Memphis entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inns. Wilson also gave the radio station its first home in one of the early Holiday Inns in Memphis.

The story goes that, as Phillips hired personnel, he told none of the women it was to be an all-female endeavor. Each had thought that one woman on-air was a momentous breakthrough. When they learned the truth, they thought Phillips was crazy. He wasn’t. Women almost exclusively ran the station. They read the news, interviewed local celebrities and spun popular records. They sold and produced commercials, directed and engineered programming and sat at the station’s control boards.
Staffers included broadcast pioneer Vida Jane Butler.

Over its 17-year run, WHER generated a series of imitators, but ironically it was the women’s movement that brought the station down. Whereas the radio station had been created to give female broadcasters on-air opportunities, the women’s movement was about inclusion. That’s when pressure was exerted to include men in the format, and the station evolved and was re-named WWEE.

In 1999, 14 of the original WHER “girls” attended a reunion in Memphis with Sam Phillips. (see second photo)

From a later radio interview Sam Phillips said: “It was not, I'm gonna tell you, it was not a novelty. WHER was an embryo because there wasn't anything else like it in the world.”

An Elvis Moment

Elvis is pictured with the very beautiful Natalie Wood and the not-so-beautiful -- but significant -- Dewey Phillips.

Phillips was a leading DJ in Memphis for many years at WHBQ. He broke barriers by playing a mix of music including country, pop and rhythm & blues -- by both black and white artists. It was Phillips who first aired Elvis' initial record "That's All Right Mama/Blue Moon of Kentucky." Sam Phillips (not related to Dewey) walked an acetate of the brand new record down to Dewey who was on the air at the time. He played the record; listeners started calling in and, as they say, the rest is history.

Sam Phillips, Sun Records, had in his pre-Elvis days produced a number of black artists including Ike Turner, but Sam's real goal was to find a white singer who could successfully carry off black music. That was the way he knew he could carry the wonderful R&B feel and tunes to a white audience. When Elvis' records first gained air time, the audience presumed he was black. No one had ever heard a white performer sing like that.

In an early interview with the 19-year-old Elvis, Dewey "outed" his race by asking a simple question in segregated Memphis. "What high school did you attend?" Clever. You couldn't just ask a guest "Are you black or white?" When Elvis said he'd graduated from Humes High, the wow factor was huge.

Dead Elvis Week 2010

Today is the kick-off of what we in the Memphis area refer to as Dead Elvis Week. You see, there are two separate weeks of Elvis celebrations in Memphis. One is in January celebrating El’s birthday. There are a number of activities, but it’s pretty cold then and it’s not vacation time, so fewer thousands flock to Memphis for that event. This week, however, commemorates Elvis’ death in 1977. Fans from around the world pack up and head to Memphis to participate in the many and varied activities and to stand at the gates of Graceland.

Today’s kick-off events include a reception and a concert at the Overton Park Shell recreating one of the early concerts by the King.

There will be meet ‘n greets with former Memphis Mafia (Elvis’ guy pals) members, back-up singers, musicians, actors from those movies, and pretty much anyone who had an association with him and who wants to be here.

Also on the agenda are a 5k run, fan club presidents’ meeting, screenings of his films, Elvis tribute artist contest, monster parties, and a gospel breakfast on Sunday morning.

The big event, the candlelight vigil, will be on Sunday night. It is a free event and open to all. Visitors meet at Graceland’s gate and, at the proper time, will form an escorted line to walk up the driveway, around back to the gravesites of Elvis and his mother, then around the house and back to the gate. Each guest carries a lighted candle and walks in respectul silence. The gates stay open and guests may pay their respects as long as people are lined up. It generally takes most of the night.

I like to think that Elvis watches the procession from an upstairs window.

Here’s a link to the full schedule of events:
http://www.elvisweek.com/schedule/

And here’e Elvis live singing Polk Salad Annie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1LmX6noGY

Austin, The Kids, and Some Music

Mike and I just returned from a great trip to Texas where we had a super visit with four of his five Austin kids – Shannon, Chris, Wendall and Jennifer. Hopefully we’ll get to see Paula on the next trip.

Among the fun stuff with the kids was a Sunday evening outing to the Saxon Pub where Mike’s former bandmate Bobby Whitlock and his wife CoCo Carmel were performing. It was a great show. Bobby’s distinctive voice with a bluesy rasp mixed with CoCo’s honeyed tones, all framed by their musical skills on guitars, sax and keyboard. If you’re in Austin on a Sunday evening, you should really catch the show.

Mike first met Bobby back in 1967 when the two of them played with The Memphis Counts, house band at The Cabaret, a club that was on Memphis’ Highland Strip close to Memphis State University. It was just a couple of blocks from the first apartment for newlywed Mike and me.

That was when Delaney & Bonnie came into the club, heard Bobby’s vocals and B-3 talents, snapped up a young Bobby and added him to their band. He later joined Derek and the Dominos, played with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and became a notable songwriter. He wrote material for the famous Layla album, and his other material has been recorded by many artists including Sheryl Crow, Ray Charles, Tom Jones and George Jones.

The fascinating story of his life and career will come out this fall in his book, Bobby Whitlock: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Autobiography.

In the meantime, check out Bobby’s website and the two song links posted below.
Bobby Whitlock’s website:
http://www.bobbywhitlockandcococarmel.com:80/

Bobby Whitlock & Eric Clapton – Bell Bottom Blues - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZNL0wvIj78&feature=PlayList&p=A8D8B381ABD37E99&playnext=1&index=61

Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel – Layla -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crJ1JK4yk0s&feature=PlayList&p=0F77935ECAF2B02F&playnext=1&index=7

More trip stuff in upcoming posts.

'Stand by Me'

Get ready for some goosebumps and maybe a misty eye. This musical world tour is amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVdCZk-JrjY

'Memphis Beat' Mis-Step

Last night I watched the premiere of Memphis Beat on TNT. The reviews I’ve read this morning were quite positive. I have a slightly different view.

There were some strong positives about the show: good visuals of Memphis, excellent use of Memphis music, and a great PSA about music from Memphis that you thought came from Detroit. My personal highlight was Alfre Woodard who played the new precinct lieutenant in this cop show. The core plot was interesting as well.

On the minus side, I groaned at a few over-the-top, melodramatic speeches like the one from the detective star of the show exhorting a group of uniformed officers before a neighborhood search: “Aren’t we all here because we love Memphis?” It was almost “Win one for the Gipper.”

Here’s my really big gripe about Memphis Beat. The show’s writers and producers apparently suffer from the delusion that all Southerners are hicks. I can’t recall a single character last night who spoke proper English. I blame the hick factor partially on the use of Jason Lee in the starring role who formerly played the title character in My Name is Earl, a program that would be listed under the definition of “redneck.”

It’s a sad commentary on the prejudice that still exists about Southerners and the South. May I point out that many great writers came from the South: William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, John Grisham. FedEx originated in Memphis. Holiday Inns was born here. The South produces literate, talented people. Perhaps the Memphis Beat writers should break through the negative stereotype while still portraying the charm of the region.

If that can happen, Memphis Beat might even become popular in Memphis.

Stacy Plunk & Kid Rock - Amazing Duo

Kid Rock will host the Country Music Awards on television tonight and surprises have been promised. We're hoping that one of them will be Mike's cousin, Stacy Plunk, who is one of Kid's backup singers. Don't know if she'll be on the show, but here's a video of one of their duets. Pretty sure you'll enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkt5DKOPvMA&feature=related