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Connection (Don Ellis Album)
''Connection'' is an album by trumpeter/bandleader Don Ellis recorded in 1972 and released on the Columbia label. The album features big band arrangements of pop hits of the day along with Ellis' "Theme from The French Connection", which won him a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement in 1973. Reception Thom Jurek of Allmusic said, "Ellis devotees will no doubt delight in ''Connection'' because of its abundance of sass, humor, and imagination, while jazz purists will shake their heads in disgust and others will greet the album with mix of curious bewilderment, a good-natured (hopefully) chuckle, and a perverse kind of glee". On All About Jazz, Jim Santella observed, "the unique character of Ellis' earlier work is missing on this recently reissued recording from 1972. He and the bandmembers solo less often, preferring instead to let the music flow with popular melodies. Vocals are added to several selections. Electric guitar and electric bass take center stage much o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don Ellis
Donald Johnson Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer, and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of time signatures. Later in his life he worked as a film composer, contributing a score to 1971's '' The French Connection'' and 1973's '' The Seven-Ups''. Early life Ellis was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 25, 1934. His father was a Methodist minister and his mother a church organist. He attended West High School in Minneapolis, MN. After attending a Tommy Dorsey Big Band concert, he first became interested in jazz. Other early inspirations were Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He graduated from Boston University in 1956 with a music composition degree. Early career Ellis's first job was with the late Glenn Miller's band, then directed by Ray McKinley. He stayed with the band until September 1956, when he joined the U.S. Army's Seventh Army Symphony ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Superstar (Jesus Christ Superstar Song)
"Superstar" is the title song from the 1970 album and 1971 rock opera '' Jesus Christ Superstar'' written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Content The song is sung by the spirit of Judas Iscariot, who had died by suicide earlier in the show. The song consists of a series of questions addressed to Jesus, such as why Jesus chose to come to Israel in 4 BC when it had no "mass communication" as opposed to modern times, whether Jesus had planned his own death, whether Jesus knew beforehand that his death would become famous, and whether religious figures such as Buddha and Muhammad are his equals. It is dominated by repeated apologies for asking these questions ("Don't you get me wrong", "I only want to know"). Typically, Judas is accompanied by a choir of angels, and the song is performed during the crucifixion scene, if not immediately before it. Versions Original Murray Head version "Superstar" was released as a single in 1969, before the album was completed. Sung by Mur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Bettis
John Gregory Bettis (born October 24, 1946) is an American lyricist and songwriter whose songs have sold more than 250 million records worldwide, recorded by some of the most prominent artists of the late twentieth century. His work crosses many musical genres. He is best known for his long-running collaboration with Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters, co-writing hits such as “ Top of the World,” “ Yesterday Once More,” “ Only Yesterday,” and “ Goodbye to Love.” Bettis also wrote chart-topping songs for artists including Michael Jackson (“Human Nature”), Whitney Houston (“One Moment in Time”), Madonna (“ Crazy for You”), the Pointer Sisters (“Slow Hand”), and George Strait (“ Heartland”). Over his career, Bettis has earned two Emmy Awards, and nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and multiple Grammy Awards. His songs have appeared on the soundtracks of major motion pictures, and he co-wrote theme songs for television series such ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Goodbye To Love
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the '' Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters'' documentary, guest guitarist Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first power ballads, if not the first, to have a fuzz guitar solo. "Goodbye to Love" was the first Carpenters hit written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. Background While visiting London, Richard Carpenter watched a 1940 Bing Crosby film on The Late Movie called '' Rhythm on the River''. The Carpenters noticed that the characters kept referring to the struggling songwriter's greatest composition, "Goodbye to Love". Carpenter said, "You never hear it in the movie, they just keep referring to it", and he thought it was a good title for a song. He immediately envisioned the tune and lyrics, starting with: : I'll say goodbye to love. : No one ever cared if I should live or die. : Time and time again, the chance for : Love has passed m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hank Levy
Henry Jacob "Hank" Levy (September 27, 1927 – September 18, 2001) was an American jazz composer and saxophonist whose works often employed unusual time signatures. He is best known as a big band composer for Stan Kenton and the Don Ellis Orchestra, as well as the founder and long-time director of Towson University's Jazz Program. Life and career Levy was born in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Levy was a saxophone player and briefly played baritone saxophone for Stan Kenton, but he was most known for his composing and arranging, specifically in odd time signatures. His interest in odd meters predated Dave Brubeck's '' Time Out'' album. He studied composition with George Thaddeus Jones at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and became interested in odd meters through their use by such composers as Paul Hindemith, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky. He was also a particularly good composer of counterpoint, which can be heard in such compositions as "Passacaglia and Fug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Howe (musician)
Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, London, Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to learn the instrument himself at age 12. He embarked on a music career in 1964, first playing in several London-based blues, covers, and psychedelic rock bands for six years, including the Syndicats, Tomorrow (band), Tomorrow, and Bodast. Upon joining Yes in 1970, Howe's blend of acoustic and electric guitar helped shape the sound and direction of the band, leading to more commercial and critical success. Many of their best-known songs were co-written by Howe, and he remained with the band until their initial dissolution in 1981. Howe returned to the group from 1990 to 1992 before returning permanently in 1995. He is the longest-serving member of the band that is currently active. Howe achiev ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson (born John Roy Anderson, 25 October 1944) is a British, and latterly American, singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the former lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes, which he formed in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire. Renowned for his countertenor range, he was a member of the band across three tenures until 2004, and was also the singer of the Yes-linked projects Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman. Anderson became an American citizen in 2009 with dual citizenship. Anderson is also noted for his solo career and collaborations with other artists, including Vangelis as Jon and Vangelis, Roine Stolt as Invention of Knowledge, Anderson/Stolt, and Jean-Luc Ponty as the Anderson Ponty Band. He has also appeared on albums by King Crimson, Toto (band), Toto, Lawrence Gowan, Tangerine Dream, Iron Butterfly, Milton Nascimento, Battles (band), Battles, Mike Oldfield and Kitaro. Anderson releas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roundabout (Yes Song)
"Roundabout" is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes from their fourth studio album '' Fragile'', released in November 1971. It was written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe and produced by the band and Eddy Offord. The song originated when the band were on tour and travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and went through many roundabouts on the way. The song was released as an edited single in the US in January 1972 with " Long Distance Runaround", another track from ''Fragile'', as the B-side. It peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 10 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 singles charts. In 1973, Anderson and Howe won a BMI Award for writing the song. Writing and recording The song originated in March 1971 when the band were on tour promoting ''The Yes Album'' (1971), travelling from Aberdeen to Glasgow after a gig in Aviemore, Scotland. They encountered many roundabouts on the way; Anderson claimed "maybe 40 or so", which inspired Anderson ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith Reid
Keith Stuart Brian Reid (19 October 1946 – 23 March 2023) was an English lyricist and songwriter. He was best known for being the songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every original song released by Procol Harum, with the exception of the songs on their 2017 album, ''Novum (album), Novum''. He co-founded the band with Gary Brooker. Reid was a non-performing member; he did not play any instrument or record with Procol Harum. After the band's break-up in 1977, he began composing songs. Most notably, he co-wrote "You're the Voice", a UK Singles Chart, UK top-10 hit for Australian singer John Farnham. Biography Early life Reid was born on 19 October 1946. He grew up in London and was Jewish, the son of a Holocaust survivor. He left school at an early age to pursue a songwriting career. Procol Harum He met Gary Brooker, lead singer with Procol Harum, with whom he co-wrote most of the band's songs (some music was written by organist Matthew Fisher (musician), Matthew Fisher a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker (29 May 1945 – 19 February 2022) was an English singer and pianist, and the founder and lead singer of the rock band Procol Harum. Early life Born in Hackney Hospital, East London, on 29 May 1945, Brooker grew up in Hackney before the family moved out to Middlesex ( Bush Hill Park and then to nearby Edmonton). His father Harry Brooker was a professional musician, playing steel guitar with Felix Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders, and as a child Brooker learned to play piano, cornet, and trombone. In 1954 the family moved to the seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where Brooker attended Westcliff High School for Boys. His father died of a heart attack when Gary was 11 years old, forcing his mother to work in order to make ends meet, while Brooker himself took on a paper-round. When he left school, he went on to Southend Municipal College to study zoology and botany but dropped out to become a professional musician. Career Brooker founded the Paramo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conquistador (Procol Harum Song)
"Conquistador" is a song by the English rock music, rock band Procol Harum. Written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, it originally appeared on the band's 1967 Procol Harum (album), self-titled debut album. It was later released as a Single (music), single from the band's 1972 live album ''Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra''. It is one of the band's most famous and popular songs and their third Top 40 hit on the U.S. ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Billboard Hot 100, Hot 100 (after 1967's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Homburg (song), Homburg"), peaking at number 16. Background and composition The song's lyrics were written by Keith Reid, and its music was composed by Gary Brooker, who also sang. It was featured on the band's 1967 album, ''Procol Harum (album), Procol Harum''. The song is unusual in that the music was written before the lyrics; according to Reid, "99 out of 100 of those Procol Harum songs were written the words first, and then were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carole King
Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 during the latter half of the 20th century and 61 songs that reached the UK charts, establishing her as the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts from 1962 to 2005. In the 1960s, King and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, composed over two dozen hit songs for various artists, many of which remain Standard (music), standards. She transitioned to a solo performing career in the 1970s, following her debut album ''Writer (album), Writer'' (1970) with the critically acclaimed ''Tapestry (Carole King album), Tapestry'' (1971), which topped the Billboard 200, U.S. album chart for 15 weeks and stayed on the charts for over six years. King has released 25 solo albums, with ''Tapestry'' being her most successful, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
