For Trish

This past week saw the unfortunate passing of Trish Keenan, lead singer of Broadcast, definitely one of, if not my favorite contemporary band. If you aren't familiar with Broadcast, they are a British band who have been making great music for nearly two decades. Do yourself a favor and check out their beautiful collection of work.

RIP Billy Taylor

Another day, another legend gone - fortunately this one had a good long career. RIP to the great virtuoso Billy Taylor.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free


Here is Nina Simone's version


...and performing Perdido on the David Frost show with Duke Ellington

RIP Teena Marie

RIP to the dopest black chick who just happened to be white that the world has ever seen. During my childhood stint in the hood (childhood in Oakland, CA), I remember there being white girls like this. There was one I knew called Jamie; she lived in a house full of black people, was wiry thin with a tough mouth, and was one of the best doubledutch jumpers on the school yard --- she was way blacker than me, heck blacker than most of us. Teena Marie has a block pass (shit, black pass!) cause she built those blocks and is an important part of black history and heritage. Heck she was on Cash Money (Lil Wayne's record label) for a time!

I'm sure every hood in the US was blasting her on Monday while most whites just scratched their heads trying to remember who she was and what she sang. She was ours, through and through.


OOO LA LA LA



SQUARE BIZ


what you know about that FIRE AND DESIRE?


and ever her newer joints CAN'T LAST A DAY (feat Faith Evans)


True legend, there will never be another.

R.I.P. Gregory Isaacs

RIP MJ

Many generations of people around the world had MJ's incredible music to mark the highs and lows of their lives. His body is gone, but his work will shine on.

Rest in Perfect Peace, brotha.

RIP Eartha Kitt

The Legendary Singer and Actress Eartha Kitt Passes On


"I do not have an act. I just do Eartha Kitt ... I want to be whoever Eartha Kitt is until the gods take me wherever they take me."


Wow, I got chills just watching this.

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba - Mama Afrika

photo credit

Singer, anti-apartheid figure Makeba dies

As a child my mother forced my brother and I to watch Paul Simon's Concert in Graceland like every weekend, and I still know the words to almost all the songs by heart. When I got older my mother gave me Miriam's autobiography to read, and believe me this beautiful and mad stylish singer was not just a great musician, she was also an incredible activist and a tough and bad ass African woman. Definitely major hero. Respect.

Mayibuye


African Skies with Paul Simon



More on Miriam Makeba

RIP Isaac Hayes

Image via Wikipedia

This past weekend hasnt been to nice on our heroes. First Bernie, now Isaac- hold yo head folks. RIP Isaac "Black Moses" Hayes.