The Daily Music Break

Sammy Davis Jr. remains a complicated topic. On one hand, he is one of the great talents of the 20th century. He was an amazing dancer — check out the very early clip above — and a singer who could hold his own against Sinatra, Bennett and the rest.

Growing up when he was at the height of his fame, I was embarrassed by the awkward racial jokes and the forced bonamie of the pack he ran with which, of course, was The Rat Pack. (which, by the way, still is being emulated today.) Davis, for all his talent, came across with shtick and affectation that he almost seemed needy. It was impossible to tell what was real and what was not. (Continue Reading…)

Check out The Daily Music Break to hear California Dreamin’ and Monday, Monday. The Daily Music Break features great music—lots of it—regardless of era or genre.

For those of you who think that pedal steel guitar is only used for country ballads, check out Robert Randolph (above) and the Family Band. Also check out tons of great music, regardless of genre era, at The Daily Music Break.

(Photo: nrbelex)

Mike Bloomfield was raised in suburban Chicago but ventured to the South Side to learn the blues. He did so very well. Here Bloomfield and a ton of other great music — regardless of genre or era — at The Daily Music Break.

Soprano Kathleen Battle is a controversial figure, but nobody doubts her gifts. Check out The Daily Music Break for more on Battle’s battles and lots of great music, regardless of genre or era.

John Lee Hooker was discovered in Mississippi and, eventually, was influential in the development of rock and roll. Check out his songs Boom Boom and Hobo Blues — and a whole lot of other great music, regardless of genre or era, at The Daily Music Break.

(Photo: Sumori)

Sarah Vaughan is one of the big three of classic female jazz singers, alongside Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Here is how the bio of “Sassy” starts at the site of Ken Burns’ PBS series Jazz:

Sarah Vaughan sang in the choir of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Newark, as a child, where at the age of 12 she became organist. In October 1942, she won an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre; shortly afterwards, in April 1943, she joined Earl Hines’ big band as second pianist and singer to Hines and Billy Eckstine. Eckstine formed his own bop-oriented big band early in 1944, and Vaughan joined him a few months later, making her first recording with his orchestra on December 31. She left Eckstine after about a year, and thereafter, except for a brief stay in John Kirby’s group in winter 1945-6, she worked only as a soloist. (Continue Reading…)

Here are Vaughan’s discography. Her obituary in The New York Times was written by Stephen Holden. Here is part of what he wrote, at only 66 years of age:

In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Miss Vaughan influenced countless other singers – including Phoebe Snow, Anita Baker, Sade and Rickie Lee Jones – and made hits of such songs as ”It’s Magic,” ”Make Yourself Comfortable” and ”Broken-Hearted Melody.” Her ornate renditions of ”Misty” and ”Send In the Clowns” were invariable show-stoppers at jazz festivals in recent years, including the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, at which she appeared almost yearly. (Continue Reading…)

Wonder what the safest songs are for driving? So did the London Metropolitan University. Check out The Daily Music Break for the story. One hint: You never, ever go wrong with Norah Jones.

(Photo: seabreeze via morgueFile)

Though she is not a superstar, Marcia Ball’s upbringing — she was born in Texas and raised in Louisiana — makes her a compelling piano player. She simply is a whole lot of fun to listen to. Hear Ball and a whole lot of other great music, regardless of era or genre, at The Daily Music Break.

(Photo: Lilly M.)