The Daily Music Break

Elvis’ 78th birthday was yesterday and Richard Nixon’s centennial is today. So it’s a great time to look at the famous meeting between the two icons. Check out the rest of the story — and find tons of good music regardless of era of genre — at The Daily Music Break.

Elvis Costello’s birth name is Declan Patrick  MacManus. He changed it to Elvis Costello in 1977 and, nine years later, back to the original — only he threw in “Aloysius” after Patrick.  There is a lot to like about Costello in addition to an epic name…(Continue Reading…)

Seu Jorge is a Brazilian musician who was discovered in the slums near Rio. He has updated samba music and has appeared in several movies, including “City of God” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” where he plays, of all things, David Bowie songs. Find more on Seu Jorge and a ton of great music, regardless of genre or era, at The Daily Music Break. The site is all over the map because that’s where the talent is. (Photo: Jose Goulao)

The man in motion is Wayne Shorter and the bass player is John Patitucci. Read and hear more at The Daily Music Break. 

I shy away from writing posts about the classical greats like Beethoven because I know nothing about them or the music and am very likely to embarrass myself. So it’s like somebody who doesn’t follow baseball writing about Ruth or Aaron. It doesn’t make sense.

Nonetheless, the music is quite beautiful. Above is Für Elise played by Valentina Lisitsa — who is greeted like a rock star when she walks on stage — and the Seoul Philharmonic. Below is the First Movement of The Moonlight Sonata played by Wilhelm Kempff.

For those who like the big stuff, here is a link to The Fifth Symphony, which is so famous that even I can identify it. This performance is by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Kurt Masur.

Check out Beethoven and a ton of great music, regardless of era or genre, at The Daily Music Break. The site is all over the map because that’s where the talent is.

The Daily Music Break has an item referring to an EarthSky story on the link between how humans perceive music and birds — in this case, white-throated sparrows — perceive birdsong.

(Photo: Ken Thomas via Wikimedia Commons)

Patti Page, who died on New Year’s Day at age 85, had a huge hit with Tennessee Waltz. She also pioneered overdubbing, according to reports and sang the well known novelty song (How Much is That) Doggie in the Window? Wikipedia Commons says that the man seated at the piano is singer Frankie Laine and the man standing probably is singer Richard Hayes.

Check out more on Page and find great music, regardless of genre or era, at The Daily Music Break.

John Mellencamp (performing above at The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007) has transformed himself from a great rocker to an artist with far more staying power. Check out The Daily Music Break for more on Melllencamp and a lot of great music, regardless of era and genre…

(Photo: Defense Dept.)

Kevin Bacon is a great musician as well as a great actor. Check out The Bacon Brothers playing New Year’s Day at The Daily Music Break.