No words needed. RIP Harry Morgan. aka Colonel Potter
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Wordless Wednesday – Harry Morgan Passed Away
Category: Remembering
Remembering Dobie Gray
The creator of the classic hit “Drift Away” died today, December 6. He was 71.  His career began way back in the 60’s, releasing his first hit in 1965, “The ‘In’ Crowd“, which reached 13 on the US Billboard chart. His next chart success was “Drift Away” a classic staple of today’s radio, in 1973. It reached number 5 on Billboard. Uncle Kracker, in a duet with Dobie, released a version in 2003 which charted as the number 19 hit for the year. His career spanned pop, soul and country. he reincarnated himself as a country artist in the mid 80’s, having moderate success.
Drift Away is a terrific tune, and one that should stand the time test. I have inserted 2 versions of it below. The first is Dobie Gray, live at the BBC in 1974. The second is the version with Uncle Kracker. RIP Dobie Gray.
BBCÂ 1974
Uncle Kracker
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Remembering Coco Robicheaux
New Orleans is poorer in its music scene this week. Coco Robicheaux, (real name Curtis Arceneaux) mainstay of the local music scene passed away at the age of 64. He apparently suffered a heart attack at one of his favourite spots, The Apple Barrel on Frenchman Street in the quarter. He played there on a regular basis. A self taught blues guitar player, Coco began his career on Bourbon Street at the age of 17. As the story goes, he found his first guitar in pieces on the street. He repaired it and began learning to play. It worked well, as he became a top tier player in New Orleans. In his career, he recorded 6 albums and appeared on several TV shows and movies. He recently appeared as himself on an April 2010 episode of “Treme“.  Speaking of “Treme”, this is a must watch show, seen on HBO and HBO Canada. Attached track is a song called “Cottonmouth” and features Coco on guitar and Hubie Vigreux on percussion.  It was recorded live at a blues bar in Hawaii.
Coco Robicheaux – Cottonmouth
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Remembering Laura Kennedy (Bush Tetras)
I read that Laura Kennedy , bass player for post punk band the Bush Tetras had passed away from complications from Hepatitis. The group was popular in the NYC scene of the 80’s, and she was a founding member of the band. I remembered one song in particular that I always kind of liked. It is titled “Too Many Creeps” and contained some very good bass lines by Laura. The song had a very funky feel to it. The band never achieved much mainstream attention, but has a big cult following. There have been a couple of reincarnations of the group and the current lineup is touring at this time. Laura Kennedy could definitely play.
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Remembering Doyle Bramhall
Doyle Bramhall, Texas singer-songwriter and drummer passed away on November 12, 2011. He was 62. Doyle had an outstanding pedigree, He played with The Chessmen while in high school. This was Jimmie Vaughn‘s band. This band opened for Jimi Hendrix in 1969 in Dallas.  He later joined with Jimmie to form Texas Storm. Then life in music became ultra serious. He went on to join The Nightcrawlers, a band that included Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmie’s younger brother. He then wrote Dirty Pool, which appeared on Stevie’s first album Texas Flood. Then came “Life By The Drop”, a masterpiece that appeared on Stevie’s classic album “The Sky Is Crying”.
A superb musician, he played drums on the Vaughn Brothers only album. Writing a song like Life By The Drop puts him in pretty good company as a songwriter. He is survived by his son Doyle Bramhall II, another talented musician.
The music starts about 30 seconds in, Doyle is on drums. Mike Keller is on guitar and sounding great!
A live version of Life By The Drop, sung by Doyle.
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Remembering Earl Gilliam
Texas bluesman Earl Gilliam passed away in October at the age of 81. Earl was an inspired piano player who played with many gifted people over the years, such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Joe “Guitar” Hughes. The video attached is HOT. A live show in Holland in 1995 with the legendary Joe “Guitar” Hughes. Earl is on piano. Love the blues, especially with gifted musicians as this band was.
Remembrance Day – Lest We Forget
Today we remember all those who have and still do, sacrifice themselves for the greater good. I am proud of my uncles, grandparents and in-laws who fought and,in some cases died, for us. Two videos. First is Calgary’s unique tribute to the fallen on Memorial Drive, the second a song by “The Trews“, inspired by the death of Captain Nichola Goddard in Afghanistan.
The Trews
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Remembering Jimmy Norman
R&B/Jazz singer and songwriter Jimmy Norman passed away yesterday. Paying tribute to these greats is fitting, as they created most of what we listen to today, yet they languish without recognition. A lot of the time they are known only for writing or recording one great song. All of the time, they were exceptionally talented musicians and songwriters, with a lifetime body of work that demands we pay attention, even if only for a moment in remembrance. This is why I write these tributes. Whether we realize it or not, the soundtrack of our life has been written by these people. Jimmy Norman is a prime example of this. His body of work includes session work with Jimi Hendrix (Groove Maker, a Norman composition), playing and writing for Bob Marley (Chances Are album), writing for Johnny Nash,as well as having Peter Tosh record some of his songs. He also was also a member of the Coasters for a while. His most notable song composition though is “Time Is On My Side” the Rolling Stones classic of the mid sixties. Not well known, but an important cog in the formative years of our music. I have included an interview with Jimmy discussing songs as stories, Jimmy doing one of his solo songs “Here Comes The Night” and a video of the Stones doing the classic “Time Is On My Side”.
Remembering Joe Frazier
Man, Smokin’ Joe is gone. Those were the days. Boxing was something that we watched with awe, much like UFC today. The heavyweight division in the time of Joe Frazier was unreal. Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton. George Foreman, George Chuvalo, Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry, and the great Smokin’ Joe Frazier. He was one of the greatest ever, overlooked as he boxed under the shadow of Ali. Make no mistake, he was good, very good. Makes me very sad to see him gone. He has been out of the spotlight for many years and this has brought back many memories. I have two videos, one a highlight reel of his career, the other, an appearance on “This Is Your Life”, in this Muhammad Ali’s life, very funny.
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Remembering Andy Rooney
Andy Rooney, gone at age 92. He will be missed, as he has been since retiring from 60 Minutes. Right, wrong, agree, disagree, always blunt and not to worried about pleasing the unpleaseable, Andy entertained us all, sometimes shocking us, but usually making us think just a bit harder. The link here will take you to a compilation of some of his best 2 minute commentaries. Enjoy, and remember an interesting person.
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