By Dawoud Kringle
Michael Jeffrey is remembered as the former manager of Eric Burton and the Animals and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
By Dawoud Kringle
Peter Grant was perhaps the quintessential artist manager of his era. The legendary manager was equal parts savvy businessman, loyal caretaker, and protector for his clients and friends, as well as fearsome swashbuckling rock & roll behemoth (he stood 6’5” and weighed more than 300 pounds) who nobody in their right mind would ever cross.
By Dawoud Kringle
The artist managers presented in this three-part series are Brian Epstein, Peter Grant, and Michael Jeffrey. The 60s and 70s were a time of volatile transformations in the music business. A retrospective of these three artist managers from this period can be instructive.
Review by Dawoud Kringle
Lonnie Harrington (guitarist, percussionist, singer, songwriter, and MFM member) recently announced the release of the single “Such A Groove.” This is his first release since his 2018 instrumental single “I Wonder.” “Such a Groove” features Sean Dixon on drums, and Ruben Gonzalez on bass.
Both of the aforementioned singles will be part of nine songs on his next album Part II, scheduled for release in 2024. As of the writing, the single is only available on all digital platforms.
Harrington has been performing as a funk, samba, Soul, R&B, and rock guitarist throughout the U.S. and Canada for more than 45 years. He’s appeared in venues such as SOB’s, The Blue Note, The Village Gate, Tramps, Cornelia Street Café, The Shrine, Bostons’ Summerthing and The Sugar Shack, Summerstage, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Symphony Space, and many others.
By Dawoud Kringle
One of the most iconic and prolific songwriters, guitarists, producers, and rock journeymen, Robbie Robertson, passed on August 9th 2023. He was 80 years old.
Robertson was born on July 5th, 1943 and grew up on the Six Nations Reservation near Ontario Canada. He became interested in rock & roll music at a young age, and started playing guitar. He was mentored in playing guitar by his older cousin Herb Myke and other family members.
At the age of fourteen, he worked summer jobs in the travelling carnival circuit.
In 1956 Robertson, along with pianist/vocalist Bruce Morshead and guitarist Gene MacLellan formed their first band, Little Ceaser and the Consuls. In 1957 he formed Robbie and the Rhythm Chords. They changed the name to Robbie and the Robots after they watched the film Forbidden Planet (which featured the character Robbie the Robot).Later, Roberston and Pete Traynor (founder of Traynor amplifiers) joined with pianist Scott Cushnie and became The Suedes. They caught the attention of Ronnie Hawkins. Eventually, Hawkins recruited Roberston for his band Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Levon Helm was also in the band (and guitar virtuoso Roy Buchanan played with them briefly; and had an influence on Roberson’s style of guitar playing). In 1961, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson joined Hawkins. Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks cut sessions for Roulette Records throughout 1961–1963, all of which Robertson appeared on.
