Text by Dawoud Kringle
Born Frederick Russell Jones in Pittsburgh in 1930, Jamal began playing music at three when an uncle inspired him to begin playing the piano. After some formal training, he began playing professionally at the age of 14. His potential was recognized by the great piano master Art Tatum.
Text by Dawoud Kringle
By Phil Guest from Bournemouth, UK
The music world is in mourning following the news of the death of Burt Bacharach.
Bacharach started his music career after he met Vic Damone in the army in 1950. He worked with Damone for three years following his discharge. In 1956, he got a break when, after working with several musicians, he was introduced to Marlene Dietrich. He worked as her arranger, conductor, and musical director, and toured the world with her.
A Eulogy by Dawoud Kringle
On Wednesday, January 11th, 2023, the music world was shocked when Jeff Beck, one of the greatest electric guitarists to ever walk this earth, succumbed to bacterial meningitis. He was 78.
Sometime in the 80s, I saw Jeff Beck at Madison Square Garden when he was on the same bill with Stevie Ray Vaughn (another great guitarist who we lost much too soon). What a performance! At the end, the two did a duet that tore the roof off the place. I have no words to describe it; you had to have been there.
