Aretha Franklin
Well known for
singing “Respect,” which is probably the most famous soul song in existence,
Aretha Franklin is a dominant woman’s voice in Motown/Soul music. A fan of The Beatles, or at least Paul
McCartney, Aretha Franklin covered both “Eleanor Rigby” and “Let It Be” during
her career. I personally think of her as
an American Treasure-type singer, along the lines of Billy Ray Cyrus, Ronnie
Van Zant, Sammy Hagar, Geoff Tate, Brandi Carlile and Chris Cornell, having a
relatable voice and common-sense lyrics about the plight of everyday people
against an unfair system, yet proud of the service of those in the military to
try to keep us safe from threats abroad.
They show emotional maturity and in quite a few cases, a definite Church
background to their singing. Franklin is
one who definitely shows a Church background in her singing, her delivery of
“Let it Be” reminds me of the solos I’d hear from time-to-time in Churches I’ve
attended. Later, after writing this
down, I discovered a Gospel album of hers, where she blended Carole King’s
“You’ve Got A Friend” with the hymn “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” performed a
16-minute version of “Amazing Grace” and even had an instrumental of George
Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” (because the original version is actually about
Krishna).
Nina Simone
One of the most
famous Soul/Motown singers of the 60s and 70s, Nina Simone had a passionate
delivery and sang many famous covers, giving them new exposure and
re-definition in light of the Civil Rights struggle of the time, such as
“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holliday and “Here Comes The Sun” by The
Beatles. Her own song, “O-O-H Child,”
was recently covered by Paul Stanley of KISS as part of his new Soul music
covers album. The song speaks of coming
days of hope, which was important to the African-American community of the 60s
and 70s, that same community now, and those feeling stress from COVID-19 and
the Political Unrest across our nation.
A portrait of her was drawn by a European artist who posts art of famous
musicians such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Nirvana and Pearl Jam
online.
Dionne Warwick
Dionne is a
singer, one of the 40 biggest Billboard charters between 1955 and 1999 and one
of the most-charted female vocalists of all time. She was born and raised in New Jersey and got
her start singing for her Mom’s group.
Dionne was discovered while contributing backing vocals for a Drifters
single. She recorded many famous songs,
such as “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” a cover of
The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night,” which slowed it down and changed the
perspective to the wife awaiting her husband coming home from work, “What the
World Needs Now,” and an AmFAR benefit single with Gladys Knight, Elton John
and Stevie Wonder called “That’s What Friends Are For.” In early 2013, she dueted with Billy Ray
Cyrus on his composition “Hope Is Just Ahead” as part of her collaborative
album that year. Written in the wake of
Columbine, released in the wake of Sandy Hook, the song challenges us to do
better to each other and trust in God’s promises. Dionne Warwick is also the cousin of pop
singer Whitney Houston.
Vic Johnson
The guitarist
of Sammy Hagar’s solo band, Vic Johnson is a relentless Gibson Les Paul
virtuoso who can skillfully play songs from Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and
Montrose. Vic was initially inspired by
Jimi Hendrix and it’s easy to see the Jimmy Page influence on his playing with
how well he plays on covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” and “Rock and
Roll.” He will also bring out the
double-necked Gibson guitar Jimmy Page made popular while Sammy plays a Gibson
Les Paul, Vic doing slide guitar work to reproduce the swirling, relentless,
stormy sound of “When The Levee Breaks.”
Like several Beatles track, it’s a track most would think impossible to
duplicate live, yet Sammy Hagar, Vic Johnson, Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham,
son of John Bonham, who did the drums on the original, did so in an amazing
fashion that still holds up over six years later. Vic Johnson can also imitate the late, great
Eddie Van Halen’s guitar tone, playing the intro of “Poundcake” like you’re
blaring For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge yourself.
This year, jams between Vic Johnson, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and
Jason Bonham were released commercially and he isn’t missing a beat. I like their versions of “Three Little Birds”
by Bob Marley, “Whole Lotta Rosie” by AC/DC, “Right Now” by Sammy and Michael’s
former band Van Halen and “Heroes” by the late David Bowie best. I honestly believe the music business needs
to have more hard rock/heavy metal African-American guitarists, I feel if more
African-American kids saw people like Vic Johnson and Jimi Hendrix, they would
work to make music a creative outlet beyond a rap song that drops the “F” word
every few seconds.
Chuck Berry
Speaking of talented
African-American musicians not in the hip-hop genre, let’s discuss the great
Chuck Berry. One of the fathers of rock
and roll, Chuck Berry was a St. Louis-born man who could both sing and play
guitar. In the mid-50s to early 60s, he
helped create the rock and roll genre with a series a exciting and fun
guitar-based songs, such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “You
Never Can Tell,” and “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man.”
These inspired musicians worldwide, The Beatles once covered “Johnny B.
Goode” (recording can be found on the “Live at the BBC” album), it was featured
in the first two “Back to the Future” movies, Elvis Presley and Johnny (brother
of Edgar) Winter have versions recorded and Billy Ray Cyrus will perform it
live as part of his set. “Roll Over
Beethoven” was also covered by The Beatles, appearing on their “With The
Beatles” album, “You Never Can Tell” was covered by Bob Seger on his Greatest
Hits album re-titled C’est La Vie and “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” was covered by
both Waylon Jennings and Tanya Tucker.
Chuck Berry was forever young, performing into his 80s and passing away
in 2017 at the age of 90. He was one of
the first guitar heroes.
Jimi Hendrix
One of
Seattle’s poster rock children, the “Voodoo Child” and one of the fathers of
Heavy Metal alongside Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Robert Plant and Jimmy
Page. Hendrix saw Elvis Presley in
Sicks’ Stadium in Seattle in the 1950s, a venue he would, in fact, play at in
1970. Hendrix got his start as a blues
session musician before forming his own band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, in
Britain, discovered by Keith Richards in Greenwich Village. He liked both drummers Mitch Mitchell and
Aynsley Dunbar so much he flipped a coin to decide between the two, the coin
choosing Mitch Mitchell. Aynsley Dunbar
went on to drum for Journey in the 1970s and on the 1987 Whitesnake album. Jimi Hendrix’s first album, “Are You
Experienced,” featured some of his most well-known songs, such as anthems
“Purple Haze” and “Foxey Lady,” “Fire,” which the Seattle Mariners play after
every home win, and “Red House,” a more bluesy song. The follow-up album, “Axis; Bold As Love,”
featured “Little Wing,” which was covered by Eric Clapton in tribute, “Spanish
Castle Magic” and “Up From The Skies,” which was covered by Joan Jett. The last studio album released during his
lifetime was “Electric Ladyland,” which featured “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”
and an iconic cover of Bob Dylian’s “All Along The Watchtower.” Tragically, he died at the age of 27 from
asphyxiation due to alcohol.
Gary Clark Jr.
A hard
rock/blues man from Texas, Gary Clark Jr. achieved mainstream recognition when
his cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together” was featured in the Justice League
movie. Gary can play and sing in a
variety of genres, such as stripped-down acoustic blues like his song “Church,”
hard rock like his “Come Together” cover and smooth ballads like “Pearl
Cadillac.” Gary’s blues-rock songs like
“Low Down Rolling Stone” are where I feel he shines the strongest. His talent was recognized enough to be part
of Eric Clapton’s 2019 Crossroads Guitar Festival and he has collaborated with
several musicians such as Booker T. Jones, Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughan’s
former backing band), Suzanne Santo, Stevie Wonder and Sir Sly. His song “This Land” was based on him buying
a Texas ranch and a racist neighbor not thinking someone of his skin color
could own land like that. Gary Clark Jr.
is one of, if not the best hard rock/blues guitarists/vocalists around today
and delivers some of the best music of this genre since Jimi Hendrix.
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