Music Blog Today
Music News and Commentary.
September 04, 2010
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Grab Our Feed
Music News and Commentary.
September 04, 2010
Anyone who tuned into the Farm Aid benefit concert on TV this weekend enjoyed performance after impressive performance by renowned artists who generously donated their time to this inspirational event.
Organized to help American farmers, Farm Aid featured Willie Nelson, the Dave Matthews Band, Gretchen Wilson, John Cougar Mellencamp and a lineup of other cross-generational favorites from country, blues, folk and rock genres.
The heartfelt patriotism elevated the heart-warming impact of this talent-filled concert. Captivating viewers for countless hours, the Farm Aid event gave TV viewers the opportunity to call in and donate. Funds went to assist U.S. farm owners . The great selection of musical programming on Dish Network is always entertaining!
Many people remember Mike Huckabee as the warm, approachable Republican (how often do you see those adjectives attached to the R word?) who made a recent run at the '08 Presidential election. A long time resident of Little Rock, he previously served as governor for Arkansas. Before that, Huckabee was a Baptist minister. The man’s also a noted author. But how many of you are familiar with Mike’s musical accomplishments?
An active and enthusiastic bass player (his own band, Capitol Offense, has opened for well known artists including Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band), Mike Huckabee and his boys have appeared in the House of Blues in New Orleans, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver and two presidential inauguration balls. His weekly Fox talk show features a musical segment with Mike lending his skills to the house band, ‘The Little Rockers.’
Huckabee’s also an avid supporter of the arts and music. In 2007 he was presented with the ‘music for life’ award by the NAMM (National Association for Music Merchants) in honor of his long-standing commitment to music education.
That’s a lot of talent and accomplishment packed into one man! Maybe come 2012 we’ll be honoring Mike Huckabee with one of his favorite tunes, ‘Hail To The Chief.’ That would be music to my ears!
Rumors of musician Amy Farris’ death have been confirmed. The 40 year old fiddler was found over the weekend in her Los Angeles home. At this time the cause of death is not disclosed.
Kelly Willis, musical contemporary and close friend of Farris publically noted her devastation on her Twitter page. The sentiment, I’m sure, is echoed by all who knew Amy as well as the fans who followed her career and appreciated her talent.
Farris had released one solo CD "Anyway" in 2004, which reflected her varied styles from jazz to blues and a touch of country and folk. Along with her fiddle-playing prowess, Amy exhibited great talent for song writing as well. The music world lost a true talent with the untimely passing of this gifted young lady. Despite all her accomplishments, we’ll never know the true extent of her potential or the creations that could have been. Here’s hoping we’ll remember her fondly and be thankful for what was.
The life of effusive and endlessly talented fiddle player Amy Farris may have, sadly, to have come to an end. Rumors abound but the official word isn't out. Amy, say it ain't so?
Her death would come as a shock and a true loss to the music community. Fans are currently stunned by the idea and await confirmation, with great hope that the rumors are entirely false. Farris, an Austin native, is only 40 years old.
A member of Dave Alvin and the Guilty women, she played a live show less than two weeks ago and was scheduled to peform again with the Guilty Women this coming weekend at a San Fran bluegrass festival. Amy had been living in Los Angeles, which is where sources claim she was found over the weekend.
Showcasing the endless talent and timeless Southern-rock hotness that is The Tom, Petty and his entourage of Heartbreakers are about to release a career-spanning 5-disc anthology.
In no time at all (November 22, to be exact), Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers will release The Live Anthology. A fitting tribute to their successful thirty-year career and exceptional list of live performances, the collector's boxed set will include five discs plus an exclusive audio-only Blu-ray. Hot on the heals of their latest sold-out tour, their award-winning documentary Runnin’ Down A Dream and the band’s high-scoring half-time performance during Super Bowl XL11, the timing of this collection is ideal.
Packed with their own original work, as well as renditions of band favorites by other artists, it's a comprehensive compilation that we know will deliver a true taste of Petty. Fans are sure to make a dash to catch this must-hear anthology.