Year: 2019

Coltrane had an immense impact on the music world. He revolutionized jazz with his innovative, demanding techniques while showing a deep reverence for sounds from other locales that included Africa, Latin America, the Far East and South Asia.

Continue reading “John Coltrane”

There were many reasons I wanted to do Sam Cooke. I didn’t know before I started researching him how outspoken Sam Cooke was on the topic of civil rights and equality. He was one of Mohamed Ali’s closest friends. There are conspiracy theories about his death. Continue reading “Sam Cooke”

I have been a fan of Hugh Masekela since the 1960’s. Masekela was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, and singer. He died in 2018 at the age of 78. He has been called the father of South African jazz. He was known for his antiapartheid songs like “Bring Him Back Alive”, a song about freeing Nelson Mandela when he was imprisoned. Continue reading “Hugh Masekela”

I started listening to Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, in the mid 1960’s. She is 74 years old, in this mosaic she is approximately 62, she has been performing through her teenage and adult life for almost sixty years. And she still has strong vocals and a hard working performing style. She just performed at the Super Bowl this year. Continue reading “Gladys Knight”

This mosaic shows Sonny musing, contemplative and reflective. I started listening to jazz when I was in the 8th grade in 1961. At that time Sonny Rollins was 31 and he was already an established celebrated jazz tenor saxophonist. Continue reading “Saxophone Colossus, Sonny Rollins”