My Favorite Keyboard Players (Part Three)

This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite Keyboard players.

So far I’ve chosen, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Eumir Deodato, Gershon Kingsley, Jon Lord, Elton John, Billy Joel, Nicky Hopkins, John Paul Jones, Richard Wright, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Billy Preston. Let me chose some more to consider.

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My Favorite Live Albums (Part One)

This list of Live Rock Albums are 50 years old or older.

Made in Japan is Deep Purple’s landmark double-live album, recorded during the band’s first Japanese tour on August 15, 16, and 17, 1972, with performances at Festival Hall in Osaka on August 15 and 16 and Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on August 17, featuring the classic Mark II lineup of Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice.

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Walter Parazaider, Alan Greenspan, Jeff Olson, and Louise Lasser Die

Four more losses to reflect on here in 2026…

These individuals were a woodwind musician and a founding member of Chicago; an American economist who served as the 13th chair of the Federal Reserve; a visual effects artist known for his work in films such as Star Trek, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, etc.; and an actress, television writer, best known for being Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

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David Clayton-Thomas, Clive Davis, Tom Dreesen, Bobby Prince Die

Four more losses to reflect on here in the early summer of 2026…

These guys were a British-Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the American band Blood, Sweat & Tears; record executive, A&R exec, record producer and lawyer; an actor and stand-up comedian, known for opening for Sinatra; and a video game composer and sound designer on games like Doom and Duke Nukem.

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My Favorite Songs by Chicago (Part One)

This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite songs by the rock band Chicago. See if you agree with any of these!

“Introduction” by Chicago, written by guitarist Terry Kath, opens the band’s debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released on 04-28-1969, and serves as a sweeping mission statement for the group’s ambitious fusion of rock, jazz, blues, and horn-driven orchestration; running over six minutes.

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My Favorite Double Albums (Part One)

This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite double albums. See if you agree with any of these!

The Beatles’ self-titled double LP, released on 11-22-1968 and later universally known as the “White Album,” was created by the Beatles at the height of their late-period experimentation and issued on their new Apple label, presented in a gatefold sleeve conceived by Richard Hamilton that rejected the vibrant imagery of Sgt. Pepper in favor of a stark white jacket with an embossed

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My Favorite Guitar Players (Part 2)

This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite Guitar Players. See if you agree with any of these!

In part one I chose Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck (all those Yardbirds players), Chet Atkins, David Gilmour, and Jimi Hendrix. I’m going to keep the fun going here by picking Steve Howe, of Yes. Born April 8, 1947, in Holloway, North London, is an iconic English guitarist celebrated for his eclectic, virtuosic style that blends rock, classical, jazz, country, and flamenco influences, most famously showcased through his work with the progressive rock band Yes.

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Great Rock Song Intros (Part One)

Now you’re messin’ with a ….

Great rock song intros have an extraordinary ability to immediately draw listeners in, creating a powerful first impression that sets the tone for the entire track. These intros often feature distinctive guitar riffs, commanding drum beats, or evocative melodies that can evoke a wide range of emotions from anticipation to exhilaration. The use of innovative instrumentation and dynamic rhythms helps to establish the song’s identity right from the start, often becoming iconic elements that are instantly recognizable.

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Covers – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Voices singing, let’s be jolly, Deck the halls with boughs of holly

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was penned by Johnny Marks, a prolific songwriter renowned for his contributions to the Christmas music genre.

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Vietnam War Protest Songs (Part One)

The whole world’s watching
The whole world’s watching
The whole world’s watching

The Vietnam War, a protracted conflict from 1955 to 1975, began for the United States as it escalated its involvement in the early 1960s, following the Gulf of Tonkin incident[1] in 1964. Over 58,000 U.S. military personnel lost their lives in the war, with hundreds of thousands more wounded.

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