Hello and warm greetings to those of you select beings who have been reading/accessing/browsing on this BlogSite over the past months. Tonight/this morning it was astonishing---as well as rewarding--to find a comparatively large number of hits on a site that hasn't until now been updated since March after a period of relatively low access by viewsers.
In the interests of efficiency, this blogsite will in the near future be merged with www.VOAWorldMusic.com, or alternatively, with VOAWorldMusic.blogspot.com. For those of you on Facebook, there is a related but in other ways soon to become very different site on the Facebook VOAWM unique page.
This change has been made to facilitate a one-stop Web option for surveying and savoring the rich range of work done by many VOA journalists on musical topics, as well as for (at the same time) providing access to your humble VOAWM's host's multiformat musings on musical matters.
And last of all: Please, please do post your comments either on www.VOAWorldMusic.com and/or the Facebook VOAWM unique page: The energizing lifeblood of operations such as this is that old key buzz word, interactivity.
Keep searching/reading/browsing at your convenience the above sites, in your quest for musical treasures and anomalies, and we will appreciate your valuable comments and suggestions, as well as sharing of new musical joys and discoveries. And and of course rants as you are so moved. (what would the Internet be without controversy?)
Gratefully,
Brian Q. Silver, your committed host.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Music news notes from VOA's Mary Morningstar
Click here to more details on the following musical updates:
One of the stranger news stories developing around the time of the Grammy Awards last month was the report that rhythm and blues star Chris Brown had assaulted his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, the day before the two were scheduled to perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Recent news has surfaced that the two have reconciled and are spending time together.
The supergroup U2 will release a new album this week, and will perform for five consecutive nights on the late-night David Letterman show.
Steven Page, the lead singer for Barenaked Ladies, has left the band in order to pursue a solo career.
For the first time in nine years (since Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" album), country singer Taylor Swift's latest CD, "Fearless", has spent its 10th non-consecutive week in the Number One position on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending March 7.
A new band, Tinted Windows, has been formed, including keyboardist Taylor Hanson.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of March 3;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour (Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Britney Spears).
One of the stranger news stories developing around the time of the Grammy Awards last month was the report that rhythm and blues star Chris Brown had assaulted his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, the day before the two were scheduled to perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Recent news has surfaced that the two have reconciled and are spending time together.
The supergroup U2 will release a new album this week, and will perform for five consecutive nights on the late-night David Letterman show.
Steven Page, the lead singer for Barenaked Ladies, has left the band in order to pursue a solo career.
For the first time in nine years (since Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" album), country singer Taylor Swift's latest CD, "Fearless", has spent its 10th non-consecutive week in the Number One position on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending March 7.
A new band, Tinted Windows, has been formed, including keyboardist Taylor Hanson.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of March 3;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour (Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Britney Spears).
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Oscar's musical awards go to India
The usual excitement around this year's Academy Awards included a groundswell of interest in the film "Slumdog Millionnaire" after the film, shot in Mumbai, India, received a total of ten nominations--second only to the thirteen nominations for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." As it turned out, the latter film received only three Oscars, while "Slumdog" emerged as a winner in eight fields, including not only Best Picture and Best Director, but in the musical categories--thanks to the prodigious talents of A. R. Rehman--Best Soundtrack and Best Song. Listen to Anjana Pasricha's report from Delhi, and watch Penelope Poulou's report and video feature from Washington.
You can also listen to Marsha James' radio story in the American Life series on how a passion for music was the major motivating force in bringing Chilean Marjorie Garces to the U.S. to study at Dillard University.
You can also listen to Marsha James' radio story in the American Life series on how a passion for music was the major motivating force in bringing Chilean Marjorie Garces to the U.S. to study at Dillard University.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
More recent VOA programs on music
Sarah Hickman is a singer-songwriter from Austin Texas, whose life involves more than making music. Watch, or listen to Greg Flakus' feature, part of the VOA series "Making A Difference", on how she and her family are active in a variety of charities helping other people.
You can also hear Greg Flakus' radio report on how, in the year marking the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of composer Felix Mendelssohn, one diligent music professor at Texas' Southwestern University tracked down the original manuscript, somewhat fragmented, at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. The piece will be performed this Saturday for the first time in more than 175 years by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Flakus notes that only 160 of the composer's more than 400 works exist in published form, partly due to the influences of anti-Semitism following the composer's death in 1847; performance of his works were banned altogether under the Nazi regime.
And listen to Henok Semaegzer Fente's radio feature on young Ethiopan-American Wayna Wondwossen, a nominee for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the recent Grammy Award competition. Born in Ethiopia, she had immigrated to the U.S. at the age of three; she graduated from the University of Maryland, and subsequently worked as a writer-researcher for the administration of former President Bill Clinton, but later turned to music. She has her own Website, where you can hear her music and watch one of her videos. (See also www.VOAWorldMusic.com for more postings on the international dimensions of the Grammy Awards.)
You can also hear Greg Flakus' radio report on how, in the year marking the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of composer Felix Mendelssohn, one diligent music professor at Texas' Southwestern University tracked down the original manuscript, somewhat fragmented, at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. The piece will be performed this Saturday for the first time in more than 175 years by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Flakus notes that only 160 of the composer's more than 400 works exist in published form, partly due to the influences of anti-Semitism following the composer's death in 1847; performance of his works were banned altogether under the Nazi regime.
And listen to Henok Semaegzer Fente's radio feature on young Ethiopan-American Wayna Wondwossen, a nominee for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the recent Grammy Award competition. Born in Ethiopia, she had immigrated to the U.S. at the age of three; she graduated from the University of Maryland, and subsequently worked as a writer-researcher for the administration of former President Bill Clinton, but later turned to music. She has her own Website, where you can hear her music and watch one of her videos. (See also www.VOAWorldMusic.com for more postings on the international dimensions of the Grammy Awards.)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Music news notes from VOA's Mary Morningstar
Click here to more details on the following musical updates:
Superstar Madonna emerged at the head of Billboard's Moneymakers of 2008, with $242.2 million in sales in various formats.
Denver-based rock group The Fray debuts at Number One on the Billboard 200 this week with its second album.
Advertisers have pulled Chris Brown spots, and radio stations have stopped playing his music after his alleged assault on Rihanna just prior to the Grammy Awards, in which the duo were scheduled to perform.
Following the previous week's record of 335,000, set by Rihanna and T.I., a new record of 418,00 digital downloads in one week has been set by Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent's single "Crack A Bottle," which shot from 77th place to Number One on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Rap artist Lil' Kim, and pop singers Belinda Carlisle and Jewel will be competing in upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of February 17;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour.
Superstar Madonna emerged at the head of Billboard's Moneymakers of 2008, with $242.2 million in sales in various formats.
Denver-based rock group The Fray debuts at Number One on the Billboard 200 this week with its second album.
Advertisers have pulled Chris Brown spots, and radio stations have stopped playing his music after his alleged assault on Rihanna just prior to the Grammy Awards, in which the duo were scheduled to perform.
Following the previous week's record of 335,000, set by Rihanna and T.I., a new record of 418,00 digital downloads in one week has been set by Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent's single "Crack A Bottle," which shot from 77th place to Number One on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Rap artist Lil' Kim, and pop singers Belinda Carlisle and Jewel will be competing in upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of February 17;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Recent VOA programs on music
Liyana is a remarkable band of seven disabled Zimbabwean musicians who capture audiences with their inspired, and inspiring performances. Listen to Lonny Shavelson's moving radio report from Palo Alto, California, and see videos demopnstrating the group's extraordinary spirit and musicianship. (You can hear further examples of their music on their Website.)
Faiza Elmasry has done a fascinating radio feature on "The Soloist", a new film starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., and based on the true story of the discovery by Los Angeles Times newspaper columnist Steve Lopez of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless African-American street musician who had developed schizophrenia when he was studying at the prestigious Julliard School in New York.
And finally, you can hear Doug Levine's story on prominent blues singer and composer Taj Mahal, who celebrates his 40th anniversary as an award-winning recording artist with the release "Maestro, a new CD in which he performs with some well-known collaborators in a mix of American roots, blues and world music.
Faiza Elmasry has done a fascinating radio feature on "The Soloist", a new film starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., and based on the true story of the discovery by Los Angeles Times newspaper columnist Steve Lopez of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless African-American street musician who had developed schizophrenia when he was studying at the prestigious Julliard School in New York.
And finally, you can hear Doug Levine's story on prominent blues singer and composer Taj Mahal, who celebrates his 40th anniversary as an award-winning recording artist with the release "Maestro, a new CD in which he performs with some well-known collaborators in a mix of American roots, blues and world music.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Music news notes from VOA's Mary Morningstar
Click here to see more details on the following musical updates:
Bruce Springsteen makes a Number One debut on the Billboard 200 chart this week with his new album, "Working on a Dream."
John Rich, of the Country duo Big & Rich, enters the Country Singles chart at Number 34.
Jennifer Hudson's Super Bowl XLIII performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is now available on the iTunes Website.
Elton John will close his Las Vegas show, "The Red Piano," which has been running since 2004, on 22 April.
The Country Music Hall of Fame has announced its 2009 inductees: Charlie McCoy, Roy Clark and Barbara Mandrell.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of February 10;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour.
Bruce Springsteen makes a Number One debut on the Billboard 200 chart this week with his new album, "Working on a Dream."
John Rich, of the Country duo Big & Rich, enters the Country Singles chart at Number 34.
Jennifer Hudson's Super Bowl XLIII performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is now available on the iTunes Website.
Elton John will close his Las Vegas show, "The Red Piano," which has been running since 2004, on 22 April.
The Country Music Hall of Fame has announced its 2009 inductees: Charlie McCoy, Roy Clark and Barbara Mandrell.
Also see:
Selected new album releases as of February 10;
Awards presentations and winners; and
Who is going on tour.
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