(Above: One of the few Jamie Foxx videos on Youtube that his label allows to be shared.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Three days after Michael Jackson’s death, Jamie Foxx appeared as host of the BET Awards clad in a red leather, Thriller-era jacket and sequined glove. After performing “Beat It” and telling [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Stevie Wonder’
Jamie Foxx brings it to Sprint Center on Saturday
Posted in band feature, Kansas City Star, tagged Beat It, BET Awards, Blame It, Gold Digger, Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson tribute, Ray Charles, Slow Jamz, Stevie Wonder, T-Pain, the Soloist on July 24, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Stevie Wonder celebrates Michael Jackson at Starlight
Posted in Concert review, Kansas City Star, Motown, tagged Back To Rockville, Billie Jean, Hitsville U.S.A., Jackson 5, Jamie Foxx, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson tribute, Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, T-Pain on June 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: Stevie Wonder performs “Never Can Say Goodbye” the day after Michael Jackson’s death. Wonder dedicated his performance at Starlight Theater to Jackson.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Stevie Wonder walked on stage at Starlight Theatre on Friday night with zero fanfare and cut to the heart of the night before playing a [...]
Raphael Saadiq sends a love letter to soul makers and Motown
Posted in band feature, Kansas City Star, Motown, tagged Back To Rockville, Boyz II Men, Funk Brothers, Jay-Z, Marvin Gaye, Motown, neo-soul, Philly soul, Q-Tip, Raphael Saadiq, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Stevie Wonder, The Sound Of Philadelphia, Tony! Toni! Tone! on March 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: Raphael Saadiq runs the “100 Yard Dash.”) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Raphael Saadiq’s latest album, “The Way I See It,” is draped heavily in the sounds of Motown and Philly soul, but don’t call it a tribute album. “Boyz II Men did a tribute; I wrote a bunch of songs,” Saadiq [...]
Isley Brothers – “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Beatles, Berry Gordy, Four Tops, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Isley Brothers, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Shout, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Twist and Shout on February 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Isley Brothers – “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You),” Pop #12, R&B #6 By Joel Francis For the most part, Motown’s talent during its heyday was home-grown. Martha Reeves was a Hitsville secretary, Stevie Wonder was a kid pestering the Funk Brothers for lessons, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson were part of [...]
Stevie Wonder – “Uptight (Everything Is Alright)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Clarence Paul, Hitsville U.S.A., Joel Francis, Ray Charles, soul music, Stevie Wonder, Uptight on January 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Stevie Wonder – “Uptight (Everything Is Alright),” Pop #3, R&B #1 By Joel Francis Nearly two years after success of “Fingertips,” Little Stevie finally found a follow-up hit – just in the nick of time. Motown had just about given up on him. Never mind that Wonder hadn’t been given much to work with: an [...]
Rock Hall Celebrates 50 Years of Motown
Posted in Motown, Music history, tagged Berry Gordy, Bobby Rogers, Diana Ross, Fox Theater, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., James Jamerson, Joel Francis, Mary Wilson, Motown Turns 50, museum exhibit, Rick James, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rock Hall, Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, the Supremes on January 9, 2009 | 7 Comments »
Above: Part of the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit celebrating 50 years of Motown Records. The exhibit is open all year. (Photo courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.) By Joel Francis It may seem hard to believe, but “the sound of young America” is 50 years old. To celebrate [...]
Review: Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Posted in Concert review, Kansas City Star, tagged Allman Broters, Bo Diddley, Doobie Brothers, gospel music, Jam bands, Joel Francis, Michael Jackson, pedal steel, Robert Randolph, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, Voodoo Lounge on December 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Above: Robert Randolph persuades the ladies of Albany to shake their hips. By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star A casino is as unlikely a setting for church as beer employees are a congregation. Yet on Friday night, Robert Randolph and the Family Band snuck 90 minutes of gospel on an unsuspecting crowd that loved [...]
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2009 Grammys: A Running Diary
Posted in Industry commentary, tagged 2009 Grammys, Al Green, Allen Toussaint, Allison Krauss, B.B. King, Barack Obama, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Boston Red Sox, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Guy, Carrie Underwood, Coldplay, Dave Grohl, Herbie Hancock, I Kissed A Girl, Jay-Z, Joe Satriani, Johm Mayer, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, MIA, Miley Cyrus, Morgan Freeman, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Robert Plant, running diary, Stevie Wonder, Sugarland, Sweet Caroline, T.I., Taylor Swift, The Clash, U2, Whitney Houston on February 9, 2009 | 6 Comments »
The last time The Daily Record watched a complete Grammy Awards show, “O Brother Where Art Thou?” won Album of the Year. This year, though, we got suckered in by the promise of seeing Radiohead. (Have they won a Grammy? Wikipedia says yes.) This presented the perfect opportunity to do one of those running diaries [...]
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