Timeless Tunes and Legendary Musician Stories
Timeless Tunes and Legendary Musician Stories
After studying the stories behind well-known melodies and revolutionary sounds that shaped our culture — I give you the cliff notes here.
Learn about your favorite legends as children and discover the younger soul behind their songs. These stories explore how powerful music can be in childhood and how songwriting can make a social impact.
From legendary guitarists in classic rock to the heartfelt lyrics of folk artists, I share the little-known bits of magic behind musicians who have captivated melomanics and music lovers for decades.
Whether you're a fan of these artists or a newcomer eager to explore the roots of rock, pop or folk, this blog is a musical adventure with a message that transcends generations.
Read below for timeless tunes and icons who laid the foundation for musical greatness.
The High Priestess of Folk & Soul
Using her music instead of bombs and guns: Nina wrote songs as battle cries against the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, the assassination of civil rights leaders, and the suffering of black women. In 1965, Reverend Martin Luther King asked Nina to join a Civil Rights march against Jim Crow segregation. She sang and marched from selma to montgomery to empower protesters, along with Odetta, Ella Fitzgerald, and other black music legends.
Little Known Tales Behind Your Favorite Holiday Tunes
Not only is “White Christmas” the highest-selling holiday track of all time, it's also the highest-selling song ever. Irving Berlin originally wrote the lyrics about the longing felt by American military fighters who were spending their first holiday away from home while serving in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack. Then Bing Crosby sang it in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn. 33 years later, the song marked the end of the Vietnam War after it was played by the American Radio Service as a signal to troops to make their final evacuation.
This post describes the little-known stories behind some of our favorite holiday tunes.
A Knight in Shining Spectacles
During the 1950’s in a small suburb of London, a three year old child watched his Aunt play The Skater’s Waltz on their family piano. The boy listened closely, then he joined his aunt at the piano. Climbing onto her lap, he stretched to reach the keys.
Everyone laughed, until the child’s tiny fingers starting flying. With prodigy-like skill, that toddler boy began to play The Skater’s Waltz.
Do You Believe in Love After Life?
On a regular Tuesday in 1962, a young, aspiring musician walked into her favorite coffee shop for a cappuccino. She walked out with the love of her life and her first big music gig.
Cherilyn Sarkisyan met Sonny Bono after dropping out of high school to pursue a career in music. Sonny was working for Phil Spector at the time and quickly introduced Cher to Spector after hearing her unique singing voice. Sonny was a rocker, and Cher was a flower child. Together, they were magic. But their love was only strong, after death.
Labor Day, a Banjo and a Boy Named Pete
In 1965, Rev. Martin Luther King asked Pete to join a Civil Rights march against Jim Crow segregation. Pete showed up to empower protesters along with Odetta, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and other musicians. But he didn’t just sing for the protesters. Pete visited their tents and sat at their campfires. He wrote down their words and used his voice in case their voices weren't loud enough.