ROUTES January 1978 Highlights Page
Here you’ll see a wonderful array of music videos of performers, the likes of Helen Humes – Alberta Hunter – Sonny Rollins – Rose Murphy... Read More
Music
Pee Wee Ellis My jazz soul influences me
7 min read
The legendary “Godfather of Soul” James Brown was ecstatic when saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis blew his horn. But, perhaps just as important, without this 77-year-old... Read More
Happy Feelings
It’s been a long time since I posted on the website. However, over the past days I’ve discovered the lyrics of Frankie Beverly and Maze.... Read More
For Valerie Simpson Love Never Dies
Valerie Simpson-songwriter-producer-singer-musician-performer. And, with her husband, lifetime partner, and soulmate—the late Nickolas Ashford--she is also one half of the dynamic duo known as Ashford & Simpson—perhaps the music world’s most applauded husband-and-wife team ever. With an unrivaled track record, this iconic couple has earned the respect of their peers in the music industry, as well as immeasurable adoration from generation after generation of loyal fans.... Read More
Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald
100 Years ago, on April 25, 1917, (read about her here) Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia. After Ella's death, The New York Times columnist Frank Rich wrote that Ella had performed a cultural transaction as extraordinary as Elvis' contemporaneous integration of white and African American soul. Here was a black woman popularizing urban songs often written by immigrant Jews to a national audience of predominantly white Christians.... Read More
August 1956 Sepia Magazine Cover Sarah Vaughan
Many of you, of course, remember Sarah Vaughan, but how many of you know about the existence of Sepia Magazine? Sepia Magazine’s, August 1956 issue is... Read More
Richard Bona and his Quartet
Richard Bona — a West African singer of praise and storyteller – and percussionist. A Quartet of extraordinary Cuban Street Musicians. [embedyt]... Read More
LL Cool Jay’s Bearing Gifts and Holiday Cheer
LL Cool Jay is not forgetting about his roots: He’s bearing gifts and holiday cheer in his Hollis, Queens childhood community.... Read More