Leon Bridges Does Sam Cooke

This first one is a Sam Cooke Classic – “Jesus Gave Me Water”. Bridges is from Ft Worth, Texas, and began writing and performing music in the 50’ss and 60’s style, His last album was recorded using audio equipment and recording techniques (tape) from that era to achieve an authentic sound. Bridges performs in period and vintage clothing (If he ever finds Jackie Wilson’s old suits, he will be ready to roll!).

This is off Bridges’  Album released in June –  Coming Home

And this one, where he is definitely channeling some Sam Cooke…

Watch Leon Bridges Do Sam Cooke Justice With ‘Jesus Gave Me Water’ Cover on ‘Colbert’

Leon Bridges has earned plenty of Sam Cooke comparisons since dropping his Grammy-nominated debut Coming Home in June, so for his appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night (Dec. 18), Bridges tackled the similarities head-on by covering a song by the late, great crooner.

Bridges delivered his take on “Jesus Gave Me Water” — a tune Colbert described as his “favorite Sam Cooke song” — for the occasion, which Cooke did during his time with the Soul Stirrers. Bridges hung around for another web-only performance of his Coming Home original — although still distinctly Cooke reminiscent — “Twistin’ & Groovin’.” Watch both performances at the bottom of the page.

Bridges’ Late Show appearance arrives on the heels of his musical guest spot on Saturday Night Live earlier this month. There, he played Coming Home’s “Smooth Sailin’” and beautiful, gospel-flecked album closer “River.”

The Fort Worth, Texas-based singer is currently on tour in Australia, but he’ll return to the states in March with dates scheduled through the end of the month. Then he heads overseas again, with U.S. dates resuming in May and June. See a complete rundown at his website.

 

 

 

New Music – Madisen Ward and the Momma Bear

Black folks are very deep in the roots of Folk Music in America. All the way back to the beginning.

What is interesting is that we are beginning to see more artists explore those roots with new music. In terms that one of my goals is to introduce non-traditional (R&B/Hip-Hop/Jazz) music to those who visit my site, I’d like to introduce (to anyone who doesn’t know) Madisen Ward and Momma Bear, a Mother-Son duo…

Here they Cover Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”

And their own “Yellow Taxi”

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear will perform on NBC’s Today on Monday, November 23rd. The mother-son folk duo from Kansas City are currently on the road touring their debut album ‘Skeleton Crew’ and are confirmed to play two sold out shows at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on December 30th and 31st on New Years Eve. The album which was released this past spring, has been praised by NPR, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, The Tennessean and more:

“There’s sweetness to Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear’s music that makes me smile, and then there’s so much more” – Bob Boilen, NPR

“This is an album that will stay in your vinyl collection for a long, long time.” – Paste, 25 Best Albums of 2015 (So Far)

“50 Best Things We Saw at SXSW 2015” – Rolling Stone

 

 

New Music – Fantastic Negrito

Ok…Strange choice of a name, but listen to the guy. Raw, unadulterated talent – with a rawness reminiscent of some of the old Mississippi bluesmen like Pinetop Perkins and John Lee Hooker. The following vid has 4 songs, as part of the NPR Tiny Desk Performance Series.

America Has Lost Its Soul. This Unforgettable New Singer Has Found It.

How a busker with a “claw” became Fantastic Negrito.

The man now known as Fantastic Negrito is wearing a three-piece checkered suit with a crisp, mustard-yellow shirt. Two small holes mark the knees of his pants, and orange striped socks flow into his tan leather shoes. The 47-year-old singer-songwriter hammers away on his Goodwill-bought guitar in a ravaged section of downtown Oakland, California, talking about how this is the place “where the real shit comes from.” Need to test a song? “Hit the streets. It’s very unsafe, and that’s good—strangers tell you the truth.”

Xavier Dphrepaulezz (his real name) isn’t supposed to be here, not really. Ever since he made it to what people keep telling him is “the big time,” he’s had to sneak out. Last February, he beat nearly 7,000 contestants competing for a chance to perform in an NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, and he’s been on a meteoric rise ever since: His EP of raw, impassioned roots music reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s blues charts in February and was iTunes’ No. 7 blues album in August. His managers want him to save his voice for the paying gigs. They’re asking him: Why would a venue pay 10 grand if you keep playing in the streets for free?

But this is where it all began—at train stops and doughnut shops—before the “international sensation” talk, the courtship from major record labels, and invitations to play music festivals like South by Southwest and Outside Lands. His success happened so fast, seemingly overnight: “I throw up before every show, man. Terrified.”

The road to becoming Negrito could have started in his childhood: a troubled upbringing in the hood, a stint “slinging crack for the CIA” in the ’80s, the death of his brother and a friend, some time in foster care during his teens. There was the beginning of a music career: a million-dollar deal with Interscope Records and a polished but failed studio album that, he says, “didn’t connect with anyone.” But it really began with a car accident one late night in Los Angeles in 1999.

Dphrepaulezz doesn’t remember the impact, only that there was a pretty girl in the passenger seat, then what felt like a lifetime of vivid dreams. The coma lasted three weeks, until he emerged to a stale hospital room where steel rods pinned his broken bones together. His strumming hand was permanently locked at the wrist, creating what he calls “the claw.”

After the coma, he didn’t pick up a guitar for five years, partly because of his injuries, partly because he was disillusioned with his first try at a career. But he did get grounded, got married, had “a beautiful child.” One night, when his 18-month-old son was inconsolable, Dphrepaulezz found an old beat-up guitar, played an open G chord, and, as he told SFGate, “the look on his face was the most honest and committed expression of joy I had seen in my life.”…Read the rest here…

 

Adele Releases First Album in 5 Years

Like her or not, Adele has a powerful, beautiful voice…She continues with a new Album, “25”, with this first release “Hello – From the Other Side”.

No question this album will top the charts.

 

Adele Debuts Glorious New Music Video For ‘Hello’

“Hello,” Adele!

Just days after she announced her widely anticipated return, Adele dropped a new music video for “Hello,” the first single off her upcoming record, “25.”

The 27-year-old Brit hasn’t released an album in more than four years. Her last age-themed record, “21,” earned her six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, in 2012. The soulstress also won the 2013 Academy Award for Best Original Song for the title song for the 007 flick “Skyfall.”

“25” will be released on Nov. 20. You can find the entire track list here.