In Memory of Marty Balin: Soulful Psychedelic Pioneer
Marty Balin was a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and later, Jefferson Starship. Grace Slick get all the press, but Balin’s contributions to the San Francisco sound were major.
Geoff Emerick: Fabulous Without the Fab Four
The late engineer’s input on many Beatle classics is legendary. But Geoff Emerick also lent his exceptional talents to the Zombies and prog-rock’s Robin Trower.
On the Beat-up Couch With Jonathan Fire*Eater
CBGBs, Central Park, opening for Blur… Jonathan Fire*Eater was an edgy NYC band that the Village Voice compared to the Stones. What happened?
Aretha’s Roots: The Gospel and Jazz Years
If the Queen of Soul had stuck with either jazz or gospel, she could easily have become a sovereign of those music genres too.
Saluting Jabo Starks: Five Takes on “Sex Machine”
When drummer Jabo Starks died in May 2018, we lost the last living link to that funky James Brown groove. But a wide array of artists, from Prince to Iggy Pop to Q Burns Abstract Message, furthered his contributions by incorporating his unique rhythmic vibe into some of their songs.