Showing posts with label dance music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance music. Show all posts

Sting

Sting
Name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
DOB: Oct. 2, 1951
Where: Wallsend, England
Genres: rock, pop, new wave, jazz, new age, blue-eyed soul
Occupations: musician, producer, singer-songwriter
Instruments: vocals, bass guitar, guitar, double bass, keyboards, lute
Years Active: 1971-present
Website: www.sting.com


















-Best known as the lead singer of The Police


Early Life
-Oldest of 4 kids born to Audrey, a hairdresser and Ernest Matthew Sumner, a milkman and engineer
-When he was young, he would sneak into clubs to see people like Cream and Jimi Hendrix
-Worked as a schoolteacher at St. Paul's First School for 2 years

Music
-In January 1977, moved to London and joined Stuart Copeland and Henry Padovani to form The Police
-Between 1978-1983, they released 5 chart topping albums and won 6 Grammy awards.
-Synchronocity was the last album The Police released together before Sting decided to go solo
-September 1981: Sting makes his first solo appearance. Peformed "Roxanne" "Message in a Bottle". His first solo album was called The Dream of the Blue Turtles and was released in 1985
-On February 11, 2007, he was the intoductory act for the 2007 Grammy Awards, singing "Roxanne".

Personal Life
-Married film producer Trudie Styler on August 20, 1992, they have 4 kids: Bridget Michael, Jake, Eliot Pauline, Giacomo Luke
Discography
Acting

Sting occasionally has ventured into acting. Film and television roles include:
Sting narrated the American premiere of the musical Yanomamo (1983), by Peter Rose and Anne Conlon, outlining problems that existed in the Amazon rainforest. This was made into a film and later broadcast asSong of the Forest. He also provided the voice of Zarm on the 1990s television show Captain Planet and the Planeteers. In 1989 he starred as Macheath (Mack the Knife) in John Dexter's Broadway production ofThe Threepenny Opera. Sting also appeared as himself in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour.


VH1 Classic

VH1 Classic
-TV network launched on May 8, 2000
-Part of MTV Networks
-Primarily features concert footage from 1970s through the mid 1990s and on. Also features music video blocks such as Metal Mania dedicated to metal bands from all over the world and from various decades, etc
-This channel is a sister to regular VH1
-Also has shows like Classic Albums, Behind the Music, Rock and Roll Picture Show, Pop Up Video, I Love the 80s, That Metal Show

VH1 Shows

That Metal Show
-Host Eddie Trunk does That Metal Show, which is an hour long, focused on heavy metal, both classic and current. Guest starts include Lita Ford, Geddy Lee of Rush, Alex Lifeson, Geoff Tate, Peter Criss of KISS fame, Yngwie Malmstein

Video Compilation Shows

VH1 Classic 120 Minutes

Totally 80s
-Broadcasts music videos from the 1980s, such as Hot Legs by Rod Stewart, Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones, etc.

Metal Mania
-Classic hard rock and metal videos from 1970s-1990s

All Time Top Ten
-Ranked in order of videos focused on a single artist or theme

Pop Up Videos
-Includes pop up bubbles with info you never knew.
  1. Examples include in the video for the song Love is Strong by The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger was 3'' shorter than his 2nd wife Jerry Hall or in the video for the song Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts was previously in advertising/graphic design before becoming a musician, Bill Wyman was a member of the Royal Air Force before going into music
Every Breath You Take: The Police

Undercover of the Night: The Rolling Stones

The Spice Girls. According to the Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger, these girls are England's Newest 90s hitmakers.

Hot for Teacher: Van Halen

Documentaries, Film Series

Classic Albums
-Tells the story behind the making of some of the greatest albums in music through the artists and producers.
-Some of the artists include Led Zeppelin, The Who, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Elton John, Motorhead, Rush, Metallica, Def Leppard

Rock Docs
-Music documentaries, such as Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, or Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

Rock and Roll Picture Show
-Most of the movies have some musical theme. Such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Shine a Light, Let's Spend the Night Together, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc.

Famous Songwriting Teams

Have you ever noticed that when it comes to rock bands, the ones usually writing the songs are the lead singer and lead guitarist, or it will end up being the lead singer and the lead guitarist have known each other for like ever?

Famous Songwriting Teams

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA)

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (Steely Dan)

Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter (The Grateful Dead)

Deborah Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie)

Big Boi and Andre 3000 (OutKast)

Don Henley and Glenn Frey (The Eagles)

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)

John Lennon and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)

Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (Creed)

Joe Strummer and Mick Jones (The Clash)

Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (Aerosmith)

Roger Waters and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

Brian Wilson and Mike Love (The Beach Boys)

Rihanna

Rihanna
Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
DOB: February 20, 1988
Where: Saint Michael, Barbados
Genres: R&B, pop, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, dance
Occupations: Actress, recording artist
Years Active: 2005-present
-Known famously as just Rihanna, she is a Barbadian recording artist.
-Moved to the US at age 16 to pursue a career in music.
















-In 2005, she released her debut album, Music of the Sun. This album features the #1 hit "Pon de Replay". I love this song!!
-In 2006, she released A Girl Like Me, featuring the track "S.O.S"













-In May 2007, she released her Good Girl Gone Bad album, which included the tracks "Umbrella", "Don't Stop the Music", "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia".
















-In 2010, she released her Loud album, which featured the tracks "Only Girl(In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love".







Bio
-Born to Monica Braithwaite, a retired accountant and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor for a clothing factory.
-Her mother, a native of Guyana, is Afro-Guyanese, and her father is Barbadian and Irish descent
-She is the oldest of 3 siblings, 2 brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty. Also has 2 half sisters, and a half brother from her father's side.



-Rihanna grew up listening to reggae and began with music at age 7.
-Her childhood was deeply scarred by her father's addiction to crack cocaine, alcohol and marijuana. Her parents divorced when she was 14.
-She grew up in a 3 bedroom house in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father at a street stall
-When she attended the Combermere High School, she and 2 of her classmates formed a trio. She was an army cadet in a sub-military programme that trained with military of Barbados and fellow Barbadian singer Shontelle was her drill sergeant.





-Rihanna was found in her home by Def Jam Records producer Evan Rogers. He asked Rihanna to come to his hotel room, where she performed versions of Destiny's Child's "Emotion" and Mariah Carey's "Hero".
-On August 22, 2005, her single, Pon de Replay, hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles.
-Because of her Caribbean accent, her music was marketed with reggae music
-In 2007, she wanted to head in a new direction after 3rd studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. This album has tracks on it such as: "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z. Her other singles, such as "Don't Stop the Music", "Shut Up and Drive", "Hate That I Love You" were able to be as successful as "Umbrella".











-Her single "Disturbia" managed to get to #1 in the United States and New Zealand.
-In 2011, Rihanna was the highest selling singles artist, overtaking British soul musician Adele by a sales number of 6,000 units.













-With songs like "Shut Up and Drive", her music got more into the world of rock music. Her music is a variety of things. "S.O.S" is similar to Soft Cell's "Tainted Love"












-She listed Madonna as her music influence, and she said she wants to be the "black Madonna". Her other music influences are Bob Marley, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, and Brandy.

Studio 54

Studio 54

Address: 254 West 54th Street
City: New York City
Owned  by: Roundabout Theatre Company

-Highly popular discotheque from 1977-1991.


Early Years
-Was originally the Gallo Opera House, built by Fortune Gallo in 1927 for his San Carlo Opera Company.
-In 1937, the Federal Theatre Project leased it for it's productions and changed the name to the Federal Music Theatre.

CBS Studio 52
-In 1943, CBS Radio bought the theatre to use it, renaming it Studio 52. They used this theatre for radio broadcasts.
-From the 1940s-1970s, they used the location for radio broadcasts and TV shows, such as:

  1. What's My Line?
  2. The $64,000 Question
  3. Password
  4. To Tell the Truth
  5. Beat the Clock
  6. The Jack Benny Show
  7. I've Got a Secret
  8. Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour
  9. Captain Kangaroo
-In 1976, CBS moved most of it's broadcasts to the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

Nightclub era
-When CBS began marketing the building in 1976, various interests in art and fashion would show it being turned into a nightclub. 
-In 1977, Studio 54 was transformed into a nightclub by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. Took only 6 weeks and $400,000 to transform the once theatre into a hip nightclub
-Rubell and Schrager hired Ron Doud as interior designer and Brian Thompson as lighting designer. Jules Fisher and Paul Marantz, 2 well known Broadway theatrical set designers, helped convert the theatre into a dance floor and created moveable, theatrical sets and lights using the original theatrical fly rails.
-Within a month of it opening, it closed because it was selling liquor without a license. 

The Scene
-Among the many celebs to visit the club, some included:
Michael Jackson

Mick and Bianca Jagger

Rick James
Liza Minelli
Jerry Hall

Mikhail Baryshnikov
Cher

Deborah Harry

Famous celebs included
Diane Keaton
Frank Sinatra
Warren Beatty
Woody Allen
Henry Winkler

-Studio 54 was known for mixing normal people with celebrities.
-Studio 54 closed on February 4, 1980 with a big final party. Among the guests were Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere, Jack Nicholson, Reggie Jackson, where Diana Ross serenaded the guests

Studio 54 Radio
-On August 15, 2011, Sirius XM Radio launched a 24/7 Disco channel based on the Studio 54 theme.
-On October 18, 2011, Sirius XM Radio held a special "One Night Only" party at the club's original location to promote the new channel. In order to win tickets, callers had to call into the station and share their memorable Studio 54 experiences. For the night, it featured the signature sun and "man on the moon" props, along with shirtless waiters. The event featured many of the original staff
-And also in the crowd were quite a few celebs, such as:
-Cameron Diaz

-Keith Richards

-Kevin Bacon

I Listen to EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

My taste in music pretty much varies, from country to hard rock, to Latin, to R&B, to some British metal, to British rock, 60s psychadelia, 60s rock 'flower power' pop and rock, British 60s psychadelia, etc. So here are some of my top favorite artists.....

And this might surprise alot, but guess what? Most of these artists come from, surprise surprise, England.
David Bowie
AC/DC
Pink Floyd
The Rolling Stones
Maroon 5
Nickelback
Def Leppard
Elton John
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Train
Rod Stewart
Poison
Aaliyah
Seal
Genesis
Dusty Springfield
Aerosmith
Paul McCartney
The Beatles
Journey
Styx
KISS
John Lennon
Bon Jovi
Enrique Iglesias
Prince
Shakira
Foreigner
Keith Urban
Bruce Springsteen
Carrie Underwood
Rihanna
Cher
Reba McEntire
Van Halen
Tim McGraw
U2
Some Judas Priest