- It’s disappointing to realize this past weekend marked the 50th anniversity of the death of Charlie “Yardbird” Parker and I saw nary a word about him in any general interest national publications to which I subscribe, or even Rolling Stone. While I didn’t expect anything from the local media, I at least expected the national mainstream media to comment on or note the anniversary. It’s a sad commentary on how jazz is viewed when one of the major forces in a uniquely American music (and a creator of bebop) can’t even get a mention.
- Rolling Stone carries an interesting piece on how rock music is being dumped as a radio format. Among other things, the piece notes that only 6 percent of teens are listening to rock stations at any given time. That stands in contrast to 20 percent listening to “urban radio” and 40 percent listening to Top 40 radio, “which is dominated by hip-hop and R&B.” Seems to me the core question is whether its the vehicle (radio) or the content (the quality of current rock) led to the decline.
- While on the topic of Rolling Stone, Hunter S. Thompson is on the cover of the latest issue, much of which is devoted to remembrances of him.
- Based on listening to various classic rock channels on Sirius and other radio and digital music sources over the last couple years, why is it that Led Zeppelin gets more proportional play than any other band? No doubt the band was a powerhouse and innovator but I think it even gets more airplay than the Beatles. I don’t understand why you hear such a variety of Zep tunes and you only two or three songs by other highly talented bands.
Jazz is not dead. It just smells funny.
Frank Zappa, stage aside on Roxy & Elsewhere
