James & Bobby Purify - "I'm Your Puppet"

The vocal duo of James Lee Purify (born May 12, 1944, Pensacola, Florida) and his cousin Robert Lee Dickey (September 2, 1939, Tallahassee, Florida – December 29, 2011, Tallahassee) formed in 1965. Dickey had previously worked as a guitarist with the Dothan Sextet. The duo were signed by Don Schroeder to Bell Records in 1966, with Dickey taking his cousin's surname as a stage name. They had immediate success with "I'm Your Puppet", written by Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn and produced by Penn at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.The record, released in September 1966, spent 14 weeks on the US chart and sold an estimated one million copies.

Although "I'm Your Puppet" was their biggest hit, they had several further successes on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B chart in the US in the late 1960s, including a revival of "Shake a Tail Feather", originally by The Five Du-Tones, and "Let Love Come Between Us". Oliver's cover of the twosome's 1968 hit "I Can Remember" reached the top 25 of the Billboard Easy Listening Chart in the mid summer of 1970. The duo continued to record and tour together until 1971, when Dickey retired from the music business for health reasons and returned to Tallahassee, where he worked as a city maintenance supervisor as well as singing and playing guitar with his church and as a member of the Bethlehem Male Singers.

James Purify then worked as a solo singer until 1974, when Penn introduced him to Ben Moore (James B. Moore, born 1941, Atlanta, Georgia). Moore had previously worked with Otis Redding, James Brown and as a member of Jimmy Tig and the Rounders, before forming half of the duo Ben and Spence, who recorded for Atlantic Records in the 1960s. Moore adopted the stage name "Bobby Purify", and the duo toured together until the 1980s. They re-recorded "I'm Your Puppet", which became a number 12 hit in the UK in 1976, and an album, Purify Bros..

Moore began recording as a solo singer for Mercury Records in 1977 and (as Bobby Purify) released an album, Purified, in 1979. He also continued to tour as half of the duo with James Purify. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1983, in the category of Best Soul Gospel Performance - Traditional, for the song "He Believes in Me". In 1998, Moore went blind from severe glaucoma and dropped out of the music industry. With the encouragement of Ray Charles, however, he returned to performing and recording. Under the name Bobby Purify, he released an album, Better to Have It, produced by Dan Penn, in 2005. He later joined the gospel band Blind Boys of Alabama.

So today, with a little nostalgia in my step, I choose James & Bobby Purify’s "I'm Your Puppet" as my, pull my strings, wind me up, let me go, song for a, boppin’ on along, find the rhythm to move you, change the dice as needed, Monday.

Etta James - "I'd Rather Go Blind"

She was able to bring her soul out through her voice. She could phrase a simple sentence so that you understood the immense intensity of what was being said, then turn around a giggle and make the world seem simple.

Hers was the kind of voice that imbued magic in anything she sang. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, including heroin addiction, severe physical abuse, and incarceration, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch.

James's powerful, deep, earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll. She won six Grammy Awards and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Rolling Stone magazine ranked James number 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time; she was also ranked number 62 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

So today, with squinted eyes looking to the sky, I choose Etta James’ "I'd Rather Go Blind" as my, feel it in your soul, from the depths of your being, with your heart on your lips, song for a, press into the pain, find the flower in the concrete, look to light that’s shining out of all your flaws, Thursday.

Trevor Jones ( & Randy Edelman) - "The Last of the Mohicans" Soundtrack

Few soundtracks have had the kind of influence on my life the way this one has. It was driving and powerful and yet tender and beautiful. Reworked countless times to fit seamlessly with the movie, the score became a backdrop for many of my teenage dramas.

The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 American epic historical drama, set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. It was directed by Michael Mann, based on James Fenimore Cooper's eponymous 1826 novel and George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation, owing more to the latter than the novel. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, and Jodhi May, giving brilliant performances, with Russell Means, Wes Studi, Eric Schweig, and Steven Waddington in beautifully supporting roles.

The soundtrack features music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, and the song "I Will Find You" by Clannad. Director Michael Mann initially asked Trevor Jones to provide an electronic score for the film, but late in the game, it was decided an orchestral score would be more appropriate for this historic epic. Jones hurried to re-fashion the score for orchestra in the limited time left, while the constant re-cutting of the film meant music cues sometimes had to be rewritten several times to keep up with the new timings.

Finally, with the release date looming, composer Randy Edelman was called in to score some minor scenes which Jones did not have time to do. Jones and Edelman received co-credit on the film (thus making the score ineligible for Oscar consideration). The main theme of the film is taken from the tune "The Gael" by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean. Released on September 25, 1992 in the United States, The Last of the Mohicans was met with nearly universal praise from critics and commercial success during its box-office run.

The tribal timpani that layers with emotional strings gets me every time. There is a true art to using music to help a movie become more than just film. This is the first time I truly understood that. So today, as the rain came down and I heard this soundtrack pounding down in rhythm with the rain, I took a moment to thank the genius who gave us this gift.

So, with memories and mirrors staring back at me, I choose Trevor Jones ( & Randy Edelman)’s "The Last of the Mohicans" Soundtrack as my create your own icon, find your first blush, let no one tell you who or how you are meant to be, song for a, find the little moments, stand in your center and pull back all the magic you’ve lost, you are not anyone else’s idea of who you should be, Wednesday.

Eurythmics - "Here Comes The Rain Again"

The kind of icons who changed the game simply by being themselves. Their sound was unique and their spirit was bright. Through poetic lyrics, driven production and inspired synths they created a culture of dance pop music that we’re still learning from today.

Eurythmics were a British music duo consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. Stewart and Lennox were both previously in the band The Tourists (originally known as The Catch), who split up in 1980; Eurythmics were formed that year in Wagga Wagga.  The duo released their first album, In the Garden, in 1981 to little fanfare, but went on to achieve global success with their second album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), released in 1983. The title track was a worldwide hit, topping the charts in various countries including the U.S. The duo went on to release a string of hit singles and albums before they split up in 1990. By this time Stewart was a sought-after record producer, while Lennox began a solo recording career in 1992 with her debut album Diva. After almost a decade apart, Eurythmics reunited to record their ninth album, Peace, released in late 1999. They reunited again in 2005 to release the single "I've Got a Life", as part of a new Eurythmics compilation album, Ultimate Collection.

The duo have won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 1984, the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1987, the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999, and in 2005 were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Eurythmics have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide. In 2017, the group was nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,  and were nominated again in 2018.

So today, with storm clouds rolling in, I choose the Eurythmics’ "Here Comes The Rain Again" as my, water your garden, grow your soul, weed out the people who no longer serve their purpose, song for a, break open the skies, let the world tumble down, shake off the sprinkle and dance in the downpour Tuesday!

Rag'N'Bone Man - "Human (Accoustic)"

After years on the fringes of the UK hip-hop scene, Rory Graham – AKA Rag’n’Bone Man – has struck gold with his massive hit ‘Human’. 

The ‘Elton John Call’ has, for a long time now, been as sure a sign as you can get that an up-and-coming singer is doing better than OK. And Rag’n’Bone Man – AKA Rory Graham – has just had his. “It was an unknown number,” he remembers. “And I don’t like answering unknown numbers. But all the people I was with in my manager’s office were like, ‘Nah, answer it’. I answered and he’s like, ‘Dahhhling, it’s Elton!’ I just went, ‘F**king hell.’ He just goes, ‘F**king love you, I think you’re brilliant.’ He’d just rung to say how good he thought I was and how he loved my material. It was great!”

The song that piqued Elton’s attention – and a lot of other people’s too – was, of course, ‘Human’, Graham’s bluesy, smoky lead single from his forthcoming major label debut. It’s one of those songs that has, for reasons that neither its creator nor anyone else can quite ascertain, taken on a life of its own. Intended as “a little ramp to the record”, it’s exploded out of all proportion since its July 2016 release: omnipresent and rising as far as Number Two in the Christmas chart, it was even performed on The X Factor by Emily Middlemas (“I thought she sang it quite well, to be honest,” says Graham), after which Simon Cowell declared, “No one has heard this song, but it’s going to be a huge hit.”

Now 32, Rory Graham was born in Uckfield, a small town in East Sussex. From the age of about 16, he wanted to be a jungle DJ or MC and put on parties in his local area “just with mates and stuff. We’d put on a night in the local pub, then get kicked out.” In 2008, he moved 18 miles up the road to Brighton and immersed himself in the then-vibrant hip-hop and open mic scene. “At the start it would kind of been more about freestyling,” he says. “But then I started to sing over the beats. And then came a realisation that maybe I was alright at rapping, and people seemed to enjoy it, but when I sung it was a real difference. Just the reaction of people, I was like, ‘I think I should do that, ’cause it feels better.’ He’s being modest here. The voice that characterises Rag’n’Bone Man’s music is truly a showstopper, sounding like it’s emanating from someone who grew up in the Deep South of 1950s America rather than a rainy British seaside town. Surely he must have known it was something special? “Well, I realised it was in tune,” he shrugs. “I realised it wasn’t bad, but I didn’t realise that it was distinctive or that there was anything particularly different about it. It was when old dudes would come up to me at jam nights and be like, ‘I’ve been playing for 40 years and I have to say your voice is f**king incredible’ and stuff like that. Then I’d be like, ‘Well, if they’re saying it, there must be some sort of truth to it.’”

And they are right. His voice is captivating and intriguing. It calls to mind other earthy singers of early eras of blues and jazz. He’s got a magic in the gentle way he handles his voice and yet the abandon to which it is used it breathtaking. Like King Kong holding Alice Faye, he uses brute strength and innate sensitivity to create something beautiful.

So today, with my humanity on display, I choose Rag'N'Bone Man’s "Human (Accoustic)" as my, with rare power, with rare sensitivity, with magic in the breath, song for a, wild and wonderful, I see the tenderness behind the rage, fight for the peace you’re looking for, Friday.

Cynthia Erivo - "I'm Here" & "I Did Something Bad"

In honor of Black History Month all the posts for this month will feature artists of color.

Cynthia Erivo received a 2016 Tony Award for her Broadway debut as Celie in The Color Purple as well as the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. This is where most people in the US discovered her. Born to Nigerian parents in Stockwell, South London, she attended La Retraite R.C Girls School then began a music psychology degree at the University of East London. However a year into her degree, she applied to, and subsequently trained at, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

European theater credits include The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Sister Act, I Can’t Sing!, Dessa Rose, Henry IV, Marine Parade, I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw The Sky, The Three Musketeers, The Princess of Spainand A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In addition to her stage career, Erivo is a songwriter and wrote the song, "Fly Before You Fall," for the feature film Beyond the Lights.

Her voice is a rocket. It soars high and easy, with power propelling it to places that most people only dream of going. She knows how to delicately touch a note, only to roar moments later. This dynamic control and range give her the emotional flexibility to captivate her audiences.

So today, with guts and gusto I choose Cynthia Erivo’s "I'm Here" & her cover (with Shoshana Bean) of "I Did Something Bad" as my, go one and burn it down, make diamonds from the ashes, use the flames for fabric, songs for a, yours is the love that is all around, there are stars in the sky if you’ll just look up, miracles falling in your lap like daisies, Thursday.

Audra McDonald - "First You Dream" & "Stars & Moon" & "Summertime"

In honor of Black History Month all the posts for this month will feature artists of color.

Legend. Icon. Star. Diva. Mother. Inspiration. Activist. She is all of these things and more.

To say that Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry is an understatement. She is not just a singer, or an actor, or a performer, she is an artist and a very possibly an artistic genius. 

Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won and incredible SIX  Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win all four acting categories.

In her example we can all stand to start believing a little more fully in ourselves. She never let someone else’s opinions of her change her opinion of self. This is something I greatly admire.

Audra Ann McDonald has appeared on the stage in both musicals and dramas, such as Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess. With her full lyric soprano voice, she maintains an active concert and recording career, performing song cycles and operas as well as performing in concert throughout the U.S.

In 2016, McDonald was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. In 2017 she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

I woke up with her voice ringing in my head screaming at me that it’s ok to accept things coming to you in a way that is different from what you planned. Acceptance and willingness to change, these are the things that keep dreams alive. 

So today, with every door open, I choose Audra McDonald’s versions of “First You Dream”, “Stars & Moon”, & “Summertime” as my, let it be ok, move the mountain not the river, every chance you can take, song for an, no longer wait until tomorrow, believe in the destination when you can only see the first steps, let your dreams live like a river running through you, Tuesday.

Billy Porter - "Love is on the Way"

In honor of Black History Month all the posts for this month will feature artists of color.

This is the image of a human being living in their full space. This person, in the last two years, has begun to show the world just how incredible they are; giving all of us the permission to be just as flawed, free, and fabulous in their wake.

Before Pose and before American Horror Story, and before the broadway sensation of Kinky Boots, Billy Porter was already a performer to reckoned with. He had star turns in small independent movies and different broadway shows, always with a voice that was something to behold. We met a few times in NYC and he was always charming, and witty, and unabashedly himself. The beauty is that through doing this, through staying true to himself despite a world that would try to put him in a box in so many different ways, he was able to blow the boxes apart and create a world of shapes all his own.

This song will always be a little special to me, having performed it for a number of years, I fell in love with Billy’s raw, rough, and passionate voice. His magic, which I liken to other icons like Bette Middler and Billie Holiday, is that he knows how to use his entire instrument to connect with his audience. He can easily become each and every one of us, and that is gift not many possess.

I have to believe that his incredibly queer, unapologetic, fiercely free energy is part of what has made him rise from icon to legend.

So today, with the wings of angels beating round my head, I choose Billy Porter’s “Love is on the Way” as my, jump beyond the fire, like Eliza on the Ice, change the dice, song for a, believe it to be true, double down, I’m here - get used to it, Monday.

As reference, this is how he pays homage to the legend that was Hector Xtravaganza.