RIP Brittany Murphy

R.I.P. Roc Raida

"Anthony Williams, (May 18, 1972 – September 19, 2009) was better known as Roc Raida was an American DJ, turntablist, producer and member of DJ group The X-Ecutioners. He won the 1995 DMC World DJ Championship.Roc Raida died from complications arising from spinal injures, Williams had been released to a physical rehabilitation center at the time of his death." -Wikipedia

I am sorry 2 say that on this day at 2:05 Sept 19th we lost another incredible life...Dj Roc Raida died 2day my personal Dj is gone.. from Busta Rhymes via Twitter

R.I.P Walter Cronkite

And that's the way it is...

R.I.P. J.G. Ballard

British writer J.G. Ballard whose work was turned into films by Steven Spielberg (Empire of the Sun) and David Cronenberg (Crash) died today. Despite being referred to as a science fiction writer, Jim Ballard said his books were instead "picturing the psychology of the future". His most acclaimed novel was Empire of the Sun, based on his childhood in a Japanese prison camp in China.

Excerpts from RE/Search's J.G. Ballard: Quotes:

* On the Future
* On Politics and the Economy
* On Sex
* Some Reflections

Interesting article on Ballard's influence on modern music.

Ballard YouTube Channel.

R.I.P. Blossom Dearie

Blossom Dearie passed away 2 months ago, but I just found out. She was cool.

A distinctive, girlish voice, crisp, impeccable delivery, and an irrepressible sense of playful swing made Blossom Dearie one of the most enjoyable singers of the vocal era. Her warmth and sparkle ensured that she'd never treat standards as the well-worn songs they often appeared in less capable hands. And though her reputation was made on record with a string of excellent albums for Verve during the '50s, she remained a draw with Manhattan cabaret audiences long into the new millennium.

Actually born with the name Blossom Dearie in the New York Catskills, she began playing piano at an early age and studied classical music before making the switch to jazz while in high school. After graduation, she moved to New York and began appearing with vocal groups like the Blue Flames (attached to Woody Herman) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey). She also played cocktail piano around the city, and moved to Paris in 1952 to form her own group, the Blue Stars of France. Dearie also appeared in a nightclub act with Annie Ross, and made a short, uncredited appearance on King Pleasure's vocalese classic, "Moody's Mood for Love." She recorded an obscure album of piano solos, and in 1954, the Blue Stars hit the national charts with a French version of "Lullaby of Birdland."

-All Music Guide

She retired from playing live in 2006 due to health concerns and died quietly in her Greenwich Village apartment on February 7, 2009.

R.I.P. Lux Interior

Lux Interior, the charismatic front-man of the highly influential, husband-and-wife, garage-punk band The Cramps sadly passed away from a pre-existing heart condition at Glendale Memorial Hospital at 4:30am this Wednesday February 4, 2009.

There's a cool mix I found awhile back made by a fan, of every song Lux and Ivy's have ever played before a show, covered, or mentioned that they liked in an interview. I recommend it, even if The Cramps aren't your cup of tea, what they were inspired by might be.

It started as a way to keep track of some of the songs Lux , and or Ivy, mentioned in THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC BOOK. It was never really intended as anything but a way for a friend of mine and me to have 2 really kick ass compilations.

So we went about the arduous process of finding all the songs mentioned in that interview. It took a loooong time. We used the file sharing program, Napster, as well as our own personal collections.

So, one thing leads to another and when word got around that these compilations were out there, they started being traded from fan to fan to fan. So at some point I decided to put them up on Napster and let anyone who wanted them have them.

As the years went buy, more interviews with Lux and Ivy kept popping up, and the list of songs they mentioned got longer and longer. This resulted in new volumes.

I can only find the Soulseek link :( I'll look for it and post a link if I can find it again...

Found it!:

LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.1
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.2
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.3
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.4
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.5
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.6
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.7
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.8
LUX & IVY'S FAVORITES VOL.9

via voodoo music