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This blogger, Richard Gehr, is not an employee of AARP. The opinions expressed in the blog are not necessarily the opinions of AARP and AARP assumes no liability for the content posted by Mr. Gehr or any other participant

November 07, 2007

Richard Gehr | November 07, 2007

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On the heels of last month's wonderful "Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul" and next week's "Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin will enter a new phase of her roller-coaster career next year with "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love," the debut release of her new label, Aretha Records. "Jewels in the Crown" will fulfill her obligation to Clive Davis's J Records and Arista labels with a collection of collaborations from over the years with singers such as Frank Sinatra, George Michael, and John Legend. And the singer explains that "A Woman Falling Out of Love" was so titled "because it happens to be true. ...It was based on a relationship that I had, and it just didn't happen for a number of reasons." Franklin is also working on a film version of her 1999 autobiography, "Aretha: From These Roots." And here she is in all her 1970 glory.

June 27, 2007

Richard Gehr | June 27, 2007

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Jimmy Carter's heart was no doubt in the right place when, at the urging of songwriter and record producer Kenny Gamble, he declared June 1979 to be the inaugural Black Music Month. And George W. Bush, unlike most of his predecessors, has taken special interest in the event by throwing White House parties and issuing proclamations such as this on an annual basis since 2000: "During Black Music Month we recognize the outstanding contributions that African-American singers, composers, and musicians have made to our country, and we express our appreciation for the extraordinary music that has enriched our Nation."

We don't really need a Black Music Month, of course. And as I poked around online looking for interesting observances to point to, I was struck by what a non-event it actually was, presidential proclamations notwithstanding. Only BlackAmericaWeb.com's series on "20 People Who Changed Black Music," which continues today with a tribute to "Revolutionary Poet Gil Scott-Heron, the First Rap Rebel," jumped out at me. The site's other black music changers include Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Michael Jackson, and former Motown Chairman Clarence Avant. The tributes only demonstrate the obvious: Black music is ubiquitous, a necessary component of nearly every American musical style since the first Africans arrived (involuntarily) in Jamestown nearly four centuries ago, and an integral part of our cultural DNA. Try going a month without it and see for yourself.

June 07, 2007

Richard Gehr | June 07, 2007

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Remember soul singer G. M. Stevens's Sit'tin By the Window? It was released in 1968 on Mother Goose Enterprises and contained the poignant loner tracks "It's a Boy's Life (But a Man's World)" and "Everyone's Goin' Somewhere Except Me." Jack Benny wrote the liner notes, describing "G.S." (somehow his initials changed from front cover to back) as "a bright and intelligent young man with a great, exciting future." Or perhaps you recall Mingering Mike's 1972 gospel holiday album, Just in Time for Easter. Or the Outsiders' seventies release, Mercy the World, containing "The World Is Just a Big Ball of Air" and "We Mercy the World."

But you probably don't, because all these records exist in editions of one. Or less than one, if you take into account that their elaborate hand-drawn covers, often sealed in cellophane and slapped with price tags, contained no actual vinyl. They, and a hundred other imaginary albums and singles, were created on cardboard by a Maryland man who still goes only by the Mingering Mike moniker. In 2003, they were rediscovered in a Washington D.C. flea market by soul-obsessed record crate digger Dori Hadar, who manged to track down the artist. Mike informed him that his find was the sad result of Mike's inability to pay the rent on his storage space.

While Mingering Mike's fantasy recording never took off, he has since been rightfully lauded as one of the more fascinating so-called outsider artists to emerge in recent years. And though his music can't be heard, it can certainly be seen: through July 28 at the Hemphill Gallery in Washington, DC; in the handsome Princeton Architectural Press tome Mingering Mike: The Amazing Career of an Imaginary Soul Superstar; and on a website. Every great unknown soul singer should enjoy such an afterlife.

April 20, 2007

Richard Gehr | April 20, 2007

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Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell were arguably the hottest soul duo ever, as this rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" suggests, if only until Terrell's untimely demise at age 24 in 1970. But did you know Gaye and Tina Turner were also a musical item? If not, dig this awesome 1964 "Shindig" mashup of "Money" and "I'll be Long Gone."

Gaye, however, may have reached his artistic apex around the time of a 1976 Amsterdam solo show. (Note coy striptease during "Let's Get It On.")