Reality Check

An ad from Malaysian Airlines that needs to be retired, if it isn't already...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Brooklyn, Blintzes, Baseball and Ballads With Johnny Mercer (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life)

In chapters 6 and 7 of his memoirs, MICHAEL SIGMAN recalls his father CARL SIGMAN's songwriting apprenticeship with JOHNNY MERCER and how the rocky course of his adolescent years seemed to parallel his dad's hit songs.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Patti Smith’s Lightning Amid New Voices (Newport Sampler, 2016)

PATTI SMITH, an unadvertised KRIS KRISTOFFERSON and JOE ELY were some of the stalwart names at the 2016 Newport Folk Festival, but IRA MAYER found some new voices coming on strong too.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Hailing An American Treasure

From TheBluegrassSpecial.com's December 2010 issue, Chip Stern's insightful, impassioned missive concerning the life and music of Dave Brubeck on the occasion of the master's impending 90th birthday.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Beautiful Music: Mr. Disney, Annette and ‘Tutti’

Part 2 of a two-part tribute to the late ANNETTE FUNICELLO, who died of multiple sclerosis at age 70 on April 8. This installment focuses on Annette's studio work with producer TUTTI CAMARATA.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Video Moment of the Week

Traditional bluegrass quartet NU-BLU is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, with a new album (Ten) and three new videos of songs from that album. The first of those videos is right here, 'Trains I Didn't Take.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Elite Half Hundred of 2014 (Part 2)

THE 442s and FARMER JASON bookend Nos. 26-50 of the ELITE HALF HUNDRED OF 2014.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Updike on Easter (2018 Edition)

The Deep Roots Easter tradition continues with the 2018 edition of "Updike on Easter: Seven Voices on 'Seven Stanzas," being a septet of opinions on the import of Updike's powerful poem.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The 2012 Album of the Year Trifecta & The 2012 Elite Half Hundred

The Method to Our Madness: Why we picked three recordings as Album of the Year, and the unveiling of our first Elite Half Hundred keeper albums of 2012, topped by the GIVING TREE BAND's powerful Vacilador.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘There’s something going on in civilization which is coming at us with great vehemence’

AT&T asked one of the great filmmakers of our time, WERNER HERZOG, to film a PSA on the dangers of texting while driving for its 'It Can Wait' campaign. Watch it here, and take heed.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Field Notes from a Music Biz Life (Part 1)

'No Brill Building, no me.' So begins Chapter 1 of MICHAEL SIGMAN's autobiography, FIELD NOTES FROM A MUSIC BIZ LIFE, previewed in serial form in Deep Roots.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Lyricist Yip Harburg’s Son Ernie: How My Dad Inspired Me to Become a Scientist (Part 1)

ERNIE HARBURG, son of the great lyricist YIP HARBURG, offers a two-part essay on life with father, and how father inspired son to become a scientist.
by David McGee