Breaking News: Chubby Checker Says Penis Measuring App Damages His Reputation. Question: What Reputation?

Chubby's riled up about the Chubby Checker App. He should be thankful for the publicity.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Rewarding and Unpredictable: An Appreciation of Elliott Carter (1908-2012)

ELLIOTT CARTER: AN APPRECIATION--America's greatest living composer died on November 5 at the age of 103. Herewith an appreciation of this visionary's rewarding and unpredictable music.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Forevermore

His voice belongs to the ages now: Cleveland Duncan, lead tenor of The Penguins, died on November 6, shortly after casting his ballot in the Presidential election. Remembering the great lead singer who made 'Earth Angel' immortal.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Marilyn & Alan Bergman: A Marriage of Two Minds

An exclusive excerpt from MICHAEL SIGMAN's second volume of HITS HISTORY OF THE MUSIC BIZ interviews, this one featuring the great songwriting team of MARILYN & ALAN BERGMAN
by David McGee
 

 

 

Silenced: Magic Slim’s ‘Raw, Unadultered Chicago Blues’

Remembering MAGIC SAM, keeper of the flame of 'raw, unadulterated Chicago blues,' who passed away on February 21.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Updike at Easter, 2021

Updated for Year II of the pandemic, 'Seven Voices on Seven Stanzas' presents a septet of viewpoints on the meaning and import of JOHN UPDIKE's provocative poem, 'Seven Stanzas at Easter.' Featuring Easter-themed videos by DOLL...
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
 

 
 

America’s Shame, Japan’s Gain: An Animatronic Ray Charles

Well, it's happened. Japan has beaten America to the technology punch again, this time with an animatronic Ray Charles singing away outside Osaka Castle Park. But who's that man the box over in the corner?
by David McGee
 

 

 

This New Year’s, Resolve To Give Yourself a Break

'Shooting for the moon with our New Year's resolutions and then falling short is a fast track to aggravation, self-loathing and the joyless consumption of massive quantities of week-old fruitcake,' writes contributing editor Mi...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Beatles ’64: Surmounting Media Skeptics, Fab Four Carve Out a Career

THE BEATLES were greeted by a skeptical, sometimes dismissive mainstream media as Beatlemania broke out abroad. On Feb. 9, 1964, the Fab Four dismissed the naysayers. Plus: The Beat Alls on The PowerPuff Girls.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Mythic Weight Of Phil Spector’s Christmas Gift: A Semicentennial Reflection

November 22, 1963, was a horrible day for the nation, and for PHIL SPECTOR, a personal disaster as well, as his ambitious Christmas album arrived and was promptly forgotten. A semicentennial look back ensues.
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