All the songs you will hear this month will be covers done by some of my favorite musicians. Starting with a truly beautiful version of ‘Human Nature’ by DAVID MEAD Followed by a smooth jazz version of "I Can't Help It" by the late great Grover Washington Jr.....Then Stevie Wonder and artist/producer, Babyface with a live version of "Gone Too Soon"
MICHAEL JACKSON was indeed a pop superstar with unmatched natural talent, he was also a sadly misunderstood tragic figure.
He was, pretty much from the moment he was born, a torchered soul. He was psycologically damaged from abuse and from a life of performance, stardom and pressure that no one of us could imagine.
He suffered from several auto imune diseases, which he was convinced would ruin his career if he did not hide them. So, the "gloved one" was born.
First you need to understand Vitiligo. This is Desiree a little girl who had the same condition as Michael Jackson. It was bad enough for her being an outcast in school - imagine trying to be a superstar under a microscope, who already has self worth issues and then find this happening:
This condition makes the unpigmented skin extreemly sensitive to light and very suseptible to skin cancer which is why, when he went out it was so important for him to cover up. Dispite the masks, hats, glasses and umbrellas - Michael was diagnosed with skin cancer.
He also had Lupus a painful degenerative auto imune disease.Chronic pain. Pain that goes from bad to worse to unbearable. Pain that lives with you every day of your life, never ceasing, not even long enough to get a night's sleep, is one of the worst things about having lupus. It is not unusual for people affected by Lupus to be on daily pain medication - But it appears Michael may have taken it tragicly too far.
I believe he knew his health would not hold out much longer, which is why he said the upcoming tour was 'the final curtain'
I'm not saying the guy wasn't odd - I'm saying that the world played a part in making him that way by judging him without knowing the facts, and by creating an image that was impossible for anyone to live up to.
He was a quiet,kind, and gentle soul and a wounded, lonely, self depricating, man who was also very gifted musician and performer. I hope his children gave him some of the happiness he deserved, and I hope he can now finally be in a place of glorious peace.
Jackson jointly holds the record for most Grammy Awards won in a single year. He won eight awards at the 1984 ceremony
Jackson has more music awards than any other artist in the history of music.
Thriller spent a record 80 consecutive weeks, more than a year and a half, in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. It was the first of only three albums to remain on the Top 10 for more than a year (along with Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill and Celine Dion's Falling into You).
"Thriller" is the best-selling album in U.S. history, at 50 million.
Thriller is the only album in the United States to have sold more copies than any other in two separate years, topping the sales charts in 1983 and 1984.
Four of Jackson's albums, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible, debuted at number one in the United States.
Jackson was the first artist to have four Top 10 singles from one album (Off the Wall).
Jackson was the first artist to have seven Top 10 singles from one album (Thriller), a feat matched only by his sister Janet and Bruce Springsteen.
Jackson was the first artist to simultaneously have the number one album and number one single on Billboard's Pop Charts and Black Charts.
Jackson was the first artist in the 1980s to have two simultaneous Top 5 hits ("Beat It" and "Billie Jean" on April 16, 1983).
Jackson is the only artist to have five number one hits from one LP, Bad ("Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", and "Dirty Diana").
Jackson had nine number one singles in the 1980s, more than any other artist during the decade.
Rest in Peace You have earned it.
Music
NEW RELEASES WORTH DOWNLOADING (click on pics)
Movies
CONGRATS TO MY GREAT FRIENDS, and B-Line Entertainment 2006 Showcase artists
SAM & RUBY!!!! THEIR SONG "HEAVEN'S MY HOME" IS IN THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Television
Books
MY BOOK is NOW Available at Amazon.com! Or, simply click on the cover photo here:
'ANGEL BEAR' a middle grade novel BY B.J. BARRATT
Heroes
What kind of world do you want
Think anything
Let’s start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now
Barrack Obama,Lucia Anglade, Dean Kamen, Bono, Dan,Kathy and Amy Eldon, Aaron Sorkin, Scott Harrison, David Poe, Kiff Gallagher......
Below are some AMAZING organizations I support. Please click, learn, donate...volunteer.....
IN HAITI
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I don't know about you, but this guy makes me want to be an even better person.
I am motivated and inspired to make a difference. Look what ordinary people can do:
Habitat for Humanity's Musician's Village in New Orleans.... Built entirely by volunteers
A School for 100 children in Haiti...
made possible by a School bus driver on Long Island
Children rescued from slave labor and abuse in Gahna
through funds raised by eight teenage girls selling home-made bracelets
About me: Andy Mac's 2nd album, "Struggle Fantastic" is due to be released this summer
I shot the cover for it late last fall, and we just shot a bunch of portraits for the inside cover...which will he choose? One of these?
It's been a busy and productive few years for B-Line Entertainment.....
2006 saw the launch of our first indie music showcase at The Living Room here are some highlights:
Prepare to be mesmerized by SAM & RUBY performing "This I Know" at the B. Sharp Showcase, NYC
.. Thank you for making our first 'official' New York show such a brilliant one. We wish there was a phrase more intense than THANK YOU... The showcase was really a turning point for us.." -Sam & Ruby
Here is Michael Logen performing his award winning song, "Mystery" ....
"The Showcase rocked and was an absolute blast! You and Dave did a tremendous job!...well done...it was an honor to play there." - Michael Logen
Check out the stunningly pure vocals and raw emotion of CHRISTOPHER DALLMAN performing "Driving to You": ........> "Big thanks to BJ for making that night happen. Though that night was just a fraction of the hard work she's done. Amazing.
... THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS THE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE." - Christopher Dallman
Our second showcase in 2007
brought a sold out crowd to Joe's Pub
for KIFF and the dynamic
Miss Lucy Woodward:
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When not planning an 'uber showcase" there has been booking, management, artist development, reviews, an indie music blog and LOTS of photos-
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It's been a great run and I will continue to keep a finger on the pulse of Indie Music discovering and promoting great artists, booking shows and photo shoots, bloging, writing for mags and featuring awesome musicians here each month..... but I am ALSO being called to use my talents for more pressing matters as well. I will be working with the new Obama administration and other entities to make the world a better place.
I strongly beieve that my time, resources and talents can be put to much better use...... Can yours?????
In addition to all the promo/booking work at B-Line, I am also a busy FREELANCE WRITER and PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Portraits, promo shoots, CD photo art...
as wellas being contributing writer / photographer for several music magazines.
My most recent article appears in the May 2009 Indie Sounds Magazine, the brilliant publication from Pete Harris, which is available now exclusively on the web, click this logo to read the SXSW part II article:
as well as an article appearing in the Red Banana indie music web-zine
click here to read: "WILL KNOX: In-Knox-icating!"
Story and Photos by:
B.J. Barratt
Who I'd like to meet: Check out this new promo material for Lucy Woodward's CD featuring one of my recent kick ass photos!!
"Lucy Woodward Is... Hot & Bothered" [Barnes & Noble Exclusive] ORDER NOW:
Loving you truly madly deeply. In other news- cannot believe that we didn't get to spend significant time with you in NYC! Oh wait! We were only there for 14 hours!! Forgot about that reality until just now. So.. back to the point--- Loving you, truly, madly, deeply :)
Hello BJ! Your page looks and 'sounds' great! We write fantabulous music blogs/reviews. Our latest featured was James Maddock. Please follow us on twitter @apesforindie Rock on with the Apes
We've got acoustic and band shows available at The Boathouse, Corner House and Nusha in Cambridge. Message here or email acousticstage@hotmail.com if you're interested in a show or have another enquiry.
Add us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=663716012&ref=profile ofile
just read your blog :) thanks for the sweet kudos, and for the recommendation to check out Sam and Ruby...had so much fun listening to their music. hope your crazy busy weekend went splendidly :)
Well, you've been (cyber) hugged - for making me blogged! ;) What a great post, BJ. And thank you for the heartwarming nod...I'm out of town so just have a sec here. More love and email adoration soon. You rock. Fact. xo
well considering i only play my material every two months and most of those acts on that nite you can see every few weeks in new york city...i think the decision is pretty easy...and it's my birthday. i do hope to see. it's been to long beautiful and i need some bj photos!
Thanks BJ. It's actually for a commercial modeling job I did where I played a "rocker". Nothing quite like pro stylists and a big wind fan to make photo magic, eh?
Hey BJ. Yeah Tony is great! We're working with him in the UK! He's coming to NY in March and we'll be at Pianos on a bill together on March 26th. You should come say hi! We've never played the Living Room but if you ever have an event there that we'd be good for please get in touch.
Hi BJ! How are you? I see you have the Cutting Room jam up on your page! They have asked me to perform at 9:30 tonight so I gladly took the show last min! Hope you will stop in early if you can:) Best to you in 09, D
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