Smooth Jazz Musicians & Journalists Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson June 29, 2009 – Ever since Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday June 25, the tributes have been pouring in, It seems all the genre’s have been represented except Smooth Jazz. Well, over the weekend the whole team at Smooth Jazz Now has reached out to some of the tops musicians in the genre to hear their reaction to the tragic death of the “King of Pop.”
Many spoke to us exclusively with personal stories and cherished memories of special songs and albums. Not all the comments were sugar-coated while others stuck with what we have left – the music.
Smooth Jazz Now President John Beaudin said:
“I got into radio the year “Thriller” was released. Being a huge Toto fan I was pleased that Michael and Quincy Jones had used Jeff and Steve Porcaro, David Paich and Steve Lukather of the band all over the place on the album. In fact “Human Nature,” written by Steve Porcaro was basically Toto featuring Michael on lead vocals. Interestingly Mike Porcaro who didn’t appear on the track, said later that if Toto had recorded the tune (it was rejected by the band) there was no guarantees..." More
Major Revelations on Michael Jackson from Deepak Chopra - He Had Lupus June 29, 2009 – Michael Jackson had Lupus. That’s according to spiritual teacher and medical doctor Deepak Chopra. He told People Magazine that Jackson had the autoimmune disease and a skin disorder for many years.
Chopra said, "He had been diagnosed with lupus and he had Vitiligo, there’s some recent research that suggests that if children have experienced physical or verbal, mental, emotional or sexual abuse, then 20, 30 years later they can develop these autoimmune diseases including Lupus."
Though Jackson never claimed to be sexually abused he was quite vocal about his verbal and physical abuse, mostly from his father. Chopra says “It was a big issue for him.”
The doctor says that the Lupus also explained the singer’s skin discoloration known as Vitiligo. That was very real for Jackson, “He had a lot of blotches on his skin, huge white patches all over his body. So he would cover up his body and that of course gave food for fodder to the press," say Chopra. Read More
Review: Craig Chaquico - Follow the Sun June 28, 2009 – Any major talent has to pay some dues, whether it be playing the small dark metropolitan clubs or on the banks of the steamy Muddy Mississippi River.
World Class guitarist Craig Chaquico has paid his dues in the music industry and played on all the stages. After being hit by a drunk driver at age 12, Chaquico began playing guitar for healing therapy and by 14 was playing guitar professionally. More
Finally, a Statement from the Jackson Family June 29, 2009 – The Jackson Family have released the following statement concerning Michael's Death:
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times. More
Review: Jonathan Fritzen - VIP June 27, 2009 - A wave of fresh air from Sweden came last year onto the Smooth Jazz stage with “Love Birds,” the debut album of 26-year old pianist Jonathan Fritzen. This year this musically refreshing Scandinavian breeze is back with the latest release of Fritzen’s second highly anticipated album, “VIP.”
And believe it or not, young Smooth Jazz piano star Brian Culbertson has found a genuine contender in Jonathan Fritzen. “VIP” deserves its title... More
Coroner Says No Foul Play in Michael Jackson’s Death…So Far June 26, 2009 - Craig Harvey spokesman for the L.A. Coroners office said at a press conference this afternoon that there was no foul play detected in Michael Jackson’s death. There was nothing of surprise at the press conference considering Jackson’s body did not suffer any trauma from a weapon. It does not rule out however what most people speculate was the cause of death – drug overdose.. More
Michael Jackson Dead at 50 June 25, 2009 – The LA Times and CBS news has reported that Pop Superstar Michael Jackson has died. The singer was rushed to UCLA Medical Center shortly after noon today. It was reported that Jackson had gone into cardiac arrest. His father later said that he went into a coma.
Paramedics were sent to his home after the singer stopped breathing.
There have been numerous rumors that Jackson was hooked on prescription drugs. Also word from his upcoming concert event rehearsals had many insiders concerned if the singer was even strong enough to do one show let alone 50. Jackson had recently undergone a full medical. More
Smooth Jazz Now.com Announces It’s First On-Line Streaming Radio Station June 21, 2009 – John Beaudin, President and founder of Smooth Jazz Now.com has just announced the website will create a 24/7 streaming radio station to kick off in August, 2009. “I have been programming NAC and Smooth Jazz since 1986 and with so many stations going under I thought it was time for us to start our own project,” says Beaudin. “Since Smooth Jazz Now went online in 2000 we have received so many requests to stream a station but we wanted to wait for the right time and that’s now. Up until now I have been programming the genre for big companies on radio so it was a conflict for me to do it.”
The new station will sound like nothing that’s currently available out there says Beaudin. More
Where's My Teeth? : Billy Joel Splits from Wife Katie Lee – Are You Really Surprised? June 21, 2009 – If there ever was a mismatched pair, physically and intellectually, it was Billy Joel and his young wife Katie Lee. Now comes word of the inevitable, the couple are splitting up.
Their Oprah interview a few years ago was impossible to watch in a “Stepford Wives” creepy kind of way. Billy’s young little prize made Mary Hart’s perkiness seem positively dull. Here was Billy Joel, a music superstar, who had a reputation for telling it like it is, he never suffered fools ..... More
Sting Set to Avoid Pop Music Again with “If On a Winter's Night” June 20, 2009 – Sting hasn’t released a Pop album since 2003’s “Sacred Love” – it’s been that long. His last album “Songs from the Labyrinth” in 2006 was inspired by the lute songs of English composer John Dowland. Now Sting says his next project "If On a Winter's Night” will be inspired by his favorite time of year and feature two original compositions as well as traditional songs, carols and lullabies from the British Isles. It’s due in stores October 27th on Deutsche Grammophon. More
Tony Bennett The Nicest Legend On the Road Today June 19. 2009 – I’ve been lucky. I haven’t met a lot of dorks in the music world, not artists anyway. Most of the asses were actually radio people who had inflated views of their own self importance. In music the diva’s, with me anyway, were the small bit players. I once interviewed the band 3 Deep. What, you haven’t heard of them either? They were a trio made up of The Young & the Restless" actor Joshua Morrow, Eddie Cibrian, who has been making headlines with Leann Rimes and a Canadian singer CJ Huyer. More
Daniel Domenge Creates His Own Patchwork June 17, 2009 - Daniel Domenge is a genuine outsider to the international Smooth Jazz stage. Coming from Southern France, most well known for its great wine tradition and its appealing summer resorts, the French guitarist came up with his first CD, “Patchwork” released last year.
A talented self-taught guitarist, composer and producer, Domenge has been working as a professional musician for more than 20 years. More
Sade Set to Return After Nine Year Break June 11, 2009 – It’s always chancy to separate album releases by a decade but that’s almost what Sade is doing. Nine years after her last CD, “Lovers Rock,” Sade Adu is finally back in the studio with her band and expectations of a November or December release date. The reclusive singer is expected to be in the studio most of this month with long time bandmate Stuart Matthewman, a.k.a. Cottonbelly. More
Smokey Robinson Set for ASCAP Honor June 11, 2009 – Congrats to the great Smokey Robinson! The Motown legend will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles next month.
ASCAP, short for The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will honor Robinson at its 22nd annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, on June 26 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More
Let Smooth Jazz Recession-Proof your Mind, Body and Soul June 11, 2009 - The alarm rings, its 6am, the news is full of stimulus info, bailouts, foreclosures and layoffs…. My God, enough is enough!! You have to find a place to get away, have to find yourself and be at peace….. You rush toward the shower and take the time to stop and turn on your bose. Alex Zonjic starts to serenade you with “Isabela” and really get you in gear with his funky rendition of “Sweat” as you lather up and rinse for the last time.
Breakfast is a quick stop in the kitchen with cereal and some non-fat milk, but you are still jamming away with the sound of Gerald Albright thumping in the background. Damn, Rice Krispies and coffee never tasted so good.. You’re already feeling better, ready to take on the world and head for the car,,,, the long drive, with traffic and dealing with drivers that may have gotten their driver’s licenses from WalMart… on sale…. Ughhhhh. More
BB King Frustrated Over Lack of Airplay June 10, 2009 – You can be the best musician in the world but until that world hears you no one will buy your records. That seems to be what BB King is saying. The Blues legend does not have many regrets after 6 decades in music but lack of airplay is certainly front and center.
He told MusicRadar, “I’d be a fool if I didn’t think it was frustrating. But I’ve never been lucky getting airplay.” Considering his huge discography it’s almost a crime that most people can only name one song from his career – “The Thrill is Gone.” King says, “The only other time I was really helped was with Thrill is Gone. All the other tunes I recorded may have sold as many, or gone over well. But I know I never got radio coverage.”
The 83 year old goes on to explain the problem with the Blues is lack of mainstream appeal and the fact that most Blues shows are late on Saturday night and “like a lot of people I ain’t no vampire.” More
New Don Henley “Best of” in Stores June 16th June 10, 2009 – Even though Don Henley released his “Greatest Hits” package “Actual Miles” on November 20th, 1995, the Eagles lead singer has released only one album after that. It’s probably reason enough for the Texan to think about a new version of his “Best of.”
“The Very Best of Don Henley” will be released on June 16th and feature tunes from the Asylum, Geffen and Warner Brothers record labels. It will also include a deluxe CD/DVD with the usual hits and a cover of Leonard Cohen's classic "Everybody Knows” (it was also on “Actual Miles”)
Henley has done lots of soundtrack tunes and you’ll hear them on here like "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" ("Love Rules"), "The Color Of Money" ("Who Owns This Place?"), "Leap of Faith" ("Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat"), and "Michael" (Through Your Hands").
The videos on the new package include, "The Boys of Summer" and "All She Wants To Do Is Dance.”
A real gem, “For My Wedding” (which my wife Shannon and I used for our ceremony) was Henley’s first Country charted solo tune. It will also be included. More
Toto to be Inducted into Musicians Hall of Fame June 10, 2009 – The sun is shining on Toto. The band that formed in the late seventies, mainly with top-notch session musicians, is finally getting their due. Toto will be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville on October 12, 2009.
Though they were sometimes hated by critics, Toto sold over 30 million albums and released 17 albums. The core of the band in 1977 consisted of Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate, David Paich, Steve Lukather, and Bobby Kimball. Lukather is regarded as one of the best guitarists in Pop music with many A-list admirers including Eddie Van Halen, George Benson and Larry Carlton.
Other inductees include guitar legends Chet Atkins who worked with Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Waylon Jennings and also had success on his own. Billy Coz who played with Jimi Hendrix, Guitar innovator and stylist, Dick Dale, singer, fiddler, guitarist, songwriter, and country musician, Charlie Daniels and producer Fred Foster. Award honors will also go out to Victor Feldman who worked with everyone from Miles Davis to Steely Dan and arranger Paul Riser known for his work during the Motown golden years. More
Has it Been 100 Vegas Shows Already for Bette Midler? June 9, 2009 – It’s appropriate that Bette Midler called her Vegas run, "The Showgirl Must Go On.” The touring work-horse has just completed her 100th show at Caesars Palace in Vegas. She says she loves the fact that everything is happening in one location for a change, "I'm on tour in the same place every night, I love it," she said.
"I have to be in a concentrated place. Otherwise, I forget what I'm doing there," Midler said of the huge production which started in February 2008.
Midler says she has to “shake her booty” hard night after night, "I try to keep my weight down so I don't have to redo my costumes every time I come back, which is really the hardest part," More
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Smooth Jazz Now.com Announces It’s First On-Line Streaming Radio Station June 21, 2009 – John Beaudin, President and founder of Smooth Jazz Now.com has just announced the website will create a 24/7 streaming radio station to kick off in August, 2009. “I have been programming NAC and Smooth Jazz since 1986 and with so many stations going under I thought it was time for us to start our own project,” says Beaudin. More
Billy Joel Splits from Wife Katie Lee – Are You Really Surprised? June 20, 2009 – If there ever was a mismatched pair, physically and intellectually, it was Billy Joel and his young wife Katie Lee. Now comes word of the inevitable, the couple are splitting up. More
Sting Set to Avoid Pop Music Again with “If On a Winter's Night” June 20, 2009 – Sting hasn’t released a Pop album since 2003’s “Sacred Love” – it’s been that long. His last album “Songs from the Labyrinth” in 2006 was inspired by the lute songs of English composer John Dowland. More
Tony Bennett The Nicest Legend On the Road Today June 19. 2009 – I’ve been lucky. I haven’t met a lot of dorks in the music world, not artists anyway. Most of the asses were actually radio people who had inflated views of their own self importance. More
Daniel Domenge Creates His Own Patchwork June 17, 2009 - Daniel Domenge is a genuine outsider to the international Smooth Jazz stage. Coming from Southern France, most well known for its great wine tradition and its appealing summer resorts, the French guitarist came up with his first CD, “Patchwork” released last year. More
Sade Set to Return After Nine Year Break June 11, 2009 – It’s always chancy to separate album releases by a decade but that’s almost what Sade is doing. Nine years after her last CD, “Lovers Rock,” Sade Adu is finally back in the studio with her band and expectations of a November or December release date. More
Smokey Robinson Set for ASCAP Honor June 11, 2009 – Congrats to the great Smokey Robinson! The Motown legend will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles next month. More
June 29, 2009 – Ever since Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday June 25, the tributes have been pouring in, It seems all the genre’s have been represented except Smooth Jazz. Well, over the weekend the whole team at Smooth Jazz Now has reached out to some of the tops musicians in the genre to hear their reaction to the tragic death of the “King of Pop.”
June 29, 2009 – Michael Jackson had Lupus. That’s according to spiritual teacher and medical doctor Deepak Chopra. He told People Magazine that Jackson had the autoimmune disease and a skin disorder for many years.
June 28, 2009 – Any major talent has to pay some dues, whether it be playing the small dark metropolitan clubs or on the banks of the steamy Muddy Mississippi River. 
June 29, 2009 – The Jackson Family have released the following statement concerning Michael's Death:
June 27, 2009 - A wave of fresh air from Sweden came last year onto the Smooth Jazz stage with “Love Birds,” the debut album of 26-year old pianist Jonathan Fritzen. This year this musically refreshing Scandinavian breeze is back with the latest release of Fritzen’s second highly anticipated album, “VIP.”
June 26, 2009 - Craig Harvey spokesman for the L.A. Coroners office said at a press conference this afternoon that there was no foul play detected in Michael Jackson’s death. There was nothing of surprise at the press conference considering Jackson’s body did not suffer any trauma from a weapon. It does not rule out however what most people speculate was the cause of death – drug overdose.
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June 21, 2009 – If there ever was a mismatched pair, physically and intellectually, it was Billy Joel and his young wife Katie Lee. Now comes word of the inevitable, the couple are splitting up.
June 20, 2009 – Sting hasn’t released a Pop album since 2003’s “Sacred Love” – it’s been that long. His last album “Songs from the Labyrinth” in 2006 was inspired by the lute songs of English composer John Dowland. Now Sting says his next project "If On a Winter's Night” will be inspired by his favorite time of year and feature two original compositions as well as traditional songs, carols and lullabies from the British Isles. It’s due in stores October 27th on Deutsche Grammophon. 
June 19. 2009 – I’ve been lucky. I haven’t met a lot of dorks in the music world, not artists anyway. Most of the asses were actually radio people who had inflated views of their own self importance. In music the diva’s, with me anyway, were the small bit players. I once interviewed the band 3 Deep. What, you haven’t heard of them either? They were a trio made up of The Young & the Restless" actor Joshua Morrow, Eddie Cibrian, who has been making headlines with Leann Rimes and a Canadian singer CJ Huyer. 
June 17, 2009 - Daniel Domenge is a genuine outsider to the international Smooth Jazz stage. Coming from Southern France, most well known for its great wine tradition and its appealing summer resorts, the French guitarist came up with his first CD, “Patchwork” released last year.
June 11, 2009 – It’s always chancy to separate album releases by a decade but that’s almost what Sade is doing. Nine years after her last CD, “Lovers Rock,” Sade Adu is finally back in the studio with her band and expectations of a November or December release date. The reclusive singer is expected to be in the studio most of this month with long time bandmate Stuart Matthewman, a.k.a. Cottonbelly. 
June 11, 2009 – Congrats to the great Smokey Robinson! The Motown legend will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles next month.
June 11, 2009 - The alarm rings, its 6am, the news is full of stimulus info, bailouts, foreclosures and layoffs…. My God, enough is enough!! You have to find a place to get away, have to find yourself and be at peace….. You rush toward the shower and take the time to stop and turn on your bose. Alex Zonjic starts to serenade you with “Isabela” and really get you in gear with his funky rendition of “Sweat” as you lather up and rinse for the last time. 
June 10, 2009 – You can be the best musician in the world but until that world hears you no one will buy your records. That seems to be what BB King is saying. The Blues legend does not have many regrets after 6 decades in music but lack of airplay is certainly front and center.
June 10, 2009 – Even though Don Henley released his “Greatest Hits” package “Actual Miles” on November 20th, 1995, the Eagles lead singer has released only one album after that. It’s probably reason enough for the Texan to think about a new version of his “Best of.”
June 10, 2009 – The sun is shining on Toto. The band that formed in the late seventies, mainly with top-notch session musicians, is finally getting their due. Toto will be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville on October 12, 2009.
June 9, 2009 – It’s appropriate that Bette Midler called her Vegas run, "The Showgirl Must Go On.” The touring work-horse has just completed her 100th show at Caesars Palace in Vegas. She says she loves the fact that everything is happening in one location for a change, "I'm on tour in the same place every night, I love it," she said. 
June 21, 2009 – John Beaudin, President and founder of Smooth Jazz Now.com has just announced the website will create a 24/7 streaming radio station to kick off in August, 2009. “I have been programming NAC and Smooth Jazz since 1986 and with so many stations going under I thought it was time for us to start our own project,” says Beaudin. 
June 20, 2009 – If there ever was a mismatched pair, physically and intellectually, it was Billy Joel and his young wife Katie Lee. Now comes word of the inevitable, the couple are splitting up. 
June 20, 2009 – Sting hasn’t released a Pop album since 2003’s “Sacred Love” – it’s been that long. His last album “Songs from the Labyrinth” in 2006 was inspired by the lute songs of English composer John Dowland. 
June 19. 2009 – I’ve been lucky. I haven’t met a lot of dorks in the music world, not artists anyway. Most of the asses were actually radio people who had inflated views of their own self importance. 
June 17, 2009 - Daniel Domenge is a genuine outsider to the international Smooth Jazz stage. Coming from Southern France, most well known for its great wine tradition and its appealing summer resorts, the French guitarist came up with his first CD, “Patchwork” released last year. 
June 11, 2009 – It’s always chancy to separate album releases by a decade but that’s almost what Sade is doing. Nine years after her last CD, “Lovers Rock,” Sade Adu is finally back in the studio with her band and expectations of a November or December release date. 
June 11, 2009 – Congrats to the great Smokey Robinson! The Motown legend will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles next month.