“Reggae music, soul music, rock music–every song is a sign.”-Bob Marley

Bob Marley’s songs were also incredible gifts.

Happy birthday, Bob. Say hi to Jimi and Janis and John…

As we celebrate the late Bob Marley’s birthday, here’s a sweet video of The Wailers “Jamming.”

The one and only Bob Marley would have been 67 today .

Marley is widely considered the person most responsible for spreading and popularizing reggae music throughout the world.  Along with his legendary band, The Wailers, Marley also served as a major voice for social and political change, particularly in Jamaica. By the mid-Seventies, Marley was such a cultural icon on the island that Time magazine wrote, “He rivals the government as a political force.”

A rock and roll hall of famer, Marley was taken from us much too soon, yet his music continues to live on. The Wailers are still out there touring constantly, playing nearly 200 dates per year. Fortunately, they come to Milwaukee for Summerfest every year and their shows remain a sheer delight as they continue the tradition of creating “positive vibrations.”

We love you, Bob.

Gotta share another video to celebrate Graham Nash’s birthday. Here he is, joined by his partner in crime, David Crosby, singing the beautiful “Simple Man.”

“I have probably saved myself several million dollars in psychiatry bills because I talk to myself a lot. I think most songwriters do”~Graham Nash

I’m not a songwriter, but I talk to myself constantly, too.

Happy birthday, Graham!

As we celebrate his birthday, here’s Graham Nash way back when with The Hollies singing “On a Carousel.” I think you’ll agree their harmonies still sound  amazing!

“We want to get this good music to as many people as possible because I think it heals, it soothes, I think music is incredibly important, especially in today’s chaos.”~Graham Nash

Amen, birthday boy!

January 31, 1956: John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten, was born.

Johnny Rotten was a member of the much-loved yet short-lived (save for a few reunion tours) Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols were the definitive punk band and left a legacy well beyond their brief existence.

These were some deeply demented cats, and God bless ‘em for that. The band fired Johnny in 1978. The reason for dismissing him: he wasn’t weird enough anymore.

How cool would that look on a resume? Reason for leaving last job? They said I wasn’t weird enough anymore, but I’m striving to improve in that area.

Happy Birthday to the splendiferous Marty Balin!

Marty is the silky smooth vocalist who co-founded of the Jefferson Airplane and helped to define the San Francisco sound. I fell in love with Marty’s voice the first time I heard him sing “Today” from Surrealistic Pillow, the Airplane’s second album. In the seventies there were a ton of hits as the Jefferson Starship that featured his beautiful voice. My personal favorites from that era include “Caroline,” “Miracles” and “Tumblin.’”

I was a little too young and never got to see the Airplane, but my most memorable Jefferson Starship concert was a grand event in 1978 at Milwaukee County Stadium right after they released the album Earth. The opening act was Bob Welch, the year after he released his terrific solo album French Kiss…and he was outstanding. Starship was absitively  phenomenal that night, opening with a kick-ass “Ride the Tiger.”

Feels like yesterday…sorta.

Happy birthday to Rod Stewart!

Here he is performing a couple years back with the Jeff Beck Group.