NYS Music 202​0

Author: zac geddies

  • Happy Birthday Joey Ramone!

    Born May 19, 1951 in Queens, New York, Joey Ramone is regarded as the rocker who ushered the definition of a rebellious and braggadocious frontman in a punk band. There is no doubting The Ramones level of authenticity in the punk scene. Today would be his 70th birthday.

    birthday joey ramone
    Although short lived, Joey Ramone’s life was full of loud, angsty music; the legacy he left behind in the punk scene is almost untouchable.

    In 1974, four high school friends from a neighborhood in Forest Hills formed a band, inspired by the fast paced pop music which was popular during their upbringing. Taking influence from The Beach Boys and The Kinks, The Ramones made their music fast, melodic, raw and angsty. That same trio of effects became the formula for making punk music in the generations to come.

    Joey Ramone was diagnosed at a young age with Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder which would go on to influence much of his lyrical content. Also somewhat of a social outcast, Ramone would use themes of paranoia and social rejection in his music. Releasing smash-hit single “Blitzkrieg Bop,” The Ramones went Gold with their Debut Album, Ramones, released April 23, 1976.

    Since forming the band, The Ramones would go onto perform nearly 2,300 live shows, touring almost nonstop for the majority of their musical career. Although only reaching a brief amount of commercial success, the band’s accolades in notoriety far outweigh those of the Academy Awards. The group was nominated for, and won, both a Hall of Fame Award in 2007 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

    Ramone passed away in 2001 after a lifelong battle with lymphoma, dying at the young age of 49. Although short lived, Joey Ramone’s life was full of loud, angsty music; the legacy he left behind in the punk scene is almost untouchable.

    Happy Birthday, Joey Ramone!

  • Happy Birthday Ghostface Killah

    Staten Island’s own, and at one point a member of the FBI’s most wanted list, Denis Coles aka Ghostface Killah was born in 1970 in one of New York City’s most often overlooked borough, Staten Island. Thus, May 9th marks the birthday of the one and only, Ghostface Killah

    Ghostface mighty healthy killah birthday

    He began his solo career in 1996 with the release of Ironman following Wu Tang’s breakout release, Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers). Renowned for his booming voice and fast-paced flow, Ghostface has remained to be one of the Clan’s most notorious members. As the roommate of Wu Tang founder RZA, Ghostface is credited with playing a role in bringing the original seven members of the group together.

    Ghostface was featured extensively on fellow Wu Tang member Raekwon’s, early mixtapes, making a name for himself before Wu Tang Clan essentially took over the world of hip-hop.

    What separates Ghostface from the rest of the gangsta rap group MCs is his often colorful and imaginative storytelling which has remained the highlight of his performances throughout the years.

    Recently, the works of Ghostface Killah and the rest of the Wu Tang Clan has been celebrated in the media with the short film For the Children: 25 Years of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) which dives into the group’s early years on the come-up in the late ’80s and early ’90s hip-hop scene. Wu Tang and Ghostface Killah have transcended music and represented how their rough upbringing on the streets of New York has brought them to make incredibly moving art and music. The legacy of Wu Tang has been cemented into New York history with Staten Island declaring November 9th as Wu Tang Clan day, turning the classic phrase ” Wu Tang forever” into a reality.

  • Happy Birthday Billy Joel!

    Happy 72nd birthday to the piano man himself, Billy Joel! Born in 1949 in the Bronx, Billy Joel has risen the ranks in musical talent and cemented himself as one of New York’s proudest songwriters.

    Growing up with his family in Hicksville, Long Island, Joel got his start playing piano in high school but didn’t seriously consider music as his life path until a lack of credits in his senior year led him to drop out of school, despite his good grades. Recalling his decision back in the early days to pursue music, Joel was quoted in Hank Bordowitz’s biography Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man (2006) that rather than spending his summer in school trying to make up credits, he would instead begin a career in music saying, ‘To hell with it. If I’m not going to Columbia University, I’m going to Columbia Records, and you don’t need a high school diploma over there’. Although Joel did eventually graduate in 1992, his legacy in music far outreaches the dreams and aspirations of the average high school student.

    Since then, Joel has become one of New York’s most recognizable musical prodigies. Despite his rise to global fame, Joel still has a sweet spot for where he grew up. In his song “New York State of Mind” from the 1976 album Turnstiles, which has become almost an anthem for New Yorkers, Joel reminisces about unique experiences only a true New Yorker would resonate with. Filled with lines about long greyhound bus trips, the Daily News and the Hudson River, the tune has become synonymous with both New York City and Joel himself.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30yU6CtlWV8&feature=youtu.be

    New York has remained at the center of Joel’s life, currently still residing in the great Empire State, Joel has indeed become a staple of New York and remains at the center of many New Yorker’s hearts. The fate of Joel’s upcoming tour is still up in the air but, until then, crack open a beer and propose a toast to the Piano Man’s 71st.

    birthday billy joel

  • Happy Birthday Joe Bonamassa!

    Happy 44th Birthday to Joe Bonamassa! As New Hartford, New York’s very own blues master, Bonamassa is an example of a modern-day artist who is keeping all the soul in blues alive. Born in 1977, Bonamassa began his career at the age of 12 opening for no other than blues legend B.B King at the Rochester Lilac Festival in 1989.

    Making a name for himself playing small clubs around Upstate NY, Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa has transcended the dreams of a small-town boy wishing to be a Rockstar. Although still relatively young, Bonamassa has left a legacy behind including over a dozen studio albums, two Grammy nominations and at least 20 #1 songs on the Billboard Blues chart. Collaborating with musicians along the likes of Les Paul and Beth Hart, Bonamassa has proved his prowess to write hit songs. Also, an avid vintage guitar and amplifier collector, Bonamassa has proved his devotion to authenticity.

    In addition to touring various world stages, Bonamassa has also launched a cruise, bringing blues to people at sea. Most recently, Bonamassa has announced the start of his new music label, Keeping Blues Alive Records in an effort to raise awareness for his charity, the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, started in 2011. Most recently, The Keeping Blues Alive Foundation has launched their charitable Fueling Musicians Program which aims to support musicians globally who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Joe Bonamassa Color and Shape birthday
    Photo Credit: Robert Sutton

    Bonamassa went live on Facebook with a heartfelt message urging for fans and musicians to make donations to support struggling musicians. The program has received overwhelming support from fans as well as big name brands such as Gibson, Normans Rare Guitars, and the Chicago Music Exchange. With the goal of $250,000, Bonamassa and the Fueling Musicians Program aim to raise as many donations as possible to lend a hand to the music industry which has been hit hard by the global pandemic.

    To make a donation or to find out more about the Fueling Musicians Program visit Keeping Blues Alive.

    Be on the lookout for Smokin’ Joe in 2020 for the continuation of his Keeping Blues Alive at Sea cruise and new music, hinted to be coming later this year. Happy Birthday Joe Bonamassa!

  • Happy Birthday Pete Seeger!

    Legendary New York folk music icon, Pete Seeger, was born on this day, May 3, in 1919. Hailing from the small town of Beacon, Pete Seeger is remembered for his contributions to American folk music and activism. Armed with a banjo that read “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender,” Seeger performed to numerous audiences from his first years active in the late 1930s up until his passing in January of 2014.

    Seeger, the lifelong resident of New York, started playing folk music at a young age, learning from his father, Charles Seeger. Seeger went on to inspire several generations of musicians including Bob Dylan and Tom Morello who have both cited his work as an inspiration. His musical impact is far reaching no doubt, but Seeger is also remembered as an activist, often calling for social change, and as a teacher. Seeger lived his life passing down knowledge and teaching music with the upmost promising and reassuring outlook; encouraging people to do the right thing and to take a stand for what they believe in.

    Seeger never showed signs of slowing down. Even one of his last performances, the 2013 Farm Aid benefit at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Seeger remained hopeful of social change. During his performance of “This Land is Your Land” Seeger added in a new verse singing, “New York is my home, New York is your home. From the Upstate mountains to the ocean foam. With all kinds of people, yes, we’re poly-grown, New York was meant to be frack free”. Not afraid to mix music with politics, Seeger always made a point to stand up for what he believed in. 

    Seeger will always be remembered. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the recipient of several awards including the honorable Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award along with nine other Grammy Awards for a total of 13 nominations. Last year, in 2019, Seeger’s 100th birthday was remembered and celebrated with the Pete Seeger Centennial at The Egg in Albany, NY. With performances by Arlo Guthrie, son of bluegrass legend Woody Guthrie, and several other artists, it’s clear that the flame that Seeger ignited and the torch that he bore will continue to be carried on by generations to come.