MUSIC MATES

Archive for the ‘pop music’ Category

Michael Jackson was an artist, an icon and a legend. He was man who changed the look of pop culture everlastingly and he was currently referred as pop king Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was born in Gary Indiana, as the seventh of a family with nine children. He and four of his older brothers showed premature talents for singing, playing music as well as dancing, and all these were encouraged by their parents. When he was five, the later pop king Michael Jackson made his certified debut as the lead singer of a band named The Jackson Five. The band became working performers, and they had no time for some normal experiences or youthful pursuits. After a contest that was held at New York City’s famed Apollo Theater, Jackson Five began the collaboration with the prestigious Motown Records label. They sold more than 100 million records in their years together, from 1964 – 1981.

It seemed only normal that Michael Jackson would have a solo career. Michael Jackson went on to chase a career of amazing heights as a choreographer, writer and singer and many other activities. There were times when people were crowding around the TV set with friends and family every time Michael Jackson came out with an innovative video. Everyone would hurry home and discontinue no matter what they were doing, in order to see this icon. Each time he amazed us with his inexplicable talent and we were so much admiring this man they call the pop king Michael Jackson. As kids, many of us tries to imitate his moves and his dancing.

The personality of Michael Jackson was tremendously unique and he touched the souls of all people on this planet. He brought joy and excitement to the life of hundreds of millions of people and he will not be forgotten for that.

Dusty Springfield was really born as Mary O’Brien. We have seen the deep soul touching voice of Dusty Springfield being resurrected through the Pet Shop Boys number “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” in the late 1980s. Otherwise many of us could have long forgotten the throaty blues singe, bringing a different style and aura to the usual husky and soul touching blues singer. The blues singer has been a cusp of two worlds really. She comes from a culture which was not accustomed to be pronounced in blues singing. But as a child Dusty was always bent on becoming a blues singer. She wanted to change the way blues singing was perceived. Even with her catholic upbringing, her friends would recall, she could make blues singing sound raunchy as a child!

Springfield has always been specific with diction and pronunciation with some mainstream strictures maintained with blues singing. Though her followers were mainly an audience of white she did all the work to make it sound the authentic. From early school talent contests Dusty made it a point that her blues rendering was all for soul and jazz. Even when she went on to form the band The Lana Sisters, with Riss Chantelle and Lynne Abrams. They were doing busy pop rounds with a total soul route. So their dripping really sounded harmonious and breathy. However they had to compete with the likes of rock n roll boy groups and also pop singers like Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele during that time.

As a pronounced individual singer, Dusty’s talents continued to flourish with time. So even after the group she went on to be a solo crowd turner. She was later paid tribute to by likes of Elton John and Cher.