Gone far too early, at the ripe young age of 70:

Duck Dunn, whose simple but inventive bass playing anchored numerous hit records and helped define the sound of Memphis soul music, died early Sunday in Tokyo, where he had been on tour. He was 70.

As the resident bassist at Stax's studio in Memphis for much of the 1960s, Mr. Dunn provided the solid, bluesy foundation for classic soul records like Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour," Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming," Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign" and a long string of hits by Otis Redding, with whom he and other Stax studio musicians also performed at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967.

Stax recordings were known for their raw, down-home soulfulness, a striking contrast to the urbane slickness of Stax's friendly rival, Motown. Mr. Dunn's playing was an essential element of the Stax sound.

He was the Stax sound, indeed.

And if you have the chance, a must-see is the Stax Museum in Memphis, TN. It's an amazing museum.

Join the discussion: Comments (0) | Email Link to a Friend
Permalink to post: http://www.cslproductions.org/music/talk/archives/001309.shtml
Receive an email whenever this MUSIC blog is updated:   Subscribe Here!
Tags: Duck Dunn, Memphis, Stax, Stax museum

Share | |

Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away at the young age of 47. Most likely of cancer, but the news is still coming out:

The Beastie Boys are one of the most important and influential hip-hop groups of all time. They were instrumental in making hip-hop a global, mainstream force. Formed in 1981 as a hardcore band, they combined punk and rap into a singular sound that grew increasingly broad over the years, encompassing a vast array of genres. Yauch, Michael Diamond (Mike D), and Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) released several classic albums, including their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986, 1989's Paul's Boutique, and 1994's Ill Communication.

For all you hip-hop fans and aficinados, this is a really big deal, as he and the Beastie Boys were there at the beginning, helping to create an entirely new type of music. He was also one of the few white rappers who have broken through over the years.

A sad day in the hip-hop world, indeed.

Here's the NY Times Obit.

Here are a few vids from that era:

Join the discussion: Comments (0) | Email Link to a Friend
Permalink to post: http://www.cslproductions.org/music/talk/archives/001307.shtml
Receive an email whenever this MUSIC blog is updated:   Subscribe Here!
Tags: Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys, hip-hop, MCA

Share | |

Recent Entries

Stax Bassist, Duck Dunn: R.I.P.
Beastie Boys rapper passes away at 47.
Kanye or Jay-Z?
Did they just discover the oldest singer?
Earl Scruggs, Bluegrass Banjo Master: RIP
Roy Haynes turns 87 today!
Bjork was on Colbert plugging our CD, "Biophilia."
The Alan Lomax Global Jukebox Goes Digital.
Roy Haynes and Jack DeJohnette tap dancing circa Jan 2012.
Video of Twins gig in Washington, DC.
Vinson Valega Quintet at Twins Jazz Club, Washington, DC.
Ludwig von Beethoven takes a minute to thank the musicians who make his masterpieces possible.
Jazz Musicians in NYC (re)Start a Pension Push.
Vinson Valega Quartet at The 55 Bar tonight!
Still Wondering If Liszt Was Any Good.