I find Bill Withers incredible. He joined the navy at 18 and stayed 9 years before moving to LA to make it in music. He worked menial jobs while paying to make demos, distributing them and performing in clubs and kept on working as an assembler even while his first single was knocking about. His debut single.. Ain't No Sunshine, which won him a grammy.
Steven Stills played lead guitar on his first album 'Just As I Am'
Lovely day, use me, better off dead, grandma's hands, who is he and what is he to you and many more... and this one. Just the two of us? Me and Bill
This song makes me so happy and so sad. Got to be one of my top songs.
1965 Tamla Motown, the Miracles with singer Smokey Robinson
watch them they are amazing...
Steven Demetre Giorgiou then Cat Stevens sensationally converted to Islam at the peak of his fame in 1977 and gave up music - auctioning his guitars for charity in 1979 and participating in a more humanitarian, philanthropic life as Yusuf Islam.
This and allegations of terrorist links overshadowed his music, which is unfortunate. From 1967 in his debut album "New Masters" that bombed in the UK - when he was just 18 - a song he sold for £30 and went on to do well every time it was covered. I don't know if I agree with him.. but its said with conviction and a fine song 'The First Cut Is the Deepest'
Scott Walker joined John Maus and Gary Leeds in LA in 1963 to form the Walker Brothers. Their 3rd release 'Make It Easy On Yourself' (Bacharach/David) hit no.1 in 1965 and they had a succession of hits that followed.
They split in 1967 and Scott Walker had a solo career covering Jacques Brel songs and his Scott (I, II, III...) albums. In 1975 the Walker Brothers reunited and released this cover of Tom Rush's 'No Regrets'. It didn't do too well and they disbanded the band in 1978.
Despite not writing his own material I find Scott (Noel Scott Engel) to have such a fine voice he may as well have written every word.
Fuckity fuck fuck fuck - this will have to be part 1 as I just realised all the songs I'm neglecting. Ok one more before bed.. He got a scholarship to university in new york for his fencing prowess. He used to sing in a choir with Barbara Streisand and achieved his first successes as a songwriter - writing 'Sunday Me' for Jay and the Americans and 'I'm a Believer for the Monkees'
After signing to an Atlantic subsidiary (Bang), his first single in 1966 was 'Solitary Man'
I'll bring you flowers Neil!
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