*WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: Thing in C minor in Louisville KY Jon Hammond Band
Jon’s archive https://archive.org/details/ThingInCMinorInLouisvilleKYJonHammondBand
Jon Hammond Band Facebook https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=944724635556334
Youtube http://youtu.be/bTuhYNlDrTQ
Jon Hammond Band in Louisville Kentucky “Thing in C minor” by Jon Hammond with Ronnie Smith drums, Jon Hammond at the organ & bass, Alex Budman tenor saxophone, John Bishop guitar ©JON HAMMOND International ASCAP
http://www.HammondCast.com/ — with Alex Budman, Jon Hammond and John Bishop in Louisville, Kentucky.
Outstanding show at Paramount Theatre of the Arts – The Whispers and Lenny Williams opening the show, Jon Hammond on the scene – here’s some of my photos
Lenny Williams http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Williams
Leonard Charles “Lenny” Williams (born February 16, 1945)[1] is an American singer known for his work in the R&B and soul music genres. During the 1970s, he was the lead vocalist for Tower of Power. As a soloist, he made several hit recordings, including 1977’s “Choosing You” and 1978’s “Cause I Love You”.
Williams was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and later moved to Oakland, California, at a young age. Learning to play the trumpet in elementary school fueled his interest in music; his skills as a vocalist were first nurtured by singing in gospel choirs and groups around the Bay Area. He worked with several notable artists, such as Sly Stone, Andraé Crouch, Billy Preston and members of the Hawkins family, Edwin, Walter and Tramaine.
After winning several local talent contests, Williams signed his first recording contract with Fantasy Records. He cut two singles for the label, including “Lisa’s Gone” and “Feelin Blue”, written by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. In 1972, Williams joined the emerging funk band Tower of Power. A string of hits followed, including “So Very Hard To Go”, “Don’t Change Horses (In The Middle Of The Stream)” and “Luvin You”, written by Williams and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. During his two years with the group, Williams participated in three albums: Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal and the gold LP Tower Of Power. Williams and Tower of Power toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia…
The City Attorney of Oakland read an official Proclamation declaring November 29th 2014 “The Whispers Day” City of Oakland CA
The Whispers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whispers
The Whispers is a group from Los Angeles, California, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s. The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003,[1] and were winners of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s prestigious Pioneer Award in 2008.[2] By popular vote, the group was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall Of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December 2012.
“It’s a Love Thing” aka “It’s a Love Thang”
The Whispers formed in 1964 in Watts, California. The original members included twin brothers, Wallace “Scotty” and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. After Harmon injured his larynx in a driving accident in 1973, he was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree. Scotty Scott’s fluid, melodic voice is featured on virtually all of their hits.
The group scored many hits on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they hit #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1980 with “And the Beat Goes On / “Can You Do the Boogie” / “Out the Box”. In 1987, they enjoyed a brief tenure in the Top 40 when “Rock Steady” became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7, while also capturing the #1 spot on the R&B chart.
After a series of singles on Los Angeles label, Dore, the group signed to a small LA label, Soul Clock, run by producer Ron Carson, who was responsible for their breakthrough hit, “Seems Like I Got To Do Wrong” in 1970. Moving to the larger New York-based Janus label, they continued to be produced by Carson, before he sold all of his recordings to Janus with the group then recording mainly in Philadelphia in the mid ’70s. Since that period, most of their studio work has been done in Los Angeles. Their most successful period was in the 1980s with SOLAR Records (Sound Of Los Angeles Records), which was operated by their manager at the time, Dick Griffey. The Whispers later established their own production company, Satin Tie Productions, through which they released their independent 2006 album “For Your Ears Only.”
The group opened Game 2 of the 1989 World Series at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with their rendition of the National Anthem.
Marcus Hutson left the group in 1992 due to prostate cancer. According to the Whispers’ website, when Hutson died of it in 2000, they vowed to never replace him, and now perform as a quartet.
Jerry McNeil resigned his position as keyboardist in the latter part of 1993 in order to spend more time with his family. In 2014 The Whispers was inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.
The Philadelphia soul songwriter team Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Bunny Sigler, and Ronnie Baker provided several of The Whispers’ songs including “A Mother for My Children” and “Bingo”.
The Whispers group members[edit]
Wallace “Scotty” Scott (born September 23, 1943, Fort Worth, Texas)
Walter Scott (born September 23, 1943, Fort Worth, Texas)
Marcus Hutson (born January 8, 1943, St Louis, Missouri, died 2000)
Nicholas Caldwell (born April 5, 1944, Loma Linda, California)
Leaveil Degree (born July 31, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana)
Gordy Harmon The fifth original member of The Whispers, who had to leave the group after being with them for almost a decade, due to injuries sustained in an auto accident. He was replaced by Leaveil Degree.[4]
The Whispers band members[edit]
Grady Wilkins — musical director, vocals, keyboards
Emilio Conesa — guitar
John Valentino — saxophone
Jamie Brewer — bass
Melvin Coleman — bass
Dewayne Sweet — keyboards
Magic Mendez — keyboards
Reggie Rugley — keyboards, programming
Dante Roberson — drums
http://www.jonhammondband.com/blog.html — with Dante M. Roberson and Reggie Rugley at Paramount Theatre of the Arts.
Dailymotion http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2bavxk_jon-hammond-group-in-louisville-kentucky-cosmo-lane_music
CNN iReport http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1193019
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTuhYNlDrTQ
NuMuBu Jon Hammond http://www.numubu.com/153010-profile-jon-hammond.html
Vimeo http://vimeo.com/113206207
Jon’s archive https://archive.org/details/TommyDenanderJamBandWithLastHitsWithRickyLawson
Youtube http://youtu.be/S4fht3jrT5s
Frankfurt Germany — Tommy Denander Jam Band with the late great drummer Ricky Lawson paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix on the Agora Stage at Frankfurt musikmesse – from organist Jon Hammond
http://www.HammondCast.com/ — with Tommy Denander
Jon’s archive https://archive.org/details/GetBackInTheGrooveJonHammondBand
Jon Hammond Band Facebook https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=940444542651010
Youtube http://youtu.be/eKZ8vQGJq8Y
Jon Hammond’s composition “Get Back in The Groove” very special performance Jon Hammond Band in Jazzkeller Frankfurt Jon’s annual musikmesse Warm Up Party with many close friends in attendance – Tony Lakatos on tenor saxophone, Joe Berger guitar, Giovanni Totò Gulino drums, special guest Lee Oskar harmonica, Jon Hammond organ / bass
http://www.HammondCast.com/
Special thanks Pmauriat Albest PMauriat Saxophones, TecAmp TecAmp – Bass Player’s Gear — with Joe Berger, Tony Lakatos, Jon Hammond, Lee Oskar, Giovanni Totò Gulino, Pmauriat Albest, P.Mauriat Saxophones and Lee Oskar at Jazzkeller.
CNN iReport http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1190341
Dailymotion http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2asgsa_get-back-in-the-groove-jon-hammond-band_music
Jon’s archive https://archive.org/details/ReturnOfTheStudentJonHammondVisitWithTonyGermainHD1080p
Jon Hammond visit with his piano teacher Tony Germain:
“So good to see my piano teacher main man Tony Germain 40 years later from the first day we met on Scheduling Day 1973, looking good Tony! Greatest piano and Hammond organ teacher folks!
Tony taught so many players well and created the organ department (long story!) Chairing the PIano Department, (he has a nice chair in his office and superb Steinway Grand Piano) – if you are lucky enough to be a student at Berklee and get to study with Tony Germain, then you are living under the lucky star – Tony is the Man!! Thanks for everything you showed me Tony, straightened me out big time” – Jon Hammond
*Return of the Student –
Here I am with my Piano Teacher main man Tony Germain 40 years to the day later from the first time we sat down together folks – interview coming soon, many thanks Tony! Jon Hammond
http://www.berklee.edu/people/tony-germain
Position: Assistant Chair
Department: Piano
Tony’s Steinway Grand Piano
“I think I might have been one of Berklee’s first graduates with what today is called the performance major in piano. So as assistant chair, I have a vested interest in making sure we’re still preparing piano, keyboard, and organ students, without being in any way style prejudiced. I also took the position to have a little bit more involvement with the curriculum—to see what I could personally add or help create.”
“When I went to Berklee, Ted Pease, Phil Wilson, and Mike Rendish were my role models and my teachers. They set the standard for what I’d become and how I would teach. They were all very good to me, and I could see how much they loved it. Here at Berklee, I’m giving back to something that has given me everything. I often describe Berklee as a musical Fantasy Island. I just don’t know where else I’d be happy.”
“Prior to becoming assistant chair of the Piano Department, I taught pretty much everything across the board for 33 years: harmony, ear training, arranging, ensembles. I created the Harmonic Ear Training course and taught it from about 1978 until I became assistant chair. I’m equally in love with private and classroom teaching, and have done it all my adult life. I probably get more out of it than my students do. But hopefully I inspire students to further their interests in whichever style of performance they desire—it’s my job to prepare them for the long haul. I still teach Survey of Piano Styles: History of Jazz Piano. I didn’t want to give it up. And I didn’t want to not teach entirely, because you lose touch if you’re out of the classroom.”
Funk Jam, C minor, Louisville KY, Oakland CA, Jon Hammond, The Whispers, Lenny Williams, Paramount Theatre, Soul Music, Hammond Organ, Musicians Union, Local 802
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