CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY

The definitive biography of one of the most enduring and endeared recording artists in history—the Carpenters—is told for the first time from the perspective of Richard Carpenter, through more than 100 hours of exclusive interviews and some 200 photographs from Richard’s personal archive, many never published.

After becoming multi-million selling, Grammy-winning superstars with their 1970 breakthrough “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” Richard and Karen Carpenter would win over fans worldwide with a record-breaking string of hits including “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Top of the World” and “Yesterday Once More.” In Carpenters: The Musical Legacy, Richard Carpenter tells their story with candor, heart and humor, chronicling the ups and downs of the duo, whose work remains the gold standard for melodic pop.

CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY is coming to bookstores on November 16th. Pre-order your copy today: https://www.papress.com/pages/carpenters

J&K Stonebone: Rare A&M/CTi album reissued for Record Store Day

The A&M/CTi album Stonebone by jazz trombone legends J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding (known as J&K) was shelved back in 1970, released in Japan in 1970.  Used copies can sell for several hundred dollars.  Thankfully, June 20, 2020 will see the release of this album in the US for the first time on limited edition red vinyl.

The album features such stellar artists as George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Bob James, George Benson, Ron Carter and Grady Tate.  As with the Tamba Trio California Soul record release from 2019, this will be a must-own for completists of the A&M/CTi catalog and of both groups’ output.

Be sure to join the discussion of this album in our forum.

Remembering Bill Withers

It’s with much sadness today that we report the passing of legendary soul composer, singer and musician Bill Withers.  He passed on March 30th from heart complications.  His hits included what have become modern popular music standards including “Use Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and perhaps his most well-known song, “Lean On Me,” with over 100 cover versions to date.  Withers released his final album in the mid 80s, Watching You Watching Me, and abruptly quit the music business soon after, not having recorded or toured since that time.  Bill’s life story was released as a video memoir in his Still Bill video.

Join our remembrances here in our forum.

Daryl Dragon of The Captain & Tennille passes

 

Daryl Dragon, whose nickname “Captain” was bestowed upon him for the captain’s hats he used to wear onstage, has passed today from renal failure at the age of 76, with his former wife Toni Tennille at his side.  Dragon was a classically trained pianist who would play keyboards with the Beach Boys from 1967-1972, and would form a duo with Tennille, recording “The Way I Want to Touch You” and signing with A&M in 1974.  They shot out of the gates immediately with the #1 smash “Love Will Keep Us Together,” and had a handful of other hits over the years such as “Muskrat Love,” “Shop Around” and “Do That To Me One More Time.”  Daryl was the son of Carmen Dragon, a legendary conductor and composer, and brother of Dennis Dragon, drummer and co-founder of the Surf Punks (who passed from his suicide in September 2017).

https://forum.amcorner.com/threads/daryl-dragon-passes.16701/