Tommy Brewster
May 12, 2011 Beyond The Music, Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
In the last 4 years or so I have met many musicians, singers, writers, composers and arrangers, but every now and again, I have come across a soul in it for the sake of the music. The most recent being Tommie Brewster.
Tommie began her musical life before the age of 4, playing piano and later several other instruments. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London where she had begun a life long love affair with the works of Frederic Chopin!
However, musical influences at home were many- from jazz to ragtime, blues to rock, reggae to swing – and it was the blues that spoke loudest to Tommie’s heart and soul.
It was her dream to write, perform, arrange, record and produce her own distinctive music and this has now been achieved.
All musicians absorb so many influences, but Tommie does not knowingly imitate, replicate or emulate anyone – Tommie’s music in many different styles – just is what it is.
Tommie is into the music, completely, Tommie is the music. She says she writes everyday and judging from the abundance of tracks she sent me, I believe. Tommie is delightful, but you needn’t take my word for it. Have a Listen for yourself.
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Let’s hear it for Queen of the Blues of New Zealand Ms Tommie Brewster
Tags: arranger, blues, composer, funk, independent, independent record label, music, musician, performer, piano, poet, singer, singing, smooth, songwriter, Soulful, Talent
Audrey Madison Turner
Mar 12, 2010 Today's Stars
Audrey Turner – Blues R&B Songstress
San Francisco-born Audrey Madison Turner attributes her musical inclination to her parents. Art and Georgia Madison surrounded their children with instruments and a wide range of music throughout their childhood. The captivating singer/songwriter, producer and actress began participating in beauty contests and talent shows at an early age, eventually debuting an original song for her graduating class at their commencement ceremony. Following high school Audrey’s trek to become a psychologist fell second to her dreams of becoming a star.
It wasn’t long before Audrey founded “Madison Avenue,” which benefitted from contributions from musical genius Stevie Wonder, who wrote songs for the family-based group such as “Buttercup” and “Much In Love.” Audrey appeared in various talent search competitions and on numerous talk shows, particularly Playboy Carol Vatalie’s Talk show and the “Big Break Talent Search,” hosted by Natalie Cole. Additionally, she became the assistant choreographer to Lon Fontaine of Motown, creating routines for major superstars such as Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, and the Pointer Sisters. It wasn’t long before Madison-Turner graced the stage with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, BB King and Little Milton, Chaka Khan, and Sting. She was personally requested by the Royal Family of Brunei for two special performances.
As she began catching the sights of the industry and public alike, “The King of Rock & Roll” – Ike Turner – took an unabashed liking to Audrey. After meeting Ike Turner through a mutual friend, Madison-Turner didn’t think twice about sharing the stage and going on tour with the man himself. Their professional relationship eventually segued into a romantic one, leading to a wedding years later. Ike and Audrey recorded multiple tracks together on his Live Montreaux Jazz Festival CD and Ike Turner’s Final CD before his historic passing in December 2007. She is currently writing a book about the last years of their life together.
Audrey Madison-Turner will soon release her first solo album, appropriately titled Picking Up The Pieces. Empowered by her sexuality, the R&B sex-symbol’s vocals have a haunting passion and her looks are reminiscent of a young Tina Turner. With subtle, yet dominant sultriness of Chaka Kahn and the mystifying huskiness and tone of Macy Gray, Audrey is a fusion of today’s best female vocalists with a personal twist. Audrey Madison-Turner’s dignified style never fails to delight the millions of classic R&B, Blues/POP fans looking for a modern-day diva with a classic feel.
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Living Black History
Jan 28, 2010 Legends, Today's Stars
Tonight, I had the pleasure of speaking with a Blues Legend. Drink Small has been making music for well over 50 years and he shows no signs of slowing down. During our conversation we played and sang for me, told jokes and shared some of his very language “Drinkism”. It was a delight speaking to him.
If you don’t know who he is, here’s part of our history: “The Blues Doctor”, who has been entertaining music lovers since the mid 1950s.
Drink Small (his real name) was born in 1933 in Bishopville (Lee County), SC. Known worldwide as “The Blues Doctor”, he plays virtuoso blues guitar, two-fisted piano, and sings in an inimitable basso profundo voice.
Drink is a recipient of the S.C. Folk Heritage Award, a member of the S.C. Hall of Fame, and has spent his life touring, recording, and playing a spectrum of Southern roots musics. He has performed at some of the nation’s top music festivals – Chicago Blues Festival (twice), New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (three times), King Biscuit Blues Festival (twice), Smithsonian-Folklife Festival, Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Lincoln Center and Central Park concert series (NYC), and every major blues festival in the Southeast. He has been written up in myriad music magazines (downbeat, Metronome, Blues Revue, Il Blues, Juke Blues, Soul Bag, Blues News) and even made the cover of Living Blues (July/August, 1992 issue).
At the age of 76, Drink Small is at the top of his game and performing better than ever. Always creating new music, his latest opus is a tribute to President Barack Obama: “The United States Will Never Be the Same” (2009; CD single, ONLY available from Drink Small). He performs solo (acoustic or electric) and with his band. Drink Small will be a guest on Conversations on February 20, 2010.
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Hot Buys – Drums and Percussion
Tags: blues, doctor, drikism, drink small, guitarist, Old School, songwriter
