You know Steve Cropper from his legendary work with Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor — and, of course, with Booker T. and the MGs. His beginnings with the Stax Record label, however, were decidedly less glamorous. You May Also Like: John Belushi’s death almost ended Steve Cropper’sRead More

For guitarist Steve Cropper, an intuitive sense of things served him well. Twice, when it came to legendary riffs on what would become legendary Stax songs, he simply did what came naturally. You May Also Like: Steve Cropper’s research into then-unknown Wilson Pickett sparked his initial hit: ‘I found someRead More

The Electric Lady is, in Janelle Monáe’s words, “this glowing Technicolor woman.” A totem of sorts, the vision of the titular force behind her second full-length record drives every ounce You May Also Like: Neal Schon, “Lady M” from Vortex (2015): One Track Mind Michael Leonhart Orchestra – ‘The PaintedRead More

At the Chicago Theatre, Chicago, Illinois: As the entire crowd bounced up and down, hands in the air, one thing was clear: only Earth Wind and Fire could turn the Chicago Theatre into one huge dance floor. You May Also Like: Maurice White (1941-2016): Five Great Earth Wind and FireRead More

As Earth Wind and Fire nears the two-decade mark without Maurice White as an every-day presence, it’s issued a return-to-form new disc — though their thoughts remain with the group’s founder. You May Also Like: Maurice White (1941-2016): Five Great Earth Wind and Fire Moments Maurice White’s Gratitude Gave MentorRead More

Anyone who smiles while listening to classic Earth Wind and Fire tracks (just try remaining seated during “September”) will thoroughly enjoy the group’s first album in eight years, Now, Then and Forever. You May Also Like: Maurice White (1941-2016): Five Great Earth Wind and Fire Moments Maurice White’s Gratitude GaveRead More

Named after one of their dad’s favorite sayings, and featuring found-object recordings of R.L. Burnside and Otha Turner, you’d expect the Dickinson Brothers’ new North Mississippi Allstars album to be riven with nostalgia. You May Also Like: The Word [Robert Randolph, John Medeski + North Mississippi All-Stars], “When I SeeRead More

With a groove so sharp it cuts through the night, “Fire and Brimstone” bears no small amount of resemblance to the fonky-psychedelic rock style of Trombone Shorty’s former employer, Lenny Kravitz. You May Also Like: Trombone Shorty Raced Beyond Genres on Transcendent ‘Backatown’ Trombone Shorty – ‘Lifted’ (2022) Richard Turgeon,Read More