March 20 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 20th may be found here: Bernd Alois Zimmermann (2019), Vera Lynn (2020), Lauritz Melchior (2021), Marian McPartland (2022), John Braham (2023), Yunchan Lim (2024) and Yunchan Lim (2025)

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe (20 March 1915 – 9 October 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might Have Beens

If Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Had played on the autoharp

Instead of electric guitar,

She wouldn't have been a star

With a ranking of number six

On Rolling Stone's all-time picks.

 

 

 

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February 28 -- Jake Bugg; Charles Bernstein (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 28th are here: Jean-Baptiste Arban (2020), Geraldine Farrar (2021), Tommy Tune; John Alden Carpenter (2022), and Bernadette Peters (2023)

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 Jake Bugg (b. 28 February 1994) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Bugg’s Life

“I get stressed because I want to maintain what I have, and I don’t really know how to do anything else. I sat around for a year writing songs, and then I got signed. I’ve never had a job, so I just hope I can give people something they enjoy listening to.” — Jake Bugg at hungertv.com

It’s never certain what it means

To have success when in your teens;

Can talent latent in your genes

Survive the stress of career routines?

 

 

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Charles Bernstein (b. 28 February 1943) is an American composer of film and television scores. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eek!

 

During the 1980s, Bernstein scored the music for the horror films The Entity (1982), Cujo (1983), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), April Fool's Day (1986), and Deadly Friend.  (1986). -- adapted from Wikipedia

Charles Bernstein was the scorer

For many famous films of horror.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

 

April 26 - Ma Rainey (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 26 may be found here: Conrad Susa (2019), Ma Rainey (2020), Mikhail Fokine; Ma Rainey (2021), and Francis Lai; Adam Falckenhagen (2022)

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Ma Rainey (26 April 1886 – 22 December 1939) was an important early Blues singer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Ma

Dubbed the “Mother of the Blues”, she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers. – Wikipedia

Bragging about sexual escapades was popular in men's songs at the time but her use of these themes in her works established her as both fiercely independent and fearless. – Wikipedia

Ma Rainey, “the Mother of Blues”

Set out to confound and amuse;

She sang of her quarrels

With prevalent morals

In joyously raunchy revues.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

 

May 8 - Robert Johnson (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 8th may be found here: Louis Moreau Gottschalk (2019),  Keith Jarett (2020), and Ricky Nelson (2021)

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Robert Johnson (8 May 1911 – 16 August 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter whose combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Icon for the Icons

 

Musicians such as Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton have deeply admired his performances.  -- adapted from Wikipedia

Robert Johnson’s reputation

   Grew through the years.

He made recordings, (no notation),

   So use your ears.

These recordings show his skill in

   Styling the Blues,

Which Clapton, Richards, also Dylan,

   Later would use.

 

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Musical Mystery

 

According to one theory, Johnson was murdered by the jealous husband of a woman with whom he had flirted. -- adapted from Wikipedia

Robert Johnson’s death was early,

  And no one knows for sure what caused it.

It’s likely that with some new girl he

  Chose to play, but should have paused it.

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

April 1 - Alberta Hunter (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 1st may be found here: Sergei Rachmaninoff (2019) and F. Melius Christiansen (2020).

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Alberta Hunter (1 April 1895 – 17 October 1984) was an American jazz and blues singer and songwriter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunter Gatherer

 

In 1978, Hunter was offered a limited engagement in Greenwich Village, where a two-week gig proved a smash when people started flocking into The Cookery. Two weeks stretched into an open-ended engagement that made Alberta Hunter a star reborn and a fixture of New York nightlife. --adapted from Women in Jazz: Alberta Hunter

After fifty years on stage,

Alberta Hunter, at an age

When many people seek retirement

Went to school, met the requirement,

And started working as a nurse.

(Hence the subject of this verse.)

Nursing as a second career

Satisfied her year by year.

She (re-)retired, and at four score

She went on stage to sing some more.

A new Alberta Hunter cult

Was the unforeseen result.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]