Ben Harper & Jack Johnson - Please Me Like You Want To

Ben Harper - With My Own Two Hands

Ben Harper "Burn One Down"

Laura Dern's former hubby Ben Harper; Black Rocker of the People!

Ben Harper is not a name everyone knows, but he is well-known around the L.A. area. An underground rocker he's known to be quite diverse and popular selling his CD's at his shows and very much in demand. Some may also know him as the former main squeeze of actress Laura Dern. He and her have a son together. But Ben Harper's music is a culmination of most music styles but is clearly southern california music. He kind of reminds me of a Gram Parsons with a lot more soul. A unique artist he has not compromised his musical vision to go mainstream but is content to do music his way and brave new territory in his search for a new musical expression that has captured the imagination of his fanbase. They are as dedicated as the Deadheads were to the Grateful Dead or Bruce Springsteen's fans to him. Check him out and by all means go see him for this is a black rocker for the people!

Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own

Amy Winehouse - Take The Box

Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Tribute to Amy Winehouse

I know this is Black Rockers and Amy Winehouse was an english soul songstress, but she was such a talented artist and to be gone so soon is so tragic I felt compelled to do something on her. Her music is gorgeous, lovely, good in every way imaginable. I really wish she had have spent more time making good music than walking on the dark side of the entertainment bizness and she'd be alive today. It's a shame that drugs and music seem to go hand in hand but only the musicians and singers can change that. Evidently she had a bad break-up with a boyfriend the reason for her week-long bender which ultimately led to her death (whoever that asshole is I got dibs on kickin his ass!). Twenty-seven is to young to die especially when she had such a bright future ahead of her. Fathers pray for your daughters; and mothers for your sons before it's to late. This is all I can say. R.I.P. AMY

Tracy Chapman - For My Lover

Tracy Chapman - Give me one reason

Fast car -Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman: The rocker of our age!

Tracy Chapman had always been an enigma; publicity shy but creating music that was deep, meaningful and full of vibrant life for a while she was the conscious of America. Concerned about details of her private life leaking out (Alice Walker wrote about their lesbian affair)she withdrew from public view. Though she's released few CD's in recent years she tours extensively and you can catch her at almost any small venue in the northeast or the southwest. I haven't seen her back in her old stomping grounds in Cleveland Ohio but hey, eventually everyone comes home. Eitherway, here are a few of her vids to keep you company.

Practice Makes Perfect!

A lot of people want to get into the music biz because they think it's easy to make it. They have dreams of hit songs, crowds of adoring fans, and bank accounts filled with money. If I had a nickle for all the bands where that didn't happen (some even successful acts) I would be a wealthy man indeed. But if you're determined to be a rock star the first lesson you need to learn immediately is this; IT AIN'T EASY!
Notwithstanding dealing with record companies, managers, agents, road managers, tight schedules,long trips away from home, and keeping your sanity in the eye of the storm, your first order of business is to get your act together and get your band tight and that takes hours and hours of practice.
Yes all your dreams of taking it easy and making a fast buck just went out the window because before you make one dollar you need to practice daily, without pay. As often as you can you and the fellas' need to play, tighten up weak spots, put a format together, and have an extra set in case you get a call for an encore or the next band cancels out and you gotta get back out there and do it some more. Vocalists can't practice everyday though for the vocal chords need rest. Lots of rest. But they must practice as often as possible.
Practice is the first step to becoming a big star because if your act is tight, the audience will notice it and the record companies will notice too. For even though rock'n'roll preaches this jive about wild abandon and freedom, most record companies are looking for acts that are tight, cause if they know enough to practice, they also are on time for gigs, will bring a record in to them on time and under budget, and keep the money machine churning out thousand dollar bills. So the first step in becoming a major rock star is learn how to practice everyday. Think it's easy? Hahahahaha!

Kissin' And A'Huggin'

Joan Armatrading - Drop The Pilot TOTP

Joan Armatrading - Me Myself I

Joan Armatrading Still Rockin'!

Few in America know about Joan Armatrading one of the few black women rockers around though she's an international superstar everywhere else. The St. Kitts Islands native is here from the Americas (the Caribbean Islands)and has been a fixture on the rock scene since the late 70's and early 80's. My personal favorite of hers was 'the key' on her album the The Key along with 'Drop the Pilot.' She stays low-key not attracting a whole lot of publicity and keeping her private life private. It's been suspected that she's a lesbian but if she is she hasn't come out about it. Besides she still rocks and here are a few videos for you guys who are not familiar with her.