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Posts tagged as “DMX”

GBN Wishes You and Yours a Happy Father’s Day (LISTEN)

We’ve been wanting to post to acknowledge all the fathers, uncles, stepfathers and loved ones who have been parenting, raising and advising the next generations, but our site has been having serious server issues since dawn.

So even though we are nearing dusk, and we posted what we could on our social media, we’re taking advantage of this moment of connectivity to say “Happy Father’s Day” on our main page and offer a playlist dedicated to the dads called “Color Him Father” – A Father’s Day Collection:

This 20-songs compilation offers praise, introspection, dreams, admonition and advice from myriad genres and perspectives – from The Winstons‘ appreciation of a stepfather on “Color Him Father,” to Will Smith‘s heartfelt expression of how it feels to become a dad on “Just The Two Of Us,” to Beyoncé’s appreciation of different aspects of her father on “Daddy” and “Daddy Lessons.”

Also included are Prince‘s declaration of love for his father amid complexities on “Purple Rain” and Kirk Whalum‘s soulful, jazz cover of “Because You Loved Me” which Diane Warren wrote about her relationship with her father, DMX and Usher‘s heartbreaking plea “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)”, and classics like “Daddy’s Home” – the popular cover by Jermaine Jackson as well as the original version by Shep and The Limelites.

We hope it’s been a great day for all those in the dad role today, and hope you enjoy the above, knowing you are seen, honored and loved through thick and thin.

MUSIC MONDAY: “All Day Music” – a War Collection (LISTEN)

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Along with the passing of hip-hop artist and actor DMX, whose distinctively gruff voice and raw and thoughtful messages made him an icon, last week also marked the passing of bassist B.B. Dickerson, one of the co-founders of War.

Few bass lines can be said to define an entire West Coast vibe, though on tracks like “Low Rider,” “Cisco Kid,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Slippin’ Into Darkness”, and so many others. he did just that.

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:1HeyhXqW5b7182PUkvo0W5″]

Arguably my favorite band, War freely melded soul, Latin, jazz, blues, reggae, and rock influences into a funky whole. War’s lyrics were often political in their music almost always had a sunny, laid-back vibe emblematic of their Southern California roots.

Starting as cover-band, this racially integrated collective scored their first hit, “Spill the Wine,” backing The Animals former frontman, Eric Burton. They would go on to become one of the most popular funk bands of all time.

Hope you enjoy this collection of their hits and deep cuts as well. Next week, I’ll celebrate “Jazz Appreciation Month” with a playlist of live jazz that I promised last week.

Until such time. Stay safe, sane, and kind.

-m-

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)