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Posts tagged as “Marlon West”

MUSIC MONDAY: “Chop Life” – An Afropop Collection (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Chop Life” – An Afropop Collection (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on March 1, 2021

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

African popular music (often called Afropop, Afro-pop or Afro pop), like African traditional music, is vast and varied.

This playlist centered contemporary genres of African music build the cross-pollination with western popular music like: rhythm & blues, hip-hop, jazz, salsa, and reggae.

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Afrobeats (not to be confused, as I was, with Afrobeat) and Afro-pop is less of a style and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Ghana and Nigeria.

Here’s a collection of mainly recent releases from a variety of artists. Hope you enjoy.

As always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “If 6 Was 9” – a Comprehensive Playlist of Black Rock Music (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “If 6 Was 9” – a Comprehensive Playlist of Black Rock Music (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on February 22, 2021

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

Black artists have long been associated with R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, and Reggae, but not Rock. This is ironic as Rock ‘n’ Roll was derived from African American Jazz and Blues.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard are all often counted among Rock music’s pioneers. Jimi Hendrix and Prince appear on any serious list of greatest guitarists.

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This collection gathers them all and features Black alternative rock, country, and heavy metal artists. It would not be a Marlon mix without the inclusion of folks that should be appreciated more for their rock and roll bonafides like The Isley Brothers and The Roots.

In addition to Living Color, TV On The Radio, Bad Brains and other established bands there are several emerging artists including Mint Green, Big Joanie, Baby Got Back Talk and others.

Do enjoy this eclectic and wide-ranging collection of Black Rock.

As always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Roots, Rock, Reggae” – a Bob Marley Collection in Honor of his 76th (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Roots, Rock, Reggae” – a Bob Marley Collection in Honor of his 76th (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on February 15, 2021

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

Earlier this month was the 76th anniversary of the birth of Robert Nesta Marley.

It is hard to overstate his impact on popular music and culture. Marley was a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of social consciousness and spirituality.

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He is still a global symbol of Jamaican music, culture, and Pan-Africanism. He co-founded The Wailers vocal group with Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Beverley Kelso and Junior Braithwaite.

They created early ska and rocksteady in the studios of legendary producers Coxsone Dodd and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Marley would go on to bring reggae music to an international audience, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Rolling Stone has ranked him No. 11 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Here’s a collection includes his many classics, early recordings, live performances, and remixes, and dub reworkings. This playlist is a testament to the lasting impact of Bob Marley.

As always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: Black History Month 2021 Tribute to African American Music Through the Centuries (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Black History Month 2021 Tribute to African American Music Through the Centuries (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on February 8, 2021

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

Last week our fearless leader here at GBN, Lori Lakin Hutcherson, suggested a playlist celebrating Black History Month. I joked that every Music Monday at Good Black News is celebrating Black history.

Though a free-wheeling offer celebrating a century of Black music is definitely the thing to do. Here is a collection of African American music ranging from Mamie Smith to Marvin Gaye to J. Cole – from gospel, to hip hop, to jazz, to blues – and all points in between.

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As is our wont here on Mondays, this playlist is hours long and will take you on a journey of classics and deep cuts. I hope you all enjoy it.

Next week we’ll celebrate the 76th anniversary of Bob Marley‘s birth with a heaping serving of roots reggae. Until such time, have a great week.

And as always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t” – A Jump Blues Collection (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t” – A Jump Blues Collection (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on January 11, 2021

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

For many of you riding along with these weekly playlists, some of these “points” may sound familiar.

The popular narrative of the originals of Rhythm & Blues and Rock and Roll leans heavily on the hardscrabble southern bluesman narrative.

The mythic trip to the crossroads and the juke joint circuit stories promoted by so many historians and rock legends leaves out the urban sophistication of Jump Blues artists and their contribution to the music we all love today.

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Jump blues evolved from the music of big bands like those of Lionel Hampton and Lucky Millinder. These groups of the early 1940s produced musicians such as Louis Jordan, Jack McVea, Earl Bostic, and Arnett Cobb that would start their own smaller groups.

These Jump groups became hugely popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Artists such as Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, Charles Brown, Ruth Brown, Helen Humes, T-Bone Walker, Roy Milton, Billy Wright, Wynonie Harris, Buddy Johnson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and others produced hard-driving dance music that contributes mightily to the birth of Soul and Rock.

This is another collection that comes with a “Rumpshaker Warning” Enjoy!

And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Lockdown” – Greatest Releases of 2020 Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Lockdown” – Greatest Releases of 2020 Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on January 4, 2021

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

Happy New Year!

I hope 2021 is treating you all well, so far. Here is one more obligation to 2020. It is a companion piece to last week’s remembrance of the artists lost during that last year. This offering is a collection the music released during 2020.

Lockdown did not stop dozens of artists from creating great music. Long established artists and emerging ones all released music last year. As is my style, this is another free-wheeling collection of music, featuring jazz, soul, reggae, country music, and other genres.

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Making these playlists for GOOD BLACK NEWS has been an utter delight. I am honored and thrilled to keep going in 2021.

I’ll be back next, you all. Stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” – Thanksgiving Playlist for 2020 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” – Thanksgiving Playlist for 2020 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 23, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving, you all!

This is certainly a trying and unique one. Most of us aren’t doing what we traditionally do. And many of us are missing people at the table in 2020.

As is my wont, here’s a Monday playlist to take you into this year’s day of thanks. This collection ranges from songs about food, to family, to longing, to of course giving thanks, and back again.

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Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Gospel, Reggae, and more are included in this playlist to celebrate this most special and taxing of Thanksgivings.

While this has been the worst year on record for many of us, it has not been without its bright spots and reasons to be thankful.

One such personal reason for the thanks of the request to contribute weekly playlists from my friend Lori Lakin Hutcherson. She is a sista that I have not seen in person in nearly decades, but has become a wonderful social media friend and the gig of making these collections for GOOD BLACK NEWS and been the brightest of Covid era silver linings.

I don’t know if these are enjoyed by dozens or thousands but it has been an honor and delight to compile them on the weekly.

Whether you are safely gathering or going it alone on Thursday, here’s hours of music to sustain and nourish your ears and soul.

Stay safe sane, and kind you all. “See” ya next week.

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

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Bustin’ Loose”: A Celebration of D.C. Go-Go Music (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Bustin’ Loose”: A Celebration of D.C. Go-Go Music (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 9, 2020

[A child holds a billboard for Memorial Day shows at the Howard Theatre, featuring Trouble Funk and Experience Unlimited. Photograph by Thomas Sayers Ellis, used with permission.]

I can not imagine Washington D.C. was is not awash in its funnest export these days: Go-go. This subgenre of funk originated in and around D.C., during the late 1960s and remains popular to this day as a uniquely regional music style.

Singer-guitarist Chuck Brown and several bands are credited with having developed the style including Young Senators, Black Heat, and Trouble Funk.

Chuck Brown playing at a block party (photo via Flickr)

Go-go is primarily a dance hall music with an emphasis on live audience call and response. It has endured to include hip-hop influences recently and been around long enough to have retro adherents.

In February 2020, go-go was named the “official music” of Washington D.C. in a unanimous vote by the District’s city council. Please enjoy this dose of D.C. funky stuff.

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“See” ya next! And of course, stay safe, sane, and kind.

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

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Halloween Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Halloween Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on October 19, 2020
by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

I know Halloween is all-but cancelled this year for so many of us. No trick or treating. No parties. No parades. Though Halloween is still a fine excuse for me to compile a free-wheeling seasonal playlist.

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Here’s a nearly 9 hour “Afroclectic” collection of music featuring chills and horrors both real (“Strange Fruit” and “Goat Head’) and imagined (“Season Of The Witch” and “Wolf Like Me”).

From Michael Abels‘ “I Got 5 On It” remix from US to Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” this is a wide ranging playlist of songs for this time of the year.

Blues, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Ska, Hip-Hop, and Reggae are all present here. In some cases the only thing that links some of these tracks to this spooky time of year is zombie, vampire, voodoo, monster, devil, ghost, or Dracula in the title.

Please enjoy this collection of spills and chills. Listen with the lights on. Or off, if you dare.

Stay safe, sane, and brave. And vote!

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: Playlist Celebrating the Detroit Roots of Techno (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Playlist Celebrating the Detroit Roots of Techno (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on September 28, 2020

(Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May and Juan Atkins in Detroit / Photo credit: Unknown)

Techno has come to be associated with European club culture, but it was born from the Black community in Detroit. It was originally revolutionary protest music. Techno was born of African-American struggle.

Detroit DJs Robert Hood, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May are known as the originators of techno. They fused funk, disco, and gospel beyond recognition in the ‘80s.

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To quote Robert Hood: “Techno is the struggle of black artists that came from nothing, had nothing—[I was] blessed to share this music.”

This collection celebrates the originators as well as current Black women and nonbinary DJs and producers, like Tati au Miel and Nonku Phiri, that have had to carve out space in the scene too.

Enjoy! And as always stay safe, sane, and kind.

And vote!!

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)

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