R.I.P. Cassandra Wilson, 1955-2026

Sadly, jazz singer Cassandra Wilson has passed away at her home in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 70. She'll be greatly missed.

LINKS

WLBT.com Jackson-born Grammy winner Cassandra Wilson dies at home at age 70.

Jenny Whiteley & Joey Wright @ The Cameron House, Wednesday

Joey Wright and Jenny Whiteley swing by the Cameron House for a rare Toronto show tonight from 6 pm to 8 pm. Don't miss it!  

Jaymz Bee's feature film "MagicLand" screens @ Paradise Theatre, Sept 14

Jaymz Bee's epic feature film debut MagicLand stars Toronto singer/songwriter Irene Torres and a cast of local music scene celebs

Here's the scoop from Jaymz Bee...

"I will screen my first feature film, an hour and a half Myth-illogical musical comedy called “MagicLand”. Starring Irene Torres and featuring: Jef Faqhuarson, Robert Priest, Barbra Lica, Denielle Bassels and me, Jaymz Bee." – Jaymz Bee

MagicLand screens at the Paradise Theatre on September 14 at 3:45 pm. Tickets are $20 and available here. Boffo movie poster designed by Jason Brown. Read Jaymz's discussion about making a feature-length film on his Substack page right here.  For more information on what Jaymz Bee is up to, visit his site: https://jaymzbee.com/news/. 

Midweek Mixdown: Va Va Voom!! Vol. 1 – 16 Early 60s Instrumental Shakers

The 1992 rare 60s instro compilation Va Va Voom!! Vol. 1 collected 16 overlooked rock 'n' roll and R&B swingers – check it! 

Here's the scoop on Va Va Voom!! Vol. 1...

Get ready to move your feet to the ultimate 1960s dancefloor destroyer! Va Va Voom!! Vol. 1 gathers a killer selection of rare, high-energy instrumental gems blending raw mod R&B, early funk, sultry pop-soul, and infectious dancefloor shakers.

Sourced from obscure 45s and hard-to-find pressings, this Floridita Records (Spain) compilation from 1992 is packed with blazing horn sections, heavy basslines, swinging Hammond organs, and unstoppable rhythms designed to ignite any party. 

Have a listen to Va Va Voom!! Vol. 1 right here. 

Check out 16 more early 60s instrumental gems on Zooba! Va Va Voom!! Vol. 2 right here. 

Va Va Voom! – Vol. 1 (Floridita Records, Spain)

01 –Jimmy Riddle Let’s Go 00:00

02 –Dondi S&L 02:01

03 –Ray Ellis And His Orchestra The Sheik 04:58

04 –The Church Street Five Backslob 07:15

05 –J.C. Davis Feznecky 09:51

06 –Sleepy Summers Strange Cargo 12:25

07 –Spinners Nothin’ 14:41

08 –Chris Towns Va Va Voom 16:54

09 –The Shandells Black Crack 19:32

10 –Don Caron’s Orchestra Twist Cha-Cha 21:55

11 –Buddy Harman Summit Ridge Drive 24:05

12 –The Tikis Big Feet 26:02

13 –The TKO’s Fat Man 28:14

14 –Bowlegs One More Time Pt.1 30:48

 

Remembering country star Conway Twitty on his birthday

Raising a glass to Conway Twitty – born Harold Jenkins in Friars Point, Mississippi – with a few TV appearances. 

Conway Twitty and family resided on Herkimer Street in Hamilton, Ontario in 1958 and wrote "It's Only Make Believe" at the Flamingo Lounge on McNab St. 

R.I.P. Country & Western singer Frankie Miller, 1930-2026

Sadly, Texas-born singer Frankie Miller – one of the few remaining golden age C&W stars – has died at 95. He'll be greatly missed.

From the Country Music Hall of Fame...

Honky-tonk singer and songwriter Frankie Miller died in his home in Arlington, Texas, on August 29 at the age of ninety-five. Writer Jimmy McDonough, a friend of Miller’s, called him “one of the great, unheralded honky-tonk singers of the 1950s and ’60s. Frankie Miller had a powerful run of singles on Starday (frequently written or co-written by Frankie) that spotlight his intense, empathetic vocals and unerring sense of rhythm, not to mention his starkly poetic and often soul-searching lyrics.”

Born in Victoria, Texas, in 1930, Miller had a rough, truth-bringing voice that could hit the words like a dead-blow hammer. He cut a number of singles for the small Gilt-Edge label in the 1950s; those records, beloved by collectors today, made him “big on all the jukeboxes in Victoria and Calhoun County,” Miller told “Texas Monthly” magazine.

The record that made Miller a national star was unusual and undeniable. “Blackland Farmer” was released in 1959, with Miller whistling in the intro and clacking coconut shells used to imitate the horses on the farm Miller was remembering. It was his uncle’s farm, and the record celebrated lasting rural values. When Nashville’s Starday Records president Don Pierce heard it, he immediately offered Miller a record contract.

“Blackland Farmer” was a Top Five country hit and sat on the charts for five months; its follow-up, “Family Man,” went Top Ten country. They earned Miller “Cashbox” magazine’s Most Promising Artist award for 1960.

He toured the circuit with his pal George Jones, and then with Willie Nelson, and he sang in the honky-tonks and dancehalls of Texas. Eventually he left the recording industry and sold cars in Arlington, Texas. But in the early 2000s, he made a return to music, performing at venues around the U.S. and in Europe, and releasing four new albums through the Heart of Texas Music label.

In 2008 Bear Family Records released a three-CD box set, “Blackland Farmer: The Complete Starday Recordings and More,” which also brought renewed attention. In July, his biography, written by his son-in-law Greg Wilson, was published: “The Blackland Farmer: Life Among Country Music Legends.” Over the years, his songs have been recorded by Jessi Colter, Elizabeth Cook, Webb Pierce, Dwight Yoakam, and Faron Young. 

 

Punk Talks event focuses on Hamilton's Star Records @ The City & City Books, Sept 2

Hamilton vinyl emporium Star Records is discussed by Chris Houston, Rob Sweeney and Paul Kobak for a new Kire Paputts film.  

Here's the scoop from filmmaker Kire Paputts...

Hey everybody,

I’ve been making a new film this summer about Paul Kobak. He opened Star Records in Hamilton in 1975.

I’m putting together a free punk panel consisting of Paul Kobak, Chris Houston (Forgotten Rebels), and Rob Sweeney (Durango 95, Purple Toads). Hosted by Liz Worth. We’ll be chatting about Star Records (Hamilton/Oshawa), Teenage Head, and the early days of punk rock in Hamilton. This event will be filmed and featured in my new film. If you come to the event there’s a good chance you’ll be in the film 🙂

If you’d like to hear some old Hamilton punk stories while helping my film at the same time, I’d love your support. 

This will be a public event. Please feel free to share it with others.

The City & City Books (181 Ottawa St. N, Hamilton) 

Wednesday, September 2 

Doors (7pm)

Panel (7:30 - 9pm)

Hopefully you can make it out

Poster by Liz Worth.