Robert Lawrence

Five of the following artists I am featuring have built a legacy in the music business. For some performers there comes a time when they become an Icon and an inspiration for others. They have made such an impact with their work that it defines a decade and even a genre of music. Some artists of this magnitude survive their entire career changing with the times and some stick with what they do best and still gain the respect well deserved. Wrong choices are sometimes made and they fall out of public favor and sadly have only themselves to blame. […]

Now that the last Music Awards Show (Billboard) has past, it’s time to look back at the artists we lost in 2014. I recently went through all the Hot 100 singles and found I could clump them into 4 general categories (Hip/Hop, Country Rock, whiney female singers, and Irish sounding pub rock bands) It also made me wonder does every hit song these days have to be connected to Pitbull or feature him in a rap? I appreciate new music and look forward to each week’s releases but popular music seems a little stagnant these days. So if your just […]

C.J. SMYTH – COMMON SHAMAN – DANCING DRAGON MUSIC I love finding new artists that remind me of other artists, but have their own distinct sound which sets them apart. Georgia native C.J. Smyth’s voice reminds me of the laidback caress of Aimee Mann, her tone takes me to the dark approaches of Mazzy Starr’s Hope Sandoval, and her songwriting echoes the honesty of Joni Mitchell. Not quite Folk, Country or Rock, Smyth falls into the category of Homespun Rock Angels like Sheryl Crow or Alana Davis. My favorite song on “Common Shaman” is “Open Hand.” It’s complicated lyric can […]

Debuting soon with its Seventh Season is the Ultra-Fabulous RuPaul’s “Drag Race.” Undoubtedly, the new season will be way over the top and filled with cheesy drama, deliberate conflicts, and shameless product placement.  However, I find it very entertaining as it seems to make fun of itself and still comes across as genuine. Aside from all the glitz and glamor, many of these “ladyboys” are singing their little hearts out on Internet Downloads, CDs, and YouTube. None have broken through to mainstream on the scales of MamaRu, but it’s just a matter of time. Here is sample of some noteworthy […]

Recently I was watching an episode of “The Goldbergs” entitled Mixtape. It made me think back to a time before the term “Mixtape.” I remember copying my mother’s records on to 8-Track Tapes for her to listen to her favorite songs in her car. I was a young teen then and luckily my mother appreciated new music as well as old stuff which only enhanced my music appreciation. Every once in a while I’d make her a tape of her old stuff and throw in something new of mine every third song. She is now passed but I kept that […]