Most of the younger set will remember Isaac Hayes for his part of Chef in "South Park" episodes. A few also might have heard his Oscar-winning soundtrack for the film "Shaft." But Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65, was so much more. He was a songwriter and producer for the Stax-Volt soul label in … Continue reading Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.
Category: Music
Indorock kicks
The is an Indorock group called Black Dynasty, a "supergroup" consisting of members of the Black Dynamites, the Javalins, and Rene & His Alligators. It is performing Bobby Troup's "Route 66." Indorock is a mix of Indonesian and Western music. It came blasting out of the 1950s when a bunch of Indonesia natives resettled in … Continue reading Indorock kicks
UPDATED: McCartney takes the long and winding road
NOTE: More updates to this story have been started on another thread here. A few days ago, presidential candidate Barack Obama stopped at the Bell Restaurant in the Route 66 town of Lebanon, Mo., during a campaign swing through the Ozarks. Now, according to the Lebanon Daily Record, a cashier says that former Beatle and … Continue reading UPDATED: McCartney takes the long and winding road
Swingin’ west
Here's a treat. It's the Byron Berline Band, a bluegrass and Western swing outfit, jamming at the Sandhills Curiosity Shop, just off Route 66 in Erick, Okla. Co-proprietor Harley Russell even shows off his guitar chops briefly during a version of "Route 66" with the band.
“White Rose”
This is a video of Slaid Cleaves' recording of Fred Eaglesmith's song "White Rose" and Emily Priddy's collection of photographs of historic Route 66 gas stations. The story is about an old gas station in Eaglesmith's native Canada, but the story itself is quintessential small-town Route 66. The sound in the video wasn't supposed to … Continue reading “White Rose”
Road bandits
The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph published a story about the Cattle Bandits, a country-rock band that's opening a show for country star John Anderson at the McLean County Fair tomorrow night. The Cattle Bandits' soon-to-be-released CD, "Homegrown," contains a few Route 66 references. That's the case as the style runs from the country of "Beaches of … Continue reading Road bandits
Rose Bowl soon will open as an events center
It looks like the Rose Bowl along Route 66 in Tulsa soon will open as an events center -- three years after it closed as a bowling alley, reports the Tulsa World. "Our ultimate goal is to create the experience of being in a retro dining hall with food, alcohol and entertainment," said co-owner Sam … Continue reading Rose Bowl soon will open as an events center
Hello from Denmark
This is the impressive Michelle Birkballe, wailing away on Bobby Troup's "Route 66." Kudos to the slide guitarist, too.
Hal Blaine to be honored by Route 66 Rendezvous
Hal Blaine will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Route 66 Rendezvous Cruisin' Hall of Fame in San Bernardino, Calif., in September, reports the Press-Enterprise. If you don't know who he is, chances are almost certain you've heard him. He's a session drummer who's played on albums by Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Neil … Continue reading Hal Blaine to be honored by Route 66 Rendezvous
On the road with Brad Paisley
This is a segment from The Learning Channel's "Route 66: Main Street America," from 2000. In it, you see a young country star Brad Paisley performing Bobby Troup's "Route 66" on the Rainbow Bridge near Baxter Springs, Kan., and kicking Dean Walker's feet backwards at Eisler Bros. Store in Riverton, Kan.