Isley Brothers Cover the Hits in ‘Tiny Desk (Home) Concert'

 

Times are tough all around, but whoever scheduled the latest episode of NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert made a valiant attempt to put a little boogie back in our steps by bringing funk, soul and disco legends The Isley Brothers into our homes, from theirs.

Filmed at the group’s home studio in St. Louis, Missouri, the four-song set that began streaming Wednesday morning, attempted to put the hump back in Humpday, as the Isleys opened with their classic bed burner “Between the Sheets” before moving on to “Footsteps in the Dark” followed by 70s classic “For the Love of You” and closed out the set with a showstopping version of “That Lady.”

Along the way the Isleys shared stories about the songs and made several callouts to the legion of popular artists who have sampled them, including Ronald Isley (aka Mr. Biggs) opening “Between the Sheets” with, “I like it when you call me Big Poppa,” in a nod to the late Notorious B.I.G. who sampled the song in his breakthrough hit. 

While the runtime on the concert is just under 13 minutes it stands as an adequate reminder of the power, poise and talent of this iconic band which has been putting out hits for nearly seven decades.

R&B Legend Ray Charles Part of 2021 Country Music Hall of Fame Class

 

Ray Charles Image Courtesy of CMHOF

Nearly two decades after his death Ray Charles is still receiving new honors and accolades for a brilliant
music career that spanned styles, genres and generations. 

The latest honor for the blind virtuoso, perhaps best known for his piano driven soul music that combined an eclectic mix of jazz, gospel and the bules, comes from the Country Music Hall of Fame which cited his 1962 album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” as a major reason for the selection.

“With his landmark 1962 album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” the soulful singer and pianist put his own indelible stamp on country songs, broadening the music’s appeal and audience,” read an announcement from the CMHOF. “He made country music a significant part of his repertoire from that point forward, collaborating frequently with country artists, such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.”

Following its release, the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and propelled his collaboration with Nelson on “Seven Spanish Angels” to the top of the country charts.

The announcement went on to acknowledge the entertainer, who lost his sight when he was 7-years-old, “overcame barriers of disability and race to transform American popular music, becoming one of the most revered and recognized entertainers in the world.”

Joining Charles in the class of 2021 are mother-daughter duo the Judds, veteran session drummer Eddie Bayers and pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake.

For Charles, who died in 2004 of complications from liver disease at the age of 73, the induction is just the latest in a long line to halls of fame eager to honor his contributions to music. He was already a member of the Rock and Roll, Grammy, Rhythm & Blues, National Black Sports & Entertainment and Georgia Music Halls of Fame. 

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Online Betting the Next Frontier for Billionaire Music Mogul Jay Z

 

Source @michaelrubin / Instagram

A week after Jay Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation joined other new investors to secure $325 million in order for the the e-commerce powerhouse Fanatics to expand its offerings into gaming, ticketing and media, after dominating the sports apparel market — the billionaire music mogul has teamed up with Fanatics founder Michael Rubin to form Fanatics Sportsbook.

“Jay-Z and 76ers’ owner Michael Rubin are applying for a gaming license to form Fanatics Sportsbook, in what would be the newest and latest sportsbook in New York, per source,” ESPN writer Adam Schefter wrote in a tweet on Monday (August 16). “The process is expected to take a few months, but a big business could be growing.”

Jay-Z and 76ers’ owner Michael Rubin are applying for a gaming license to form Fanatics Sportsbook, in what would be the newest and latest sportsbook in New York, per source. The process is expected to take a few months, but a big business could be growing.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2021

TMZ and several other publications confirmed Schefter's reporting, with the online entertainment magazine stating that according to its sources Jay-Z might be the group's (which also includes sports betting tech company Kambi) secret weapon:

Not only is he the most prominent public figure applying for a license, but he's the only Black applicant. While the other corporations might have Black employees or execs, they aren't the actual licensees... whereas Jay would be.

Even so the competition will be stiff for a betting license with the likes of DraftKings, BetMGM,  FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook and WynnBET, in the mix for what will reportedly be just two licenses granted by the New York State Gaming Commission. The commission had until January 6, 2022, to select the successful bidders.

Success is never guaranteed but the dynamic duo have a winning history working together in business as well as for social causes. In addition to Jay Z's investment into Rubin's Fanatic, which helped push the company's valuation to $18 billion, they are both founding members of the Reform Alliance,  a criminal justice organization whose mission involves "fighting for the justice and dignity of people who are needlessly trapped in the criminal justice system."

Today, we celebrated the signing of our historic probation reform bill in Virginia. Thank you @GovernorVA @DonScott757 @JusticeFwdVa @ACUFforJustice @FaithandFreedom for helping us Give Life Back! @michaelrubin @MeekMill @RobertRooks5 pic.twitter.com/WvVc8ghNAA

— REFORM Alliance (@REFORM) June 10, 2021