February 11 Tributes: Sheryl Crow, Russ Freeman, Phil Walker

"This Day in Music History", February 11, we celebrate some special birthdays and one very significant and shocking loss. Let's start with the good news.

Sheryl Crow

"All I Wanna Do" Live, Dayton, Ohio, 2009

Happy 50th Birthday to Sheryl Suzanne Crow born February 11, 1962 in Kennett, Missouri, American singer, songwriter, guitarist and winner of nine Grammy awards. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she became a music teacher at a Fenton, MO elementary school by day and a part-time jingle singer, performing with local bands on weekends. After successfully auditioning as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour from 1987 to 1989, she parlayed this into recording background vocals for Stevie Wonder, Belinda Carlisle and Don Henley. 

After he failed debut album in 1992, she became an active member in the casual songwriter circle known as the 'Tuesday Night Music Club' in 1993. Her debut album was re-released as Tuesday Night Music Club and remained obscure until "All I Wanna Do" became a #1 Adult Contemporary hit in the spring of 1994. Singles "Strong Enough" (#5), "Leaving Las Vegas" (#8), and "Can't Cry Anymore" (#22) also made the charts. 

  

        "If It Makes You Happy", Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, 2002

In 1996, Sheryl self-produced her second album, Sheryl Crow, included the hit, "If It Makes You Happy" and won two Grammys Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Album. Sales of the album were banned at Wal-Mart. After employing immigrants, denying unions and exploiting  underpaid workers by denying healthcare, they suddenly got a conscience, apparently. They objected to the 'political activist' side of Sheryl on abortion, homelessness, nuclear war and, specifically, her implications (by name) of Wal-Mart supplying the guns to which children later gain access in the song "Love Is A Good Thing". (Sheryl is also an aggressive campaigner for Breat Cancer as a survivor of the disease herself). 

Other singles from her self-titled LP include "A Change Would Do You Good," "Home" and this one: 

 "Everyday Is A Winding Road" Live, Gilford, NH, 2010

Her first live album, Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live From Central Park, featured appearances by Pat Benetar,  Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks, Dixie Chicks, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. The single "There Goes the Neighborhood" from the album, won her the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Crow's fourth studio album, C'mon, C'mon (2002) spawned the hit "Soak Up the Sun" but it was this song that won her the Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy:

"Steve McQueen" from Sheryl's DVD, C'Mon, America, 2003

She not only is a tasteful electric and acoustic guitarist, but an equally accomplished bassist as seen here in "Anything But Down". Sheryl has sold over 35 million albums worldwide (16 million in the US alone!) and shows no signs of letting up as she turns 50. Her last LP, 100 Miles from Memphis, was released on July 20, 2010. Happy Birthday to a true American treasure... America is short one teacher, but has gained a true rock star.   

Her nine Grammys, on this, the eve of the 54th Grammy Awards Show were:

- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, "Steve McQueen," 2003
- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, "There Goes the Neighborhood," 2000
- Female Rock Vocal Performance, "Sweet Child o' Mine," 1999
- Best Rock Album, The Globe Sessions, 1998
- Female Rock Vocal Performance, "If It Makes You Happy," 1996
- Best Rock Album, Sheryl Crow, 1996
- Best New Artist, 1994
- Record of the Year, "All I Wanna Do," 1994
- Female Pop Vocal Performance, "All I Wanna Do," 1994

Happy 50th, Sheryl

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RUSS FREEMAN

Medley of The Rippingtons' Hits with Russ Freeman, guitarist

Happy 52nd birthday to the founder, leader and guitarist of the popular contemporary smooth jazz group, The Rippingtons, Russell Freeman. Russ was born on this date in 1960 in Galveston, Texas. Raised in Nashville, Russ began playing guitar at age 10, and began his career at age 16 as a studio guitarist via a friend of his father's, studio guitarist, John Pell. After moving to L.A. in 1978, Russ studied at Cal Arts and U.C.L.A. In 1985 he released his debut album Nocturnal Playground.

In 1979, he founded the Rippingtons, whose first lineup for their inaugural album, Moonlighting (1986), featured David Benoit (piano), Brandon Fields, Dave Koz, and Kenny G (saxophones). Kilimanjaro (1988) was the first Rippingtons album to break into the pop charts. Tourist in Paradise (1989) saw a new configuration of the band as Mark Portmann, Steve Bailey  and Jeff Kashiwa joined the band. In 1991, Russ relocated to Colorado and was influenced accordingly with the LP, Curves Ahead (1991) featuring the smooth jazz hit, "Aspen".

Russ and The Rippingtons, "Aspen" Live on B.E.T. on Jazz  

In August, 1992, the group released Weekend in Monaco, which, to date, has been one of their best selling albums. After forming Peak Records in 1994 with his manager, in 1997, the group released Black Diamond, their first record on Russ' label. It debuted at #1 on Billboard's Jazz charts.

In 2006, the group celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing a  two disc set which includes a DVD. Their latest album, Modern Art (2009) was nominated for a Grammy: Best Pop Instrumental Album. category. The Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards have honored Russ with a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Producer Of the Year 2001. The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET, and Best Group 2 years in a row, 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards, in addition to Achievement in Video 2001. He continues to tour with various leading jazz artists in an ever-changing lineup of The Rippingtons.

Happy 52nd Birthday, Russ

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PHILLIP WALKER  (1937-2010) 

 

"Special Built Woman", Phillip Walker Blues Band, Going Back Home

Happy 75th birthday to Welsh, Louisiana's own, Phillip Walker, American blues guitarists best known for his 1959 hit single, "Hello My Darling". Walker was also known for his variety of styles and the changes he would often make for each album he recorded.

Born to a poor sharecropping family, and the seventh of 12 children, he had to work the farm as his father became ill. But music ran in his family (blues guitarist Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown was a second cousin). Phillip couldn't afford a guitar but he constructed his first instrument from a cigar box, using the thinnest wire he could find. He spent every spare minute, when he wasn’t working in the fields or helping herd or brand cattle, learning the instrument. By age 15, he was playing guitar in Houston and other Texas Gulf Coast juke joints. 

 

Phillip reflecting on his humble beginnings and 50 years on the road

Phillip's first recording was made in 1952, at 17, as a sideman with Roscoe Gordon. Phillip met Clifton Chenier in 1953, who gave him his first real guitar. He went on the road with Clifton and his Zydeco band, recording as part of an R&B package including Johnny Otis, Lonnie Brooks, Lloyd Price, Etta James, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Reed & Little Richard. In 1973, Phillip cut his first solo LP, "The Bottom of The Top" for the Hefner Playboy label followed by "Someday You'll Have These Blues" (1976), "Tough As I Want To Be" (1982), "Big Blues from Texas" (1992), and "I Got A Sweet Tooth" (1998).

In all, Phillip recorded 11 albums. His final Studio release was Going Back Home (2007). He died of apparent heart failure on July 22, 2010. He was 73 years old.

 RIP, Phillip

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