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Author Archives: Bob Ruggiero
Funk Brother Dennis Coffey’s Scorpio Rises Again
It sounded like the greatest theme song to a gritty ‘70s cops-and-drugs movie that never came out. But in 1971, guitarist Dennis Coffey’s funky, rocking, slashing instrumental “Scorpio” was a million seller, hitting #6 on the Top 40. And it’s … Continue reading
Dave Mason’s Rock ‘n Soul Revue
In his decades-long career, Dave Mason has been a lot of things. Founding member of the seminal band Traffic (which punched his ticket into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), hit-producing solo artist in the ‘70s, and collaborator and … Continue reading
Another Sip of the Lovin’ Spoonful with Steve Boone
It was the evening of August 26, 1966. In the bowels of New York’s Shea Stadium – though only they knew it – the Beatles were preparing for what would likely be one of their final concerts in front of … Continue reading
Posted in Lovin' Spoonful
Tagged Joe Butler, John Sebastian, Steve Boone, The Lovin' Spoonful, Zal Yanovsky
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Gary Lewis is the Real King of the Playboys
It’s fairly unusual for a band to hit #1 on the charts with their very first single – and especially considering they had never even gone on a tour before. But that’s exactly what happened in February 1965 when the … Continue reading
Led Zep’s Fearsome Manager Gets a Book of His Own
Bring It On Home: Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin, and Beyond – The Story of Rock’s Greatest Manager By Mark Blake 304 pp., $27, Da Capo Press As any Led Zeppelin fan who has thumbed through Hammer of the Gods, seen … Continue reading
Eric Clapton’s Life, Loves, & Lean Guitar Strings
BOOK REVIEW Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton by Philip Norman 448 pp., $30, Little, Brown & Co. Among music book scribes, Philip Norman stands near the top in terms of influence and skill. His 1981 Beatles tome Shout! set … Continue reading
Posted in Eric Clapton
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Judy Collins on Stills, Songs, and the Summer of Freedom
As musician couplings go, the romantic tenure of singer/songwriters Stephen Stills and Judy Collins was fairly brief – less than two years in the late ‘60s, as both of their careers were in sharp ascension. She as a folksinger and … Continue reading
