Rock

I first met Ike Turner back in 2001, while I was orchestrating DVD deals. I was looking to land a deal including an Ike and Tina Turner performance, so I got his number from my pimp buddy, Rex. Rex was good friends with Ronnie Turner, Ike’s son. I called Ike, but he didn’t answer, so I left a message. Ike later told me that after he listened to my voice message, he decided that I sounded like a genuine person. That’s the only reason why Ike said he returned my phone call.

Before I met him in person, Ike sent two young ladies to my home to meet with me. He did this to find out if I proved to be a trustworthy person. The two ladies would later return to Ike (with good news, in my favor), and confirm that I was in fact cool. Not long after, Ike and I hooked up. We ended up becoming so cool with one another, that Ike even told me “I wish my son’s were like you”.

After we wrapped the Ike and Tina Turner DVD deal, we stayed in touch. We’d vibe off each other’s music. One day, Ike said to me, “You got good music and I like your rapp’in but you look like a singer man…you should try singing.” He later introduced me to BLUES music, and asked me if I liked it. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t into it. But out of respect for Ike, I listened. “Let’s record an album together,” Ike said. “I’m working on a new album and I want you to be on it.” I was so shocked – I was like, “Yeah let’s do it!” And, before I knew it, we were recording an album together. That album later landed Ike his last Grammy. Continue Reading…

Maybe classic musicians should retire while they are just that. This will surely change the conversation and view of many towards the aging rocker. Well now we know what Liv will look like come old age.

Les Paul passed away yesterday from complications of pneumonia and old age. Most people associate him with inventing the “Les Paul” – the first solid body electric (the Fender Strat was made around the same but it’s really no comparison is it?)

What is more interesting for our blog, is the fact that Les Paul revolutionized the recording industry (or created it according to modern day definitions). He paved the way for artists in all genres to truly express themselves. He can be credited with developing “multi-track” recording.

From Wikipedia.org:

“In 1948, Capitol Records released a recording that had begun as an experiment in Paul’s garage, entitled “Lover (When You’re Near Me)”, which featured Paul playing eight different parts on electric guitar, some of them recorded at half-speed, hence “double-fast” when played back at normal speed for the master. (“Brazil”, similarly recorded, was the B-side.)

This was the first time that multi-tracking had been used in a recording. These recordings were made not with magnetic tape, but with acetate disks. Paul would record a track onto a disk, then record himself playing another part with the first. He built the multi-track recording with overlaid tracks, rather than parallel ones as he did later. There is no record of how many “takes” were needed before he was satisfied with one layer and moved on to the next.

Paul even built his own disc-cutter assembly, based on auto parts. He favored the flywheel from a Cadillac for its weight and flatness. Even in these early days, he used the acetate disk setup to record parts at different speeds and with delay, resulting in his signature sound with echoes and birdsong-like guitar riffs. When he later began using magnetic tape, the major change was that he could take his recording rig on tour with him, even making episodes for his 15-minute radio show in his hotel room.

Later he worked with Ross Snyder in the design of the first 8 track recording deck (built for him by Ampex for his home studio.)” Continue Reading…