Old-school news, just in time
by Kevin Burton What would you say to Sir Elton John if you could have a moment’s conversation with him today? Now that question may be absurd, or at least rhetorical. If you’re like me and grew up with Elton John in his prime all over the radio, as part of the fabric …
Continue reading “Of Sir Elton John And Seeing Things Clearly”
by Katie Geleff CBC Radio A PhD student in Ottawa has developed a device that allows blind and low-vision students to feel music cues, replacing the need to see them. Instead of having to follow a conductor’s baton, or a teacher’s hand gestures during a lesson, music learners can receive instruction through a …
by Peter D. Kramer lohud.com “Hello, my name is Lachi. Like Versace,” says the woman in the fabulous dress and the beaming smile. Then the New York-based singer-songwriter takes more time than most people, to describe herself. She offers a visual self-description for blind people in her audience, saying she is a Black …
Continue reading “Singer Lachi Lifts Up Her Voice For The Blind”
by Kevin Burton Yesterday was Elvis’s birthday. He was born Jan. 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. And the fact that I used only his first name and you know exactly who I am talking about is one measure of his exalted place in American culture. But how good was he as a musician, …
by Xinhua GUIYANG — During the day, Yang Zhi works as a blind massage therapist, and at night, he is the lead singer of ‘Zhe Er Gen,’ a band that enchants the vibrant streets of Guiyang, capital of southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Bathed in the stage lights, passersby often halt in surprise as four …
by Kevin Burton Whether in jazz, blues, pop or country, the late great Ray Charles was not just comfortable but masterful. Somebody asks you, “quick who was Ray Charles?” You’re probably going to say he was a soul singer. You wouldn’t be entirely wrong but he didn’t see himself that way. He …
by Kevin Burton Today, some updates, passing asides and leftovers from previous posts. When I cook these up together, I call them quibbles and bits. Come and get it!: From my two posts about favorite duets: I can not overstate how much I love much of the work of Paul McCartney. …
Continue reading “Quibbles And Bits: Chiefs An Evil Empire?”
by Kevin Burton I have never seen a picture of Buddy Holly without his thick glasses, but I never have pondered whether he was legally blind until now. He probably was not, by the way, though he had poor vision. More about that in a bit. This comes up today on the …
by Kevin Burton Just broke my rule against playing Christmas music before Dec. 1. Well it’s not a hard and fast rule and I had good reason. On this Christmas album I had a very small singing role. Yesterday was the digital release day for Winter Warmer, the latest project from British …
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