5 Artists You Should Know: January

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Sneaking the “5 bands you should know about” in right before the end of January.  This month I’ve tried to mix it up a little and bring attention to four historic bands that are still impacting the music you hear played on the radio today. This month’s throwback bands are as follows: Chicago, Mary O’Hara, The Moments and Nina Simone. The fifth and final band is Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a band to seriously watch out for; these guys are creating great music and art.

The first band, Chicago, can be summed up as baby making music. Chicago’s song “Street Player” was sampled on Pitbull’s, I know you want me. Chicago formed in 1967 under the guise of “The Big Thing” then changed their name to “Chicago Transit Authority” but after the threat of legal action from the actual Chicago Transit Authority the band shortened their name to “Chicago.” Some of Chicago’s major hits include: Color My World, Saturday In the Park, 25 or 6 to 4. I think the key to their success was their application jazz/pop fusion and their full horn section.  They never really broke up and are still playing today with four of the seven founding members still in the band.

Chicago – Street Player

Pitbull – I Know you want me

I really wrestled whether or not to include Mary O’Hara in this months list, but this segment is all about broadening horizons so I figured why not? Mary O’Hara is an Irish singer and harp player. She quickly rose to international fame, and appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, then stared on her own show on the BBC. At age 27 Mary left the music world and became a Nun for 12 years before returning to performing. If you listen to Passion Pit’s song “Sleepyhead,” you can here where they manipulated and sampled Mary O’Hara’s version of “Oró mo Bhaidín.” I feel this example really shows how vast genres of music can translate and compliment others.

Mary O’Hara – Oró mo Bhaidín

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead

The Moments or Ray, Goodman & Brown, hailing from Howard University in Washington D.C. WHATUP!!! The Moments made it back to the top of the charts in late 2009 thanks to Jay-z and Alicia Keys’ song “Empire State of Mind.” The Moments when all is said and done had 27 R&B chart hits including “Love on a two way street” the song being sampled in “Empire State of Mind,” “Jack In the Box,” and “Sexy Momma.” The Moments left to join a larger label in the 1980’s but due to a legal dispute they had to change their name to Ray, Goodman & Brown and continued to record together as recently as 2008.

The Moments – Love on a two-way street

Jay-z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind

In late 2003 “Get By” by Talib Kweli was plastered all over the radio waves. Produced by Kayne West, paid homage to one of the greatest women vocalists of the twentieth century, Nina Simone, or Eunice Kathleen Waymon as is her lesser-known name. Nina struggled throughout the early years of her carrier fighting racism and sexism to become an established singer. Simone was known for her manic depressive behavior during shows, going from extreme happiness to extreme sorry in one set. Needless to say Nina Simone was one of the most passionate singers of all times.

Nina Simone – Sinnerman

Talib Kweli – Get by

I’m not going to lie I originally set out to do a fifth throw back band here but after hearing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros last week I had to write about them. Their full-length album “Up from Below” is my hands down pick for the best cd of 2009. The band started in L.A. and has played all over the country. I really expect to see great things from this band so keep an ear out.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are releasing a 12-part musical as well, it’s pretty trippy, so if you’re not in to that don’t bother watching.

In other notes Vampire Weekend’s new album titled “Contra” was released on the 12^th of January. Citizen Cope has a new single out, it sounds just like his past three albums, which doesn’t make it bad, I just wonder if or how he will grow as an artist. Stacks, I think you should think about laying down a hip-hop 5 bands you should know, because I don’t really dig that deep in to the hip-hop genre. And as always, thanks to Elizabeth for editing this post, udothedishes . . .