Wednesday, March 12, 2008

 

Spotlight: In "Sweet Baby James," James Taylor writes, "Singing works just fine for me." And so does songwriting. His Sweet Baby James album, released in March 1970, was on the Billboard chart for 100 weeks. Taylor's string of hits got him a Time magazine cover in 1971. Through his songs, he told his listeners of many of the life-changing events that formed him. Taylor is credited with launching an era of "new troubadors" in the 70s, including singer/songwriters Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. Happy 60th birthday to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor.

Quote: "If you feel like singing along, don't." — James Taylor

Question of the Day: What is MusiCares?
In 1989, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences established the MusiCares foundation to provide emergency financial assistance to musicians who are in need. The foundation provides a way for musicians to help others in the music community who may need help with addiction recovery, senior housing, medical and other personal issues.

Each year, MusiCares hosts a gala fundraising dinner to honor an outstanding musician who has shown a particular dedication to environmental and humanitarian issues. More

Word of the day: distaff (dĭs'tăf')

1. 1. A staff that holds on its cleft end the unspun flax, wool, or tow from which thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
   2. An attachment for a spinning wheel that serves this purpose.
2. Work and concerns traditionally considered important to women.
3. Women considered as a group.

[Middle English distaf, from Old English distæf : dis-, bunch of flax + stæf, staff.] (© Houghton Mifflin Company)

Today's History:

Salt Satyagraha

• Great Blizzard of 1888: hit the northeastern US, 400 died
• Salt Satyagraha: Gandhi began a civil disobedience campaign against the British salt tax in India with a 241-mi. march (1930)
• fireside chats: FDR began a series of morale-boosting evening radio addresses to the American public (1933)
• Anschluss: Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany (1938)

Today's Birthdays:

Al Jarreau

• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938): father of modern Turkey
• Jack Kerouac (1922-1969): beat generation's author of On The Road; other writers born on this date include Edward Albee (80) and Carl Hiaasen (55)
• Al Jarreau (68): only singer to get Grammy awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B)
• Mitt Romney (61): ex-Massachusetts governor who quit his run for president last month
• Darryl Strawberry (46): played baseball for the Mets and the Yankees