MusicInfluence.com

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Rock and Roll Tales

867-5309…and the Poor Schmucks Who Actually Owned the Number
In 1981, California-based power pop band Tommy Tutone released the enduring one-hit wonder–“867-5309/Jenny.”
 • Music Influence
Nashville Cats – The Wrecking Crew of the South
The Nashville A-Team is an umbrella sobriquet for the loose collective of ace session musicians who gravitated to the country music capital of the world…
 • Music Influence
Impressions of a Man Named Vince Guaraldi
In 1963, a Bay Area piano player composed the theme for a shelved documentary called A Boy Named Charlie Brown, and in doing so, created a definitive…
 • Music Influence
Hooters, Zombies and My Mother
Halloween is upon us. Let’s do something about Zombies.
 • Music Influence
Screamin' Jay Hawkins--The Father of Shock Rock...and 57 Biological Children
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was famous for performing with props. Contraceptives were not among them.
 • Music Influence
Before there was Mazzy Star…
Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” swept onto the charts in 1994 as if from nowhere, bubbling up like sea foam before retreating into the velvety moonlit…
 • Music Influence
Football Players Rapping About Being Football Players
In the late 80s, it was totally a thing.
 • Music Influence
A Day In Detroit--The Unsolved Murder of Rusty Day
Rusty Day was a Michigan-born singer with an incredible resume. But by most accounts, the opportunities he passed on were even greater than those he…
 • Music Influence
Robert Cotter, Tiger Lily and the Mob
How an album featuring the pre-fame members of Chic spent 50 years in the vaults.
 • Music Influence
Big Rembrandt and The Sugar Shack
Ernie Barnes was an author, an album cover artist and perhaps the only player in NFL history who was paid to paint rather than play. Here's his…
 • Music Influence
Dick Allen--Baseball Hall of Famer; Moonlight Tenor
The temperamental slugger enters Cooperstown the summer. Here's hoping they mention his doo wop band--the Ebonistics--on the plaque.
 • Music Influence
How Woody Guthrie Wrote "Shipping Up To Boston" From Beyond The Grave
Plus a bonus St. Patty's Day playlist.
 • Music Influence
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