Remembering the Talented Harry Belafonte, A Wonderful Legacy

Growing up in a Jamaican household with lots of music, Harry Belafonte was a big part of my parent’s musical culture. As a result, I ultimately come to admire and appreciate Belafonte and his musical talent. Later on, I would go on to briefly meet and work with Mr. Belafonte while I was recording the soundtrack for the movie Beat Street (1984). Mr.Belafonte gave me inspiration and drive during this time seeing his work and talent up close. In honoring his legacy, here at JAMBOX, we have decided to introduce his achievements both musically and culturally.

How to Find the Key: Simple Ear Training

Any musician finds trouble with figuring out keys, it’s normal. Whether you are just starting your musical journey or have been in the business for years, it can be hard. It takes even the most skilled musicians years to finally perfect their ear. Many do struggle with this skill and it takes time to figure out how to do this. With practice and help, you can train your ear to find any key from any song. Whether it be “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or a song by The Migos, you can learn!

Check out this video featuring music Guru & JAMBOX owner, Lee Evans. Lee explores how to find the key of any song. With many years in the industry, Lee, has managed to come up with an easy guide for beginners in their journey. Being self-taught, Mr.Evans, had to learn on his own how to tell keys from others. Simply by playing or hearing others, he was able to pick up some tricks. In this video Lee will teach you how to find the key of any song in any genre using just your ear!

This foolproof method contains a practice ear training section featuring the latest top artists such as Post Malone, Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran.

02/24/2019

     

A Tribute to the Musician Tyrone Powell

He is responsible for arranging, producing, orchestrating AND composing for renowned award-winning shows such as NBC’s “THE OFFICE”, ABC’s “ALL MY CHILDREN”, CBS’s “THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS” and MORE.

Tyrone was a man who dedicated a lot of his time to music related activities. He would play the piano at restaurants, nursing homes, church services, engagements, night clubs, Bar Mitzvahs, you name it! Tyrone had been playing the piano since the age of seven, with a repertoire consisting of about 2000 songs,

With such an extensive musical background, he still managed to acquire a substantial amount of legal experience. In 1996 he began working as an Agency Attorney handling child abuse, neglect cases and permanency hearings in the Family Court.

Not to mention, this Omega Psi Phi Brother graduated cum laude in the top 10% of his law school class. Since then, his career did nothing less than excel.

Serving as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office. He represented New York State Agencies, Judges, public officials, and public
employees.

Tyrone has devoted so much of himself to giving back whether it was through music and entertainment or through the law and legal justice. Ty was an inspiration to us all and we.. his JAMBOX Recording Studios family will miss him dearly.

Our very own Lee Evans talked to Recording Connection about his career,
advice for those who want a career in music, and more. With over three
decades of experience in the music industry, he reveals some of the key
things that have helped make him successful. Evans touches on the
importance of never critiquing an artist without offering them a “fix”.
If you just tell an artist that they sucked, it doesn’t help foster a
good creative relationship between producer and artist. He also
mentioned that “A lot of Artists are a bit insecure about what they want
to do. So you have to make them feel secure about working with you…”
To hear more wisdom, check out the full article.

https://www.rrfedu.com/weekly-report/august-20-2018/

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm an all-female big band that was perhaps one of the few  — and one of the most — racially integrated dance-bands of the swing era.

I thought I should share this amazing female band with you all who are not familiar with The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. I totally was not until I found this article and video amongst others on You Tube.

From the Piney Woods School in the Mississippi Delta to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City, this toe-tapping music film tells the story of the swinging, multi-racial all-women jazz band of the 1940s. A 16 piece band with a strong brass section, heavy percussion, and a deep rhythmic sense, the Sweethearts were not just a novelty but featured many of the best female musicians of the day. Starring Anna Mae Winburn, Ernestine “Tiny” Davis, Vi Burnside, Roz Cron, Evelyn McGee Stone, Helen Jones, Helen Saine, and Pauline Brady, of whom drummer Panama Francis says, “She played drums like a man!”



They were the top female jazz/swing band of the 1940’s. Though they don’t get much recognition and attention like Duke Ellington and Count Basie and never were inducted into the Jazz or Swing or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, these women were just as good as the men and could really swing hot jazz, they were talented and plus beautiful…and here’s the proof. Anna Mae Winburn, the bandleader, led the band with beauty, elegance, style, and glamour. Tiny Davis was the big personality of the band and she could blow…both vocally and trumpet.


There were many female bands in the 30’s and 40’s but the International Sweethearts of Rhythm was number one! All the female bands back then were great, but they never got a chance to be superstars, never got inducted into the Jazz/Swing Hall of Fame because of sexism and racism., Women were expected to sing, not play instruments (maybe piano if anything), arrange, direct, produce, nor write, even today this sexism in music still exists. So these women were pioneers!



The Harlem PlayGirls, Darlings of Rhythm, Ina Ray Hutton and Her Band, Rita Rio and Her Band, Lorraine Page and her Band, Ada Leonard All American Girl Orchestra, Thelma White and Her Girls, Frances Carroll and Her Band, and Ivy Benson and Her Orchestra, all these white and black female bands are pioneers.


However, this band was considered to be the most racially integrated dance-bands of the entire swing era. Latina, Asian, Caucasian, Black, Indian and Puerto Rican women came together and created music that more than held its own in the Swing Era. Take a listen to their music and see footage online. Enjoy this great music, and check out some other videos from the Talented and Beautiful International Sweethearts of Rhythm.