JOHNNY MAESTRO AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE - Born Johnny Maestrangelo in Brooklyn on May 7, 1939, Johnny Maestro began his career singing with a group from Manhattan called The Crests. Their breakout single was 'Sixteen Candles', which hit #2 on the national charts.

They followed this up with a string of hits, including 'Trouble in Paradise', 'Step by Step', 'The Angels Listened In' and 'Six Nights a Week. After leaving The Crests, Maestro went on the score two Top 40 solo hits in 1961, 'Model Girl' and 'What a Surprise.

In the early '60s, Maestro began working with a New York vocal group known as The Del-Satins. While working the local club circuit, they ran into a seven-piece band called Rhythm Method. The two bands were so impressed with each other that they decided to merge together into what became The Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge soon gained national exposure, thanks in part to their recording of Jim Webb's 'The Worst That Could Happen', which led to a chart-topping Gold Record and a string of television appearances on shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Della Reese. The band followed this up with such hits as 'Welcome Me Love', 'Blessed Is the Rain', 'Your Husband, My Wife' and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. By 1972, The Brooklyn Bridge had sold over 10 million records, and Johnny Maestro had established himself as one of the top vocal performers of his era. During the '70s, The Brooklyn Bridge went through a series of musical and personnel changes. They continued playing in various renditions. In 1989, they released a successful Christmas EP. To this date, Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge continue to sell out shows at various venues around the country.

Performances on YouTube Here and Here.

www.j-maestro-bklyn-bridge.com

MARIAN MCPARTLAND - When considering the long and storied career of Marian McPartland it soon becomes apparent that the remarkable breadth and manner of her accomplishments are, in all likelihood, unmatched in the history of jazz. A pianist and composer gifted with a vast, encyclopedic memory and an intuitive sense of harmony, McPartland has been performing professionally for 65 years now, delighting audiences with her engaging artistry in clubs and concert halls around the globe and on scores of recordings. To millions of radio listeners, she is also the genial host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, the popular Peabody Award-winning National Public Radio program which is celebrating its 25th year on the airwaves. Additionally, McPartland has mentored countless musicians, spearheaded efforts in jazz education and served as one of the best ambassadors of jazz the world has known. From 1952 to 1960 Marian McPartland led a trio at the Hickory House, a nightclub on Manhattan's 52nd Street. On any given night those in attendance might include Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Steve Allen, Oscar Peterson or Artie Shaw, along with musicians like Bucky Pizzarelli and Paul Bley hoping to sit in with the band.

In 1978, Ms. McPartland began hosting Piano Jazz, and was commuting from her home in Port Washington to New York City. Thirty years on, she continues to make the weekly trip to host the longest-running cultural program on NPR, which reaches listeners on 200 public radio stations in 45 states and 24 foreign countries. Winner of the prestigious Peabody Award and the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award, Piano Jazz has also received honors from the New York Festival and the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television. In 2000, McPartland was named one of the American Jazz Masters by the National Endowment for the Arts. In her 25-year long tenure at the label, McPartland has released over 60 albums on Concord Records. Marian was awarded her first Grammy in 2004, a Trustees Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating her work as an educator, writer and radio host. She also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Piano Jazz with a live taping in front of an audience at Kennedy Center, Washington DC on June 4, 2004 with special guest Peter Cincotti. At age 88, she continues to perform for audiences around the world, and, needless to say, talk of retirement confounds the seemingly indefatigable pianist, entertainer and legend who has guests booked for Piano Jazz two years from now.

www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz

EDDIE MONEY- Arriving in the late '70s at the height of album rock's popularity his debut album showed a knack for good, old-fashioned rock & roll delivered with a polished, radio-friendly finesse. During the early MTV era he held onto his audience by filming a series of funny narrative videos for the new medium, something his AOR peers were reluctant to do.

Initially, Eddie Mahoney was going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Brooklyn cop. He attended the New York Police Academy during the early '70s, but at night, he sang in rock bands under the name Eddie Money.

Born in Brooklyn, Eddie lived in Plainedge as a teenager, and he considers that time to be the most formative of his life. "Long Island was the breeding ground; it made me who I am,'' Money says. "Most of what I learned about my craft I learned in high school with (my band) The Grapes of Wrath.''

Eddie decided to pursue his music as a full-time career, so he quit the academy and moved to California. He became a regular at Bay Area clubs, where he eventually caught the attention of legendary promoter Bill Graham. Graham signed on as Eddie's manager, and secured him a contract with Columbia Records. Money released his eponymous debut in 1977. The album yielded the crossover Top 40 hits "Two Tickets to Paradise and "Baby Hold On". The hit single "Maybe I'm a Fool" soon followed. In the early '80s, Money's videos were in regular rotation on MTV, and those clips helped make "Shakin'" and "Think I'm in Love" into major chart hits.

In 1986 Eddie hit the charts again with 'Can't Hold Back'. Featuring the hit duet with Ronnie Spector, "Take Me Home Tonight," and the Top 20 "I Wanna Go Back," the album became a Top Ten smash. Money followed in 1988 with 'Nothing to Lose', which featured the Top Ten "Walk on Water." Two years later, "Peace in Our Time," taken from the 1989 Greatest Hits: Sound of Money, reached number 11.

Eddie Money continues to tour the country rocking audiences with his winning combination of a powerful voice, catchy lyrics, and hook-laden straight-ahead rock and roll. He has even appeared on television shows such as The King of Queens (as himself) and The Drew Carey Show.

Eddie pays homage to 1960's rock on his new album 'Wanna Go Back'. It's the music that 15-year-old Eddie Mahoney and his band, The Grapes of Wrath, played in their live set 'back in the day' here on Long Island.

Eddie Money - http://www.eddiemoney.com/

Eddie Money Performances on Video Here.
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=19972&fr=yfp-t-501 and
http://www.vodpod.com/pod/show_video/169674.

GEORGE "SHADOW" MORTON - Shadow Morton has left an indelible mark in the history of popular American music. He is often credited with popularizing a style of mid 1960's music known as "The Long Island Sound."

Raised in Brooklyn and Hicksville, young Morton was exposed to roving street gangs and motorcycle gangs. Years later, Morton would translate these memories into elaborate musical productions that would capture a universal imagination. Morton entered the music scene of the early 1960's.

Contacting his childhood friend, Brill Building songwriter Ellie Greenwich, Morton talked his way into a demo session. Pulling together a young girl group from Astoria, some local musicians (including a young Billy Joel) and a basement studio in Bethpage, Morton created "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" and presented it to Greenwich's employers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, who loved the track and send Morton into the studio to record the song, and the Shangri-Las were born. Soon after, Morton returned to the studio with the Shangri-Las and recorded, "Leader of The Pack." Morton added sound effects to create an evocative ambiance: "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" with its sounds of waves and seagulls became the romantic summer theme on Long Island beaches, and "Leader of the Pack" with its revving motorcycles and anti-hero protagonist became a classic road song.

Morton is credited with discovering a young folk singer named Janis Ian and producing her controversial hit, "Society's Child." He shopped that song to 22 labels and was turned down by each. It wasn't until he played the song for his friend, Leonard Bernstein, who featured it on a television show, that the song took off and a new artist was born.

Another friend cajoled Morton to drive out to The Action House in Island Park to hear a band known as The Pidgeons. The next day, he recorded the band under the new moniker "Vanilla Fudge" and a new genre was born, "The Long Island Sound". With a blend of heavy organ keyboards and gut-wrenching soul, "You Keep Me Hanging On" topped the charts. Later, Morton added his signature style to The New York Dolls with Too Much Too Soon and punk-glam was born.

Many artists and many classic albums received the Shadow Morton treatment, but more often than not the mercurial Morton removed his name from the project. Still, Morton was known for his ears and his ability to create a new sound as well as a hit record. Here are a few of the artists that received the Morton touch as they rose to stardom: The Rascals (getting them signed to Atlantic Records), Jimi Hendrix (Are You Experienced), The Who (The Kids Are Alright), The Blues Project, The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble (Michael Kamen), Mott The Hoople and Iron Butterfly (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida).

Performances on YouTube .
http://www.limusichalloffame.org/lirock/shadow01.html

PUBLIC ENEMY -Chuck D (born Carlton Ridenhour, 1960) formed Public Enemy in 1982 as he was studying graphic design at Long Island's Adelphi University. Def Jam Records co-founder and producer Rick Rubin heard a tape of Chuck D rapping over a song called 'Public Enemy Number One', and began courting him for the label.

Ridenhour began conceived of a project that mixed sonically extreme production with revolutionary politics. He put together a crew consisting of DJ Terminator X (born Norman Rogers, 1966), fellow Nation of Islam member Professor Griff (born Richard Griffin, 1960) and fellow rapper Flavor Flav (born William J. Drayton Jr., 1959). As the group developed, Flavor Flav functioned as a court jester to Chuck D's booming voice and somber rhymes. Chuck D's friend from his Adelphi student radio days, Hank Shockley, was put in charge of PE's production team, The Bomb Squad.

Public Enemy's debut album "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" was recorded in Hempstead and released on Def Jam records in 1987. A decade later, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2003, it was ranked number 497 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The group's second album, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" put Public Enemy on the map. With the album's mix of avant garde and funk sounds, Chuck D's inspired political rhetoric, and Flavor Flav's comedic raps, hip-hop had now also become a force for social change.

Public Enemy often found itself embroiled in controversy. Critics were uncomfortable when the lyrics for their song 'Bring the Noise' were praised by controversial Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan, and some were outraged when lyrics for 'Fight the Power' (theme song for the Spike Lee film "Do the Right Thing") disparaged such icons as Elvis Presley and John Wayne. Amidst these difficulties "Fear of a Black Planet" was released in 1990 to both positive critical reception and public acclaim that took the album into the pop Top Ten. Their next album, 1991's "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Fights Back" included a re-recording of 'Bring the Noise' with the thrash-metal band Anthrax, which raised their profile among rock audiences.

The band released a remix collection "Greatest Misses" in 1992, and "Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age" in 1994. Chuck D retired Public Enemy from touring in 1995 and formed his own label. The group released the soundtrack to Spike Lee's "He's Got Game" in 1998, "There's a Poison Goin' On" in 1999, and "Revolverlution" in 2002. The member roster has changed over time, but Public Enemy remains a vital force in rap music.

Public Enemy - www.publicenemy.com

Public Enemy Performances on Video Here.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1372497575242532600
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1372497575242532600
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1114042170&fr=yfp-t-471

THE RAMONES - The members of the Ramones joined forces in Forest Hills, Queens in January 1974. They all adopted Ramone as their surname, though they were not actually brothers. The name stemmed from a piece of Beatles trivia; Paul McCartney called himself Paul Ramone in an early incarnation of the group.

Johnny (Cummings) was lead guitarist for the group's entire career. Joey (Jeffrey Hyman) handled vocal chores for the legendary punk outfit. DeeDee (Douglas Colvin) played bass in the original quartet. Original drummer Tommy (Erdelyi), a band member for just over three years, would later become a producer for the group. In 1978 the band asked Marky Ramone (Marc Bell) to fill the drum chair. This put the longest running lineup (Joey, Johnny, DeeDee, Marky) of the band in place, and Marky would perform 1700 shows with the band. Towards the end of the group's twenty-three year run, other "Ramones" (Richie and CJ) would fill out the bass and drummer positions.

Along with acts as diverse as the New York Dolls, Television, Blondie, Patti Smith Group, and the Talking Heads, the Ramones were a focal point of the collective 'punk scene' at the club CBGBs in New York. The group was signed by Sire Records in 1975, and released their eponymous debut (at a cost of about $6000) on April 23rd of 1976, a date many mark as the official beginning of the punk movement. The album would have a profound effect on the future of the music industry. The Ramones subsequent appearance at The Roundhouse in England galvanized the UK punk scene, and inspired members of The Clash (Joe Strummer), The Damned and the Sex Pistols (Johnny Rotten), who all managed to get backstage and meet the band.

Johnny, Joey, DeeDee and Marky starred in the 1979 Roger Corman film "Rock 'n' Roll High School". This lineup also worked with legendary producer Phil Spector on their 1980 album "End of the Century", a collaboration that resulted in the Ramones biggest selling album. In total, the group released 14 studio albums between 1975 and June of 1995.

After a spot in the 1996 Lollapalooza festival reaffirmed the group's relevance after 20 years, The Ramones disbanded. Sadly, Joey Ramone died of lymphoma on April 15, 2001. DeeDee died of a heroin overdose in June of 2002, and Johnny succumbed to prostate cancer in September of 2004. A few months later, the Ramones documentary film "End of the Century" was released to critical acclaim. The Ramones DVD "Raw", produced by Marky, is the first Ramones DVD to go gold. Johnny, Joey, Marky, and CJ appeared as cartoon caricatures of themselves in the popular animated television series "The Simpsons"

Today, Marky and Tommy Ramone are both dedicated to keeping the Ramones legacy alive.

The Ramones - http://www.ramones.com/

Ramones Performances on Video Here
http://www.vodpod.com/pod/show_video/148260 and
http://www.vodpod.com/pod/show_video/94487 and
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=219091&fr=yfp-t-501 and
http://www.vodpod.com/pod/show_video/27635

JEAN RITCHIE - She was born and raised in Viper, Kentucky in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, youngest in a family of fourteen children. Walled in by the rugged Cumberland ridges, the Ritchies and their neighbors farmed their hillsides using primitive methods and entertained themselves with games and ballads handed down through the generations from their Scottish, English and Irish ancestors.

She became the first person to enroll and obtain a degree in social work from the University of Kentucky. In 1947 she moved to New York and worked in the famous Henry Street Settlement as a social worker whose main virtues proved to be her voice and her deeply felt desire to help make a better world.

By 1950, Jean Ritchie was an important figure on the New York folk scene, her influence probably best shown by the fact that dulcimers, almost unknown instruments in New York, were suddenly in demand. She is credited with almost single-handedly reviving interest in the mountain dulcimer and with helping to establish its prominence as more than a regional folk instrument.

As Jean's reputation grew, Oxford Press published Singing Family of the Cumberlands, a book about her family and its music, in 1955 (and still in print today). Nine more books, including the prize winning Celebration of Life, were to follow.

The early 50s continued to be eventful for Jean. She married New York photographer George Pickow and met Jac Holzman, who with a friend, had just started a small record company called Elektra. He asked if she'd consider launching their folk music division. The first record for Elektra and for Jean, was the 10-inch LP "Jean Ritchie, Singing Traditional Songs of Her Kentucky Mountain Family". Since then, she has recorded more than 30 albums for different labels, including her own Greenhays label, which she and George set up in 1979.

In 1996, the Ritchie-Pickow Archive was established at University College, Galway, Ireland. In 1998 the Life Achievement Award was given to Jean by the Folk Alliance. KET, The Kentucky Network honored her with a special about her life and music, "Mountain Born: the Jean Ritchie Story" which aired widely over the PBS network.

The Ritchies have lived in Port Washington since 1956, and have a log house in Viper, Kentucky. Interest in traditional music keeps Jean active performing in more summer music festivals and college dates than ever before. She also finds herself in demand to guest teach at such places as the University of California, Santa Cruz or to serve as artist-in-residence, and has performed extensively for television.

"I believe that old songs have things to say to the modern generation, and that's why they've stayed around. That's also why I am still singing. I'm not afraid to be myself. Agents say you have to change and grow, but I believe you can sing the same songs and sing them better and grow new songs out of the old. I guess if I had to categorize myself or pin down a description of what I do, I'd have to say I'm a carrier of tradition." – Jean Ritchie

RUN-DMC- All three members of Run-D.M.C. were natives of Hollis, Queens. Run (Joseph Simmons) was born on November 14, 1964. D.M.C. (Darryl McDaniels) was born on May 31, 1964. Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) was born on January 21, 1965.

In the early '80s, Run's brother Russell Simmons formed the hip-hop management company, Rush Productions. By the mid-80's, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin formed Def Jam Records. Russell encouraged his brother Joey and his friend Darryl to form a rap duo, which they did, taking the names 'Run' and 'D.M.C.' respectively. After they graduated from high school in 1982, they enlisted their friend Jason to scratch turntables. In 1983, Run-D.M.C. released their first single, 'It's Like That'/'Sucker M.C.'s'. Propelled by an unusual and aggressive sound and powerful, literate vocals, 'It's Like That' became a Top 20 R&B hit, as did their second single 'Hard Times'/'Jam Master Jay'. They released their first full-length album Run-D.M.C. in 1984. By the time of their second album, 1985's King of Rock, Run-D.M.C. had become one of the most popular and influential rap bands in America. Their 1986 album Raising Hell album broke down barriers between rap and rock, particularly due to their cover of Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way', recorded with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. They followed this up with 1987's Tougher Than Leather album, and with a film of the same name. Their 1989 album Back From Hell was their first album not to go platinum. Legal and personal problems caused a 4-year delay until Run-D.M.C.'s next release. In the interim, both Run and D.M.C. had become born-again Christians, which they touted on their new release, Down With the King. The title track became a Top Ten R&B hit, and the album went gold.

After a long break, Run-D.M.C. returned in 2000 with a new album, Crown Royal. In 2002, they released two greatest hits albums, and went on a successful tour with Aerosmith. Sadly, only weeks after the end of the tour, Jam Master Jay was murdered in a Queens studio. Run-D.M.C. was clearly one of the most important acts in hip-hop history. They were the rap band to star on MTV, the first to have both a platinum and a multi-platinum album, the first to receive a Grammy nomination, and the first to become a household name.

Performances on YouTube Here, Here and Here.

www.rundmcmusic.com
www.revrun.com