Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Today it was announced that Mark Madoff, the son of Bernie Madoff, apparently hanged himself in his New York City apartment. His father was arrested two years ago today. There are accusations about whether or not Mark Madoff and his brother had knowledge about what their father was doing and whether or not they benefited … Continue reading “Madoff Raised a Tragedy”
Today is the thirtieth anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Below are some of the interesting stories about the anniversary, ranging from Lennon’s life at the Dakota to speculation about a Beatles reunion. Follow the links of interest. — Back in the days before cable news channels, most of us learned about John Lennon’s death while … Continue reading “John Lennon Anniversary News Roundup”
On December 9, 1955, Elvis Presley performed “Heartbreak Hotel” for the first time, although he would not record the song until a month later in January 1956. The song would eventually become a hit, but many listeners did not know that the song came from a tragic story. “It’s gonna be my first hit.” According … Continue reading “Lonely Street: The Sad Story Behind “Heartbreak Hotel””
It’s difficult for the modern listener to fully appreciate what Charley Patton’s music must have meant to people who lived when it was made. First is the problem of time. Although we can connect to music before our time, there’s something different between being there in the moment and listening through the earpiece of time. … Continue reading “Charley Patton: Spoonful Blues”
Today is the release date for Bruce Springsteen’s “new” CD/DVD set, The Promise. The songs on the two-CD set mostly were recorded during sessions after 1975’s Born to Run and before 1978’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. But ultimately they were left off the latter album. It’s interesting that the DVD documentary and the … Continue reading “The Promise”