BACK IN THE DAY: BROOKLYN MUSIC MILESTONES – APRIL 2016

March 28, 2016 by David K. Moseder

The Manhattan Transfer /photo by Andrea Colombara /courtesy of Wikipedia

April 2, 1975: The re-formed Manhattan Transfer, with the vocals of Brooklyn’s Janis Siegel now prominently featured, release their eponymous debut album. On April 28, the group and album are showcased at The Bottom Line.

April 7, 2015: Long Island University issues a press release detailing plans by Bruce Ratner and Brett Yormark to renovate of downtown Brooklyn’s historic Brooklyn Paramount Theatre and make it a performance venue once again. Ratner and Yormark are the developer and CEO, respectively, of the Barclays Center. The project is estimated to take two years and cost $50 million. The last live shows at the Paramount — Clay Cole’s Easter Parade of Stars — took place in April of 1961.

April 8, 1985: It’s a big day for one of Flatbush’s own as “Leader of the Pack: The Songs of Ellie Greenwich” opens on Broadway. The cast of 19 includes Greenwich and another Brooklynite, Annie Golden, as well as Darlene Love and Patrick Cassidy.

April 17, 1999: East Flatbush native Busta Rhymes’ “What’s It Gonna Be?” peaks at number three among Billboard’s Hot 100 singles. The song, which features Janet Jackson, also becomes both the top Rap and R&B song in the country, making it his most successful single, chart-wise.

Nas /photo by Coup d’Oreille / courtesy of Wikipedia

April 19, 1994: Crown Heights-born rapper Nas releases his debut album, Illmatic. The production team includes one of Brooklyn’s busiest producers, DJ Premier.

April 20, 2013: Five days after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, Neil Diamond makes an uplifting surprise appearance at Fenway Park where he performs “Sweet Caroline” during the Red Sox game. The song has long been the team’s eighth-inning sing-along.

Sweet Caroline-cover art /courtesy Wikipedia

April 28, 1965: Barbra Streisand’s first television special, “My Name Is Barbra,” airs on CBS.

April 28, 1969: With Brooklyn’s Robert Lamm writing half the material and performing most of the vocals, Columbia Records releases the double album, Chicago Transit Authority.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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