Back in the Day: Brooklyn Music Milestones -November , 2015

November 3, 2015 by David K. Moseder

Nov. 10, 1962: Bobby’s Girl, sung by 18-year-old Brooklyn native Marcie Blane, enters the Top 40 on its way to becoming the number three hit in the U.S. It is blocked from the top spot by juggernauts The Four Seasons and Elvis Presley. None of her six subsequent singles came close to cracking the top 40, but 1964’s Bobby Did is notable in retrospect as an early songwriting effort by then-unknown Neil Diamond.

Nov. 12, 1965: With Brooklyn-born Lou Reed on guitar and lead vocals, The Velvet Underground play their first live gig. The concert, staged at Summit (NJ) High School, reportedly nets the group a whopping $75.

Nov. 13, 1991: It’s a Kings County double bill at the Bottom Line with Kenny Vance, on the eve of re-forming the Planotones and still going strong 24 years later, opening for David Forman, whose self-titled 1976 release was named one of “10 Singer-Songwriter Albums Rolling Stone Loved in the 1970s You’ve Never Heard.”

Nov. 17, 2009: Message to the Other Side (Osirus Part 1) by Ol’ Dirty Bastard (nee Russell Jones of Fort Greene) is released, nearly five years to the day after his death. The album is officially sanctioned by ODB’s family and Wu Tang Clan cohorts.

Nov. 22, 2004: Brits invade Brooklyn as U2 shoots the video for All Because Of You from a moving flatbed truck that concludes with the band crossing the Manhattan Bridge into our fair borough. Later in the day, with MTV cameras rolling, they perform a brief concert under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Nov. 27, 1970: Touring to support their eponymous debut album, Cactus, the brainchild of Brooklyn uber-drummer Carmine Appice and fellow Vanilla Fudge alumnus Tim Bogert, open for Black Sabbath at the Sunshine Inn, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Also on the bill is Steel Mill, featuring 21-year-old Bruce Springsteen.

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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