Happy Belated Birthday to John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne . . .

 

Happy Belated Birthday to John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) who is an English heavy metal vocalist, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the pioneering band Black... Sabbath, whose dark and heavy sound has often been cited as key to the development of the heavy metal genre. Ozzy Osbourne left Black Sabbath in 1979 and has since had a successful solo career.

 

Ozzy released 11 studio albums, the first seven of which were all awarded multi-platinum certifications in the U.S., although he has reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions, most recently in 2011, to record the album 13, which was released in 2013. Osbourne's longevity and success have earned him the informal title of "Godfather of Heavy Metal".

 

Osbourne's total album sales from his years in Black Sabbath, combined with his solo work, is over 100 million. As a member of Black Sabbath, he was inducted into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of the band. Osbourne has a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars in his hometown as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards he received the Global Icon Award. In the early 2000s, he became a TV star, appearing as himself in the MTV reality program The Osbournes, alongside wife/manager Sharon and two of their three children, Kelly and Jack.

 

Osbourne, flanked by Philadelphia police officers, leaves Borders in Center City after signing copies of his new autobiography, “I Am Ozzy” on 27 January 2010

 

Osbourne has been married twice and is the father of six children (five biological, and one adopted). He was first married to Thelma Riley from Hall Green, Birmingham, and adopted her son, Elliot Kingsley (1966); together they had Jessica Starshine Osbourne (22 November 1972) and Louis John Osbourne (1975).

 

 

 

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne in Hawaii (2004)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osbourne married Sharon Arden on 4 July 1982 and had three children with her. Osbourne later said that he deliberately married Arden on Independence Day so that he'd never forget his anniversary. Their children are Aimee (2 September 1983), Kelly (27 October 1984) and Jack (8 November 1985). They also took in family friend Robert Marcato after his mother died, but never legally adopted him. Osbourne also has six grandchildren, granddaughters Isabelle and Kitty, and grandson Harry from Jessica, granddaughter Mia and grandson Elijah from Louis and granddaughter Pearl from Jack. He wrote a song for his daughter Aimee, which appeared as a B-side on the album Ozzmosis.

He divides his time between the family's Buckinghamshire mansion in the English countryside, and Malibu, California. Osbourne is a famous supporter of Aston Villa.

   

It was reported by The New York Times in 1992 that Osbourne was a member of the Church of England and prayed before each show. In 2002, Osbourne and wife Sharon were invited to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner by Fox News Channel correspondent Greta Van Susteren for that year's event. President Bush noted Osbourne's presence by joking: "The thing about Ozzy is, he's made a lot of big hit recordings – 'Party with the Animals', 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath', 'Facing Hell', 'Black Skies' and 'Bloodbath in Paradise'. Ozzy, Mom loves your stuff."

 

Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon to take family festival to Mexico in May

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are one of the UK's richest couples, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. They ranked at number 458 in 2005, with an estimated £100 million earned from recording, touring and TV shows. Osbourne has over 15 tattoos, the most famous of which are the letters O-Z-Z-Y across the knuckles of his left hand. This was his first tattoo, created by himself as a teenager with a sewing needle and pencil lead.

Osbourne suffered minor burns after a small house-fire in January 2013. On his 65th birthday on 3 December 2013, Osbourne asked fans to celebrate his birthday by donating to the Royal Marsden cancer charity in London.

 

Happy 66th Birthday OZZY !!  and many, many more . . .

 

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Until next time, remember to help

 “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .

      

Local recording artist,

Chris Hauska debuting his first single on iTunes called . . .

‘Hey Maaya (Just Say Yes)’

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MUSICIAN by Night

GOD Save “The Blues”

 

            

       

Ian McLagan, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Small Faces Keyboardist, Dies at 69 . . .

Ian McLagan, keyboardist for the ‘60s British rock band the Small Faces (known in the ’70s as the Faces), died Wednesday in Austin, Texas. He was 69.

McLagan – a 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – suffered a stroke at his home on Tuesday evening and died in the hospital today. He had been scheduled to open a tour with Nick Lowe in Minneapolis tonight.

Known universally as “Mac” to his friends and fans, the diminutive, high-spirited pianist and organist was also a well-traveled sideman who worked in the studio and on stage with such notables as his Faces colleague Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Bonnie Raitt, among many others.

 

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Born in Hounslow, England, near London, McLagan began his professional career amid the British blues scene of the early ’60s. His first professional work came with the Muleskinners, first as a rhythm guitarist and then as a keyboardist; the act backed touring American bluesmen and opened club dates for the reigning British blues-rock combo of the day, the Rolling Stones.

 

In 1965, McLagan joined the Small Faces, which became one of the most prominent of the flamboyantly dressed “mod” rock bands in the U.K. The group’s hits on Decca and Immediate – featuring McLagan’s distinctive Hammond organ work — included “Sha-La-La-La-Lee,” “All or Nothing,” “Here Comes the Nice,” “Lazy Sunday” and “Itchycoo Park” (which became the band’s biggest U.S. hit, reaching No. 16 in 1967). Their LPs included the 1968 psychedelic concept album “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.”

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Following the departure of lead vocalist Steve Marriott for Humble Pie in 1969, the Small Faces regrouped as the Faces, with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood of the Jeff Beck Group joining the lineup. The group logged three top-30 albums in the U.S. (concurrent with Stewart’s solo popularity); the 1971 set “A Nod Is as Good as a Wink…To a Blind Horse” reached No. 6. The single “Stay With Me” reached No. 17 in 1972. The act disbanded in 1975. (McLagan produced Rhino’s 2004 Faces retrospective “Five Guys Walk Into a Bar…”)

 

Relocating to Los Angeles in 1978, McLagan distinguished himself as a super-sideman. He both recorded and toured with the Stones in the early ’80s, and was a member (with saxophonist Bobby Keys, who died on Tuesday) of Keith Richards and Ron Wood’s touring supergroup the New Barbarians. He supported Dylan on the 1984 tour captured on the album “Real Live.” He was featured on Springsteen’s 1992 albums “Human Touch” and “Lucky Town.”

 

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In L.A., McLagan was a core member of singer-songwriter Pat McLaughlin’s band, which enjoyed a long residency at the Hollywood bar Raji’s. After moving to Austin – long the home of his late Faces bandmate Ronnie Lane — following the 1994 L.A. earthquake, he would himself take up a decade-long Thursday-night gig at the Lucky Lounge on Fifth Street downtown, fronting his group the Bump Band.

 

In his own right, McLagan recorded a pair of solo albums for Mercury and several independent collections on his own Maniac label. In June, he released “United States” on Yep Roc. This year, he was also featured on the debut album by the Empty Hearts, a garage unit featuring former members of Blondie, the Cars, the Romantics and the Chesterfield Kings.

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Ian McLagan, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Small Faces Keyboardist, Dies at 69 . . .

He published a memoir, “All the Rage,” in 1995.

McLagan’s wife Kim – the ex-wife of the Who’s Keith Moon – was killed in a car accident in 2006.

 

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Until next time, remember to help

“SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC”

      

Local recording artist,

Chris Hauska debuting his first single on iTunes called . . .

‘Hey Maaya (Just Say Yes)’

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MUSICIAN by Night

GOD Save “The Blues”

 

                  

         

MUSICIAN by Night, Times are a Changing . . .

No More “Remains Nameless” . . .

It has been a while since my last blog entry;  Unfortunately, I’ve been rather preoccupied in a whirlwind of emotions since the breakup of our Classic Rock Band, “Remains Nameless”. We disbanded a couple of months ago and everyone had, as I was led to believe, gone their own way.  However, to my astonishment, our bass player, guitarist and lead vocalist had alternative plans. 

Eric Shultz on Drums

       

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They apparently sought to remove of our drummer (Eric Shultz) who is one awesome drummer who can play just about any style music and play it well.  Secondly, they also needed to dispense with me because Ronnie (the other guitarist) just didn’t like me or wasn’t comfortable playing with a second guitarist in the band.  He just seemed to be all about himself and how fast and loud he could play.  However, I will not take anything away from his abilities, he’s a very good rock guitarist, I give him all the props.  He just seems to have trouble playing with a second guitarist.  Nothing I played was played well enough for him.  My licks were never played as well as he could play them.  Even the bass player, (Eric K.) told me that Ronnie was difficult to work with for those very reasons. 














 

So, now that “Remains Nameless” is all over with, I’m now working on my own solo act that I am confident will allow me to go ‘LIVE’ sometime in the Spring of 2015.  Until then, I hope to continue playing along with Chris Hauska from time to time whenever he’s in town (Frederick, Baltimore, Annapolis, etc.).  I’ll continue to keep you all up to speed with any of my musical events thru my FACEBOOK page, MUSICIAN by Night.  Until then, “KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE” . . .

Musician by Night . . .

Remains Nameless . . .

http://www.kizoa.com/Video-Maker/d12098860k1969100o1/musician-by-night-w-remains-nameless

Chris Hauska and MBN at “THE REUNION” . . .

 

Last Friday night, July 11th, I had the honor of joining local recording artist Chris Hauska on stage at a Bar & Grille in Frederick, MD called “The Reunion”.  It was one of the greatest times I’ve ever had performing with another solo artist.  Chris is a master musician who has the keen ability to get a crowd up out of their seats and dancing.  Not all artists have that ability.

 

The crowd was full of fellow members of the construction industry that Chris and I happen to be part of.  In fact, back in 2004 Chris and I met thru our construction business relationship where his company at the time (Bovis Lend Lease) and my company (Commercial Hardware of MD, Inc.) were doing a myriad of business together.  He also had another fellow employee who was a vocalist; Steve Ungerbuehler and they actually had a rock band called E.F.T. that they were attempting to get off the ground for some time.

 

Then the three of us played a birthday party for one of our friends but after that, Chris went off on his own.  Actually it was for the better because he became a much better performer/musician thru it all.  Back to Friday night, July 11th at “The Reunion”.  Like I first said, it was a great night and jamming with the likes of Chris Hauska was one of the highlights of my career thus far.

 

We played songs such as;

For What It’s Worth, Free Fallin’, Rockin’ the Free World, Ain’t No Sunshine Where She’s Gone, Sympathy for the Devil, The Weight, Wagon Wheel and many more . . .

The crown went crazy when Chris played Michael Jackson’s . . . “Beat It”.   Chris’ rendition was so unique and funky that everyone just loved it.   “He is a musical genius that’s for sure” per Tara Connell McCarthy .  She just loves that guy !!!

 

I really look forward to the opportunity of playing once again with Chris.  I enjoy his enthusiasm, his approach to entertaining the crowds and I just love to listen to him play his guitar and sing those traditional songs, but in a non-traditional manner like no one else can do.   When I get the chance to join him on stage again, I will play my heart out to make sure his following isn’t disappointed in what they hear from my 6-strings.

 

 

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Until next time, remember to help “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .

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MUSICIAN by Night

GOD Save “The Blues”

Every Friday and Saturday night we sing “The Blues” . . .

 

Johnny Winter Dies at 70 . . .

Johnny Winter Dies At 70, Blues Legend Was On Tour In Europe

Texas blues icon Johnny Winter, who rose to fame in the late 1960s and '70s for his energetic performances and musical collaborations including with childhood hero Muddy Waters, has died. He was 70.

His representative, Carla Parisi, confirmed Thursday that Winter died in a hotel room in Zurich a day earlier. The statement said his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.

He had been on an extensive tour this year that brought him to Europe. His last performance came Saturday at the Lovely Days Festival in Wiesen, Austria.

Blues guitar legend Johnny Winter during his Father's Day appearance at Peconic Bay Winery in 2011.

Winter was one of the most popular live acts of the early 1970s, when his signature fast blues guitar solos attracted a wide following.

His career received a big boost early on when Rolling Stone magazine singled him out as one of the best blues guitarists on the Texas scene. This helped secure a substantial recording contract from Columbia Records and gave him a wide following among college students and young blues fans.

The Rolling Stone magazine named Johnny Winter one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Winter, who was instantly recognizable for his long white hair, worked with some of the greatest bluesmen, producing several albums for Waters and recording with John Lee Hooker. He paid homage to Waters on "Tribute to Muddy," a song from his 1969 release "The Progressive Blues Experiment."

Among the blues classics that Winter played from that era were "Rollin' and Tumblin'," ''Bad Luck and Trouble" and "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl." He also teamed up with his brother Edgar for their 1976 live album "Together."

The loss of Johnny Winter from the Texas Blues Scene is a big loss and he will be missed by all his fans.  It is hard to believe that over 60 years ago in Beaumont, Texas, renowned bluesman Johnny Winter was actually kicked out of the elementary church choir for singing too loudly.  His fans still can’t believe it; neither can I !!

Johnny Winter. Concert in Pontevedra, sick and old still booging . . .

 

The body of the Johnny Winter Firebird guitar features solid mahogany wings, a vintage sunburst finish, and nickel hardware. The Nine-ply mahogany/walnut ...

 

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Until next time, remember to help “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .

      

Local recording artist,

Chris Hauska debuting his first single on iTunes called . . .

‘Hey Maaya (Just Say Yes)’

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MUSICIAN by Night

GOD Save “The Blues”

 

            

       

 

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