The Women That Made A Difference

I thought I was finished for today, but some thoughts just popped into my head. First, my daughter informed me that Lady Ga Ga is actually spelled Lady Gaga. Of course!!! What an idiot I am...this is what happens when you really don't give a shit about the artist...it is the small attention to detail...but this makes sense, doesn't it...because the first three letters spell the word "gag"...which is what I do when I listen or see her...thank you daughter...
Now, as we all know there are women in music who have made a mark and made a difference. We can go back all the way back to the blues through jazz and rock and list many artists. But today I want to mention just a couple, and for good reason. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, has a board that votes on their inductees every year. Each and every one of those board members should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for not inducting Laura Nyro or Joni Mitchell. I mean, talk about ignorant! Laura and Joni were brilliant songwriters and artists. Laura had many of her songs covered in the 60's by The 5th Dimension and Barbra Streisand to name a few, but as an artist on her own, nobody comes close. There have been artists over the years that have tried to emulate her, but uh uh...no good...keep trying. Laura Nyro, or Nigro, was born and raised in the Bronx. Her very first album called First Songs is a genuine masterpiece and a primmer on how to write gorgeous songs with gorgeous melodies. Joni's first album, Ladies of the Canyon is also in a class by itself. Accompanied by guitar or piano with a very sparse arrangement, allows Joni's craftsmanship to shine through. So, if I ever get lucky and some board member from the Hall reads this, then let me say WAKE THE FUCK UP...YOU PUT IN THE CLASH OVER THESE TWO UNBELIEVABLE WOMEN? YOU ARE ALL OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS. Needless to say there are tons of female artists that made a difference. Just to name a few, in addition to Laura and Joni, you have Ruth Brown, Bessie Smith, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Ellie Greenwich, and dozens more. I'm certain there are obvious ones missing. I list them here because I want all of you to listen to these artists. Listen to their contribution. Some of these artists pre-dated television, and they had to live and die by the radio and their 78's or 45's or if they were lucky, their albums. Remember what I have been saying all along...great artists, great songs, survive without all the hoopla. When I was growing up I was all about listening to great songs. To me, it didn't matter if they were bubble gum type songs, pop songs, blues, jazz, etc., if they were great songs to my ears, then I bought the records. I remember when The 5th Dimension had monster hits with Laura Nyro's "Wedding Bell Blues"...and I bet each and every one of you know this song, but most know it from The 5th Dimension's version, not realizing Laura wrote it. And let's take the song "Woodstock." Yes, Crosby Stills Nash & Young kicked ass with that song on their album Deja Vu. However, did you know that Joni Mitchell wrote it. And she was supposed to appear at Woodstock, but never made it over there. Instead, we received a gift from her about that glorious day and time. The energy in the air during the 60's is very hard to put into words, and even harder to make someone appreciate it. But suffice it to say that during that decade, the music scene exploded with creativity and amazing songs and artists. I have always been an advocate for women's rights and would fight anyone to the death on their rights to receive equal pay, treatment, etc. So for me, realizing how the aforementioned women had to try and make it in a "man's world", makes their accomplishments even more profound. And today the struggle continues for women. No question it is a far better world for the ladies then yesteryear, but their fight will continue for quite some time. All I ask is that you give these ladies of music a chance. Listen to their words, their melodies, their plights, etc. When you take the time to listen, and I mean truly listen, you will come to the realization that today, nobody comes close to what Laura and Joni have done. I have heard many comparrisons over the years that Tori Amos and others like her, are musically gifted. And to some extent, they have talent...but again, not like Laura and Joni. I would love to travel to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I won't set one foot in that door until justice is served on the ladies who deserve it! I must admit, I was also very blessed growing up the way I did for several reasons. First, my mother divorced my father when I was 6 months old. She met a great guy when I was 7 years old and they married. I was already into buying my weekly records on Fordham Road in the Bronx, but my step-father, who I have always called my father, loved music and played everything you can think of. Any given weekend could feature The 4 Seasons and the Herbie Mann and then the Broadway album of West Side Story. This could explain why I have such broad taste as well. In addition, my step-father had a nephew, who was now deemed my cousin Jason, who was my fucking idol. Jason lived with his parents in Pelham in the Bronx, and whenever we went to visit, Jason would play me all the newest groups that nobody ever heard of. Not only did he play them for me, but he could literally make his voice sound like any of the singers on the turntable at the time. Jason played in a blues band where he sang and played harmonica. He was a very special cousin. Since I wasn't a "blood" relation, I offen wondered how I would be accepted. Jason would call my parents and ask them if it was ok to take me into the city, especially the village. He took me all over the place and I saw The Rolling Stones movie "Gimme Shelter" with him. He was absolutely, hands down, the greatest cousin a kid could have. One day my parents told me we were going down to see Jason, as he enlisted in the Navy and was going over to Viet Nam. I didn't understand any of this. There were war protests all over the place, and I always thought of my cousin Jason as a hippie...what was going on? I remember sitting there with the family knowing that Jason was leaving the next day and I cried like a baby in front of everyone. Jason came over to me and took me into his room where I hugged him and kissed him goodbye. Little did I know taht it would be the last time I would see him. When Jason came back from the war, he was a very bad drug addict. He got addicted to heroin over there in the jungle. Not too long after he was home, he overdosed on heroin and my hero was gone from my life forever. As I write these words, the tears are rolling down my cheek...he was just very special to me and my musical education. I'll always remember Jason. Oy Vay, talk about a departure...its amazing what happens when you blog or just write for cathartic reasons...it just goes to show you how much you have up there in your head, just aching to come out. Till next time...