Divamensch

I just have one week left on the Grammy theme and I feel it's time to make a confession. I sometimes have a hard time finding a mensch in the list of winners and nominees. There are a couple reasons for this: I have very slight knowledge of the music scene in recent years. By "recent" I mean since the mid-90s. So I see a name like Doja Cat (for example) and that name does not conjure up music in my brain. I see a name like Glenn Miller or Carole King or The Violent Femmes, I

Two English actresses have left us. Samantha Eggar died last week at the age of 86. I first noticed her in an amazing William Wyler movie called The Collector. SUPER CREEPY, it's so good and she's fantastic in it. She got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. And if you think that was creepy, try another movie on her list, David Cronenberg's The Brood. I don't want you to think that was all she did so I'll throw in this commercial. And Prunella Scales just died yesterday at t

I was saddened to read in The Times about the death of soprano Benita Valente at the age of 91. I was lucky to have turned pages for two recitals for her back in Wisconsin - - a shared recital with her beloved friend Tatiana Troyanos and a solo recital a year or so later. She was an exceptionally gifted singer, a lovely voice used in the service of the music. She worked consistently but didn't really hit the big time. Her obit said she never got the recognition she deserved f

Wanda Jackson was a name I hadn't noticed before - - I'm sure she came up in the Ken Burns country music series, or I might have seen her name at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she didn't really stick with me. She was a country or rockabilly singer with a coarse quality to her singing that wasn't typical for a country singer at the time, that's why she's seen as a rock and roll pioneer. This video has a bonus of The Collins Kids singing "Sugar Time." The little boy looks

I heard Baroklyn on October 21, 2025. They're a string-and-piano ensemble led by pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Their name is a clever combo of Baroque and Brooklyn. I heard them playing an all-Bach program, some more or less original Bach and some thoughtful arrangements. They opened with an arrangement of a chorale prelude, "Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf." It was moody and intense with Dinnerstein getting a rich sound out of the piano. They had only the slightest vari

The 2021 Grammy for Best Music Film went to Questlove's documentary Summer of Soul. Did you see it? It was extraordinary. He put together footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and paired it with people talking about the event and the performers themselves thinking back on it. Diva: the performers Mensch: the film itself The performers are all superdivas: Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Freaking Jackson, it go

Soprano Roberta Alexander just died at the age of 76. She sang 85 performances at the Met and was based in The Netherlands, way back to the start of her career (she moved there when she was 23). Here she is singing Samuel Barber's lovely song "Sure On This Shining Night."

I heard The Gesualdo Six on Oct 18, 2025. They're a group of six men who specialize in the music of 16th century composer Carlo Gesualdo. This concert was half Gesualdo and half his contemporary Palestrina. The sextet has two counter tenors, two tenors, a baritone, and a bass. They have exactly the sound I want in early music: clarity coupled with warmth and expression. Also immaculate intonation and a good blend. The program was thoughtfully put together: three sacred works

Whoa that woman was FIERCE. Leiber and Stoller wrote "Hound Dog" for her, which became a big hit for The Pelvis - - she wrote "Ball and Chain," which became a signature song of Janis Joplin. Typical tale for a Black person in the 50s. She invariably wore men's suits so she's also seen as a trailblazer in gender expression.

My brother Howard alerted me to the death of D'Angelo. I'm such a rube - - this is how it played out via text: HIM: D'Angelo RIP ME: Beverly? HIM: Lol, no. The R&B singer silly. I was sad to hear that D'Angelo had died at the much-too-young age of 51 but honestly I was relieved to learn that Beverly D'Angelo was still alive. At the still-too-young-to-die (but more appropriate) age of 73. I asked Howard to send me a couple notable songs by D'Angelo. And WOW.

The 2020 Grammy for Best Historical Album went to It's Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers. One of the other nominees was Prince for 1999 Super Deluxe Edition . Diva: Prince Mensch: Mister Rogers Prince was a diva down to his shoes (his four-inch heels to be precise). And Mister Rogers, was there ever a bigger mensch than Mister Rogers? Here's the official music video for "1999." And since we're talking about the Grammys, I've chosen a clip in which Mister Rogers

I was saddened to read about the death of Diane Keaton at age 79. Love her! She hit the scene in the original cast of Hair and then in...

I recently got a book from the Public Library, Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers by Meredith Ochs. I'm going to devote...

Billie Eilish was the star of the 2019 Grammys. She was only the second artist to win what are classifed as all four major general field...

Patricia Routledge died the other day at the age of 96. She had a long and varied career and will always be remembered for playing...

Stephanie, Karen, and I saw The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay at the Met on Oct 2, 2025. It's a new by Mason Bates with a...

My brother Howard was interviewed a few weeks ago as part of a series called SF Lives. It's a very interesting interview though of course...

My brother Howard alerted me to the death of Jane Goodall, age 91. Her obit in the NY Times is worth reading, what an extraordinary...

I get my Grammy data from (where else) Wikipedia. One stop shopping, and arranged in such a helpful way. I especially love the box on the...

Of course i was curious to see how the high drama moment of Antonio's walk-out panned out. We saw a TMZ-esque shot of him and a...