I really love what I do, playing such a great variety of music on my internet shows.  It gives me an excuse to keep buying a ton of CD’s!!                                                 
       

*Hee-Hee*

I’ve been exposed to music ever since I can remember.  Of course, like most kids, I grew up listening to the radio and watching MTV, VH1, as well as all the really cool music programs like “Solid Gold”.  Did I just date myself?!  ABSOLUTELY!! 

My love for music never really stopped.  I still love all different kinds of music.  I really take my hat off to people like Mick Jagger, Aerosmith, Santana, U2, Billy Joel, Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper…all these people who continue to make great music and are heavily influencing all the newer artists out there today. 

To see people like Michelle Branch and Rob Thomas singing alongside Carlos Santana, or Christina Aguilera singing onstage with The Rolling Stones to me shows how music continues to cross boundaries and transcends genres. 

Country music, which I’ll admit for a while I was not really too big a fan of (SHAME ON ME!!!), but now there seems to be a heavy rock influence in country music, and vice versa.  Listening to people like Carrie Underwood and how about Tim McGraw joining forces with Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi teaming up with Sugarland?! 

I even think back to when Bonnie Raitt added some kick-butt rock and blues, as well as Garth Brooks and…how can we forget Shania Twain?!  “Man I Feel Like a Woman”!  That song ROCKS!!!  And Faith Hill’s “You’re Bringing Out the Elvis in Me”! 

And don’t forget the newbies out there like Kelly Clarkson, who can collaborate with someone like Aerosmith one minute, then Reba McIntyre the next! 

Sugarland, who I mentioned earlier having made music with Bon Jovi, even took the stage with Beyonce at an awards show to add some country flavor to one of her biggest hits,

“Irreplaceable”. 

Speaking of Beyonce...how about all the R&B people like Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, the late Ray Charles and the recently departed Isaac Hayes, just to name a few?

The list is endless. 

You listen to people like John Legend, Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Rihanna and you can absolutely hear a heavy influence of all the greats. 

And we cannot CANNOT abandon Mariah Carey!  Take a listen to people like Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis and even Kelly Clarkson…Mariah is one of the top vocalists in music, PERIOD!  No wonder she’s been the biggest selling female artist of all time.  Her voice is one of a kind!  Definitely up there with Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Gladys Knight. 

And Whitney Houston!  Whitney is HOPEFULLY making some new music, because we all miss that voice of hers! 

And people who play by their own rules like Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne and Pink.  These gals have definitely followed in the footsteps of one of the greatest innovators in music, who continues to keep us entertained…the one and only Cyndi Lauper!  Not only is she an amazing vocalist, and not only are her songs great, but she’s also been known to have her own style and her own unique image.  How many other people out there dyed their hair bright orange? 

I can go on and on and on, but I’d better pace myself before I run into my next blog…or somebody else’s blog! 

Anyway, let me hear what y’all out there think and who some of your faves are!  And keep listening to ISIS Radio as we continue to move onward and upward! 

 One last thing…please don’t forget…be kind to animals. 

Peace. :)  Jay

First...our very first "Ladies of ISIS" has been added to the schedule. Listen tomorrow and Friday at noon. Be sure to listen every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday @ 12 noon for a great variety of entertainment, talk and music.

Second...check out our brand new show schedule!!

Last...listen to all my newly refreshed "Jam Packed", "'80s Flashback", "Sensational '70s", "Rock Steady" and "Easy on the Ears"!!

www. isisradio.net

And a brand new "State of Independence" will be recorded tomorrow evening!!

Peace,
Jay

I received a very nice, unexpected surprise from one of ff Salt's fans in St. Louis...and would like to share it with all my bloggin' buddies....I can't figure out how to embed it here, so I'll ask you to click on the link below...

http://www.slide.com/r/2zRjGgrD4z-fbhti6qmMSX7aK6fb
qhvO?view=original

BIG "Proud" Bob

Some of you might have heard the names Maroon 5, No Doubt and Green Day, just to mention a few.  Pretty successful bunch, wouldn’t you say?  What do they have in common, besides being successful?  They’re all indie groups! 

 What are “Indie groups”???  

     They are bands / artists who are, simply, looking to make it in music.  As we all know, it is extremely difficult to not only score a record contract, but to also find an audience…especially with all the competition out there.  At one time, they had to depend on managers and agents to do all of this for them.  But thanks to the internet, and pages like Myspace, these really hard-working performers are getting it done by themselves.  AND BOY DO THEY DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT!!!  

         For more than two years now, I have been doing an online podcast called “State of Independence”, where I get to play music by some very talented future superstars of music.  So far, I am hearing the next Maroon 5, No Doubt and Green Day…heck, I’m even hearing the new Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Pat Benatar!!  These people are so dedicated and hard-working, not to mention extremely talented, that I’m also featuring them on my other internet radio shows sandwiched in with all the more established artists and bands…and ya know something?  They belong there!  

       So, I’ll be doing weekly music blogs, covering other areas along with spotlighting the Indies.  And there will be NO GOSSIP!!!  I promise you!!  I could care less about who’s having a baby, or who’s getting a divorce, blah-blah-blah...to me, that has NOTHING to do WHATSOEVER with music, or with a person’s talent!  PERIOD!!

In the meantime do check out my radio shows and all other info about me and the bands I play on my websites. 

www.jammnjay.com  

www.isisradio.net 

www.clickcaster.com/jammnjay 

And feel free to contact me, leave me comments, or even make some kind of request just so I know you’re listening.  

Tah-tah! :)  

Jamm’n Jay 

Jeep 48STRAIGHT, the largest sports, music and entertainment event in the U.S., will kick off its summer season on Aug. 22-23 at Diablo Freeride Park at Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, N.J.

The event will be headlined by the 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series, featuring top ranked racers from across the globe battling in dual slalom format for the richest payout in professional mountain bike racing. Competitors such as World Champions Brian Lopes and Eric Carter, as well as National Champions Rich Houseman and Melissa Buhl, are just a few of the elite athletes who have already signed on to make a run for the title. Local professionals and semi-pros will also have a chance to earn spots in the competition through an open qualifier, which will be capped at 75 men and 25 women. Visit www.48Straight.com to register.

Other highlights include a Downhill Challenge Indi-Cross race, where non-elite amateurs and club riders can test their mettle and earn prizes by trying to beat a blistering pace on the Indy Cross track set by one of the top riders in the sport. Off the dirt, guests may take in the Sponsor Expo and Beer Garden with tons of giveaways before settling in for a prime-time free concert featuring Hell's Belles, a world-famous all-female AC/DC tribute band.

I was involved in a recent discussion(in a bar, of course) in which some comparisons were being drawn between Keyshia Cole & Rihanna. In my opinion, the only comparison that applies, is that both are young women. It should really end there.

I am a huge, lifelong fan of R & B, & classic soul music, with its incredible history. After the release of her 1st 2 albums, I feel that Keyshia Cole has the potential to rank among the all-time greats. She is a prodigious talent, with a unique, powerful, & soulful voice, that comes around only occassionally, in a generation. She writes & produces much of her own material(which further seprates her from other comtemporary songbird divas), & her heart can be heard bellowing, in so many of her songs. I find myself captivated by her voice, like few others have ever done.

Rihanna on the other hand, is a typical fly-by-night, pop princess, whose best qualities are displayed on the cover of teen magazines. She is known more because she has a "look" that sells, as opposed to any true musical talent. She's nothing more than a young model, with a few connections, who gave her some catchy songs, that have received commercial airplay. 

Keyshia's look is very raw, & hardcore street(although she seems to be working on that). She's certainly not built like a model, & her neck & arm tattoos make her appear somewhat intimidating & unapproachable, for the "average" fan to embrace. She is not the girl next door, & that image(as the music industry places so much emphasis on image) may be currently holding her potential super-stardom back, somewhat. However, she is so young & clearly has a great deal of personal growth ahead. As she will no doubt continue to make amazing music with her astonishing gifts, her star will continue to grow,  & carve a place for her name, among the greats in R &B/soul history.

I went to Elton's concert in Atlantic City last weekend.   All of like 30,000 seats were filled in the Boardwalk Hall!     We had great seats because my host at Caesars gave me the tix.

Elton was great!    He sang all of his greatest hits with the same passion he had 30 years ago. 

The thing that mostly impressed me was his percussion section which was 3/4 of the band.    I never saw so many new percussion instruments at once, with two drummers.......and one strange instrument looked like a balloon.

He has 30,000 + fans just in little NJ alone.  Times that by 50 states and you got 1.5 million just in the U.S., not including his home country England, and other countries too......yikes!   Imagine what it must be like to be him.

   As someone who spent most of his life involved in music, I'm encouraged to see newer, innovative groups emerging.  I'm further encouraged to see one of your LA bloggers, Lola, approaching music with an open mind. She sees the true value in the evolution of Rock.    

   In order to fully appreciate todays contribution, you should check out the past. As I said in some of my past blogs, I began as a snobby Jazz dude, but once I realized that it wasn't going to pay the bills, I changed my outlook. Tha change began when I got a call from a club owner who knew me. Seems he  hired a R&B soul group to play and their drummer quit. Could I help him out?  I threw my drums in the car and rushed right over. I told the band that I'd take the job until they got a replacement.  Who knew that I'd have so much fun and enjoy their music?  Guess what? It turned out that I was the replacement!

   That started my career as a drummer who could play it all! Jazz, R&B,Country....if it paid the bills I played it!  Best thing that ever happened to me, my musical mind opened up and I flushed snobbery down the toilet where it belonged! 

   Music is either one of two things...GOOD or BAD period!    Since then I've played my share of clubs, concerts, studio work...It was ALL good! Oldies, Classics, all of it.

   My daughter, who is a radio DJ,  gets me to listen to all of the newer groups. I love most of them. She has an Indies podcast which means I get to check out  a lot of creative, talented acts, who are on their way up.  I love it! 

   My only comment is what ever happened to instrumental solos?? Doesn't anybody jam anymore??

Bummer!! 

BIG Bad Bob

misery breakeak its the coolest song i love it

And a reminder that the 2008 All-Star Game will be played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 15.

JOHN 1980: "I'd spent five hours that morning trying to wite a song that was meaningful and good, and I finally gave up and lay down. Then 'Nowhere Man' came, words and music... the whole damn thing, as I lay down. So letting it go is what the whole game is. You put your finger on it, it slips away, right? You know, you turn the lights on and the cockroaches run away. You can never grasp them."

PAUL 1984: "That was John after a night out, with dawn coming up. I think at that point in his life, he was a bit wondering where he was going."

Nowhere Man

He's a real nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.

Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, please listen,
You don't know what you're missin',
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command.

(lead guitar)

He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?

Nowhere Man, don't worry,
Take your time, don't hurry,
Leave it all 'till somebody else
lends you a hand.

Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere man please listen,
you don't know what your missin'
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command

He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.

JOHN 1980: "'I'm So Tired' was me, in India again. I couldn't sleep, I'm meditating all day and couldn't sleep at night. The story is that. One of my favorite tracks. I just like the sound of it, and I sing it well."

I'm So Tired
The Beatles



I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No,no,no.

I'm so tired I don't know what to do
I'm so tired my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get.

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind

I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind