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Chris Cain's father- who was born and raised on Memphis' famed blues mecca of Beale Street - imbued his son with a love of the music of Muddy Waters and the three Kings (that would be B.B., Albert, and Freddie). Chris applied those lessons as soon as he first picked
Choice Concerts
The Colgate Country Showdown is the nation's largest country music talent search, and this week the 28th annual edition comes to the Rochester Public Market as part of the Bands on the Bricks concert series. A dozen hopefuls from across the Northeast will gather to perform their music in an
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Playing what he calls "urban hillbilly" music, Wink Kaziah has drawn comparisons to country rebels like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but also pioneering country-rock artist Gram Parsons and current master of the genre Ryan Adams. Backed by his trusty sidemen, Delux Motel, the North Carolina native sings from rough-and-tumble
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John Legend and India.Arie have a lot in common. Both have won Grammys, sold millions of albums, and earned critical and commercial success for their passionate, introspective, compelling form of neo-soul. But both are also socially motivated activists who campaigned for Barack Obama and contribute heavily to efforts aimed at
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For a team that just lost a game 15-0, the members of the Kickball All-Stars are surprisingly upbeat. They've just gotten their butts handed to them by the Tulips and Blue Balls team in Kickball League of Rochester play, but for some reason the All-Stars aren't having much of a problem
Choice Concerts
List some rarities in the world - an honest politician, a good disco song, or, as Homer Simpson once asserted, a sober Irishman. (I'm Irish. I can say that.) Add Danielia Cotton to the list as a young black girl who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. As
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This pairing of modern country mega-stars could be a case of the opening act eclipsing the headliner. True, Aussie Keith Urban has sold tens of millions of albums, racked up 10 country No. 1s, and earned multiple Grammys since his solo debut in 1999. But in 2008, Taylor Swift quite
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For roughly a decade in the late 60's and early 70's, the L.A.-based Grass Roots were one of the most dependable and accessible pop-rock bands on the charts, turning out jangly, hook-laden, and surprisingly complex hits like "Midnight Confessions" and "Temptation Eyes." The Grass Roots provided many rock fans -
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Blueswoman Bonnie Raitt and songstress Norah Jones like Richard Julian so much that they've helped the rapidly developing singer/songwriter accelerate his career. Raitt has provided much musical and business advice, including recommending well known producer Mitchell Froom to man the creation of Julian's latest CD, "Sunday Morning in Saturday's Shoes."
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When soul singer/harmonica player Curtis Salgado learned a few years ago that he had liver cancer and needed a transplant to survive, a lack of health insurance created a scary situation. But Salgado is so beloved and respected in the worlds of blues and soul that numerous musical luminaries -
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Pop-country mega-group Rascal Flatts is currently on something of a hot streak. The trio - vocalist Gary LeVox, guitarist Joe Don Rooney, and bassist/keyboardist Jay DeMarcus - has earned the Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Group award the last eight years. Since forming a decade ago in Columbus,
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On her 2008 independent debut CD "Finding Home," the music of Rochester native Marye Lobb fittingly embodies the many places across the globe that she's called home. After playing in Ireland's County Kerry, Lobb ventured across Latin America, where she absorbed the music of such cosmopolitan cities as Santiago and
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Blues-rocker Chris Duarte and his Stratocaster are close. Very close. The axe was crafted in 1963, the same year Duarte himself was born. Now, after more than three decades into a music career that started in his native San Antonio at the age of 15, Duarte has been known to
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As an original member of the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts brought a country/folk feel to that pioneering Southern rock aggregation. He penned perhaps the band's best-known song, "Ramblin' Man," and helped shift the group's focus from gritty blues to more freestyle formats, especially on the landmark "Brothers and Sisters"
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David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash first came together on stage 40 years ago at a little gathering in upstate New York called Woodstock, and went on to become what some consider the first rock supergroup. That they're still playing together four decades later is quite impressive, especially since
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The reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney is as big as they come in Nashville and beyond, a man who's become the king of middle-of-the-road pop-country. However, that doesn't mean he's resting on his laurels; some of his most recent work includes an adventurous,
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Over the last three decades, Sandi Patty has become one of the greatest, most respected purveyors of contemporary Christian music, with 39 Dove Awards, five Grammys, and a spot in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame to her credit. Born to a devout, musical family, Patty's faith has anchored a
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It's hard to believe that Bob Dylan is pushing 70. Well, maybe not that hard to believe. But on May 24, the great American troubadour turns 68, which means that he was a spry 45 when a group of Rochester musicians, led by the late Chuck Cuminale, first gathered to
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Accordionist Preston Frank's musical lineage spans six generations; his great-great-grandfather began the family's involvement in the sounds of the backcountry swamps of Louisiana, and Preston is also the father of contemporary zydeco star Keith Frank. But while other members of his family were and are stellar musicians, Preston is also
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"Between Jennings and Jones," the last track on Jamey Johnson's CD "That Lonesome Song" pretty much says it all. Although he first made his name as a songwriter - he's already claimed two Academy of Country Music Song of the Year nods - Johnson is quickly emerging as one of
