David Bowie去世

英國籍歌星、製作人、作曲人、演員David Bowie，元月十日因肝癌病逝於紐約，二天前他剛過69歲生日，。

David Bowie本名David Jones，出生於倫敦南部，和幾個合唱團一起合作之後，1969年他個人以"Space Oddity"成名，此曲1973年在美國發行曾得過15名。

被歸類glam-rock｢華麗搖滾｣歌星(穿著華麗)的David Bowie，曾以搖滾樂劇中的Thin White Duke 及Ziggy Stardust 的概念角色，錄製"The Man Who Sold The World" 與"Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders Of Mars"專輯，獲得相當不錯的唱片銷售量。

1975年的"Young Americans" (#28)及"Fame" (#1-1975)使David Bowie成了排行榜的常客，他另有暢銷曲"Golden Years" (#10-1976)、"Let's Dance" (#1-1983) 及"China Girl;" (#10-1983)陸續進排行榜。

David Bowie也演了好幾部電影，如"The Man Who Fell To Earth" 、"The Hunger"、"The Last Temptation Of Christ" 與 "Just A Gigolo"，1986年他寫了電影"Absolute Beginners."的插曲，還在片中演了一個小角色。

1996年David Bowie被推選進搖滾樂名人堂，1999年法國政府頒藝術獎狀給他，但他拒絕接受英國皇家勳章。

David Bowie第一任妻子(1970-1980)Angie Barnett，即是The Rolling Stones 1973年冠軍曲Angie所講的女孩，1992年他再娶索馬利亞超模與演員Iman，直到去世。

在滾石雜誌2004年的100名搖滾巨星排行榜上，David Bowie獲得第39名。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo

Space Oddity

Lyrics：David Bowie

Music：David Bowie

Ground Control to Major Tom

Ground Control to Major Tom

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom

Commencing countdown, engines on

Check ignition and may God's love be with you

(spoken)

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control to Major Tom

You've really made the grade

And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear

Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare

'This is Major Tom to Ground Control

I'm stepping through the door

And I'm floating in a most peculiar way

And the stars look very different today

For here

Am I sitting in a tin can

Far above the world

Planet Earth is blue

And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles

I'm feeling very still

And I think my spaceship knows which way to go

Tell my wife I love her very much she knows'

Ground Control to Major Tom

Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong

Can you hear me, Major Tom?

Can you hear me, Major Tom?

Can you hear me, Major Tom?

Can you....

'Here am I floating round my tin can

Far above the Moon

Planet Earth is blue

And there's nothing I can do.'

唱片界名人Robert Stigwood

經紀人、唱片公司老闆Robert Stigwood元月四日去世 (81歲)。

1934年出生於南澳洲Adelaide的Robert Stigwood，二十歲時就移民到英格蘭，後來開了一家劇場經紀公司Robert Stigwood Associates Ltd，之後Robert Stigwood開始和製作人Joe Meek合作，他的事業開枝散葉到英國其他行業，其中包括擔任搖滾樂團代理商，他簽下the Who 及 Cream兩個大牌合唱團，而且從那以後有了知名度，1967年Robert Stigwood又當了the Bees Gees的經紀人，最後Bees Gees也成了Robert Stigwood的RSO唱片公司旗下合唱團。

Robert Stigwood後來在倫敦推出搖滾樂劇，包括英國版的"Hair" 、"Oh Calcutta"、 "Evita" 與 "Pippin"，並且在"Jesus Christ, Superstar" 、"Tommy"、 "Saturday Night Fever" 及 Grease"這些有名的電影當製作人。

在Robert Stigwood帶領之下，1973-1983年Bees Gees的歌唱事業達到巔峰狀態，其中電影"Saturday Night Fever"的插曲Night Fever，曾於1978年獲得八周排行榜冠軍，也是Bees Gees在排行榜上名次最好的歌。

喜歡Bees Gees合唱團的歌迷們，應該對Robert Stigwood和 RSO唱片公司的名字不陌生。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op5FxEs1aR0

Night Fever

Songwriters: GIBB, BARRY ALAN/GIBB, MAURICE ERNEST/GIBB, ROBIN HUGH

Listen to the ground:

there is movement all around.

There is something goin' down

and I can feel it.

On the waves of the air,

there is dancin' out there.

If it's somethin' we can share,

we can steal it.

And that sweet city woman,

she moves through the light,

controlling my mind and my soul.

When you reach out for me

yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

then I get night fever, night fever.

We know how to do it.

Gimme that night fever, night fever.

We know how to show it.

Here I am,

prayin' for this moment to last,

livin' on the music so fine,

borne on the wind,

makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.

We know how to do it.

Gimme that night fever, night fever.

We know how to show it.

In the heat of our love,

don't need no help for us to make it.

Gimme just enough to take us to the mornin'.

I got fire in my mind.

I got higher in my walkin'.

And I'm glowin' in the dark;

I give you warnin'.

And that sweet city woman,

she moves through the light,

controlling my mind and my soul.

When you reach out for me

yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

then I get night fever, night fever.

We know how to do it.

Gimme that night fever, night fever.

We know how to show it.

Here I am,

prayin' for this moment to last,

livin' on the music so fine,

borne on the wind,

makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.

We know how to do it.

Gimme that night fever, night fever.

We know how to show it.

Natalie Cole去世

1940年代即已開始走紅的已故影、視、歌三棲藝人Nat "King" Cole的女兒Natalie Cole，不幸於2015年的最後一天去世 (65歲)，Natalie Cole曾經有五首歌進過排行榜前十名，是歷年暢銷歌星排行榜第255名的知名歌星 (他的父親Nat "King" Cole獲得第38名)。

Natalie Cole 1950年出生於洛杉磯，她15歲時父親即因肺癌去世，但她母親曾在Duke Ellington樂團演唱，影響她讀大學的時候就開始唱歌，但很難走出父親的影子。

1975年製作人Marvin Yancy與歌手Chuck Jackson在芝加哥發現她的表演很不錯，替她灌了第一張專輯唱片"Inseparable"，並引薦她與Capitol唱片公司簽約，這家公司也是她父親Nat "King" Cole的老東家。

Natalie Cole當年的第一張單曲"This Will Be"獲得了排行榜第6名，第二年Natalie Cole得到Grammys最佳新人獎和 R&B最佳女歌星獎，1977年她的"I've Got Love On My Mind"得到第5名，1978年"Our Love"得到第10名，其它的暢銷曲還有"Pink Cadillac" (#5-1988) 與 "Miss You Like Crazy" (#7-1989)。

1991年Natalie Cole令人印象最深刻的歌"Unforgettable" (#14)，是一首以剪接方式和已故的父親Nat "King" Cole對唱的歌。

Natalie Cole的自傳"Angel On My Shoulder"於2000年出版，寫到他吸毒、戒毒與重新做人的故事，也曾改編拍電視劇。他還現身說法參加一些電視節目的演出。

Natalie Cole曾與製作人Marvin Yancy結婚，小孩已38歲，後來還與Rufus合唱團的鼓手及福音歌曲歌手Andrae Crouch再婚。

除了"Unforgettable"之外，Natalie Cole排行榜名次最高的歌是1977年的"I've Got Love On My Mind"，與1988年的"Pink Cadillac"，都得到排行榜第5名。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uRtNMFfF-g

Unforgettable

-Artist: Nat King Cole

-peak Billboard position # 12 in 1951-52

-also charted in 1954 by the Dick Hyman Trio (#29)

-also charted in 1959 by Dinah Washington (#17)

-also charted in a 1991 "duet" by Nat and his daughter Natalie Cole.

-Words and Music by Irving Gordon

Unforgettable, that's what you are

Unforgettable  though near or far

Like a song of love that clings to me

How the thought of you does things to me

Never before has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way

And forever more, that's how you'll stay

That's why, darling, it's incredible

That someone so unforgettable

Thinks that I am unforgettable too

Unforgettable in every way

And forever more, that's how you'll stay

That's why, darling, it's incredible

That someone so unforgettable

Thinks that I am unforgettable too

製作人走了

唱片製作人Thomas “Snuff” Garrett 12月17日於亞利桑那州Tucson因癌症病逝 (76歲)。

出生於達拉斯的他曾經在Lubbock及Wichita Falls的電台主持節目，在Lubbock時還與搖滾史上知名歌手Buddy Holly結為好友，後來他搬到好萊塢和 Liberty唱片公司簽約，成為一位成功的唱片製作人。

Snuff Garrett於1960-1970年代製作了不少知名的歌曲，如Bobby Vee的Take Good Care Of My Baby，Gary Lewis & the Playboys的This Diamond Ring ，Johnny Burnette的 You’re 16，Vicki Lawrence的The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia，Cher的Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves、Half Breed及Dark Lady，在1983年退休之前他還開了Snuff Garrett 及Viva Records兩家唱片公司。

Snuff Garrett今年11月14日被推薦進入德州廣播名人堂 。

1978年Snuff Garrett替Clint Eastwood的電影Every Which Way but Loose製作了同名的主題曲，Eddie Rabbitt推出後獲得鄉村排行榜第三名(熱門榜第30名)，後來也成為Viva Records的收藏唱片。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlNsPzISWSA

Every Which Way but Loose

Eddie Rabbitt

(Dorff/Brown/Garrett)

I've always been the kind of man who doesn't believe in strings

Long term obligations are just unnecessary things

But girl you've got me thinkin', while I'm drinking one more beer

If I'm headed for a heartache, then why the hell am I still here

I'm testin' my resistance and its wearin' mighty thin

I got the feelin' I should leave before the roof caves in

My mind tells me to move along but my body begs me stay

And now I feel the need to hold you close and love the night away

Chorus:

While you're turnin' me

Every which way but loose

You turn me every which way but loose

Inside the fire's burnin' me

In mind you just keep turnin' me

Every which way but loose

Baby there's no excuse

To turn me every which way but loose

When the sun comes up in the mornin' it should find me someplace new

But right this minute all I want is to lay here next to you

Those memories still keep callin' me from somewhere in my past

Better hurry if they want me cause I can feel me fading fast

(Chorus)

你一定要認識的鄉村歌星

鄉村歌星Merle Haggard 12月2 日因肺炎住院，他取消了四個城市的巡迴演唱，但是希望下週能恢復巡迴演出。

Merle Haggard 1937年出生於加州，1967-1970年曾因偷竊罪在著名的San Quentin監獄坐過牢，但早在1965年他即和Capital唱片公司簽了約，還組了伴唱樂隊The Strangers。

Merle Haggard是鄉村歌壇頂尖的男歌星，1963-2005年有105首單曲進過鄉村歌曲排行榜，其中有38首歌獲得排行榜冠軍。他在熱門歌曲排行榜也有一些暢銷曲，但最高只有1973年的If We Made It Through December，獲得過第28名，但這首歌是鄉村榜的冠軍曲。

Merle Haggard 1970年獲CMA鄉村音樂協會頒發最佳男歌星與最佳藝人獎，1983年與Willie Nelson同獲最佳二重唱獎，1994年進鄉村音樂名人堂，2006年獲得Grammy終生成就獎。

Merle Haggard在熱門歌曲排行榜的第一首進榜歌曲是1969年的Okie From Muskogee，曾獲第41名，也是CMA鄉村音樂協會當年的年度歌曲，2009年他與Willie Nelson的現場合唱仍獲得滿堂彩。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4AgZST_TG8

Okie From Muskogee

Songwriters

     HAGGARD, MERLE / BURRIS, ROY

We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee

 We don't take our trips on LSD

 We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street

 We like livin' right, and bein' free

We don't make a party out of lovin'

 We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo

 We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy

 Like the hippies out in San Francisco do

I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,

 A place where even squares can have a ball

 We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,

 And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all

Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear

 Beads and Roman sandals won't be seen

 Football's still the roughest thing on campus

 And the kids here still respect the college dean

WAnd I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

 A place where even squares can have a ball.

 We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse

 And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all

And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all

 In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.

貝斯手先生

1963年一首由Johnny Cymbal推出，獲得過16名的歌"Mr. Bass Man"，讓歌迷們對唱低音的Ronnie Bright留下深刻的印象，Ronnie不幸於11月26日感恩節當天去世 (77歲)。

Ronald David "Ronnie" Bright 1938年出生於紐約，是一位R&B 與doo wop歌手，曾經在The Valentines, The Cadillacs, The Deep River Boys, 與The Coasters這些合唱團唱過，都是唱低音部分，他最出名的就是Johnny Cymbal 1963年暢銷曲"Mr. Bass Man"裡的低音演唱。

Ronnie Bright 也曾參加過Barry Mann, Jackie Wilson, Peter Gabriel與Johnny Cymbal這些歌壇名人的錄音工作。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMWdFykX_R8

MR. BASS MAN

Johnny Cymbal

(Bop-bop-bop singing by bass voice)

Mr. Bass Man, you've got that certain somethin'

Mr. Bass Man, you set that music thumpin'

To you it's easy when you go 1-2-3, d-d-b-bop-a-bop

(Bass voice: You mean b-b-BOP-p-p-bop bop bop...)

Yeah!

Mr. Bass Man, you're on all the songs

B-did-did-a-boom-boom, B-dit-dit-a-boom-boom-bom

Hey Mr. Bass Man, you're the hidden King of Rock 'n' Roll, d-d-b-bop-a-bop

(Bass voice: No no, b-b-BOP-p-p-bop bop bop...)

It don't mean a thing when the lead is singin'

Or when he goes "Hi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yah"

Hey Mr. Bass Man, I'm askin' just one thing:

Will you teach me?  Yeah, will you sing?

'Cause Mr. Bass Man, I wanna be a bass man too, d-d-b-bop-a-bop

(Bass voice: Try this, b-b-BOP-p-p-bop bop bop...)

Hey Mr. Bass Man, I think I'm really with it

B-did-did-a-boom-boom, a-boom-boom-b-dit-dit-dit-dit

C'mon, Mr. Bass Man, now I'm a bass man too, d-d-b-bop-a-bop

(Bass voice: That's it, b-b-BOP-p-p-bop bop bop...)

(Scat bass duet between Johnny & bass voice)

(repeat "It don't mean a thing", etc.)

(scat duet, fading out)

白潘小手術

唱紅you light up my life成名的Debby Boone說:他父親Pat Boone 11月9日膝蓋動手術，早在2007年他已動過一次類似的手術。

you light up my life原係同名的電影插曲，Debby Boone所唱的版本在1977年曾獲得十周排行榜冠軍，當年是一個排行榜冠軍紀錄，Debby Boone當紅的時候曾來台北在中華體育館演出過，Pat Boone也一同前來，他在台灣也有很多歌迷，名字一般 翻作白潘。

Pat Boone是歷年暢銷歌星排行榜第12名的巨星，1950年代最紅，是當年第二名的紅牌，僅次於貓王Elvis Presley，他是十八世紀美國歷史上名探險家Daniel Boone的直系後人，太太Shirley則是鄉村名歌手Red Foley的女兒。

Pat Boone 1958年畢業於紐約哥倫比亞大學，1957-1960年主持電視節目The Pat Boone Chevy Show，還曾經演過15部電影，他的招牌形象是穿白色鹿皮鞋上節目。1960年代他與四個女兒巡迴演出，也在電台主持基督教節目，演唱福音歌曲，而最終也獲選入福音歌曲名人堂。

在搖滾樂開始發展初期的1950年代，Pat Boone是白人歌迷的偶像歌星，他的暢銷曲有些是翻唱自黑人歌手的R&B流行歌，縱然有些爭議，但不能否認他在歌迷們心目中留有完美的形象。

Pat Boone 有38首排行榜前四十名的暢銷曲，其中成績最好的是1957年獲得過七周冠軍的Love Letters In The Sand。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENzT9k1LRs

Love Letters In The Sand

Pat Boone

Words by Nick and Charles Kenny and Music by J. Fred Coots

On a day like today

We passed the time away

Writing love letters in the sand

How you laughed when I cried

Each time I saw the tide

Take our love letters from the sand

CHORUS

You made a vow that you would ever be true

But somehow that vow meant nothing to you

Now my broken heart aches

With every wave that breaks

Over love letters in the sand

Now my broken heart aches

With every wave that breaks

Over love letters in the sand