James Carr
succumbed to cancer in 2001. Collaborations include O.V. Wright, Steve Cropper, and the writing team of Dan Penn and Chip Moman. Carr's tracks have been covered by
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Genre: R&B/Soul
Artist: James Carr
Song: Love Attack
Album: You Got My Mind Messed Up
Deer Tick
Deer Tick is the Providence, Rhode Island-based Americana outfit of rockers John McCauley (vocals, guitar), Andrew Tobiassen (guitar), Chris Ryan (bass), and Dennis Ryan (percussion). Founded in 2004, the band has two albums to date. Out of nowhere, you could catch yourself humming "Stung," from Deer Tick's 2009 sophomore release
Mamou Sidibé
Malian singer/songwriter Mamou Sidibé (a.k.a. Techno Mamou) was born in West Africa's Ganadugu region, the daughter of musicians (her mother a singer, her father a balafonist). As a child, Mamou studied music rigorously, singing at weddings and baptisms. By the '90s, she was a professional vocalist, and in 2001, she released her first album. Collaborations include Oumou Sangaré and Moussa Koné. "Donso," from her 2009 release Djougouya, is seriously uplifting.
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Genre: World
Artist: Mamou Sidibé
Song: Donso
Album: Djougouya
White Rabbits
Alex Even (guitar), Matt Clark (drums), and Jamie Levinson (drums) round out the now New York-based ensemble. The band's recorded two albums to date and toured with Richard Swift and play it loud.
Jimmy Reed
Blues giant Jimmy Reed was born on a Mississippi plantation in 1925. As a boy, Jimmy was championed by ocal musician Eddie Taylor, who taught him harmonica and guitar. By his late teens, Reed moved to Chicago to begin his career, but WWII's draft board had other plans. Reed served in the Navy for two years, then got married and moved to Indiana. By the '50s, he found work as a sideman and faced rejection from Chess Records, but blues hero Albert King found him a home on Vee-Jay Records and the vinyl started spinning. Eddie Taylor came back, and in 1956, Reed's slow-burn career took off with a string of hits. But Reed suffered from a cocktail of health issues and alcoholism, holding him back from the great heights of success he so deserved. Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Etta James, and The Grateful Dead would go on to immortalize Reed's music. The man of blues passed away in 1976, leaving us with
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Genre: Blues
Artist: Jimmy Reed
Song: Little Rain
Album: The Very Best of Jimmy Reed
Zee Avi
Web phenom singer/songwriter Zee Avi was born in Borneo, a stone's throw from the South China Sea, in the mid-'80s. At 12, she settled in Kuala Lumpur with her folks. As a teen, Avi's original plan was to study law, but she turned her gaze to music and taught herself guitar. After taking some time to study fashion in London, Avi returned to Malaysia, threw herself back into music, and via the Internet caught the world's attention. In the past year, Avi signed with Monotone/Brushfire Records and released her debut. "Is This the End," from her 2009 Zee Avi, is like sugar and daisies.
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Genre: Pop
Artist: Zee Avi
Song: Is This the End
Album: Zee Avi