Auralize this...

I listen to this...

  • Blogger picks on The Hype Machine
  • My music library on Last.fm
  • New Releases on Lala.com

Friends of this...

  • ***skye media online***
  • CD Baby
  • INXS
  • Kenna
  • Moss Mobile Music
  • SongwriterUniverse
  • studioexpresso
  • Vic du Monte's Persona Non Grata

Resource this...

  • Acclaimed Music - The most recommended rock albums and singles of all time
  • American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
  • American Federation of Television & Raido Artists (A.F.T.R.A.)
  • AMG All Music Guide
  • ASCAP
  • BMI
  • Los Angeles Music Network (LAMN)
  • National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.)
  • National Association of Record Industry Professionals [NARIP]
  • New On The Charts
  • RhymeZone
  • SESAC
  • U.S. Copyright Office

Respect this...

  • What's The Download
  • VH1 Save the Music
  • musicunited.org

Roll this...



Surf this...

  • AOL Radio
  • The Hype Machine
  • MTV.com
  • VH1.com
  • LAUNCH: Music on Yahoo!
Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Descriptively unveiling this...

Stevie Wonder kicked off his birthday (May 13) celebrations by unveiling a groundbreaking new music video incorporating description technology at a Los Angeles press conference this past Monday, asking attendees, to, "travel with me and see with your ears," providing the audience with blindfolds to experience the premiere of his new music video, "So What The Fuss."

The debut single from his soon to be released new album, A Time To Love, is the first music video in history to be enhanced with a second, descriptive audio track to be made accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.

Dozens of press conference attendees in both L.A. and satellite-linked New York City, including Wonder's daughter Aisha (who appears on the new album) were treated to the historic, descriptive narration, recorded by hip hop star Busta Rhymes.

"Ten million blind people, as well as those with low vision, will now be able to 'see' music videos," stated Wonder. "Thanks to this new video description technique, passionate music fans that have not been able to share the same experience as sighted fans will now experience music videos in a more complete way, enjoying what is happening visually as well as musically."

Linda Idoni, West Coast Director of Operations for the Media Access Group of WGBH, the Boston Public Television station that collaborated with Wonder and pioneered the video description technology, thanked the artist for his devotion to the project.

"Working with Stevie Wonder has been an amazing process," stated Idoni. "By embracing the video description service, he has created a momentum and energy that will spread the word and knock down doors, making music videos more accessible to many--and some day all--blind and low vision music lovers throughout the world."

Sylvia Rhone, President of Motown, Executive Vice President of Universal lauded Wonder's initiative from the record company's perspective. "This project is another milestone in a long list of humanitarian accomplishments from Stevie Wonder," stated Ms. Rhone. "On behalf of everyone at Universal Motown, I thank Stevie and his collaborators for enabling visually impaired music fans to incorporate their own vision into the music and videos they love."

Busta Rhymes, who begins his effusive narration with the line: "Here's how it's going down ... " stated in a videotaped interview presented at the press conference that he was thrilled to be included in "a revolutionary new standard for how we're going to play this game form now on." Speaking about the actual process of recording the narration in Wonder's LA studio, Rhymes joked, "The General (Wonder) cleared the room and said: just give it to me like you're talking to me."

Wonder's support of the video description technique stems from his lifelong appreciation of the visual arts. "I remember when I'd be watching movies with my brother when I was a boy," Wonder told the audience.

"I always used to bug them, 'tell me what's going on. Tell me what's happening.' Well, music fans don't want to be asking people every five seconds what's happening in their favorite videos either. For me, this whole process is indicative of the spirit behind A Time To Love. There's a time to talk about what you plan to do, and there's a time to actually do something and make a difference. I believe that anything that you can visualize in your mind that's for the good of mankind is truly worth seeing fulfilled. It's my joy to be the first, but this breakthrough is far bigger than me."

Wonder says he and the Media Access Group of WGBH are currently enlisting other artists to incorporate descriptive narration into their future music videos, with plans in the works for Wonder to include the feature in his yet-to-be announced second single/video.

May 25, 2005 in Busta Rhymes, Current Events, Stevie Wonder | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Harmonicizing with this...

Not something you get to see everyday. Bruce Willis--my favorite celebrity Bush supporter--on the harmonica accompanying B.B King at Friday's taping of "Genius:  A Night for Ray Charles" which will air on CBS on Friday, Oct. 22, one week before the opening of "Ray."

Famed blues guitarist and singer B.B.King (R) along with actor and musician Bruce Willis perform 'Hard Times' during a taping of the CBS television network special 'Genius A Night to Remember' honoring the late legendary musician Ray Charles in Los Angeles October 8, 2004. The television special hosted by actor Jamie Foxx , featured performances by Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Elton John , Norah Jones and Reba McEntire among others and is scheduled to be telecast on CBS in the United States October 22. Foxx portrays Charles in the new drama film 'Ray' set to open in the United States October 29. REUTERS/Fred Prouser REUTERS
Famed blues guitarist and singer B.B.King (R) along with actor and musician
Bruce Willis perform 'Hard Times' during a taping of the CBS television
network special 'Genius A Night for Ray Charles' honoring the late
legendary musician Ray Charles in Los Angeles October 8, 2004.
REUTERS/Fred Prouser REUTERS

Then again, it's not everyday you get to see Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman, Al Green, Elton John, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Reba McEntire, Usher, Bruce Willis, and Stevie Wonder perform on the same stage in one night.

The best performance, IMMO, was "What'd I Say" by this...

Singer Al Green dances as he performs 'What'd I Say' during a taping of the CBS television network special 'Genius: A Night For Ray Charles' honoring the late legendary musician Ray Charles in Los Angeles October 8, 2004.  The television special hosted by actor Jamie Foxx, featured performances by <br />
Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Elton John , Norah Jones and B.B. King among others and is scheduled to be telecast on CBS in the United States October 22. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Singer Al Green dances as he performs "What'd I Say"
during a taping of the CBS television network special
"Genius: A Night For Ray Charles."
REUTERS/Fred Prouser

I was a little disappointed they didn't finish the night with an ensemble performance of "Hit the Road Jack," but other than that it had all the makings of a proper musical tribute.  If you're a Ray fan, or just a music fan, you don't wanna miss this...

Yahoo has more photos if you want more preview to this...

Originally posted on Drink this...

October 12, 2004 in Stevie Wonder | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Don't be blind to this...

I went to a screening of "Ray" last night and all I can say is WOW! 

Powerful, emotional and Jamie Foxx is unbelievable--like Oscar-winning unbelievable--at no point during the movie did I feel like I was watching Foxx and not Ray Charles.

Ray

A must see for any fan of music or anyone moved by the story a talented but troubled soul making remarkable achievements while struggling to overcome unthinkable obstacles.

Synopsis of this...

The Ray Charles movie is the never-before-told, musical biographical drama of an American legend. Born in a poor town in Georgia, Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven shortly after witnessing his younger brother's accidental death. Inspired by a fiercely independent mother who insisted he make his own in the world, Charles found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered incorporating gospel, country, jazz and orchestral influences into his inimitable style. As he revolutionized the way people appreciated music, he simultaneously fought segregation in the very clubs that launched him and championed artists rights within the corporate music business. "Ray" provides an unflinching portrait of Charles' musical genius as he overcomes drug addiction while transforming into one of this country's most-beloved performers.

I'm super psyched now for Friday's taping of the tribute concert with performances by Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Al Green, Elton John, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Reba McIntire, Usher and Stevie Wonder which will air on CBS on Oct. 22 at 9:00PM ET/PT.

Originally posted on Drink this...

October 06, 2004 in Kenny Chesney, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Navigate this...

  • annoying
    got-tallglassofmilk-3-5-06

    answerthis-sm

    About • Contact • Last.fm

    Google
    Image courtesy of racefans.net


    WWW Drink this...

Recent Posts

  • Profile: tallglassofmilk
  • Music industry mourns the death of this...
  • 2nd time's a charm and charmed I was by this...
  • Random selections from the library of this...
  • PREVIEW: Nas' album that wasn't titled this...
  • Michael Jackson holds hands with Akon in this...
  • Dream a little dream of this...
  • Busted for the machete in this...
  • Jackson comes back for a thrilling performance of this...
  • Comedian busted for concealing this...

Recent Comments

  • Carey Wells on Music industry mourns the death of this...
  • tallglassofmilk on 2nd time's a charm and charmed I was by this...
  • PigMundt on 2nd time's a charm and charmed I was by this...
  • seincer gotti on House of Dereon sued for non-payment to this...
  • Jack on Michael Jackson holds hands with Akon in this...
  • Justice on Michael Jackson holds hands with Akon in this...
  • coffee maker on Chesney's tractor is sexy to this...
  • sir jorge on Mos Def presents this...
  • Texas Newspapers on Van Halen names son the new bass player for this...
  • roxy on Dream a little dream of this...

Categories

  • Aaron Carter
  • Aaron James Whisnant
  • Akon
  • Albert Hill
  • Audioscrobbler
  • Awards
  • Beanie Sigel
  • BET
  • Beyoncé
  • Busta Rhymes
  • Covering this...
  • Current Events
  • Dallas Austin
  • David Geffen
  • Denny Doherty
  • Dezeray's Hammer
  • Duran Duran
  • Fabolus
  • Forever Rotate this...
  • Garth Brooks
  • Gary Glitter
  • Gavin DeGraw
  • George Michael
  • Gnarls Barkley
  • Goldfrapp
  • Hip Hop Bootcamp
  • Holly McNarland
  • Industry of this...
  • Israel Ramirez's Murder
  • iTunes
  • Jack FM
  • James Bond
  • Jay-Z
  • Johnny Cash
  • Kanye West
  • Katt Williams
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Kevin Federline
  • LeAnn Rimes
  • Lionel Richie
  • Live Shows and Concerts
  • Luther Vandross
  • Lyrics
  • Mariah Carey
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Memphis Bleek
  • Michael Jackson
  • Missy Elliott
  • Mos Def
  • Music
  • Music Memes
  • NAS
  • Omarion
  • Ray Charles
  • Rock Star: INXS
  • Rock-Stapp Sex Video Scandal
  • Ruben Studdard
  • Shakir Stewart
  • Shawn "Tubby" Holiday
  • Shirley Bassey
  • Shooter Jennings
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Suge Knight
  • The Source
  • Train
  • Trisha Yearwood
  • Van Halen
  • Young Buck

Archives

  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • July 2008
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • April 2006

More...