Tuesday, June 24, 2014

19 Feet to Stardom

For those who have not seen the Academy Award winning documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom, the story of a few of the great background singers who contributed to many of the most popular recordings of our time, hopefully this will encourage you to do so. For those who have seen the film, here is some further research intended to move these wonderfully talented women just a bit closer to the recognition they all so richly deserve. 


Personal observation: of all the wonderful singers featured in this film, the greatest revelation is Lisa Fischer, who seems to not care about stardom but only the sheer pleasure of sharing music. She is an awe inspiring talent who stands on equal footing with every diva from any era of popular music. 

The Look of Love - this one is just magnificent.
Lisa won a Grammy for this song - and then 
chose to recede into the background.
Except when singing with the Rolling Stones with whom she toured many times.
Beneath the Wings of an Angel
Special Performance of The Look of Love
at  20 Feet From Stardom
The Naked Voice of Merry Clayton singing Gimme Shelter
Merry Clayton singing James Taylor's Country Road

Merry Clayton - Southern Man


Merry Clayton - The Shoop Shoop Song
(Original version)
Merry Clayton and Darlene Love sing Lean on Me
Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector - Sleigh Ride
Darlene Love With Bruce Springsteen - A Fine, Fine Boy
Claudia Lennear with Joe Cocker and Leon Russell 1970
Let It Be
An overview of Claudia Lennear, the inspiration for Brown Sugar
Everything I do goin' be funky Claudia Lennear
The ever gracious Claudia Lennear tells her story
Merry Clayton, Tata Vega and Judith Hill are so beautiful




No comments: