Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
About one billion of us saw Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show. The band is best known for their high-powered Byrds-driven sound. In 1985, they released Southern Accents. The title track "Southern Accents" is a gentle turnaround and one of Tom Petty's most insightful and personal lyrics in his catalogue. This is Petty alongside the brilliant Benmont Tench on piano (Tench is also a great songwriter). Download "Southern Accents."
Buy: iTunes
Genre: Rock
Artist: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Song: Southern Accents
Album: Southern Accents
Dream Ticket Contest: Enter
Tour: Info
Sly & The Family Stone
Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) was born on March 15, 1943, in Texas. When he was a child, he and his family moved west to California where he started singing in a gospel group. He later moved to San Francisco and became a disc jockey and a producer. Sly & the Family Stone was founded around 1966. At Woodstock, the band's performance of "I Want To Take You Higher" is the stuff of legends. Sly's influence on pop, rock and funk is beyond measure. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993. Check out "Babies Making Babies."
Buy: iTunes
Genre: R&B / Soul
Artist: Sly & The Family Stone
Song: Babies Making Babies
Album: The Essential Sly & The Family Stone
Producer: Sly Stone
Site: Visit
The Trews
The Trews are a four-piece rock band from Nova Scotia, Canada. They write great rock songs and "play it loud" live. Den Of Thieves is produced with integrity and 'cojones' by the legendary Jack Douglas. Download "So She's Leaving."
Buy: Amazon.com
Genre: Rock
Artist: The Trews
Song: So She's Leaving
Album: Den Of Thieves
MySpace: Visit
Producer: Jack Douglas
Lila Downs
Lila Downs is a Mexicano singer with a deep, rich voice who was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by way of Oaxaca, Mexico. According to her bio, she writes: "I was born in a small pueblo in Oaxaca. This is where my umbilical cord is buried, so according to tradition, I will always return to this place." She can be heard on the Frida soundtrack and The Three Burials soundtrack, a film directed by Tommy Lee Jones. She is currently touring the U.S. Download "Agua De Rosas."
Mississippi John Hurt
Legendary folk bluesman Mississippi John Hurt was born in 1892. His brother bought him his first secondhand guitar for just over $1. When listening to Mr. Hurt's voice, one can't turn away. The song "Farther Along" was featured in the HBO series Deadwood. In 1999, a non-profit was founded on behalf of The Mississippi John Hurt charities, which--among other things--provides educational opportunities and exposure to folk/blues music to urban and rural children. Download "Farther Along."
Buy: iTunes
Genre: Folk
Artist: Mississippi John Hurt
Song: Farther Along
Album: Complete Studio Recording (3CD)
Visit: The Mississippi John Hurt Blues Foundation
Mieka Pauley
Singer/songwriter Mieka Pauley, a Boston native, has a very listenable and soothing voice and a degree from Harvard. According to her bio, "she puts her guitar in the trunk of her car and does an average of 150 live shows a year criss-crossing the country." "Run" is simple and melodic and you will hit rewind. So, download "Run."
Buy: Amazon.com
Genre: Folk/ Soul
Artist: Mieka Pauley
Song: Run
Album: Elijah Drop Your Gun
Producer: John Alagia