passings
Steve Cropper, guitarist, songwriter, producer, October 21, 1941 – December 3, 2025
Booker T. & the M.G.’s, live, New York, 1991
*****
Phil Upchurch, guitarist, July 19, 1941 – November 23, 2025
With Booker T. & the M.G.’s, “Love and Peace,” live (TV show), published 2010
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago), annual Day of the Dead exhibit
David T. Walker (guitar) with Bernard Purdie (drums), Chuck Rainey (bass), et al., “What’s Going On” (M. Gaye), live, 1993
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
basement jukebox
Cookie Jackson, “Try Love (Just One More Time),” 1961
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
basement jukebox
Betty Harris, “Nearer to You” (written and produced by Allen Toussaint), 1967
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
basement jukebox
Billy Boy Arnold (1935-, vocals, harmonica), “School Time,” 1964
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
basement jukebox
Arlene Bell & The Kenyattas, “There’s Something Wrong With You,” 1977
basement jukebox
Little Esther (Esther Phillips, 1935-1984), “If It’s News to You,” 1957
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
passings
Angie Stone, singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, December 18, 1961-March 1, 2025
Live (TV show), Netherlands, 2000
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reading table
Kakehashi Bridge—
even vines cling for their lives—
I cling like ivy—Matsuo Basho (1644-94), from “Sarashina Travelogue” (translated from the Japanese by Sam Hamill)
passings
Jerry Butler, singer, songwriter, producer, musician, politician, December 8, 1939-February 20, 2025
“For Your Precious Love” (J. Butler, A. Brooks, R. Brooks), 1958
*****
“Only the Strong Survive” (J. Butler, K. Gamble, L. Huff), 1969
*****
“Ain’t Understanding Mellow” (H. Talbert, H. Polk) with Brenda Lee Eager, live (TV show), 1970s
*****
“Let It Be Me” (P. Delanoë, Gilbert Bécaud) with Betty Everett, live (TV show), 2000)
timeless
Solomon Burke (1940-2010) with The Blind Boys of Alabama (vocals), Rudy Copeland (organ), Jay Bellerose (drums), et al., “None of Us Are Free” (B. Mann, C. Weil, B. Russell), 2002
music clip of the day 