In her latest documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, Dawn Porter crafts a striking profile of a singular musician. That Luther Vandross, who died in 2005, hasn’t gotten the documentary treatment until now is surprising considering his imprint on the music industry. Vandross — a true multi-hyphenate — sang, arranged and produced records for himself and other iconic artists. He worked with David Bowie, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, for example. He wasn’t just popular with fans for his velvety voice and romantic numbers; he was beloved by industry stalwarts, some of whom appear in Porter’s documentary. Even for those familiar with the “Never Too Much” crooner, Porter’s project is essential viewing.
Premiering at Sundance, Luther: Never Too Much is a trove of archival material. Porter uses rehearsal footage, concert videos, old interviews with Vandross and newer ones with his friends and family to tell the musician’s story. The...
Premiering at Sundance, Luther: Never Too Much is a trove of archival material. Porter uses rehearsal footage, concert videos, old interviews with Vandross and newer ones with his friends and family to tell the musician’s story. The...
- 1/22/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While he rarely wrote tunes for other artists in the 1970s, John Lennon co-wrote David Bowie’s “Fame.” The tune’s other writer said that it was inspired by a 1960s doo-wop classic. Today, that doo-wop song is far less famous than “Fame” is. The connection between the two songs is surprising because they don’t sound like each other very much.
David Bowie and John Lennon wrote ‘Fame’ with an artist who worked with James Brown
“Fame” was co-written by John, Bowie, and frequent Bowie collaborator Carlos Alomar. During a 2020 interview with The Intercept, Alomar said the tune was based on a riff from The Flare’s “Foot Stompin’.” “Taking from my past history of working with James Brown, I decided to approach it like that,” he recalled.
“I’d thought of putting some licks down and by that time David had showed up with John Lennon and [his girlfriend] May Pang,...
David Bowie and John Lennon wrote ‘Fame’ with an artist who worked with James Brown
“Fame” was co-written by John, Bowie, and frequent Bowie collaborator Carlos Alomar. During a 2020 interview with The Intercept, Alomar said the tune was based on a riff from The Flare’s “Foot Stompin’.” “Taking from my past history of working with James Brown, I decided to approach it like that,” he recalled.
“I’d thought of putting some licks down and by that time David had showed up with John Lennon and [his girlfriend] May Pang,...
- 1/15/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Two classic rock stars helped write David Bowie’s “Fame”: Bowie himself and John Lennon. Looking back on the song, Bowie said it was inspired by John’s attitude toward art. Both rock stars were part of a border movement that shook the art world to its core. Notably, “Fame” was much more popular in the United States than it was in the United Kingdom.
David Bowie’s ‘Fame’ was inspired by a conversation he had with John Lennon
The three writers behind “Fame” were Bowie, John, and Carlos Alomar. Alomar is a rock and soul musician known for collaborating with Bowie and Mick Jagger. According to American Songwriter, Bowie gave an interview to MTV in 1995. In it, he discussed working on the song with John. “It came out of a conversation that we had,” Bowie recalled.
“He would rifle the avant-garde and look for ideas that were so on the outside,...
David Bowie’s ‘Fame’ was inspired by a conversation he had with John Lennon
The three writers behind “Fame” were Bowie, John, and Carlos Alomar. Alomar is a rock and soul musician known for collaborating with Bowie and Mick Jagger. According to American Songwriter, Bowie gave an interview to MTV in 1995. In it, he discussed working on the song with John. “It came out of a conversation that we had,” Bowie recalled.
“He would rifle the avant-garde and look for ideas that were so on the outside,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The second David Bowie World Fan Convention hit New York in June, featuring some of David Bowie’s closest collaborators in music, film, and fashion. Vocalist, songwriter, model, and actor Ava Cherry sang on some of Bowie’s most transformative records, and changed his outlook on music, fashion, and nightlife. From 1974 to 1978, Cherry was one-third of Bowie’s vocal backing trio, appearing onstage, in the studio, and on all TV appearances. Cherry and Bowie’s relationship was even closer than that, beginning as lovers, and enduring as friends.
According to the autobiography All That Glitters, written by Cherry and Lisa Torem, Ava was raised in Chicago, taking a job at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion when she was 17 years old, before moving to New York and working at the nightclub Genesis. This is where she met Bowie, who asked her to provide backing vocals on an upcoming tour in Japan.
According to the autobiography All That Glitters, written by Cherry and Lisa Torem, Ava was raised in Chicago, taking a job at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion when she was 17 years old, before moving to New York and working at the nightclub Genesis. This is where she met Bowie, who asked her to provide backing vocals on an upcoming tour in Japan.
- 8/29/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This year’s David Bowie World Fan Convention took place in New York City. Over several nights in several locations, musicians and other players who worked with David Bowie spoke with fans about the golden years. One creative concept which was reinforced over the weekend is how Bowie chose to work with artists who were as curious, experimental, and funny as himself. No one fits that bill as much as guitarist, composer, arranger, and natural raconteur Carlos Alomar.
Born in Puerto Rico, and raised in the Bronx, Alomar is a New York institution. He made cultural history when he was 17 as the youngest guitarist in the history of Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, going on to join the house band. The guitarist met Bowie in 1974 and stepped right into the recording of Young Americans. Alomar brought in singers like his wife, Robin Clark, who brought in Luther Vandross, who brought songwriting chops to the sessions.
Born in Puerto Rico, and raised in the Bronx, Alomar is a New York institution. He made cultural history when he was 17 as the youngest guitarist in the history of Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, going on to join the house band. The guitarist met Bowie in 1974 and stepped right into the recording of Young Americans. Alomar brought in singers like his wife, Robin Clark, who brought in Luther Vandross, who brought songwriting chops to the sessions.
- 8/7/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
David Bowie and John Lennon were two essential stars of the 1970s. Bowie emerged as a star in the late 1960s and signaled a shift from the casual rock of The Beatles to the more glamorous rock of the 70s. Still, Lennon was an inspiration to him, and Bowie was heavily influenced by a piece of songwriting wisdom the former Beatle gave him.
David Bowie received helpful advice for songwriting from John Lennon
Bowie was a massive fan of Lennon and was thrilled to work with him on his 1975 song “Fame”. The track was co-written by Bowie, Lennon, and Carlos Alomar. Bowie took on lead vocals for the song, with Lennon providing backing vocals and guitar. Bowie was already a household name at the time, but his collab with Lennon proved to be a massive hit, especially in the U.S., where it hit No. 1 on the charts.
“Fame” was...
David Bowie received helpful advice for songwriting from John Lennon
Bowie was a massive fan of Lennon and was thrilled to work with him on his 1975 song “Fame”. The track was co-written by Bowie, Lennon, and Carlos Alomar. Bowie took on lead vocals for the song, with Lennon providing backing vocals and guitar. Bowie was already a household name at the time, but his collab with Lennon proved to be a massive hit, especially in the U.S., where it hit No. 1 on the charts.
“Fame” was...
- 7/23/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Celebrating David Bowie tribute tour is headed back on the road this fall with a lineup that includes Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Spacehog’s Royston Langdon, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, and Jeffrey Gaines.
“David Bowie was a master,” Langdon says in a statement. “It’s impossible to put into words quite how much he taught me. It gives me a huge thrill to get to honor Mr. B. & to be a small part of this immense celebration of his life & work with these world-class musicians and everyone, who like...
“David Bowie was a master,” Langdon says in a statement. “It’s impossible to put into words quite how much he taught me. It gives me a huge thrill to get to honor Mr. B. & to be a small part of this immense celebration of his life & work with these world-class musicians and everyone, who like...
- 6/6/2022
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
The first-ever David Bowie World Fan Convention has been scheduled to take place in Liverpool on June 17th to 19th, 2022, a weekend that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the late singer’s classic 1972 LP The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
The convention — organized by Soundcity and the David Bowie Glamour fanzine — has so far recruited Bowie collaborators like longtime guitarist Carlos Alomar, backup singer and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, Young Americans vocalist Robin Clark, Blackstar saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and drummer Woody Woodmansey, the...
The convention — organized by Soundcity and the David Bowie Glamour fanzine — has so far recruited Bowie collaborators like longtime guitarist Carlos Alomar, backup singer and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, Young Americans vocalist Robin Clark, Blackstar saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and drummer Woody Woodmansey, the...
- 6/17/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
David Bowie’s pianist, Mike Garson, is spearheading a virtual tribute to the late musician, A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day!, which will air on the idol’s birthday, January 8th, 2021, and feature performances from Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, and more.
The lineup of guests also includes Perry Farrell, Joe Elliott, Gavin Rossdale, actor Gary Oldman, Macy Gray, Ian Astbury, Lizzy Hale, Gail Ann Dorsey, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Lena Hall, and Judith Hill. Anchoring the show will be an all-star band of musicians who played with Bowie over the course of his career,...
The lineup of guests also includes Perry Farrell, Joe Elliott, Gavin Rossdale, actor Gary Oldman, Macy Gray, Ian Astbury, Lizzy Hale, Gail Ann Dorsey, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Lena Hall, and Judith Hill. Anchoring the show will be an all-star band of musicians who played with Bowie over the course of his career,...
- 10/27/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
U2’s SiriusXM channel U2 X-Radio will go live on Wednesday, July 1st at 3:00 pm Et with an extensive programming slate that includes unheard offerings from the band’s vast music vault and new shows hosted by Bono and The Edge.
The Edge’s show, Close to the Edge, will feature the guitarist chatting with fellow musicians like Tom Morello, David Byrne and Carlos Alomar, along with artists and other prominent cultural figures. Bono, meanwhile, will spearhead Bono Calling. According to a press release, that program will “explore seven questions about life,...
The Edge’s show, Close to the Edge, will feature the guitarist chatting with fellow musicians like Tom Morello, David Byrne and Carlos Alomar, along with artists and other prominent cultural figures. Bono, meanwhile, will spearhead Bono Calling. According to a press release, that program will “explore seven questions about life,...
- 6/30/2020
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Trending Tropics join with Vetusta Morla, the indie band from Spain, and Carlos Alomar, who worked frequently with David Bowie, on their new disco-rock song “Cyber Monday.” The track will appear on Trending Tropics’ eponymous debut album.
After the warp-speed blast of the group’s lead single, “Elintelné,” “Cyber Monday” is a return to more traditional pacing. The guitar is the focus, high in the mix, playing bright, chicken-scratch lines; the drummer conjures a steady ruckus. During the bridge, Alomar starts playing double time, scrubbing furious funky riffs, and “Cyber...
After the warp-speed blast of the group’s lead single, “Elintelné,” “Cyber Monday” is a return to more traditional pacing. The guitar is the focus, high in the mix, playing bright, chicken-scratch lines; the drummer conjures a steady ruckus. During the bridge, Alomar starts playing double time, scrubbing furious funky riffs, and “Cyber...
- 10/11/2018
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Aretha Franklin, who died on August 16th at age 76, recorded more than 40 full-length albums in her six-decade career. It’s a deep catalog, crowded with indisputable classics and hidden gems. Rolling Stone’s music staff is paying its R.E.S.P.E.C.T.s to the Queen with tributes to our favorite Aretha LPs. Next up: Rob Sheffield on the magic moment when Aretha met Luther.
No star has ever glittered with as much goddess dust as Aretha Franklin in the 1980s. She’d never exactly been low-profile,...
No star has ever glittered with as much goddess dust as Aretha Franklin in the 1980s. She’d never exactly been low-profile,...
- 8/22/2018
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
David Bowie‘s five-decade career went through so many extreme highs and bizarre lows that pinpointing his single worst album may seem like a difficult task. To the singer himself, though, it was quite easy. “My nadir was Never Let Me Down,” he said in 1995. “It was such an awful album. … I really shouldn’t have even bothered going into the studio to record it. In fact, when I play it, I wonder if I did sometimes.”
The 1987 record, packed with cheesy drum machines and synths that would sound painfully...
The 1987 record, packed with cheesy drum machines and synths that would sound painfully...
- 7/24/2018
- by Kory Grow and Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Since his days as a 2003 “American Idol” contestant – and subsequent victor – Ruben Studdard has received one request: cover the music of singer-composer Luther Vandross. Studdard even heard as much from his mother Emily after his “Idol” win. The resemblance of two big men with dynamic tenor voices and winding interpolative skills is certainly striking. Studdard all but sealed his fate in regard to the late Luther when a licensing snafu caused the then-contestant to cover “Superstar,” the 1969 Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell tune for which Vandross lent his grand interpretative skills in 1983.
From the stage of the Keswick Theatre in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Penn. on Saturday, Studdard confessed to all-of-the-above while elegantly channeling Vandross for his “Ruben Sings Luther” showcase. Based on the recently-released Seg Music album of the same name, the “Velvet Teddy Bear” appropriated much of the late tenor’s nuances without mimicking too much of Vandross’ athleticism.
From the stage of the Keswick Theatre in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Penn. on Saturday, Studdard confessed to all-of-the-above while elegantly channeling Vandross for his “Ruben Sings Luther” showcase. Based on the recently-released Seg Music album of the same name, the “Velvet Teddy Bear” appropriated much of the late tenor’s nuances without mimicking too much of Vandross’ athleticism.
- 4/29/2018
- by A.D. Amorosi
- Variety Film + TV
When we celebrated David Bowie's 65th birthday last year, we never would have dreamt of what would happen 12 months on. Back from the (as good as) dead, Db returned with The Next Day and we're only just getting over the shock.
To celebrate his unexpected comeback, BBC Two presents a brand-new documentary about our greatest popstar, and having had a sneak preview, Digital Spy gives you five compelling reasons to watch Five Years.
> Ten Things About... David Bowie
1. Golden Years
The structure of Five Years makes it a lot more interesting than your usual pop doc. Rather than try (and fail) to talk about 50 years of pop superstardom in two hours, the film gives us five year-long snapshots. Year One: 1971-1972 (Hunky Dory to ...Ziggy Stardust), Year Two: 1974-1975 (Young Americans to Station to Station), Year Three: 1976-1977 (Low to "Heroes"), Year Four: 1979-1980 (Scary Monsters... And Super...
To celebrate his unexpected comeback, BBC Two presents a brand-new documentary about our greatest popstar, and having had a sneak preview, Digital Spy gives you five compelling reasons to watch Five Years.
> Ten Things About... David Bowie
1. Golden Years
The structure of Five Years makes it a lot more interesting than your usual pop doc. Rather than try (and fail) to talk about 50 years of pop superstardom in two hours, the film gives us five year-long snapshots. Year One: 1971-1972 (Hunky Dory to ...Ziggy Stardust), Year Two: 1974-1975 (Young Americans to Station to Station), Year Three: 1976-1977 (Low to "Heroes"), Year Four: 1979-1980 (Scary Monsters... And Super...
- 5/24/2013
- Digital Spy
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