WELCOME TO BLITZ MAGAZINE'S WEB SITE!

JOY: Beloved composer, vocalist, producer arranger and keyboard virtuoso ALICIA WITT (pictured with drummer Toby Caldwell and bassist Amanda McCoy) shared tales of the road during the Ann Arbor, Michigan stop of her most recent tour in December. Michael McDowell has the story under the Previous Posts heading at right. Photo by Michael McDowell. C&P 2024 Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People. All rights reserved.  (Click on above image to enlarge).

WELCOME TO THE INTERET HOME

FOR BLITZ MAGAZINE
SINCE 1975 -
THE ROCK AND ROLL MAGAZINE
FOR THINKING PEOPLE

Welcome to the official web site for Blitz, The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People. Since 1975, Blitz has been the leading voice for the discerning music enthusiast. Blitz Magazine was also one of the first magazines of its kind to embrace the internet, having also been online since January 1996.

Here you will find news and updates about all of the key artists essential to the growth and development of rock and roll music and related genres, including rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and easy listening. For highlights from recent past editions of the Bits And Pieces and Shape Of Things To Come columns, click on the archival postings on the right hand side of this page. Be sure and check back frequently for regular updates.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at BlitzMcD@aol.com.

Michael McDowell
Editor/Publisher
Blitz Magazine
Since 1975 - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People
E-Mail us at BlitzMcD@aol.com for a list of available back issues.

Be sure to follow Blitz on Twitter:

@BlitzMagazine

and

on Facebook at:

Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People

AUDREY'S MUSICAL JOURNEY:

Follow the fascinating and unfolding tale (through her favorite music) of the life and times of Blitz Magazine's late and beloved Photo Editor, Audrey McDowell, as told by her husband, Blitz Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell. A Facebook exclusive! "Like" us on Facebook at Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, and watch for further installments.

IN THE BITS AND PIECES COLUMN:

Their Double Dynamite image served them well, as they turned out some of the most enduring and influential recordings in music history. We salute SAM AND DAVE co-founder SAM MOORE, who succumbed to complications following surgery on 10 January.

Aside from his vast legacy on television and in film, he also established an impressive track record with three singles for Columbia as part of the ambitious duo, the AVANT GARDE and with various solo releases for RCA Victor, Warnter Brothers and Epic. Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell celebrates the legacy of CHUCK WOOLERY, who passed away in his Texas home in November.

In a free standing article under the Previous Posts heading at right, beloved composer, vocalist, producer and keyboard virtuoso ALICIA WITT shares tales of the road during the Ann Arbor, Michigan stop of her most recent tour in December.

The outpouring of grief among the faithful was immediate in the wake of the sudden passing of ONE DIRECTION co-founder LIAM PAYNE from injuries sustained in a fall on 16 October. Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell shares the highlights of Payne's prolific yet tragic brief career.

In a free standing article under the Previous Posts heading at right, Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell recalls the phenomenal career of composer and producer HANS VAN HEMERT, who succumbed to his protracted battle against prostate cancer in October.

IN THE REISSUES / ANTHOLOGIES SECTION OF

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME COLUMN:

Bob Seger And The Last Heard, Dion DiMucci, Bobby Darin, Eric Andersen, Donovan Leitch, Dino Valenti, Billy Joe Royal and P.F. Sloan are among the artists featured on Bear Family's twenty-five track He Took Us By Storm collection, featuring classic original recordings inspired by BOB DYLAN.

Pioneering rocker, Gospel witness extraordinare and virtuoso guitarist SISTER ROSETTA THARPE is the subject of a magnificent collection of heretofore unavailable live recordings from 1966, which are now available on the Deep Digs label.

Roger Maglio's Gear Fab label has once again struck gold with their re-release of Kings, Queens And Jokers, the third (and first deluxe) incarnation of the 1971 debut album by the New Jersey-based VICTORIA.

Once available via the prolific UK-based Cherry Red Records, the 1975 Harvest label third album, Too Many Crooks by veteran country rock band UNICORN is now also available in a deluxe CD reissue on the Texas - based Think Like A Key label.

IN THE NEW RELEASES SECTION OF

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME COLUMN:

Indoor Safari, the all new NICK LOWE album with LOS STRAITJACKETS is rapidly proving to be one of the best new albums of the year. Michael McDowell covers both album and tour support. 

With Half & Half, Bay Area composer and vocalist LARA PRICE has turned in an album on par with her 2015 masterpiece, I Mean Business.

Celebrating her first Chritmas release is the great ALICIA WITT, with her instant classic album, I Think I'm Spending Christmas With You.

Following a few personnel changes, the Northern California - based MONOGROOVE is back with a vengeance with their all new Tje Flip Side album for Tap Tunes Records. 

The tour de force New Jersey nartive known as DEVON MARIE is creating quite a sensation among aficionados of high drama with her brand new Steve Brown-produced single, Miss You Blue.

The CYRKLE is back with a vengeance with their all new, ambitious Big Stir label album, Revival. 

Composer and vocalist AMANDA FISH brings the world to its knees before presenting it  with the ultimate solution in her third and latest Vizztone label release, Kingdom.

With its cerebral approach to the subject of unrequited love, it became an instant classic upon its release on the nineteenth of April. Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell takes a look at the creative process behind The Tortured Poets Departtment, the all new album by TAYLOR SWIFT. 

HANS VAN HEMERT MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

DREAM, DREAM: He went from a sales career for  the Phonogram label to become one of the most remarkable visioaries in all of music, as well as the mastermind behid the beloved vocal supergroup LUV'. We salute the beloved composer and producer HANS VAN HEMERT, who lost his protracted battle aganst prostate cancer in October. Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell has the story below (Click on above image to enlarge).

YOU'RE THE GREATEST:

REMEMBERING PRODUCER / COMPOSER

HANS VAN HEMERT

(1945 - 2024)

By Michael McDowell

In the team approach to recording, there is often a primarily behind the scenes figure whose vision is largely responsible for seeing the project at hand through to fruition.

In short, the team approach involves bringing together the cream of the crop of the respective participants: vocalists, instrumentalists, composers, producers and engineers for optimum results. Such methodology worked particularly well among solo artists in the early days of the recording industry, as exemplified by such giants as Perry Como, Buddy Clark, Doris Day,, Dean Martin, Patti Page and Russ Columbo.

As rock and roll began to assert itself, the behind the scenes figures took on more visible profiles when it became apparent how crucial their input was to the overall process. Among the early leading lights in that capacity were such remarkably gifted visionaries as Alan Freed, Morris Levy, Phil Spector, Berry Gordy, Jeff Barry and the legendary Bert Berns. 

With the advent of the so-called British Invasion and first generation garage rock by the mid-1960s, the focus gradually began to turn towards self-contained bands that were capable of creative autonomy. Ironically, by decade's end, the need for a guiding light along the lines of the aforementioned individals became increasingly apparent as a number of those bands took creative autonomy to excessive levels, disenfranchising some of the faithful in the process.

By the mid-1970s, it was apparent that the resultant excesses had put at least the mainstream contingent into a protracted aesthetic slump. Thankfully, help was on its way in full force via the so-called indie movement and its back to basics front runners. They included Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Clash, Joe Jackson, Black Flag, the Flamin' Groovies and Eddie And The Hot Rods, to name but a few. 

For the most part, those artists made their greatest impact across North America and the UK. In the process, they did much to rescue rock and roll from what the late Monkees lead guitarist Michael Nesmith once termed the Grand Ennui. However, unknown to many within those circles was the fact that concurrently, a substantial like minded movement was sweeping across the European continent. 

With it came a singularity of purpose that differered primarily only in its return to the team approach. But the results were the same, in that the artists in question took the aesthetic level of the art to its greatest heights to date. 

Perhaps no other such visionary made such a widespread and enduring impact in that respect than did the beloved composer, producer, arranger and Voorburg, South Holland native, Hans Van Hemert. 

The son of television director Willy Van Hemert, Hans Christian Willem Van Hemert was by 1965 well entrenched in a career in the sales and promotions division of the Phonogram label. However, his ongoing fascination with the recording studio led him by year's end to a new role as a composer and producer. Among the many artists with whom he worked were first generation garage rock greats Q65, as well as the Motions and psych rock forerunners Group 1850. Van Hemert also recorded five solo singles for Philips and Decca, including 1973's memorable Because Of The Cats.

In 1972, Van Hemert composed the much loved Land Of Milk And Honey for the highly prolific and magnificent duo of Willem Duyn and Sjoukje Lucie van 't Spijker, better known as Mouth And MacNeal. He also produced their superb and endearingly tongue in cheek Hello-a single that same year.

But it was during the late 1970s that Van Hemert achieved his greatest artistic triumph as the founder and primary visionary behind the beloved vocal supergroup Luv'. Like Dave Edmunds, Luv' drew their inspiration from the pioneers that inspired them and took those inspirations to unprecedented heights. In the process, Luv' irrefutably cemented their reputation as one of the premier vocal trios of the twentieth century. 

To be certain, Van Hemert's vision for Luv' could not have been realized without strong vocalists with a keen eye for the vision. Indeed, the founding Luv' line up of Josina "Jose Hoebee" van de Wijdeven, Margareth "Marga" Scheide and Petula Louise "Patty" Brard was nothing short of answered prayer. The results are borne out in abundance throughout the first three Luv' albums, With Luv', Lots Of Luv' and True Luv'. 

Arranged and conducted by Piet Souer and produced by Van Hemert, those first three Luv' albums are nothing short a vocal harmony euphoria enthusiast's dream. Throughout the proceedings, Luv' absolutely soars in such monster classics as My Man, Oh Get Ready, Dream Dream, U.O. Me, You're The Greatest Lover, I Like Candy Kisses, Ooh Yes I Do, Boys Goodnight, the sublime Casanova, their signature single Trojan Horse and the utterly stupendous Saint Tropez.

Ironically and somewhat disconcertingly, the Trojan Horse single remains to date the sole Luv' release in the United States (in 1978 on Polydor, with Life Is On My Side from With Luv' on the flip). Backed majestically by the Hilversum, North Holland-based Beatrix Pipe Band, Trojan Horse finds Luv' retelling the tale from Greek mythology with their trademark impeccable vocal harmonies. That single was augmented by a somewhat surrealistic video in the vein of early Pink Floyd that finds them skipping merrily through such seemingly unlikely settings as a game room and a petting zoo; augmented by an endearing and good natured "hat fight" between Brard, Hoebee and Scheide. Although Trojan Horse met with instant critical acclaim in the United States (including a rave from Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People), the lack of availability here of any of their follow up releases has led to no small amount of ongoing disconsternation among the faithful. 

Also somewhat ironically, Van Hemert's brief affiliation with another vocal trio in its formative stages led to the restructuring of that other vocal trio to the point that they ultimately went on to rank solidly alongside Luv' as one of the greatest vocal trios of the twentieth century. That group, Babe (who in turn were the vision of the duly inspired Peter Koelewijn) came into the forefront in the immediate aftermath of Van Hemert's work with the group. Comprised of group founder Rita van Rooy, Margot van de Ven and Marga Bult, the so-called Mach II version of Babe went on to set the absolute standard of excellence in the genre via such essential and game changing singles as Dolly The Doll, Explosive, (Don't You Ever) Shop Around, Boomerang, Hot Shot, Tommy Is A Winner, Indian Habits and their larger than life signature single, Together In Love Again. 

Meanwhile, Van Hemert pressed ahead prolifically in the studio well into the twenty-first century. Among his more noteworthy later career moments were Patty Brard's spin off group Patty Cash in 1997, and the inspired De Allerliefste Mama En Papa single by his daughter, Hannah and his granddaughter, Britt in 2008. 

Sadly, Van Hermert was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010. Thankfully, he went into remission for a protracted season. However, in July 2023, the disease returned and metastasized throughout his body. 

Despite those formidable challenges, Van Hemert recently gave an extensive interview to Entertainment Business. Therein, in spite of his circumstances, he weighed in with his trademark relentless optimism.

"I'm still in the studio, composing every day", he said.

"I'm still trying to see through what makes today's hits in this completely changed industry. That process continues to fascinate me. I'm not done yet!"

Sadly, Van Hemert's optimism proved to be short lived. He succumbed to his illness in Hilversum on 07 October. The outpouring of grief among his colleagues was both immediate and overwhelming.

"Such sad news", said Babe's Marga Bult.

"A really nice and special person is unfortunately no more". 

Ironically, at the time of Van Hemert's passing, Patty Brard had been in rehearsals with a supergroup that she had put together for live performances in tandem with her birthday celebration in March 2025. The Mega Girls Group is comprised of the absolute cream of the crop of vocal harmony royalty, including Brard, Bult and veterans of such beloved groups as the Dolly Dots, Mai Tai and Frizzle Sizzle.

"I am grateful for the opportunities that (Hans) provided for me at the beginning of my career", said Brard.

"I wish his dear wife, the children and grandchildren a lot of strength and all love".

Hans Van Hemert was 79. 

ALICIA WITT ON TOUR

WEIRD TIME OF YEAR: Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell shares a warm moment with ALICIA WITT at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan in December 2024 as part of her tour in support of her recent I'm Spending Christmas With You album. Witt shares fascinating tales of the road below. Photo by Amanda McCoy. C&P 2024 Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People. All rights reserved.  (Click on above image to enlarger).

CHRISTMAS WILL NEVER END:

ON TOUR WITH

ALICIA WITT

By Michael McDowell

"There is nothing more hazardous than a Christmas album tour".

That according to beloved composer, vocalist, producer and keyboard virtuoso Alicia Witt. Most unexepctedly, she was reminded of that reality the hard way after sustaining an injury during mid-December while on the road in support of her most recent album, I Think I'm Spending Christmas With You.

"My face met with a shining green room door the other day", she said.

"I now have a shiner for the rest of my tour".

Nonetheless, Witt remained resolute that the tour would continue as scheduled. Her determination was borne out in abundance during her return engagement at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the twentieth of December. 

Accompanied by bassist Amanda McCoy (who has worked with such greats as Tanya Tucker and Patti LaBelle) and ace drummer Toby Caldwell (whose extensive credits include Graham Nash and Allison Kraus), Witt sublimely soared through I Think I'm Spending Christmas With You in its entirety. 

McCoy (who doubles impeccably on guitar) and Caldwell both execute proactively and pertiently in anticipation of the album's wide array of emotions. They range from Witt's moving renditions of the standard O Holy Night, Bing Crosby's I'll Be Home For Christmas and her high drama original, Lonely Holy Christmas to such relatively upbeat fare as Weird Time Of Year (executed from the perspective of her constant and charismatic canine companion, Ernest) and her ad hoc salute to Boxing Day, December 26th. McCoy and Caldwell also doubled on backing vocals.

Between numbers, the trio shared their tales of the road. One such adventure reiterated the aforementioned hazards of touring in a manner that is certain to resonate across the board in the indie music community. 

"We're pretty well set on vinyl", Witt told the audience at The Ark, in reference to the availability of her latest release at the prerequisite merch booth.

"But we have no CDs".

Days earlier, Witt had a supply of the CD edition shipped by courier to her on the road. But due to the heavy logistics demands of the Christmas season, the package did not arrive in time.

"We chased FedEx trucks all over Columbus, Ohio!", Witt said. 

Thankfully, none of that impacted the trio's ability to deliver at optimum level on stage. Witt, McCoy and Caldwell rounded out the set with I'm Not Ready For Christmas (from her 2015 Revisionary History album) and the sublime title track from her 2023 Witness album to a protracted standing ovation from the the faithful at The Ark.

Backstage after the show, Witt and her entourage were greeted by a steady stream of well wishers, including a representative from Ann Arbor's storied Wazoo Records. As chronicled extensively at the time in Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, Witt and Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell embarked upon a vinyl hunting expedition at Wazoo Records (which was founded a half century ago by the late Brian Gunderson) on the day following her previous appearance at The Ark in March 2024. Witt found much to her liking that morning, including various releases by Woody Guthrie, Mac Davis and Patti Page.

Witt was also enthusiastic about one of her latest acquisitions, a two-LP set featuring hits of the 1940s. That collection was released on RCA Victor in the early 1970s.

"Some of my favorites are on there", she said.

"Spike Jones, Vaughn Monroe, Perry Como".

However, the demands of the road once again availed themselves in short order. A lunch hour show was scheduled for the following morning in Chicago, followed by back to back shows in Saint Louis and Minneapolis before returning to home base in Nashville in time for Christmas. 

As such, it was time to call it an evening at The Ark. And that was where her extensive background in television and film (including nine classic productions for Hallmark) served her well.

"I'm actually at my most relaxed right here on stage", said Witt.

"But since November, I've also completed two films. We shot between tour dates". 

Indeed, balancing such a demanding work schedule while continuing to deliver at optimum level is but one attribute of her extraordinary legacy. To be certain, spending not just Christmas time but any time of the year with Alicia Witt is time well spent. 

BITS AND PIECES - NEWS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS By Michael McDowell

WRAP IT UP: The so-called New Wave movement was asserting itself in full force at the time. And Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People was there in the thick of it. Nonetheless, when the opportunity availed itself to feature one of the movement's most beloved and inpacting inspirations, the choice to afford them the cover (Blitz Magazine #27, June 1978) was pretty much a given.   Editor / Pubisher Michael McDowell salutes SAM AND DAVE's Sam Moore, who succumbed to complications following surgery on 10 January below  (Click on above image to enlarge).

I THANK YOU:

REMEMBERING

SAM AND DAVE'S

SAM MOORE

(1935 - 2025)

"Dave and I may have had some differences in the past. But when it comes to music, we are FOR REAL!!"

So said Sam And Dave co-founder and Miami, Florida native Samuel David "Sam" Moore in an interview published in Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People in 1978. Indeed, few musical duos delivered as consistently and intensely as did Moore and his late colleague, David Prater Junior. So much so that one of their acclaimed albums for the Stax label was aptly titled, Double Dynamite.

Sam And Dave made their debut for Henry Stone's Marlin label in 1961. The following year, the ambitious duo joined forces with the great Morris Levy at Roulette Records, for whom they recorded several additional singles and an album.

It was during their tenure with Roulette that Moore and Prater learned a valuable lesson that would ultimately shape and define their musical mission statement. At one recording session, the legendary Sam Cooke stopped by the control booth to offer encouragement and advice. Duly motivated, Moore and Prater gave it their all in the studio for Cooke, complete with their on stage choreography.

To their dismay, Cooke turned his back to them during their entire performance. Moore perceived Cooke's gesture as an affront and confronted him. However, Cooke explained that the average listener who purchased their records would not have such a visual image at their disposal, and would only be able to assess them via the music found in the record itself. 

That bit of sage advice stuck with Moore and Prater, and served them well upon signing with Stax in 1965. Indeed, their partnership with Stax proved to be one of the most productive in music history, producing such monster classics as You Don't Know Like I Know, I Take What I Want, Soul Man, I Thank You and their utterly stupendous Hold On! I'm Comin'.

When Blitz Magazine met with Moore in 1978, years of the realities of the business had taken their toll.

"We just released a version of the Beatles' song, We Can Work It Out", he said.

"I don't have any hope for it though, because I don't think the company will give it any push".

Nonetheless, their live performance that evening assured them otherwise.

"I leaned over to one of the tables in the middle of the show and said to a guy sitting there, 'I don't understand this. How come you people are enjoying us so much?' ", he said. 

"And he said, 'Because we're starving for this kind of music, man!' "

Moore and Prater continued to perform together until Prater's tragic passing in an automobile accident in Georgia in April 1988. Sadly, Moore also succumbed to complications following surgery in Coral Gables, Florida on 10 January. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Michelle and two grandchildren. Moore was 89.

TWO AND TWO:

REMEMBERING

AVANT GARDE CO-FOUNDER

CHUCK WOOLERY

(1941 - 2024)

True to form, Columbia Records in 1968 was all over the map.

In that year of tremendous change, Columbia endeavored to chronicle it all. In the process, such label mainstays as Paul Revere And The Raiders, Andre Kostelanetz, Ray Price, Simon And Garfunkel, Dave Brubeck, Percy Faith, the Buckinghams, Ray Conniff and Johnny Cash continued to deliver at optimum level. 

But where things got particularly interesting at Columbia was in their attempts to recruit and chronicle the works of some of the leading lights among the up and coming in rock and roll. To that effect, the label was successful in recruiting Big Brother And The Holding Company from Bob Shad's Mainstream Records, and in putting the much loved Chambers Brothers and Blood, Sweat And Tears on the map. 

In those endeavors, Columbia brought on board a number of artists who made brief but enduring contributions to the label's archives. Among them were Flavor, Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, the Electric Flag, and (at year's end) the Chicago-based Flock and Texas guitarist Johnny Winter. 

Among the more curious within the latter group was the ambitious duo, the Avant Garde. The group was comprised of session musician Elkin Fowler and composer, bassist, vocalist, U.S. Navy veteran and Ashland, Kentucky native Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery. Fowler (who was also an ordained minister) and Woolery had previously worked together with Mike Tackett in the folk trio, the Bordermen. 

The Avant Garde made their debut for Columbia in late 1967 with the curious period piece, Yellow Beads. However, with the label devoting the bulk of its attention in 1968 to its leading lights, the Avant Garde remained lost in the shuffle for much of the year. 

Nonethelss, the label's propensity towards the completist perspective ultimately worked in the Avant Garde's favor. In the Fall of 1968, Woolery and Fowler returned with their signature single, Naturally Stoned. A basic love song that relied heavily on period jargon to state its case, Naturally Stoned was nonetheless charismatic enough to put the duo on center stage. 

The Avant Garde quickly followed up with the euphoric Fly With Me before calling it a career. Fowler continued briefly as a solo artist with Columbia, and subsequently played on acclaimed albums by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.

Meanwhile, Woolery's post-Avant Garde musical ventures found him continuing as a solo artist for Columbia and RCA Victor between 1969 and 1972. Along the way, he developed a growing interest in country music. That component of his musical mission statement availed itself most successfully with Painted Lady for Warner Brothers in 1977 and The Greatest Love Affair for Epic in 1980.

However, Woolery's most successful ventures came during his years hosting various television game shows. His genial personality and trademark "two and two" segue into commercial breaks were a natural fit for his presenter roles on Wheel Of Fortune, Love Connection, Scrabble and The Dating Game, amongst others. He also enjoyed a memorable film role alongside Roosevelt Grier and Cheryl Ladd in the 1975  production, The Treasure Of Jamaica Reef. 

In the early 1990s, Woolery hosted a New Years Eve celebration at Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California. At that congregational gathering, Woolery fielded various questions from those in attendance about his career highlights. In the process, he expressed a degree of surprise to inquiries about his work with the Avant Garde. 

In recent years, Woolery had relocated to Texas. He became increasingly active in various socio-political causes; championing those endeavors in a podcast and on his social media accounts. 

Sadly, Woolery passed away at his Texas home on 23 November. He is survived by his wife, Kristen, along with sons Michael and Sean and daughter Melissa. Woolery was 83.

LIVE WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG:

REMEMBERING ONE DIRECTION'S

LIAM PAYNE

(1993 - 2024)

In the world of music, pursuing one's art as both a thinker and a doer often makes a given musician a thinking people's artist.

In that respect, those who came through the ranks as part of the sub-genre whose participants were often referred to as boy bands were nontheless subjected to being part of a two-edge misnomer. In one respect, a misnomer in that by definition, the word "band" refers to an aggregation that plays instruments. In reality, the various artists in question would more accurately be referred to as vocal groups. 

Concurrently, among the more discerning musicologists, record collectors and music historians, those vocal groups often did not (in their estimation) deliver on a level that met their preconceived expectations.

However, in the first decade and a half of the twenty-first century, a group of ambitious artists who envisioned taking their art to the next level in that respect asserted themselves to the degree that they confounded expectations. In the process, they began to draw praise from the aforementioned discerning academics. Among the more noteworthy within those circles were Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, the Cheetah Girls, Colbie Caillat, the Plain White Ts and the ambitious sibling duo, Aly And AJ. 

Leading the charge within that movement among the vocal group contingent was the UK-based quintet, One Direction. The group was initially comprised of Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam James Payne and Niall Horan. 

One Direction came together in 2010. Their first widespread exposure came on The X Factor television series that same year. 

One Direction then signed with Simon Cowell's Syco Music (not to be confused with the Syco label that released the Northern Soul monster classic Sugar Baby by Jimmy Holland in 1965). Over the next six years, the quintet turned out an above the herd series of singles, including The Story Of My Life, Perfect, Live While We're Young and their signature track, What Makes You Beautiful. 

Although One Direction embarked upon a protracted sabbatical in 2016, the group members remained close. In recent years, Harry Styles has enjoyed a prolific solo career via his acclaimed solo albums. In turn, Liam Payne (who composed much of One Direction's material) continued to record and perform as a solo artist on a regular basis.

Sadly, on the afternoon of 16 October, Payne fell to his death from the balcony of his third floor hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Autopsy reports confirm that Payne succumbed to multiple internal injuries sustained in the fall.

Ironically, the Wolverhampton native's premature passing parallels that of musicians Rod Lauren and Donny Hathaway, both of whom died under like circumstances. Survivors include his seven year old son, Bear. Liam Payne was 31.

THIS ONE'S FROM THE HEART:

REMEMBERING

JAMES DARREN

(1936 - 2024)

"Let's stop by the record store. I want to get the new James Darren album".

Those words were spoken not in 1959. Nor in 1963 or 1966. They were said in 1999 by my late wife Audrey, in reference to Darren's album This One's From The Heart on the Concord Jazz label. 

Indeed the nineteen years of married bliss that Audrey and I shared felt in some ways  as though we were living out our own Camelot experience. To that effect, I have often said that it felt like we were married from 1948 to 1967, rather than the reality of 1995 until her sudden passing in 2014.

That thought had also crossed my mind when we returned to the car, as Audrey clutched her purchase with considerable delight. While of course not oblivious to the world in which we lived, the fact remained that an artist such as James Darren was as much a contributor to the current cultural landscape as anyone benefitting from the mainstream media spotlight at the moment.

That is as much of a testimony to the timelessness of Darren's art as it was our own preferences in the world of entertainment. Born James William Ercolani in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in June 1936, Darren was by virtue of geography in a position of considerable advantage, given that city's formidable contributions to rock and roll during its formative years. 

Indeed, after completing his studies in New York City with an eye towards a career in acting, Darren found himself co-starring in the motion picture, Rumble On The Docks in 1956. By 1959, he was in the spotlight for his portrayal of Moondoggie in the motion picture Gidget, as well as two sequels.

Darren's rendition of the film's title track for Colpix (his second 45 for the label) provided a tremendous kick start for his recording career. Numerous triumphs for Colpix followed, including I Ain't Sharin' Sharon, They Should Have Given You The Oscar, Goodbye Cruel World and the utterly stupendous Her Royal Majesty. Various collaborations with Colpix label mates Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen were also well received.

For much of the 1960s and 1970s, Darren continued to flourish in a variety of disciplines. They included a starring role in The Time Tunnel television series, an acclaimed album (All) for Warner Brothers and an appearance in the 1963 motion picture, The Lively Set. 

His various recordings for Kirshner and Private Stock during the 1970s were also well received, as was his work on the T.J. Hooker crime drama television series in the 1980s. By the 1990s, he was also working as a director, with episodes of the iconic Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210 series to his credit.

By the turn of the century, Darren had turned much of his musical attention towards the jazz that inspired the aforementioned This One's From The Heart album. Throughout much of the twenty-first century, he also weighed in frequently on his social media sites, concurrently keeping his profile high via the occasional live appearance, as well as a role in the 2017 motion picture, Lucky.

Sadly, Darren's This One's From The Heart album now comes full circle. He was recently admitted to Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for aortic valve surgery. Tragically, he passed away there in his sleep during the morning of 02 September. Survivors include his wife Evy, and several children. Darren was 88.

HOT SHOT:

BABE'S MARGA BULT'S

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

OF GRATITUDE

Birthdays can be a mixed blessing.

On one hand, a birthday can signify accomplishment and joy. Conversely, birthdays can also serve as a reminder of everything from loss to the aging process. 

In general, Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People does not chronicle birthday and / or anniversary celebrations, primarily because of the high volume of celebrants involved. Nonetheless, exceptions are made upon occasion when the event occurs in tandem with other developments in the career of a given artist. 

Such is definitely the case this year with Babe lead vocalist Marga Bult, whose recovery from injuries sustained in a fall at home several weeks ago has been chronicled extensively in Blitz Magazine. Thankfully, Bult's recovery has progressed to the degree that she has pretty much been able to resume her normal day to day routine.

Since succeeding outgoing lead vocalist Gemma Van Eck (who opted for a solo career) in the closing weeks of 1981, Bult and her Babe colleagues Rita van Rooy and Margot van de Ven spent the next half decade establishing the beloved Dutch trio as one of the premier vocal groups of the twentieth century. 

In the process, Babe also tirelessly championed the most essential attribute of relentless optimism in their mission statement. Not surprisingly, that virtue (along with her trademark sense of humor) continued to serve Bult well as she made plans for her 02 July birthday celebration in the wake of her recent challenges. 

"I notice now that I'm getting older that I'm getting much stronger", Bult said with tongue in cheek.

"I can lift 150 Euros' worth of groceries now! That didn't work before".

On a slightly more serious note, Bult opted to trransform her 02 July birthday observance into a combination celebration with her son (whose celebrated his own birthday on 01 July) and a family holiday.

"I turned a year older, but for the first time, I'm celebrating it in Altea", she said.

"You have to experience everything in life at least once, right? (My family and I) are making it a very sunny and cozy party together".

Meanwhile, Babe's legions of devotees continue to hold out hope that one of Bult, van Rooy and van der Ven's frequent reunion meetings will result in the most welcome news of  a return to the recording studio, to live performance or both. Babe has been on a professional sabbatical since 1986, although they remain in close contact with one another. 

"Sweet, thank you", said Bult, who is also a registered nurse.

And a reciprocal thank you to Marga Bult from Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, with a benediction for birthday blessings in abundance.