Free Republic

Eleven-year-old Jude Kofie, of Aurora, Colorado, demonstrated a remarkable talent no one anticipated when he discovered an old keyboard and, without any lessons, began playing - a talent piano tuner Bill Magnusson termed "Mozart level." Correspondent Steve Hartman reports on generosity that was music to Jude's ear.

Jan. 16, 2023, 4:36 PM EST By Corky Siemaszko C.J. Harris, the former American Idol contestant whose soulful voice wowed the judges and whose sweet demeanor won him legions of fans, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 31 years old. Harris was in cardiac arrest when he was rushed on Sunday to a hospital in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama, where he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m., Danielle Calloway, deputy coroner at the Walker County Coroner's office, told NBC News.

Very talented man who has posted on Twitter that he is dying from vaccine injury.Mike O'MaraMike O'Mara @MikeOMara Goodbye, all. My nerves are dying, my muscle tissue dissolved, the last bits twitching as they fail. My digestion is stopped, organs failing slowly but surely. I await my last ride to my last stop for whatever final failure will kill me. Love to those who supported me. Goodbye.

Maren Morris got emotional Friday after fulfilling her “decade-long dream” of appearing as a guest on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and apologized for the way the country music world treated the LGBTQ community, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve done some cool s–t. #DragRace is rivaling it all. Getting my jacket framed next to my Grammy. It is DONE,” tweeted the star. In the post-episode “Untucked” clip, Morris, 32, got teary as she spoke to the contestants of the reality show. “Coming from country music and its relationship with LGBTQ+ members, I just want to say I’m sorry,” said Morris. “And...

~Favorite Boyfriend and Girlfriend Song's~ My Boyfriend's Back *Video*Breakfast in America - Written and Composed by Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) *Video*

A Minecraft user has reportedly recreated Toto's hit song "Africa" on the gaming platform. Minecraft is a 3D video game in which players can build various structures across different settings. Users can also work with "note blocks" that emit a sound when manipulated. A Minecraft creator called "Stacinator" has used those elements to create Toto's "Africa" in 3D format, a process that took them three months. "Honestly, I started at the same place, and little parts of concepts just eventually started clicking after tons of practice and failing," Stacinator explained on Reddit. You can watch a video of the creation...

<p>Jeff Beck, among the most innovative and certainly the most unpredictable of ’60s guitar heroes, has died. He was 78.</p><p>A fleet, imaginative soloist, Beck brought formidable instrumental firepower to British band the Yardbirds, which he joined in 1965 as a replacement for Eric Clapton. Entirely at home with the group’s blues roots, he burnished their pop hits with an adventurous and virtually unprecedented use of feedback, sustain and fuzz.</p>

On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.

Tatjana Patitz, a Vogue model who appeared on dozens of fashion magazine covers in her 40-year career after skyrocketing to fame in the ’80s and ’90s, has died. She was 56. While the cause of death has not been revealed, Vogue confirmed that the model died recently. The iconic supermodel was most known for her work in Vogue and also starred in George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” music video alongside fellow models Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista.

The song "Baraye" (For) was written & performed by Shervin Hajipour in response to Mahsa Amini’s murder by the Iranian morality police, and the protests sparked by it. Iranians around the world posted Tweets with the word “Baraye” followed by their reasons for protesting against the regime. (baraye azadi = for freedom). Shervin gathered messages from tweets and wrote the song. It has become an anthem at protest gatherings against the Iranian regime around the world. 2 days after the release of the song in Sept., Shervin was arrested and the song removed from Iranian controlled websites. He has since...

On January 10th, WKCR celebrates the anniversary of the birthday of peerless jazz icon Max Roach, born in 1924. As a drummer, he was an integral part of nearly every jazz movement from bebop onward, accompanying such giants as Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, and Cecil Taylor. As a bandleader and composer, he created some of the most socially aware records of the tumultuous civil rights movement in the 1960s. As an educator, he gave his time and ear to countless musicians who have since passed on into the contemporary world of the music he helped bring about. Listen in as...

J.S. Bach, “The Musical Offering,” BWV 1079, orchestral arrangement, conducted by Igor Markevitch

Aretha Franklin described her mission as a singer like this: “Me with my hand outstretched, hoping someone will take it.” That kind of deep, empathetic bond between artist and listener is the most elemental connection in music. And you can think of our list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time as a celebration of that bond. These are the vocalists that have shaped history and defined our lives — from smooth operators to raw shouters, from gospel to punk, from Sinatra to Selena to SZA

In news that won’t disappoint fans of British royalty, Queen guitarist Brian May has been knighted in the New Year Honours by King Charles III. In an article from The Guardian, May is quoted as saying, “I regard it as a kind of charge, like a kind of commission to do the things that one would expect a knight to do: to fight for justice, to fight for people who don’t have any voice.” He goes on to allude to his charity work as a campaigner for animal rights: “And, in my case, for all creatures who don’t have a...

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. FReeper Canteen Come on in, we're open Need a place just to hang out? This is it. Happy New Year to one and all.May you have a blessed new year. Come on in. Put your feet up and sit for a while. We serve coffee, tea, conversation and music. Our AWESOME military, our AWESOME allies, and their families are welcomed and honored here. Birthday wishes for all of the January...

Also featuring with brilliant, but mercurial vocalist Billy MacKenzie, The Associates made influential albums ‘The Affectionate Punch’ and ‘Sulk’Alan Rankine, the Scottish musician and record producer best known as the keyboardist, guitarist and co-founder of influential post-punk outfit The Associates has died. His sons Callum and Hamish Rankine announced the 64-year-old’s death on Tuesday January 3. “He died peacefully at home shortly after spending Christmas with his family,” the family’s statement read. “He was a beautiful, kind and loving man who we will miss dearly.” Rankine’s sons said his Facebook page would stay alive and invited people to celebrate his...

Ashley Morgan Smithline claimed that the musician abused her several times from 2010 to 2013A California court has dismissed without prejudice a 2021 lawsuit accusing Brian Warner—also known as Marilyn Manson—of sexual assault, as the Los Angeles Times reports and Pitchfork can confirm. Model and entertainer Ashley Morgan Smithline sued the musician for sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unlawful imprisonment, and more. Warner has denied the allegations. In October, Jay Ellwanger withdrew as Smithline’s attorney; she did not meet a deadline by December to acquire new representation or represent herself, leading to the court’s most recent...

Cole’s re-entrance marks the longest break between top 10 hits in chart history.Nat King Cole’s celebrated “The Christmas Song” posthumously reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated January 7, marking his first top 10 hit in nearly 60 years. Shop the best of Nat King Cole’s discography on vinyl and more. Cole, who died in 1965, returned to the top 10 after 59 years, six months, and a week, which marks the longest break between top 10 hits in chart history. This breaks the record previously broken last year by The Ronettes, whose holiday smash “Sleigh Ride” returned...

<p>Gangsta Boo, a former member of Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia and a pioneer of female Southern rap music, has died, a representative for the musician announced. A cause of death has not been revealed. Gangsta Boo, who was born Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, was 43 years old.</p>

I turned on the tv to watch the Rose Parade this morning just in time to hear an Ariz. marching band playing Ghost Riders. It was a favorite of someone now passed, so I decided to do some research on it and this is what I found. _________________________________________________ Texas is full of lore, legends, and ghost stories. The tale of the Ghost Riders is by far the saddest, most evil, not to mention, the most famous one in the country. This legend is sadly true, a senseless ghoulish tragedy which took place in Crosby County, Texas. You may know it...