So the untimely death of Whitney Houston provided an unusual sobriety to last night’s Grammy Awards. I was at work, and only got to see the end, but thanks to the magic of the internet, I have seen all the most important parts, and have enough information to provide a few insights, in no particular order.

First off, the thing that Adele and Bruno Mars showed, both in the telecast, and with their careers thus far, is that a good song, well sung, will always trump any auto-tuned, catchy, flashy, electronic dance track you throw out there, and it also makes for a better performance! Also, a related observation, Sir Paul McCartney singing “Carry That Weight” with a bunch of poorly prepared celebrity jammers sounded horrible, and amateurish and it was still more entertaining than Nicki Minaj!

Another observation is that the Latin Grammys, R&B and Jazz, etc. that were not part of the telecast kind of smells just a tad racist, but more than that, it forced them to let Katy Perry and Taylor Swift perform, when I think we’d all have preferred Terri Lynne Carrington and her Mosaic Project!

And another: I hate to keep harping on this, but Bruno Mars kicks major ass! He may never be James Brown, but he undrstands what made people like James great, and I think more performers need to follow that example. James didn’t need pyrotechnics, and a scad of dancers doing Bob Fosse choreography. Just his band, and some simple steps, and his “James” thing, and that’s what Bruno Mars reminded us of last night!

Another observation: I hope Chris Brown has learned from his mistake. I hope he never beats another girlfriend up ever. I hope he can break the cycle of abuse/ abuser. Having said that, WTF Grammys?? You really think that was the best R&B album of the year?? Seriously???

Taylor Swift is starting to impress me. She is getting better all the time, but I have to admit, she is one artist who I am actually hoping will stop writing her own stuff. She’s gonna look pretty damn silly in about 10 years, if she is still writing about teen love and High school!

Last one, before I go, Jennifer Hudson just plain knocked it out of the park in her tribute to Whitney Houston!

Ok….that’s it! Funkee out!

George Hawkins is a prominent bassist from the 70′s to today, who played on some of the most influential recordings of the era, yet, he’s a name not many will recognize. However, the whole reason I am writing this is to make you aware of guys like this! So, after you read this, get some of the records I suggest, download the MP3′s look on Youtube, whatever, and check out some tasty bass work!

I’ll start with the song he’s probably most famous for: Angry Eyes, by Loggins and Messina!

He had a long standing relationship with Kenny Loggins, going on to play on his first 3 solo CDs. A couple of the highlights are Angelique, and Wait a little While.

On Angelique, George plays some almost Jaco-ish fretless that just sends the track over the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8teiimV9fSA

I first became aware of George on the song “Junkanoo Holiday” From Kenny Loggins Alive! (there’s no Youtube for that one!)

He later joined Mick Fleetwood’s solo side project “Fleetwoods Zoo” He is also the bassist on Sanford Townsend Bands “Smoke From a distant Fire!

So get to know this great bassist!!

Dirty Loops, a band from Sweden, combine amazing technical prowess, a vast knowledge of modern music technology, an ear for catchy pop melodiesm and a sense of humor! I think they have a huge future. This is musicians music, so I don’t expect to hear them on the radio much, but…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjVGJ3YFDc8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p0liJrxyyM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQaWN5ODdVY&feature=related

My previous posts in this blog have been music videos, with very little editorial content. I decided to change up for this entry. I hav had a long and illustrious career, but have never achieved the kind of fame, or fortune I would have liked, and felt I deserved. Some of it has been career mismanagement, but a lot of it has been my own poor choices. I don’t regret anything, but I thought I should share some of my 20/20 hindsight! I hope some of this will make you laugh, make you think, and most importantly, keep you from making the mistakes I made!

1) Don’t play for the money, play for the love. But when you do get the money, save it!! When I was working in Las Vegas, and again, in Laughlin, I was spending almost as much as I made. It was kind of a necessity, cause I was not provided a meal allowance. However, if I had it to do over again, I’d try to work harder to find less expensive food options, and would stay completely away from buffets. Even once a week costs a lot. If you are in a band that breaks through, and you see fat checks coming your way, put the money into repairs on that raggedy Honda you’re driving, instead of getting a new car. Why? Don’t I deserve a new car? Yes! But with a new car comes a new car payment, and you’ll still have to pay that when the big money gig ends! The best kind of car for a musician to drive in any situation is the one that’s paid for!

2) Realize that the agent or booker who tells you “The money will get better. This is just for now” s usually lying. The money won’t get better. If you think your band is worth $2000 a night, hold out for a clun that will pay you that. If you’re freelancing, $100 a night is not unreasonable. If someone calls you for a gig for less than that, Take it at your own risk, but subconsiously, you are only worth what you got paid last gig. I don’t fault club owners or band leaders for that, but now, I’d rather stay home than take less than I am worth.

3) Play what you believe in, and the audience will find you, or “If you build it, they will come”. What I mean by that is, I have spent a lot of time, energy and thought trying to figure out what a clubgoing audience will like, and will pay to see, and you know what I have figured out? Absolutely nothing! I do know this: If you put together a great band, with a killer show, audiences will find you, word will get out, and people will book you, your CD will sell, and the shows will get bigger etc. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but if you don’t believe in it, and are just doing it to make a buck, audiences can smell it, and it turns them off.

4) Don’t quit college. You’ll never go back! Plus, staying in will get you a degree. Seems self-explainatory, but seriously…..When I ran out of scholarship money, and had to quit school to support myself, it was always with the intention of finishing my degree. It’s been 34 years now. When I said I don’t regret any of it earlier, I forgot this tidbit. I do regret not finishing college, and I regret not choosing North Texas State over UNM, just because of the contacts I would have made.

5) Of you cannot afford to record it well, don’t settle! it’s worth the money to get it down right! Having said that, a bad recording is better than no recording. If I had it to do over again, I’d take a little portable recorder to everything!! There’s a whole lot of great playing I have done over the years that got missed.

6) Get half the money upfront, and if there is  not contract, don’t go.

7) Show up on time. Early, if possible!

8 ) Don’t back out, don’t send a sub, and be extremely careful wuth yout gig calendar.

9) Fill up now, even if it will make you violate rune number 7. You never know when you might run out of gas at 3 AM in the inland Empire, miles away from anyone you know, and get your gear jacked while you’re walking to a gas station!

You’re welcome!

Ok….so I’ve already posted this in the bass forum, but when I was in High school, and just learning bass, I became a huge fan of Chuck Mangione. My mom loved “Feels So Good” and I kinda like that song too. My buddy, and fellow Screamin Eagle bandmate, Brent Clark, was a Mangione freak thoughm and introduced me to “Live at the Hollywood Bowl”. This album blew my mind, and introduced me to the bass work of Charles “Meat Man” Meeks, and the drumming of James Bradley Jr.

This is one of the first Bass solos I ever learned note for note. Love his tone, and especially his vibrato, something I still do when playing a bass solo.

That is clearly a Stingray, BTW…

http://grooveshark.com/s/The+11th+Commandment/3nGgzb?src=5

Hi friends! This will become the new home for all my ramblings, Binkley Reports and whatever. Feel free to respond. I thank William Kane for providing me with this platform!

More to come….keep your eyes peeled!