Brian Ray Rockin it out with Paul McCartney at the Grammys

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Brian & Paul Rockin it out at the 51st annual Dammys

Brian Ray Rockin it out with Paul McCartney at the Grammys

Friday the 13th, evening~

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I want to say a little something in the aftermath, in the afterglow of our performance on the Grammys on Sunday night here in LA. We kicked off a fantastic weekend the way you know you should... with a party.. it was the birthday of Pablo [sound man for Macca and AD/DC] held at Katana, where we ate and drank like kings and queens.. Ok, He ate like a queen, hahahah! kidding! I ate like a spotted pig... we had all sorts of friends pop by and stayed late. Thanks, Vernon!! Thanks, Barrie!!!-

Rehearsing for the Grammys

The next morning it was time to get to "work" because we had 2 rehearsals to do in one day.. something we've never done with Paul before. Abe Laboriel Jr [Paul's extraordinary drummer] had a prior commitment with some guitar God.... Eric something or rather, in Japan so Paul called on Dave Grohl, who had joined us on a few songs last year in Liverpool to do drum duties. Since we were only doing one song which wasn't originally recorded with keys, there was no Wix Wickens either :-(..

So.... there we were - a 4 piece band playing through a number of Paul's songs.. Honey Hush, Honey Don't, Matchbox, Let Me Roll It and Jet before we even got to the song we were performing, "I Saw Her Standing There".. we laughed, and rocked out with Dave looking and playing excitedly..

We broke it up after a few hours so they could move the gear to the Staples Center for our rehearsal there.. Once there, we played a similar set for the audience there who seemed to lose it as he sang and played a little set for them. Man, that was a blast! That night we had invites to Clive Davis' annual bash..

There was so much talent in that room, my GOD! Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Prince, Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart and Paul to name just a few.. Great performances.

.Hb: Damn, how I would have loved to be at that lil happenin! Hey Bri, you didn't mention Paris Hilton? :)

The day of the show...

what can I say.. it's the big game, right? Wow, security like you've never seen into Staples... We had a skybox, we ran into a bunch of friends and had a nice [and long] day there. We watched from the audience as Radiohead and U2, Coldplay and Smokey Robinson spun their webs of coolness. I feel blessed and happy.. Paul ROCKED it, as we looked out onto an audience of the best artists of our time.. what a trip!! They went NUTS...Hb: 'Spun their webs of coolness' I like that sayin, Brian, lol

We caravanned out of there but not before Paul got swarmed and swamped by over zealous fans, but we had the best dinner ever, together afterwards.

In other news...

It now looks like I will not be joining Johnny Hallyday for his upcoming tour in France this year due to scheduling. I wish him and that fantastic band the very best!
Also, let's raise a glass to "Secret" Sid Pryce, who was just given the 'Back-Line Technician of the Year' award from Total Production International. Sid has been doing my guitars and has kept me comfortable and laughing for 7 years now. He is the best there is, having done guitars for Peter Green, The Who and Pink Floyd, back in the day. The secret is OUT! Yay, Sid!

Well, so that's it.. just wanted to keep you all in the loop!

Watch this space.. new songs are coming along nicely in my new home studio, 'Bad Manors'... soon I will have pics and some webcam moments in my process... I will run some ideas by you guys and gals and ask for some input on my marketing and strategies and choices for my new Album.

Stay close and stay warm,

Love,

Brian

Hb: Damn, Brian, sure is charming, isn't he? Must be nice to live the charmed life as a Rock Star and playing with Paul McCartney these past few years-more than a few now. I would have loved to be at that party..Sly stone & Paul, Rod Stewart,Stevie Wonder? damn~

OK, Brian, tell us how to score Tix, for upcoming events? Since 'scheduling conflicts' tell us, you will be doing small gigs here & there with Macca? dunno about Coachella? The Joint, is charging an arm and a leg, what in this economy how can one afford it!?! I don't mean to sound pessimistic but, the, ticket situation, looks kinda gloomy~for us hardcore fans-feel me?
hb~

Paul McCartney's Golden boy & band mate Brian Ray check him out!

Note: If you do not want to listen to Brian's 4 tracks hit the stop button
Took down the player so you donot have to hear it each time you vist~


Paul McCartney's Golden Boy & band mate Brian Ray check him out!

I sent Brian a message the other day asking if I could write about him on my blog, Brian graciously said sure!~ I thought it was wicked cool that he gave me the go ahead. Brian has had a bad ass career in music to date

Reluctant Rawk God and Bass Player for Paul McCartney

Brian has had a Rawkin awesome Music career to date beginning his career with:
Bobby Picket who did the Monster Mash.
-He than went on to played for Blues legend Etta James for 14 years as her band leader, yeah that's right, trip huh?
- Following this Brian went on to play with the legendary Smokey Robinson who he co-wrote and played with for many years, we Love Smokey.
-Could it get any better than this for Mr Ray?

Finally, Brian ended up playing with the
greatest living Legend of them all Paul McCartney as a twist of fate would happen with his fellow Paul McCartney band mate Rusty Anderson another brilliant musician.

Brian's Mondo Magneto is wicked awesome, I tell you not one bad cut on the entire album. Brian shows his musical know how and sensitivity throughout the album, along with his
wicked, raw, guitar skilz and catchy lyrics.

"The man can Shredd" One of my favorite tracks is "Vinyl" Lovin it!~ This is a must have album! So here's to Brian Ray one awesome, down to earth Cat, you go Rawk Starr!!
Brian Rays myspace page
harleyblues

Throwin in a monkey wrench Featured artist Smokey Robinson

Featured Artist Smokey Robinson

William "Smokey" Robinson, 19th February 1940, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A
.
Smokey Robinson was the founding member of the Miracles at Northern High School, Detroit.
In 1955, Robinson became one of the major figures in the local music scene by the end of the Fifties.
That year he met Berry Gordy, who was writing songs for R & B star Jackie Wilson, and looking for local acts to produce.
Berry Gordy took the teenager under his wing.
He produced a series of Miracles singles in 1958 and 1959, all of which featured Robinson as composer and lead singer, and leased them to prominent R & B labels.

In 1960, he signed the Miracles to his Motown Records and began to promote Robinson as a substantial colleague.

In Motown's early days, Smokey was involved in every part of the company's operations, writing, producing and making his own records, helping in the business of promotion and auditioning many of the young hopefuls who were attracted by Berry Gordy's growing reputation as an businessman.


Going to a GO GO

Smokey had begun his career as a producer by overseeing the recording of the Miracles'
'Way Over There', and soon afterwards he was involved with developing the talents of Mary Wells and The Supremes.


Here I go again

As the decade progressed, Bob Dylan referred to Robinson as "America's greatest living poet"; as if to justify this assertion, Robinson's lyric-writing scaled new heights on complex ballads such as "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage" and "I Second That Emotion'. From 1967 onwards, Robinson was given individual credit on the Miracles" releases.


For the next two years, their commercial fortunes went into a slide, which was righted when their 1965 recording of "The Tracks Of My Tears" became a major hit in Britain in 1969, and the four-year-old "The Tears Of A Clown" achieved similar success on both sides of the Atlantic in 1970.

Robinson's exceptional song writing ability combined with his extraordinarily expressive falsetto voice, made each Miracles' release an occasion. During the next ten years some 36 singles hit the charts - among them such classics as You've Really Got A Hold On Me, What's So Good About Goodbye?, The Tracks Of My Tears, I Second That Emotion and the chart-topping Tears Of A Clown.

So prolific was Smokey during the sixties that he was able to provide colleagues with equally powerful songs:

Marvin Gaye both benefited from his writing, as did Mary Wells, whose trio of Robinson epics (The One Who Really Loves You, You Beat Me To The Punch and Two Lovers)

all went Top 10 during 1962. Robinson also penned My Guy - a Number One hit for Wells, but also her Motown swan song.
Many people were upset when Robinson split from the Miracles in 1972, but his solo career was not without interest.
Smokey Roinsons classic soulful voice will never go out of style, Smokey is timeless, thats why we LOVE Smokey Robinson go on Smokey, get yours !

side note: Paul McCartney's own Bran Ray co-wrote One Heartbeat with Smokey, yeah Bri!



Smokey Robinson snippets DVD

enjoy the video's
please watch
harleyblues

July 10
harleyblues note:
after each video the are lil tiny piccies below vid where you can see other vids from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles "Way over there" Tracks of my tears" "Really got a hold on me" "Just a mirage"
to name a few, enjoy
HB