Music

The New York City (NYC) music community came out Sunday morning to pose in solidarity to save our independent venues and live entertainment with the support of the newly-formed New York Independent Venues Association (NYIVA). NY photographer Arnie Goodman and digital media diva Abbe Sparks organized the impromptu Save Our NYC Stages Photo Event to [...]

Legendary singer and activist Aretha Franklin was a champion of music, culture, civil rights, human rights, the women's movement and so much more. Her words on respect and human rights are our Quote of the Week in honor of the two year anniversary of her death in 2018. Portrait of Aretha Franklin by Andy Warhol [...]

This week calls for birthday shout outs to two music legends in their 90-something prime still singing and strumming for us. Legendary crooner Tony Bennett turns 94, and the first lady of children's music Ella Jenkins wil be 96. Both artists still share their beautiful music, and both, still deserve our accolades. ELLA JENKINS Ninety-six-year-old [...]

Virtual concerts for a cause continue to answer the call on how to best raise awareness and funds during these unprecedented times. The latest music event: The UNODC Concert takes the main stage today with funds benefiting the cause to end human trafficking. Appropriately scheduled on World Day Against Human Trafficking in Persons - July [...]

Lollapalooza pivots virtually for 2020 music festival via YouTube exclusive broadcast with live music and awareness for social issues
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Gangstagrass hip-hop/bluegrass hybrid sensation releases Nickel and Dime Blues new anticipated single on May 15th.
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For Mother's Day we re-visit our Spotlight series of yore, where musician mamas and sons share how their moms Socially Sparked their lives. Click on the images below for these features: Live From Mom's House with Eliot Lewis Bill Morganfield Sings the Blues Away Trailblazing Musician Mamas Inspire Women Eliot Lewis Eliot Lewis and his [...]

International Jazz Day sparks will be at a social distance this year -- virtually. Jazz celebrations normally abound worldwide to close out the month of April. Physical events are cancelled due to COVID-19, but Jazz Day festivities are going on with Jazz Day at Home virtual events from artists around the world! TECHNOLOGY AMPLIFIES JAZZ [...]

World IP Day sparks innovation from a social distance in 2020. Every year on April 26th since 2000, the World celebrates the role that intellectual property plays on encouraging innovation and creativity across the globe. Initially created to increase the understanding of intellectual property, the commemorative day now shows how IP contributes to the flourishing [...]

Livestream benefit concerts are soaring in the pandemic era. Saturday brings two benefits to the limelight. All Together Now LA starts at 2PM PT/5PM ET and the Band Together Benefit online Festival for NOLA musicians at 3PM CT/4PM ET. A positive trend is brewing in the virtual benefit music event arena and it's via livestream [...]

Legendary singer Kenny Rogers is dead at 81 of natural causes. RIP.
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“Billy never idles, Billy never idles” chants legendary Rocker Billy Idol, who lends his name to NYC in a new campaign to prevent air pollution. NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Idol announced the “The War on Idling” campaign at a rally in front of City Hall this week. The environmental initiative will run throughout the [...]

L'aissez les bon temps roulez is the Socially Sparked® quote of the week. Mardi Gras 2020 is in high gear through this coming Tuesday, February 25th. Known as Fat Tuesday -- this fitting expression truly captures the essence of one that is Socially Sparked! Through my travels to New Orleans over the last few weeks, I [...]

Folk singer songwriter Woody Guthrie’s legendary song ‘This Land Is Your Land’ is still made for you and me as the anthem turns 80 on February 23rd. The folk hero and his timeless song have Socially Sparked® our lives since 1940. There have been many renditions over the decades of Woody’s unofficial classic anthem since [...]

It took just six minutes two years ago for 17 students and staff to be murdered at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The impact of this senseless gun violence tragedy reverberated across the Nation and sparked a movement to end gun violence. The country and the world will never forget what [...]

The ultimate music love-in fest is full of roots and called Folk Alliance International. This year in New Orleans, the music conference opened with a clear theme defining what Folk Music is all about and why it’s Socially Sparked® our lives. It’s all about the roots of people and place as the 32nd annual Folk [...]

EPILOGUE Remembering the legendary bassist Jim Rodford today. Jim Rodford died on January 20, 2018, months after our Socially Sparked® Spotlight Interview was first published for Father's Day 2017. His death was sudden due to a fall down the stairs; days after a performance. Socially Sparked News spotlight feature with the legendary bassist for The Zombies, [...]

The Light of Day Foundation and its quest to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease and the Parkinsonisms (ALS and PSP) begins with the power of music. The power of music to heal is a given. The power of music to raise awareness and funds for a cause -- in this case, for debilitating neuro-degenerative [...]

Down to the Roots Deep in Muddy Waters

 

Next generation leader Maiah Wynne is a Gen Xer to watch as she adds her spark to the world. At the youthful age of 19, this young woman Gen Xer is an accomplished singer, songwriter, activist and mentor that has already Socially Sparked® our lives. Socially Sparked News first featured Maiah in 2017 and identified [...]