Phranc • '64 Ford

I suddenly occurred to me the other day that I had never posted about Phranc on this blog, and that made me roll my eyes at myself. How could I have missed Phranc, after being a fan for some time now. For those who may not know, Phranc was often referred to as the "All-American Jewish Lesbian folksinger". Phranc made music in from the 1970s to the 2000s, starting out making Punk music with the band Nervous Gender, to her solo Folk work. Her music was smart, funny, and tight. In the early 1980s, Phranc refined her androgynous look, with her flat-top haircut, jeans and a t-shirt.

Phranc made great music, an interesting combination of Pop and Folk, with an obvious influence of the early 1960s surf music of the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. I have long been in love with "'64 Ford", a song found on the 1991 album, 'Positively Phranc'. This song screams out Brian Wilson too me, and I mean that ins the best way possible. There is someting deliciously West Coast about it all, as well as being defiant, breaking gender roles along the way. Please enjoy Phranc singing "'64 Ford".

My personal favorite collection was the 1985 release, 'Folksinger'. This 13-song collection contains some of my favorites, including the first song I bring you now. "Everywhere I Go (I Hear the Gogos). It is a celebrations of the girl group, and how the girl-group might have inspired the next generation. But it also points out how the love for the group might have pointed out the way Phranc might not have been inspiring copycats. That is okay, cause I am glad I live in a world I have Phranc on my iPod. This is "Everywhere I Go (I Hear the Gogos)".

At the height of her career, Phranc was singed to Island Records, a major label. She also toured with the likes of Morrissey and The Smiths, Hüsker Dü, Violent Femmes, and Billy Bragg. However, this was not to last, as she was looking for a new label in the early 1990s. In 1998, she released 'Milkman' on her own label, and hasn't released anything since. It has been reported that in the mid-2000s, she became a Tupperware salesperson, an interesting career choice to be sure. For more about Phranc, you can visit her official blog. You can also 'like' her on Facebook. You can purchase the physical CD for 'Positively Phranc' from Amazon.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Gallavin

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. Today I am thrilled to feature Gallavin.

One of those is 'Most Moving Video', something so many of the LGBT artists I listen to have in common - music with heart. There were some amazing submissions, and giving us five outstanding nominees which included Kristy Apps and the Shotgun Shirleys with "Modest In its Glory", Andrew Suvalsky's "The Curtain", Ramona Montañez with "Naked", and Paul M's "Hands to Heaven". This year, the award went to Gallavin for the song, "La Chanson des Vieux Amants". The Swiss singer/songwriter released the album 'So Sad the Songs' in 2013, a wonderful collection of Jazz material. The album included "La Chanson des Vieux Amants", named 'Most Moving Video'. The song is fantastic, and has a great music video to make it even more touching. I hope you enjoy the video for "La Chanson Des Vieux Amants" by Gallavin.

You can find "La Chanson des Vieux Amants" on Gallavin's album, 'So Sad the Songs'. You can purchase 'So Sad the Songs' from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. I just got it, and can heartily endorse it. It is fantastic! To learn more about Gallavin, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

Dark Monday • Ethel Merman & Mary Martin

In 1953, the Ford Motor Company celebrated the 50th anniversary of the company in a way no one had ever seen before. As neither NBC nor CBS reached all the households in the country, Ford purchased prime time on both to air 'The Ford 50th Anniversary Show" on June 15th. It was said to the first "Television Spectacular", with a star-studded list of guests. Among those appearing were two of the top Broadway stars, Mary Martin and Ethel Merman. The ladies commanded the television screen for over 13 minutes, singing a medley of great songs both from Broadway and from Pop music. Ethel started the fun with"There's No Business Like Show Business" from the Irving Berlin musical 'Annie Get Your Gun', which originally starred Merman. Then Mary stepped in with "I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific', the Broadway hit by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that starred Mary Martin. Then it was back to Ethel with "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Edward Madden. Mary came back with "Wait 'Till The Sun Shines, Nellie" with music by Harry Von Tilzer and lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling, followed by Ethel singing "Sheik of Araby" with music by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler. Both Mary and Ethel joined in on "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" written by Harry M. Woods. Martin broke off with the classic "My Melancholy Baby" with music by Ernie Burnett and lyrics by George A. Norton. Ethel took her turn with "You Made Me Love You" with music by James V. Monaco and lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. Martin sang "Mississippi Mud" by Harry Barris & James Cavanaugh.

Then the pair decided to sing "I" songs, which included "I Cried for You", "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "I'm in the Mood For Love", "I Love a Parade", "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (If I Knew I'd Find You)", "I'm Sitting on Top of the World", "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'", "I Can't Give You Anything but Love", "I'll Get By", "You're Just in Love", and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair".

As if that weren't enough, the ladies sang a couple of songs by the great Cole Porter, as Ethel sang "I Get A Kick Out of You". Mary added "I've Got You Under My Skin", and the flirty "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" by Cole Porter. Then Ethel added a classic of her own, with "I Got Rhythm" by George and Ira Gershwin.

In one of the nicest parts of a great duet, both ladies took on different songs at the same time, bringing it all together. The songs included "Indian Love Call" with music by Rudolf Friml and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, "Tea For Two" with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Ceasar & Otto Harbach, "Stormy Weather" with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler, and "Isn't It Romantic" with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. In the end, they raised their voices together on a reprise of the great Irving Berlin song, "There's No Business Like Show Business".

In 1953, Ethel Merman and Mary Martin were Broadway royalty, having been performing since the 1930s. Martin was given the Tony Award for 'Best Actress in a Musical' in 1950 for playing Nellie Forbush in 'South Pacific', and Merman won her Tony in 1951 for playing Sally Adams in 'Call Me Madam'. These were only the fourth and fifth years the Tony Awards were given. With this performance, you can see why they earned their awards. Such gifted ladies.

David Raleigh • Live in New York City

About a month ago, I went to New York City to attend the CD Release Party for David Raleigh, for 'The Equation of Love'. I was joined by my sister, Kim, for this great evening. That was the night of October 20th, and we made our way into the city to find The Cutting Room, found near the corner of 32nd & Park Avenue. David was in great voice that night, and we both had an great time. I will be going more in depth shortly, but until then, here is an overview of the evening with David Raleigh.

Sometimes, I just find my life to be amazing. After all, on Sunday, I was on the farm in Delaware, doing stalls and putting the horses out. On Monday, I was traveling to New York, and attending an event that had red carpet moments! And hearing Raleigh performing live was a good reason to make the trip! Soon, I will have more videos, pictures, and my thoughts on his new CD. To learn more about David Raleigh, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. You can find his music at your favorite online music stores. You can purchase 'Beginning Again' from iTunes and Amazon. 'The Equation of Love' can be found on iTunes and Amazon. You can't go wrong with either CD!

You'll Never Know • Songs of Warren & Gordon

Clockwise: Rosemary Clooney, Julie London, Etta James, and Doris Day.

Harry Warren and Mack Gordon were both very successful songwriters, and when they came together, they made magic. There is a rich catalog of songs from which to choose, so I just picked four of my favorites to share with you. I will start with a song written for the 1943 film, 'Hello, Frisco, Hello'. In the movie, "You'll Never Know" was sung by star Alice Faye. It was one of nine songs nominated for for an Oscar, and went on to win the 1943 Academy Award for 'Best Original Song'. Fast forward 9 years, and the song was recorded by Harry James Orchestra, with featured vocalist Rosemary Clooney. I have long found Clooney's voice to be heavenly, so I couldn't resist using her recording now. This is "You'll Never Know", by Rosemary Clooney with the Harry James Orchestra.

Our next song was published in 1945, and originally sung by Dick Haymes in the film 'Diamond Horseshoe'. "The More I See You" has been sung by countless other artists since, and we are all the better for it. The song has a gorgeous melody, and is rich with emotion. In 1959 singer/actress Julie London released the song as part of her album, 'Your Number Please'. London added her own touch to the song, a breathy sexiness that is tough to resist. This is Julie London singing "The More I See You".

"Serenade in Blue" was introduced in the 1942 film 'Orchestra Wives' by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, dubbed by Pat Friday for actress Lynn Bari. It was written as a Big Band number, with lush orchestrations. It was recorded by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, with featured vocalist Ray Eberle with backing vocals by The Modernaires. That recording was the 11th best selling song of the year. It quickly became a standard, sung by most of the top singers of the time. Twenty-two years later, it was recorded by movie star Doris Day for her 1964 album, 'Doris Day's Sentimental Journey'. It is lovely, with a gorgeous string section. This is Doris Day singing "Serenade in Blue".

For my final song this evening, I thought I would go with what is arguably the most famous song the collaborators wrote. "At Last" appeared in the 1941 musical 'Orchestra Wives', which starred George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. It was performed in the film and on record by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday. While it was popular, it is not the version most remember. That would be the recording from 1960, made by the magnificent Etta James. James released her debut album that year, as well as the title cut. "At Last" made it to #2 on Billboard's R&B chart, and #47 on the Billboard Hot 100. While I would have suspected the song did much better on the charts, it remains an iconic recording, and the most remembered for "At Last". Please enjoy Etta James with "At Last".

These songs are all available on iTunes and Amazon, in various collections. And all are well-worth having in your collection. I hope you enjoyed the post, and are having a great weekend!

Spencer Day • I Only Have Eyes For You

Just over a year ago, I was fortunate enough to see the amazing Spencer Day performing live at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA. I really enjoy the space, for it has a wonderfully intimate feel, and I have been able to take some good pictures of performers there through the years. Above, you can see a few of the pictures I took of the handsome crooner, who kept my rapt attention for the entire performance. He not only had a strong set list, he was also game for taking requests from the audience. One of the requests was "I Only Have Eyes For You", a popular love song written in 1934 by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin. It debuted in the film 'Dames', starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. However, the best known version might have been the 1959 single by The Flamingos, which made it to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. But this is Spencer Day with "I Only Have Eyes For You".

You know, one of my favorite versions of this song might just be this one. While Spencer has yet to record the classic song, I pretty much love almost everything that Spencer sings. That would include his latest album, 'Daybreak'. You can purchase 'Daybreak' from Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Spencer Day, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Tony Moran feat Debby Holiday • I Like You

Tony Moran has had an incredible run, being a top DJ in a business that caters to the pulse on the dance floor. Well, he not only feels that pulse, but he has injected more life with the music he makes. Not only does he make music people want to hear, they also can't help but dance to it. And while I'm at it, I must say the out and proud DJ also managed to stay every bit as handsome, if not more so than when he was part of the Latin Rascals in the early 1980s. So when my buddy Jeff Dorta told me about the latest from Moran to be released, I was couldn't wait to share it.

So this week, Tony Moran released the single "I Like You", with features vocals from the exciting Debby Holiday. The single is a celebration of sorts, marking the 30th anniversary of the original release by Pyllis Nelson, which went to #1 on the Billboard Dance chart in 1985. "Phyllis' "I Like You" was a huge record when I was just entering the music industry," remembers Moran. "It was one of the track I drew inspiration from when co-creating "Show Me" for The Cover Girls."

The song also has had an effect on the singer. "My favorite line in the song is "Hey you, over there, everybody everywhere...I like you," explained Holiday. "I love the idea of saying, 'he, I like you' to strangers, to friends, to people in our every day lives. I think we forget to say it and show." The song marks the third collaboration of the two artists, and could be their best to date. The video stars both, and they are looking and sounding great! Check out the music video for "I Like You", by Tony Moran featuring Debby Holiday.

You can purchase "I Like You" exclusively from Beatport. It will be available on the other music stores in December. To learn more about tony Moran, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about Debby Holiday, and to hear her music, visit Debby on ReverbNation. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Eli Lieb • Lightning in a Bottle

I swear, in every interview I read, Eli Lieb sounds smart and grounded. And after listening to his latest single, "Lightning in a Bottle", you can definitely add talented to the list. And when watching the music video, the terms handsome and sexy easily come to mind. All in all, it seems Eli has hit the jackpot, doesn't it? When asked about the new song, Lieb said, "This song is really special to me. Everyone is fighting a battle." he went on to explain. "I want people to see this music video, hear the song, really listen to the lyrics, and live their truth. I want this to inspire people to not be afraid to break free and embrace who they are. I believe that being 100% your true authentic self is the key to real happiness and joy. Life is celebration and we are all beautiful beings!!" I can tell you that watching the video inspired me to go to iTunes and buy my copy, before I had to watch again.

"Lightning in a Bottle" was written by Lieb, and produced by John Feldmann. The music video was directed by Geoff Boothby, and produced by Sharkpig. Along with the good-looking singer/songwriter, the music video features four performers who let their light shine bright, and live there truth through performances, either dance or other means. The featured performers are Shangela, Jenna Riegel, Caitlin Scranton, and Rama Hall. They, along with Lieb, are living proof that loving what you do helps bring joy to others. This is the music video for "Lightning in a Bottle" by Eli Lieb.

You can purchase "Lightning in a Bottle" from iTunes. I did, and love having it on my iPod, ready for me to hit play whenever I can. For more about Eli, visit his official website. While you are there, you can stop by his official store, where you can find music and t-shirts. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, or 'like' him on Facebook.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Michael V. Doane & K Anderson

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. In this post, I am so happy to feature Michael V. Doane (above, left) and K Anderson, (above, right).

I must admit, I love both of the winners featured in this post, and both the artists and the songs have been represented here. So let me cut to the chase, and just say I am thrilled to announce the winner of the 'Best Video Pro' for 2014 is "Looking For Love", from Michael V. Doane. There is something provocative about a video that kicks off with the sound of a camera shooting, but that is quickly forgotten when the driving beat pulls you in, reverberating in your chest. When Doane's vocals begin, there is a wonderful strength and urgency. It had to be pretty good, for he beat out Matthew Connor's "How is July Already Over?", Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody", "Naked" by Ramona Montañez, Marck Angel's "Positions", and Suzanne Nuttall with "Trophy Wife". The video, giving New York City hooker realness, never lets up until the end. This is Michael V. Doane with "Looking For Love" with Ivan Roudyk, Magnit and Slider.

You can purchase the single "Looking for Love" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Micheal V. Doane, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

As like several wards given out this year, the one for 'Best Video DIY' is going international as it goes to an artist living in England. DIY is short for 'do it yourself', and in this case, refers to videos which does not all a smaller budget from keeping the project from shining bright. It proves that when you have a great song and a fantastic artist, it is had to go wrong. This video won out over stiff competition from Tony Banks with "Old School Love", "You Don't Represent Me" by Nastaij and featuring Dawn Laird, Ember Swift's "Laowai / Foreigner", and Random Order with "Black Lipstick Kiss". That is certainly the case with K Anderson's music video for "14-Year-Old Me". I just love the song, and the music video, both of which cover me with charm from the start. The video captures the confessional and personal components of the song perfectly, so there is no question why it was named 'Best DIY Video'. This is K Anderson with "14-Year-Old Me".

You can purchase "14 Year Old Me", along with a wonderful b-side "I Bruise Like A Peach", from iTunes, BandCamp, and Amazon. To learn more about K. Anderson, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

Jason Walker • Quicksand

I can say it loud and proud, I am a huge fan of the music of Jason Walker. His vocals reminds me of some of the great voices who have recorded before him, like Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor. His voice can inspiring, energizing, and enthralling, sometimes all at once. And when he changes things up, and moves from Modern to Classic, he can take on Etta James and bring me to tears. I am telling you, I just can't get enough of his music.

Recetnly, I was doing some chores around the farm, and put my iPod on shuffle. Up came a tune I instantly recognized, and found to be perfect in every way. I thought it was great to keep me going as I mucked the stalls, and even brought a smile to my face. In fact, I started to feebly sing along. That is just the type of song when I listen to "Quicksand", a track off the album 'Leave It All Behind'. The song begins simply enough, with a catchy electronic beat, when Jason's voice cuts through it all to demand your attention. While he makes it sound so effortless, so easy, I can't resist falling in love every time. This is Jason Walker singing "Quicksand".

"Quicksand" can be fournd on the album 'Leave It All Behind'. You can purchase the album from iTunes or Amazon. To learn more about Jason Walker, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. For more about Bimbo Jones, visit their official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • D'Lance Jones & Megan Lane

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. Today I am thrilled to feature D'Lance Jones (above, left) and Megan Lane (above, right).

I must say, there was a real richness to the next category, 'Best Soul/Hip-Hop/RAP/R&B Song'. There were some amazing submissions, and giving us five outstanding nominees. The list included Marck Angel's "Summertime", Be Steadwell's "Rainwater", Wordz the poet emcee with "U See That", I.K.P. with "Meraki", and Lester Greene's "Marital Bliss" featuring Michelle Tabot and Allen Parker. This year, the award went to D'Lance Jones, and I couldn't be happier. "Forever With You" was featured on the blog this past summer, when I first found it. The single was released in November 2013, and has been finding a way to the ears of people who love music. It seems to be a natural wedding song, or one that many a couple would be happy to call "our song". "Forever With You" was named 'Best Soul/Hip-Hop/RAP/R&B Song'. This is D'Lance Jones with "Forever With You".

The single was released about a year ago. You can purchase "Forever With You" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about D'Lance Jones, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Our next award is 'Best Rock Song', and once again, there were an impressive list of songs vying for the win. It was Canadian rocker Megan Lane who earned the award with her fantastic song, "Someday We Will Leave This Town". This was another category with strong competition, with music videos like Janis Mullan's "Nobody's Fool", Run Jenny with "Run Jenny", Felonious Parker's "Dominoes In Action", Szilenze with "Nothing Left to Say", and Patrick Boothe's "This is Not Venice". The song and video have such a strong energy, with a true drive in the beat, I can't help but start banging my head when watching. This is Megan Lane with the exciting music video for "Someday We Will Leave This Town".

You can find "Someday We Will Leave This Town" on her latest album, 'Sounding the Animal'. You purchase 'Sounding the Animal' from iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. To learn more about Megan Lane, visit her official website. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Matt Fishel & I.K.P.

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. Today we feature Matt Fishel (above, left) and I.K.P., (above, right).

I am pleased to bring to you, 'Best Lyric Video', a new category to this year's awards. The addition of the award goes to show you how forward-thinking Marlee and Tully are when it comes to changes in the music business. So many artists are making lyric videos to promote new singles. The development of these have come so far, which is easily seen if you check out the winner. This category attracted some amazing submissions, and there were five outstanding nominees. The list included Shawn Thomas with "I'm Alive", Saturn's "We", Norine Braun with "Boy", and Saturn's "I'm Coming Out". The award went to Matt Fishel, a British singer/songwriter I've had a musical crush on since I first found his music a few years ago. When planning this video, Matt asked fans to submit pictures of themselves as couples, which he used to make it, and it is really sweet. This is the winner for 'Best Lyric Video', Matt Fishel and "Finally".

You can find "Finally" on the 2014 release, 'Cover Boy'. You can purchase 'Cover Boy' from iTunes and Amazon. For more about 'Cover Boy', you can check out my review. To learn more about Matt Fishel, visit her official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

The second award tonight is for 'Best Video So Far', I.K.P., which is short for the Infamous King of Positivity. The New York City-based rapper has been honing his craft for several years, including five years while he was serving the nation in the United States Marine Corps. He took his name to show his desire to remain positive in his lyrics, something he still believes in today. "Hunt Me Down" was named 'Best Video So Far', with deep competition from Jay Blahnik with "Boom Box", Thos Shipley's "M-O-N-E-Y", Jansz & June with "Rattlesnake Rose", and Drake Jensen's, "On My Way to Finding You". This is I.K.P. with "Hunt Me Down".

You can find "Hunt Me Down" on the album, 'Ignoring the Known Protocol'. The album can be purchased from from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. To learn more about I,K.P., visit him official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

Dark Monday • Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man

In 1946, MGM released what was called a bio-pic about composer Jerome Kern, although it was more of a greatest hits collection. 'Till The Clouds Roll By' featured rendition of his most famous songs performed by contemporary artists, like Judy Garland, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson and others. The score included some amazing songs in his songbook, including his collaborations with the likes of P.G. Wodehouse, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Buddy DeSylva The filmmakers put together a condensed version of 'Show Boat', which featured Lena Horne as Julie LaVerne and Grayson as Magnolia Hawks, in a role she would reprise in the 1951 MGM version.

Horne sang one of the many great songs from the score of 'Show Boat'. "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" had music by Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Many consider it one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play 'Show Boat'. Their Broadway hit was adapted from Edna Ferber's novel of the same name. The original Broadway hit was produced by the great Florence Ziegfeld, Jr., perhaps the most successful and well-known Broadway impresario ever. There is something sweet, dated, and a bit eerie about the song, and yet Horne handles it with skill and great ease. I just love her version of it more than any of the others. This is Lena Horne singing "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" from 'Till The Clouds Roll By'.

Like the rest of Lena's musical performances, I just can't get enough of this. Her voice is just captivating, and she is just so damned beautiful to watch. You can find the soundtrack to 'Till The Clouds Come Home' on iTunes and Amazon.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Summer Osborne & Nastaij

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. Today I am thrilled to feature Summer Osborne (above, left) and Nastaij, (above, right).

I was quite pleased to hear the competition add a few new categories this year. One of those is 'Best Song With A Social Message', something important to so many of the LGBT artists. There were some amazing submissions, and giving us five outstanding nominees. The list included Anna Gutmanis with "Another Way Out", Sarah Golden with "The One I Love", Kristie Stremel with "Love Makes a Family", Jane of Arc with "Stand", and Summer Osborne with "Solution". This year, the award went to Summer Osborne, twice nominated in this category, and her fantastic song, "This Is Your Call". The St. Louis-based singer/songwriter released the album 'As I Am' in 2013, a wonderful collection of songs. The album included the song "This Is Your Call", which was named 'Best Song With A Social Message'. Please listen to "This Is Your Call" by Summer Osborne.

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You can find "This Is Your Call" on her album, 'As I Am'. You can purchase 'As I Am' from iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and CD Baby. To learn more about Summer Osborne, visit her official website. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Our next award is going to a land down under. That is correct, we are going international with the Australian Hip-Hop artist, Nastaij. The Lismore-based Nastaij stands up and takes a strong stance on marriage equality in her music video for "You Don't Represent Me", which was co-written by featured artist Dawn Laird. Bold and honest, the song speaks to love and prejudice, and features news clips from Conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott (boo-hiss!). It comes together in a spectacular fashion, and was named 'Best Music Video With A Social Message'. This was another category with strong competition, with music videos like Big Bad Gina's "Beetz In My Salad" featuring SJ Tucker, Erik Toro with "The Right", I.K.P. with "Let it B. Known", Linq's "Oh Bully", and Denise Marsa's "The Land Had a Dream". This is Nastaij with the scintillating "You Don't Represent Me".

Although I cannot find where you can purchase "You Don't Represent Me", I do see you can buy her EP 'The Warehouse Session' from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. To learn more about Nastaij, visit her official website. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Alex Woburn & Matt Zarley

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. Today I am featuring Alex Woburn (above, left) and Matt Zarley, (above, right).

The first category I bring to you today is 'Best Pop Song'. This was certainly a fun grouping, with many amazing submissions, and five outstanding nominees. The list included Andrew Suvalsky's "Helplessly", Kevin Wood's "Edge of Greatness", Craymo's "Be Myself, and Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody". This year, the award went to Alex Woburn and his fantastic song, "Sop Playing the Film". The London-based artist has a fun Pop sound with just the right amount of edge. In June of this year, Alex released the song as a single. So, without further ado, this is Alex Woburn with the 'Best Pop Song', "Stop Playing the Film".

You can purchase "Stop Playing the Film" from iTunes. To learn more about Alex Woburn, visit his official Facebook page. You can also 'subscribe' to his offical YouTube channel, where you can find several great examples of his music.

Next up, we have yet another strong group of songs submitted for the 'Best Electronic/Dance Song', a big category for the awards. The song is a beautiful and honest song about love and life, and was named 'Best Electronic/Dance Song', with strong competition from Sponge Finger's "You're a Bitch", "American Thumpdalina" by Jay Blahnik, Michael V. Doane's "Looking for Love", and "Falling Away" by Kevin Wood. And I must say, Matt is no stranger to winning awards, having taken home several over the past few years. It should come as no surprise to my regular readers, as Matt Zarley and his music has been featured on this blog on several occasions, and for good reason. The Los Angeles-based Zarley makes infectious Pop that is both yummy and addictive. And speaking of yummy, have you seen pictures or videos of this hottie? I know, right?! This is Matt Zarley with the official music video for "Somebody 4 Everybody".

You can purchase the single "Somebody 4 Everybody" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Matt Zarley, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Janet Whiteway & Sarah Golden

The winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards were announced recently, proving what great music is being made by LGBT artists. Well, that was obvious when I saw the list of nominees, coming from all around the world. RightOutTV was founded by Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender, devoted to the promotion of LGBT artists and their music all across the globe. The submissions are from many genre, from Rock to Country to Electronica. Once again this year, I was proud to be asked to be a judge, hearing some more great music and discovering a few new artists. But enough with all that. It is time to showcase some very deserving artists. The first of those are Janet Whiteway (above, left) and Sarah Golden, (above, right).

The first category this year I bring to you is 'Best Song So Far', set up by Marlee and Tully for artists to promote the music released prior to the four-year-old awards. This attracts from amazing submissions, and there were five outstanding nominees. The list included Matt Zarley with "Here I Am", Kevin Wood and "The Moon Says Something", Caroline Murphy's "Hurricane", and Summer Osborne with "Letting Go". This year, the award went to Janet Whiteway and her fantastic song, "Pure Sunshine". The Toronto-based singer/songwriter has a rich history of performing, both as a solo act and in a band. In 2010, Janet released the album 'Pure Sunshine', and the title cut is now being honored as 'Best Song So Far'. This is the music video for "Pure Sunshine".

You can find "Pure Sunshine" on her album of the same name. You can purchase 'Pure Sunshine' from iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. To learn more about Janet Whiteway, visit her official website. You can also 'friend' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

The second honoree is an American singer/songwriter who gave an impressive audition in season 2 of The Voice, a part of Team CeeLo. The Houston-based Golden released a single last winter, "The One I Love". The song is a beautiful and honest song about love and life, and was named 'Best Folk/Roots/Country Song', with deep competition from Norine Braun's "I Found You", Andrea Nardello's "Home To Me", Run Jenny's "Get My Whiskey On", Toni Vere's "This Old Heart", and Sarah McCracken's "Horse Grapes". This is Sarah Golden with her achingly beautiful "The One I Love".

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You can purchase the single "The One I Love" from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. To learn more about Sarah Golden, visit her official website. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook.

Tom Goss & MDQ • All About The Bass

This summer, everyone was "All About the Bass" when Meghan Trainor went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And when I say everyone, I don't mean just my 2-year-old great niece McKenna. It would include others, like the handsome and talented Tom Goss. "When Meghan Trainor’s "All About That Bass" released a couple months ago." he explained, "it seemed obvious that I had to do a wild cover video. So I enlisted the help of my good friend MDQ and we got to work." Tom and MDQ went to work in the recording studio, and soon had their own version of the song. And it wasn't long before Tom enlisted a few more buddies, when he asked Aram Vartian and Michael Patrick Key to direct a music video. And I am pleased to share it with you now. Please enjoy MDQ and Tom Goss with "All About the Bass".

Tom and MDQ also called on friends Asha David, Circon Cay, Hide Okuno, Jared Lee, Joey Salnias, Michael Briggs, Phil Reese, and Taisha Cameron to help with the video. Together, they made a remarkable music video. To learn more about Tom Goss, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. While you can't purchase "All About the Bass", you can find Tom's latest release, 'Wait', from iTunes and Amazon.

RightOutTV Music & Video Awards 2014 • Winners!

As we are coming up on the holiday season, it seems as those the lovely ladies of RightOutTV are eager to give back to the community. So Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callender were excited to announce the winners of the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards. They enlisted several of the talented members of the LGBT music community to put on a wonderful show for the deserving winners. Several of the artists nominated and classed out in the video have already been featured on the blog, and I am excited to be introduced to new talent. Click play, and watch and enjoy the show.

Marlee and Tully developed RightOutTV to help LGBT artists with promotion, as a way of giving back to the community. The couple are also a musical duo, making up Sugarbeach. They were kind enough to ask me to participate in the awards for the last few years as a judge. To learn more about RightOutTV, visit the RightOutTV website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, and 'like' them on Facebook. In the coming weeks, I will showcase the winners on the blog. And I will include the list of winners below.

Winners for the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards

BEST SPIRITUAL / BLUES / JAZZ / INSTRUMENTAL SONG

Jamie Anderson, "Black and White"

BEST ELECTRONIC / DANCE SONG

Matt Zarley, "Somebody 4 Everybody"

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LIVE VIDEO

Jamie Anderson, "Her Problem Now"

BEST LYRIC VIDEO

Matt Fishel, "Finally"

BEST VIDEO SO FAR

I.K.P., "Hunt Me Down"

SONG OF THE YEAR

Kevin Wood, "One Time Around

BEST POP SONG

Alex Woburn, "Stop Playing The Film"

BEST ROCK SONG

Megan Lane, "Someday We Will Leave This Town"

BEST SOUL / HIP HOP / RAP / R&B SONG

D'Lance Jones, "Forever With You"

BEST FOLK / ROOTS/ COUNTRY SONG

Sarah Golden, "The One I Love"

BEST SONG WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE

Summer Osborne, "This is Your Call"

BEST SONG SO FAR

Janet Whiteway, "Pure Sunshine"

BEST VIDEO DIY

K Anderson, "14 Year Old Me"

BEST VIDEO PRO

Michael V. Doane, "Looking For Love"

MOST MOVING VIDEO

Steven Gallavin, "La chanson des vieux amants"

BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE

Nastaij, "You Don't Represent Me" feat. Dawn Laird

FAN FAVE AWARD

Kevin Wood

Cazwell • Hot Homo Video (NSFW)

Cazwell has joined forces with gay bear rapper Big Dipper to release "Hot Homo", their own particularly gay take on Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot N*gga”. I have long been a fan of Cazwell, who manages to combine music, rap, humor, and intelligence in his music. And he is also pretty damn cute. He shares the microphone with Big Dipper, who I was not familiar with until now. But I bet I will remedy that quickly. The song, "Hot Homo", is a parody of Shmurda's song, with a decidedly gay edge.

The music video, which is decidedly Not Safe for Work, was directed by Gabe Gonzalez, and edited by David Munoz. Tobin Del Cuore operated the camera, and the crew was made up by Adam Moore, Clark Parkan, and Bob. And it wouldn't be a Cazwell video without lots of handsome men, the less clothes the better. In this video, you can find Levi Michaels, Tayte Hanson, Dimitri Genco, 3X’S, Justin, Brett Edwards Stout, Mikel Mitchell, David Munoz, Marco Ovando, Skylar Loraquette, Sergio Ramos, Andrew Price, Alonso Garcia, Geronimo Frias, Alex Maravilla, Tayda Lebon, Avi Vichner, and Elvis. I hope you enjoy "Hot Homo", as performed by Cazwell and Big Dipper.

This weekend, you can get your FREE Download on Soundcloud. Get it now, I am not sure how long the offer will last. To learn more about Cazwell, visit his official website. If you enjoy the social medias, you 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about Big Dipper, you can visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.