Visual Sound: Issue 12
Kerry Charles
“I Live Alone”
Haddon Heights singer/songwriter/producer Kerry Charles is still on his Camden County couch pondering consumerism in his “I Live Alone” video. His I Think Of You debut is due April 14 on Grind Select Records.
The Cucumbers (then and now)
“My Boyfriend” and “Beauty From Afar”
One of the more delicious of the Hoboken bands, The Cucumbers, led by married couple Jon and Deena, with nine records in 38 years, are working on a new collection of tunes, Old Shoes, due later this year. Their splashy entry into MTV-land, “My Boyfriend,” is juxtaposed here with the introspective “Beauty From Afar,” written, recorded and filmed during the pandemic from their Desk Drawer Tapes.
(Advertisement) Story continues below…
Count Basie Orchestra
“Corner Pocket”
Stockholm, Sweden, 1962
William James Basie was born August 21, 1904, in Red Bank. He formed one of the greatest big-bands in music history in 1935, leading them for almost 50 years. His numerous innovations—like splitting the saxophones with two distinct voices while accentuating the rhythm section—became a standard unto itself. Stars like sax man Lester Young, guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Sweets Edison, trombonist Al Grey plus singers Jimmy Rushing, Billie Holiday, Helen Humes and Joe Williams all came out of The Count Basie Orchestra. His less-is-more technique made each note he played on the piano count more, especially his patented three-note trill.
Joe Walsh
“One Day At A Time”
A graduate of Montclair High, Joe Walsh, 75, fronted The James Gang before adding some much-needed balls to the Eagles. Here he imparts an important life lesson.