a History of Live Music on Film

Guy Mitchell performing “Singing the Blues” on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956.

Shot at BBC2 on February 23, 1971 at the BBC’s Television Theatre in Shepherd’s Bush, London.

The whole set can be seen here:

Kurtis Blow performs “The Breaks” on Soul Train episode #336 from 1980. Kurtis Blow and “The Breaks” were pivotal to the popularization of rap.

Here are many of the firsts credited to Kurtis Blow:
• First rapper to sign to a Major label
• First certified gold record for rap (“The Breaks”)
• First rapper to tour US & Europe (w/ The Commodores, 1980)
• First rapper to record a national commercial (Sprite)
• First rapper to use the drum machine, sample & sample loop
• First rap music video (“Basketball”)
• First rap producer (Rap’s producer of the year in 1983 – 85)
• First rap millionaire “The Breaks” is the first certified gold rap song.

Best super group of all time. Or at least they are tied with the Traveling Willbury’s.

Don’t know what the deal is with the weird aspect ratio, but these clips are still worth posting.

This first one’s for you Luke.

The Highwayman

Folosom Prison Blues

Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babys Grow Up To Be Cowboys.

Here are a couple of clips of the Five Stairsteps miming in Minneapolis for the “Where The Action Is!” TV show. Obviously by one of the lakes, Calhoun? Lake of the Isles? Which were the cool lakes in the 60s?

“Where the Action Is” was a half hour musical variety show produced and hosted by Dick Clark. This Episode aired on August 22nd, 1966.

It’d be silly to post about the Stairsteps and not include this:
From the Barbara McNair show in 1970.

Sad news today that Les Paul has passed away. Here are some classic Les Paul clips to remember him by.