This Day in Music says that the CBGBs opened on the lower east side of Manhattan on this day in 1971. The item reports that CBGBs stands for “country, bluegrass, blues.” The latter part of the name — OMUG — stands for “other music for up lifting gourmandizers,” according to the site promoting a festival in honor of the club. And, yes, “gourmandizer” is a word.
Above is Blondie performing “Man Overboard” at the club in 1975.
Here are some books to check out.
Duke Ellington brought class, sophistication and style to jazz which, until that point, was proudly unpolished and raucous. His story is profound. The author, Terry Teachout, also wrote "Pops," the acclaimed bio of Louis Armstrong. Click here or on the image.
What else is there to say? Here is the story behind every song written by The Beatles. Click here or on the image.
The Grateful Dead don't get enough credit for the profound nature of its lyrics. Many of the band's songs are driven by a deep and literate Americana ("I'm Uncle Sam/That's who I am/Been hidin' out/In a rock and roll band" and "Majordomo Billy Bojangles/Sit down and have a drink with me/What's this about Alabama/Keeps comin' back to me?").
David Dodd's exhaustive study tells the story, song by song. Click here or on the image.
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