Tag Archives: American music

RIP Salome Bey (1939 – 2020)

Salome Bey was an American-born Canadian composer and singer.

She did solo work but in my book she is famous for having part in an unforgettable version of “Round Midnight” (1944) with the unforgettable lines

“But it really gets bad,
’round midnight.”

She did that version with her brother Andy and her sister Geraldine, both of whom survive her.

RIP Malik B. (1972 – 2020)

The Roots – Here I Come (Feat. Dice Raw & Malik B)

Malik B. was an American rapper and singer who was a founding member of The Roots.

Although he did some solo work, his most interesting work was with that group, where he was a rapper rather than a song-writer.

If you are unfamiliar with the work of The Roots, check “The Seed” (2002).

RIP Max Crook (1936 – 2020)

Max Crook was an American musician whose name is virtually unknown.

“Runaway” keyboard solo.

Some research yields his co-authorship of “Runaway” (1961), the Del Shannon song.

In that song he also plays the keyboard solo.

That solo was played on a self-invented electric keyboard called the “Maximillian” which was based the clavioline, which was in turn a variation on the Musitron.

RIP Mark Barkan (1934 – 2020)


Mark Barkan (1934 – 2020) was an American songwriter and record producer.

In 1966, Barkan produced the album Psychedelic Moods by The Deep, credited as the first psychedelic album.

While researching his death, I came across the song “A Great Day For The Clown” (1967) which is a song not hard to fall in love with. It is also supposedly an Northern soul classic. Love the horns. Who does the horns?