Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Where are the "John Hammond's" of our day?

Here is a quote from a bio about Leonard Cohen  http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/oct/14/features.magazine37 ....(He would never have made it on American Idol)

There seems to be no one making a name for being a maverick in our musical world...no one seems to be taking chances on the possibility of a Dylan, a Cohen, etc... all we have today is frightened little music business people kissing the likes of Simon Cowel's boootay, shrieking at their own shadows like little children....so sad and so pitiful..art is forgotten by the masses.. thank God for the internet and the many making music everyday in their dens, bathrooms, garages, basements, etc...

 Check it out...


"Cohen's own future took off one night in 1967 when he supported Judy Collins, the 60s folk singer, at an anti-Vietnam war concert at New York Town Hall. When he took the stage, his guitar was out of tune, his voice froze to a whimper and he ran to the wings with stage fright. He was terrified. But both Collins and the chanting crowd persuaded him to take the microphone again. As soon as he did, they loved him. He was signed to Columbia records by a maverick talent scout, John Hammond, the A&R man who had taken similar 'risks' on unknowns Billie Holiday and Bob Dylan."

No comments: