The Mistake That Immortalized Cannibal and the Headhunters

In a career that included signature songs like "In the Midnight Hour" (which he wrote) and "Mustang Sally," it's surprising that Wilson Pickett's greatest success was 1966's "Land of 1000 Dances," a cover of Cannibal & the Headhunters' hit from the previous year. Pickett recorded "Land of 1000 Dances" with producer Jerry Wexler at Rick Hall's FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Pickett's cover was a faster, grittier, rhythm and blues cover of the Headhunters' song. Cannibal & the Headhunters were East Los Angeles garage band rockers who used music to escape their tough neighborhood. Lead singer Frankie Garcia got his distinctive name because his brother was nicknamed "Big Cannibal." Frankie, naturally, became "Little Cannibal." The band's raucous sound was achieved by...

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How To Sightread Music Effectively

The key to sightreading music is being able to recognize notes quickly. This skill can help when you play piano. The goal of sightreading is not to play the song at the correct speed. Instead, the goal is to play the song correctly. Playing notes the first time correctly makes it easier than trying to fixed a wrong note you've been playing incorrectly. When you begin sightreading, you should start with simple songs. Easy ways to do that is to try out songs from a beginners book or print some sheet music online. Once you have music in front of you, read the first few notes before playing. You want to be able to read ahead and let your fingers follow your brain. Keep in mind that speed is not the goal! Reading music correctly and playing every note correctly is the goal. Sight reading...

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Why Musicians Need A Music PR Firm

In the music industry, you have heard about PR firms and wonder if they might be able to help you. It's time for you to take that next step since you are feeling confident about your ability to be a success. Having a PR firm may seem like a huge deal, but once you learn more, you will find that it's practical and very helpful. Once you take the time to learn more about how PR agencies work and what they can do for you, you won't be so hesitant to give them a try. It helps to know how a PR agency can help make you more successful. No matter how great your music is, it's hardly worth your time and effort if no one knows about it. You need a vehicle to spread the word about your music so that more people can hear and appreciate your talent. This is one of the things that a PR agency...

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How to Move a Piano (Part One)

Any good tradesman knows that he will indeed end up blaming his tools if he does not have the correct equipment. This is the place to start, but also the place to end for many people, since the cost of obtaining the right tools will outweigh the cost of hiring a professional mover for 'one off' moves. 1) A piano trolley with good sized wheels. Often professionals use pneumatic wheels which cope with uneven surfaces better. Furniture skates designed for indoor use can be useless, even disastrous for outside use, since their small wheels catch on and exaggerate any deformity on the ground. For example, they might sink into a gravel drive, hit a raised pavement slab, and most likely, make a mountain out of the smallest step. 2) Piano transit cover: Its main use is for storing a piano...

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