September 2011 ~ JWritesiT

These girls are awesome! I have hopes of one day going to Korea to check them out live aaaah to dream ;-)

Isn't this video awesome? The theme is one of like a gothic fairy tale, almost Richard Burton-esque.

I LOVE Ella! I also felt compelled to post some interesting information I saw on Wikipedia, no matter the adversity you can overcome! Trust yourself, trust your abilities and then just do it.

In 1932, her mother died from a heart attack.^[3] Following this trauma, Fitzgerald's grades dropped dramatically and she frequently skipped school. Abused by her stepfather, she was first taken in by an aunt ^[5] and at one point worked as a lookout at a bordello and also with a Mafia-affiliated numbers runner.^[6] When the authorities caught up with her, she was first placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale, the Bronx.^[7] However, when the orphanage proved too crowded she was moved to the New York Training School for Girls in Hudson, New York, a state reformatory. Eventually she escaped and for a time was homeless.^[5]

She made her singing debut at 17 on November 21, 1934 at the Apollo Theater. in Harlem, New York. She pulled in a weekly audience at the Apollo and won the opportunity to compete in one of the earliest of its famous "Amateur Nights". She had originally intended to go on stage and dance but, intimidated by the Edwards Sisters, a local dance duo, she opted to sing instead in the style of Connee Boswell. She sang Boswell's "Judy" and "The Object of My Affection," a song recorded by the Boswell Sisters, and won the first prize of US$25.00.^[8]

OMG this is my favorite classical piece - whenever I hear this I imagine that I am playing the violin with such ferocity, with the wind blowing furiously around me

Gypsy Kings Music for the soul - always a great pick me up!

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Interview with Justin Turk getting to know his "Beatles" side

Cigarettes, stale beer smells out of cups stained with old froth. Tight jeans faded vintage tee-shirts, long hair, short or greasy, old boots with heels and leather jackets encompass my thoughts when I dream up a rock bands jam session.

I hear the ghost sounds of guitars playing in the background, "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" keeps coming to mind as I begin transcribing my conversation with Justin Turk. Justin is a gifted artist with a sound heavily influenced by the Beatles. His voice is clear and very melodic, its the kind of sound that makes people stop in their tracks to listen - I have witnessed this myself.

During a photshoot (which took place at the Newport Waterfront) for the Hearing out Loud campaign, Justin with his guitar asked a gentleman if he could board his Yacht to play something. I could see them from where I sat in front of a Starbucks across the water. Once Justin received the okay, I watched as he and Nicole (a hearing impaired performer) hopped on board and while Nicole signed his words, Justin played and Justin sang. I could hear him clearly all the way across the water, so could everyone around me, people walking the pier and everyone nearest the yacht eating lunch at the cafe. It was as if someone had switched on a radio.

I decided that I needed to sit down with Justin to discuss what makes his musical mind tick, and to get the word out about this guy who had won myself and so many others over with a song.

JWritesiT: Thank you Justin for sitting down with me JWritesiT, I'm going to ask you a couple of questions, your a musician so lets get some information about you and about what makes you tick as a musician

JWritesiT: So Justin what type of music do you perform?

Justin: Mainly rock n roll, I have a large range of styles I used to sing in a metal band, I can do all the "dirty" vocals all that stuff..and I have a really good ballad side to me as well, soft rock n roll.

JWritesiT: Awesome, Do you play any instruments?

Justin: I play mainly guitar and piano, but my main thing is really singing - main instrument to play (smiling)

JWritesiT: Ok, and what kind of guitar to you play? Bass, acoustic?

Justin: I play both acoustic and electric guitar I also play electric piano but preferably grand

JWritesiT: Why did you become a musician?

Justin: Well its something I always liked to do. I always liked music as a little kid, I've been singing since I was able to walk (smiling) basically. My mom used to sing alot to whatever she was listening to, so I guess I kind of picked it up from her. I started performing when I was 9 years old and basically cause my father influenced me to get up and perform in front of large crowds.

I remember the first time i ever sang in front of a large group of people, I went out to eat with them and there were people doing karaoke and my dad said "hey go up and sing karaoke" we were at a restaurant so I got up (chuckling) but they didn't have the song that I wanted to do. So I sang acapella without the music and they actually let me do it...surprisingly.

JWritesiT: What song was that?

Justin: That was ugh....I cant remember what song it was (smiling) it was by the Backstreet Boys (chuckling) and then at age 12 I picked up the guitar, that's basically were it all started from then..

JWritesiT: That's great thank you! Who are your influences Justin?

Justin: My biggest influence is the Beatles. I have alot of other different influences depending on the genre of music - listen to everything (smiling) But I would say my biggest influence is the Beatles.

JWritesiT: And whats your favorite Beatles song?

Justin: Ahhh i don't even know where to choose there are so many of them

JWritesiT: Ok, what do you like the most about performing?

Justin: I guess, the ability to share my music with other people, first hand, especially when you get to see people sing along with your music and have a good time to what you are performing. I put my heart and soul out on that stage. Its so good to see people respond to it.

JWritesiT: What do you like least? Are there any drawbacks to being a performer?

Justin: Well if you have to load and unload your own equipment then I would say that would be one of the worst aspects (chuckling) but other than that I don't really see any downfall.

JWritesiT: What about original music? How often to you perform your own music vs. cover songs or do you think that as a performer its easier to perform cover songs than original music?

Justin: I Love doing cover songs because its what influences you (as a person) really, your music influences all other peoples music and the one thing about cover songs is its always good to get the people who aren't familiar with your music - when your performing live to enjoy themselves. Then they get into your original stuff.

JWritesiT: And then you begin to gain a following...

JWritesiT: When did you know you wanted to be a performer full time assuming that you are a performer full time.

Justin: Well I do have a regular day job, I work as a carpenter, but I would love to do it full time....I wish I could do it full time. Not quite at that level yet, but hopefully soon.

JWritesiT: And how old are you Justin?

Justin: 21

JWritesiT: If you couldn't perform what would you do?

Justin: I don't know....I don't know what else I would do...I'd probably still find a way to do it (chuckling)

JWritesiT: Good answer! What is next on the horizon for you Justin? What are you working on, what can we expect to see from you? Where do you normally perform?

Justin: Recently my metal band broke up after 5 years being together, but it was kind of for the betterment of everyone in the band our styles and tastes changed...we kind of just went our separate ways to do what we really want and truly want.

Right now I'm in this process of producing my first solo record, there will be 8 tracks on it. Its soft rock, bringing back that old time rock n roll, that's my music mission - to bring back that old time rock n roll. It still has a nice modern touch to it though.

JWritesiT: I can't wait to get a copy of the CD! And what can you say to other musicians that are out there with a day job and a dream of becoming a performer? What do you tell them how do you keep yourself going?

Justin: Just have confidence if you really truly love to do it and you have the ambition to do it keep trying- anything can happen. If its truly what you want to do it will happen. If you feel in your heart that this is truly meant to be then it will happen. You just have to work hard at it. You can't just give up you can't let yourself down, keep progressing.

To listen to Justin's versatility click on the videos below!