Born in Chicago, Abrams became a radio DJ.

He pioneered systematic audience research and psychographics, connecting people's lifestyles to their listening habits.

He modified the album-oriented rock music format, or AOR, from a looser, freeform style to a tighter form, using playlists rather than allowing DJs the freedom to play anything they chose from albums. This followed the evolution in the late 1960s and 1970s from the music industry's focus on singles to albums. Some of his other work at this time included numerous voice-overs, notably the introduction commentary in "Let's Talk About Me" from the 1984 Alan Parsons Project album Vulture Culture. Abrams co-founded XM Satellite Radio and served as Chief Programming Officer at that company until his departure in 2008. More recently Abrams was the chief innovation officer for the Tribune Company (2008–2010) but prior to that, founded and ran the notable radio consulting company Burkhart/Abrams, served as an internal consultant for ABC Radio, and helped develop nationwide radio formats such as Z-Rock and Radio Disney.

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The ground- breaking, unique jazz/R&B/pop group Brian Auger & The Trinity were formed from the ashes of Long John Baldry’s and Brian Auger’s previous group band The Steampacket, an R&B Revue collective, which also featured a then barely known Rod Stewart and Julie Driscoll. Adding the UK's then greatest soul/pop singer Julie Driscoll to this new collective meant that not only did the band have a unique, beautiful voice and face to front the group – Driscoll also embodied everything about the 1960s fashionable It Girl; her sound, her clothes, hair styles and make up assured that nearly as many column inches were dedicated to her stylish demeanour as much as the band’s genre bending music.

The group were the one of the first too to intentionally set out to break down musical barriers – Brian himself specifically stated in the sleeve notes for 1968s ‘Definitely What!’ album that his concept “lies along a straight line drawn between pop and jazz and aims at the ‘fusion’ of both elements”. ‘Fusion’ at that time was not even a recognised musical term, reinforcing Auger’s credentials as an originator and innovator.

“Back then the jazz audiences were purists. They really looked down on rock and pop,” he explains. “I had people cross the road when they saw me coming, I was persona non grata at Ronnie Scotts because of the music we were doing and the clothes we were wearing”.

Happily – audiences of the time didn’t take the same dismissive approach, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity toured the US and had exploded onto American TV screens as guests of The Monkees, and also scored hits across Europe's pop charts via the singles ‘This Wheels On Fire’ & ‘Save Me’ – but simultaneously appeared on the UK’s ‘Top Of The Pops’ in the same month as headlining major European Jazz Festivals – a feat no other act has equalled since.

Between 1967 and ’70, Brian Auger experienced a four year run of unprecedented creativity – 1967’s Open with Julie Driscoll, 1968’s Definitely What!, 1969’s Streetnoise again with Driscoll and 1970’s Befour – taking the Hammond Organ in new directions with their thrilling fusuion fusion of club R&B, jazz and psychedelic cool, engaging both the underground and the mainstream, and bringing the group chart success in the UK and Europe. “I look back on my years with The Trinity as a period of discovery,” Auger concludes. “I didn’t know what would happen or where it would take me but we were breaking down barriers and going someplace new.”

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In June 2020, Dion released Blues with Friends via Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA), a new record label created by Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman for Dion and other blues musicians to showcase their talents.

 The album features Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and others (including liner notes by Bob Dylan).

 A digital album (and a double vinyl record set), Dion released a music video for every song from the album on his website and social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

 The album reached No. 1[60] on the Billboard Blues Albums chart (9 weeks at No. 1 and 59 weeks total).

 It also charted in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia.[63][64][65][66][67]

American Songwriter magazine honored Dion's "Song for Sam Cooke (Here in America)" as the "Greatest of the Great 2020 Songs."

Dion's song "Blues Comin' On" (with Bonamassa) from Blues with Friends was nominated for a 2021 Blues Music Award.

In November 2021, Dion released Stomping Ground which includes extensive liner notes written by Pete Townshend.

Except for a cover of "Red House", the songs were written by Dion and Aquilina. Multiple guest artists participate on the album.

 The album became Dion's second No. 1 blues album.

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Marking a return to the roots based rock and roll that “plagued my entire career,” Sentimental Junk features 10 new originals and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Clean Cut Kid.” The first single from the album is a vocal duet with Jon Butcher, called “California’s Got to My Girl.” Said Butcher, “As someone lucky enough to have rubbed shoulders with some of the finest players in the world I am proud to call Tom Guerra a friend and fellow brother-in-arms. I highly recommend Sentimental Junk as a must hear for anyone digging on guitar music. Like me.”

                                                                                                                                                                   - Tom Guerra

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Jennie Matthias, first burst onto the pop scene in the well loved 80's all-girl band The Belle Stars back in 1981 following the break-up of The Bodysnatchers, another all-girl band who released two ska singles 'Let's Do Rock Steady' and 'Easy Life' on the legendary 2-Tone record label.

The Belle Stars became a well known gigging band, unusual by today's standards, and in 1981 finally signed to another legendary record label Stiff Records, known for their quirky and innovative marketing ideas.

Following the release of three original singles Hiawatha, Slick Trick and Another Latin Love Song they finally scored their first Top 40 UK chart hit with 'Iko Iko' in 1982, a cover version of the 60's classic by The Dixie Cups. 

For many years now Jennie has performed and recorded tracks with various artists while continuing to work with disadvantaged children.  She used her poetry to raise awareness of issues that are important to her and her poem 'Scag Man' was made into an animated movie to help young people become more aware of the dangers of drugs.  

Jennie is also the founder of S-teem, a project developed to help young people make better-informed choices about their lives and she received an Intermix Positive Contribution Award in 2003 for her work with young people.

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For five consecutive years, the readers of Drummer Magazine have crowned Kenny Aronoff the #1 Pop /Rock Drummer and the #1 Studio Drummer for his unique and emulated style combining finesse and power. 

The celebrated musician has contributed his talents to more than 60 Grammy® nominated recordings. Over 300 million records sold worldwide feature his work—1,300 of which are certified gold, platinum, or diamond records!

www.newmexicodjservice.com 

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