Musicians Who Competed on ‘Dancing With The Stars’

The latest cast of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ has been announced, and as is to be expected, it includes a few singers amongst its celebrity ranks. Singers competing in season 28 (which starts September 16) include Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, The Supremes’ Mary Wilson and ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar Lauren Alaina.

Though not always a given, musicians tend to do well on ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ There have been multiple occasions where they have risen to the final rounds and even won the entire season.

In honor of the new ‘Dancing With The Stars’ cast, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the most memorable musicians to grace the ballroom stage. Here are seven singers / groups whose performances captivated viewers.

1.       Normani Kordei: Ally Brooke isn’t the first member of Fifth Harmony to put on her dancing shoes. Back in 2017 bandmate Normani Kordei took to the stage to compete, finishing in third place on season 24. At the time, the group was still going strong, having released their third, self-titled album just months after her appearance. Going by just her first name, Normani’s solo career is heating up now as her single featuring Sam Smith, “Dancing with a Stranger,” peaked in the top 10 this year.

2.       Drew & Nick Lachey: 98° singer Drew Lachey was an early contestant on the show, winning season two all the way back in 2006. It took his older brother and bandmate Nick 11 years to follow suit. Nick became part of the second married couple to compete against each other on the show, as he was joined by his wife Vanessa Lachey (a former MTV V-Jay), and first couple to be partnered with another married couple (dancers Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy). When Drew competed, 98° had been on hiatus for several years, but by the time Nick danced, the band was back in the swing of things with a studio album, a Christmas album and a couple of tours under their belt.

3.       Nick Carter: Surprisingly the only Backstreet Boy to compete, Nick Carter placed second in season 21. A fan favorite, he was a high-scorer from the beginning. He even performed to two of BSB’s songs. While on the show, BSB were in the midst of a comeback of sorts (though they never really left), having just gotten off an extensive world tour behind their album ‘In A World Like This.’

4.       Joey Fatone & Lance Bass: Though they participated in different seasons, the tongue-in-cheek rivalry between *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Lance Bass was one of the drivers during Bass’ season. Fatone came in second on season four, which meant Bass had a lot riding on his appearance. He ended up coming up at tad short, placing third on season seven. *NSYNC never managed to spark a real reunion after the show (they’ve sang together at a few one-off events), but Fatone did get some acting and hosting gigs out of the show, while Bass’ brand has never been stronger.

5.       Donny Osmond: In a season filled with musicians, teen star all-grown-up Donny Osmond came out on top for season 9, beating out Mya (2), Kelly Osbourne (3), Aaron Carter (5) and Macy Gray (15) for the mirror ball trophy. Osmond had been a fan-favorite from the beginning, especially with older viewers and his success most likely came from that fan base pushing him through.

6.       Nicole Scherzinger: Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger went for the gold on season 10, winning the whole competition. It was around this time that Scherzinger’s solo career was taking off, though she became better known for judging musicians than being one.

7.       Kellie Pickler: Lauren Alaina is also not the first ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar to hit the dance floor. Back in 2013, Kellie Pickler won season 16 of the program. At the time, Pickler was working on her fourth studio album, ‘The Woman I Am,’ releasing first single “Someone Somewhere Tonight” while still competing.

Musicians have usually done well competing on the reality dancing competition ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ Like the artists above, the show has seen several take the top or runner-up spots with memorable performances. With season 28 starting in September, time will tell how this year’s musicians fare against the other celebrities competing for the mirrorball trophy.

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Find music from these ‘Dancing With The Stars’ competitors and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Artists with Their Own Podcasts

Podcasting has been around for a while now, though it has been gaining new ground over the past couple of years. New shows dealing with every conceivable topic have been popping up on what seems like almost every day. Much like early radio-era scripted shows, podcasts have been able to peak people’s interests and capture their imaginations with both informative and entertaining content. Musicians are getting in on the act too, creating their own shows to either promote the music they love or to talk about their own music and career stories.

With podcasting becoming so popular, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at artists who have chosen to dabble in the field. Here are seven who have or have had their own shows.

1.       Questlove, ‘Questlove Supreme’: Best known as the drummer for hip-hop band The Roots, Questlove has proven himself on multiple occasions to be an international man of music. In 2016, he created the ‘Questlove Supreme’ podcast with music service Pandora, on which he conducted interviews with artists and “geek out” about music. According to a New York Times article, he would go through roughly 200 songs before recording each weekly episode.

2.       Chuck D, ‘Stay Free: The Story of The Clash’: In February of 2019, Spotify launched an eight-episode podcast about legendary British punk band The Clash. To host, the company landed another legend, Public Enemy-frontman Chuck D. If this sounds like a weird pairing, the podcast makes sure to establish the parallels between the band and Chuck D’s careers, adding a “surprising new dimension to the story of The Clash.”

3.       Aimee Mann & Ted Leo, ‘The Art Of The Process’: Announced in January 2019 and premiered on the Maximum Fun podcast network the same month, musicians Aimee Mann and Ted Leo’s ‘The Art Of The Process’ podcast discusses not only music, but creativity in all its forms. According to a Twitter post by Leo, “We talk to a broad array of ppl from many backgrounds and many regions of the creative spectrum about how, in these times, they remain creative while navigating the labyrinth of abandon, depression, elation, inspiration, and most importantly for us, work, structures, process.” Past guests on the monthly podcast include singer/songwriter Dan Wilson (Semisonic), comedian Wyatt Cenac and most recently television critic Emily Nussbaum.

4.       Ozzy Osbourne, ‘The Osbournes Podcast’: Back in 2002 when reality television was coming into its own, MTV premiered a show looking at the lives of Black Sabbath frontman and successful solo artist Ozzy Osbourne and his family called ‘The Osbournes.’ In 2018, the Osbourne family decided to look back on the four-season series with a 10 episode podcast.

5.       Rick Rubin, ‘Broken Record’: One of the most storied and in demand producers in music, Rick Rubin has teamed up with writer Malcolm Gladwell and New York Times editor Bruce Headlam for a podcast about the songwriting process. ‘Broken Record’ features Rubin talking with guests about their craft in an effort to “restart” the conversation between artist and listener “for a world without liner notes.”

6.       Robert Plant, ‘Digging Deep’: The most recent addition to the musicians starting podcasts club is Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, whose ‘Digging Deep’ launched its first episode on June 2. The show features Plant discussing his five decade music career and the “moments, people and places that have inspired some of [his] most treasured music.”

7.       Henry Rollins, ‘Henry & Heidi Podcast’: Henry Rollins has led a pretty storied career in the music industry as frontman for Black Flag and the Rollins Band, solo artist and motivational speaker, all of which he has been discussing sporadically on his podcast, the ‘Henry & Heidi Podcast,’ since 2015.  Along with his manager Heidi May, Rollins tells stories about his career in hopes that “listeners have some fun listening to it.”

More and more people have been jumping on the podcasting bandwagon lately, including musicians. There are many artists like the ones above out there using the format to discuss their careers or explore other artists’ creative pursuits. As podcasting continues to pick up steam, it wouldn’t be surprising if even more artists develop their own shows.

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Find music from these musicians and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Women’s History Month: Female Artists Making Waves in Music Today

From the early years of rock and roll to today’s up-and-coming crop of young artists, there have been so many amazing and talented women in music. Especially nowadays, there are so many women taking the reins of their music careers and finding success.

March is Women’s History Month and to celebrate, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the female artists dominating music right now. Here are seven of today’s most important voices you should be listening to.

1.       Courtney Barnett: Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett has a no-nonsense wit about her when it comes to writing music. Her lyrics are honest and direct, often holding more weight than the actual melodies themselves. One of her most recent singles, “Nameless, Faceless,” explores the dichotomy between how women view the world verses how men do.

2.       Janelle Monàe: Janelle Monàe has been turning heads ever since the release of her 2007 EP ‘Metropolis.’ But it wasn’t until last year’s ‘Dirty Computer’ that people really started to take notice of the singer’s creativity, earning her a Grammy nod for ‘Album of the Year.’ Whether its in her music or the film roles she takes on, Monàe has also been an advocate for women’s, black and LGBTQ rights, saying during an interview with Rolling Stone last year, “I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are having a hard time dealing with their sexuality, dealing with feeling ostracized or bullied for just being their unique selves, to know that I see you.”

3.       St. Vincent: A free-spirited pop artist, St. Vincent (real name Annie Clark) has perfected the art of the eclectic and brought it to the mainstream. Her 2017 album ‘Masseduction’ became her first top 10 release and earned her two Grammy Awards. She has never rested on her laurels though, continuing to evolve her sound and style at every turn.

4.       Beyoncé: A classic at this point, Beyoncé is not just one of the most important female artists of our time, but one of the most influential artists ever, period. From her beginnings in Destiny’s Child to her current solo work and multi-million dollar empire, she dominates the field. Her music is incredibly powerful as well, penning female empowerment anthems like “Independent Woman,” “Single Ladies” and “Girls (Who Run The World).”

5.       Alicia Keys: Like Beyoncé, Alicia Keys has been one of the most powerful female voices of our generation. Her music speaks to the spirit and essence of who we are as people. Songs like “Girl on Fire” and her latest single “Raise a Man” deliver a message of love and action with power and grace. Her star only grows brighter as she continues to prove herself to be not just a singer or piano player, but an artist.

6.       Lady Gaga: Over her decade as “mother monster,” Lady Gaga’s influence has proven more powerful than her music. Pioneering her “Born This Way” philosophy, she has helped millions of young girls and those questioning their identities find themselves and to be comfortable in their own skin.

7.       Lzzy Hale: Frontwoman for metal band Halestorm, Lzzy Hale has been one of the most influential rockers in metal in recent history. More than two decades after forming, the band is at the top of its game and continuing to rise. Like her female rock role models, Hale proves that women can rock hard and be role models for others who want to do the same.

There are a lot of powerful women in the music today challenging what it means to be a female artist in a male-dominated industry. Between pop’s heavy hitters, rockers and avant-garde artists who change their style with every new idea, there is so much creative energy and power coming from this generation of female artists. The artists above, as well as many others, are proof that women are influencing the future of music and culture.

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Find music from powerful female musicians new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to satisfy most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Surprising (and Not-So Surprising) Musicians Who Contributed to ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of long-running cartoon ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ has passed away. The animator and marine biologist lost his battle with ALS on Tuesday. He was 57.

Over the last two decades, Hillenburg’s ‘Spongebob’ has become one of the most popular characters in cartoon history, appealing to both kids and the adults who grew up with it. The show became so popular that it has attracted many celebrity guests to become involved. That includes top-name musicians, who have lent their talents to the television show, as well as its first movie and subsequent Broadway production.

In honor of Stephen Hillenburg’s work, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the big name musical artists who have been a part of the ‘SpongeBob’ universe. Here are seven artists that have either voiced characters or written music for the show and its properties.

1.       David Bowie: David Bowie, who’s children were fans of the show, is one of the only artists to have both voiced a character on an episode of the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ TV series as well as contribute a song to the Broadway show. The episode in question was an hour-long musical called “Atlantis SquarePantis” which featured Bowie as Lord Royal Highness, the ruler of Atlantis. As for Broadway, his 1995 collaboration with Brian Eno, “No Control” was chosen after the singer gave director Tina Landau permission to use something from his catalog.

2.       The Flaming Lips:  When it came time to make the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, Hillenburg was adamant about having off-beat artists on the soundtrack. Artists like Wilco and Ween made the cut, as well as The Flaming Lips, who provided the song “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy.” Because of the film contribution, the band was also asked to write a song for the Broadway musical, which became “Tomorrow Is.”

3.       Ween: As mentioned above, Hillenburg liked off-beat bands and Ween seems to have been an early favorite. According to an old Ween message board, the band was asked by Hillenburg, who was inspired by their album ‘The Mollusk,’ to write and record a song about tying shoes (“Loop de Loop”) for the show before the cartoon ever aired. The band ended up working with ‘SpongeBob’ again, this time providing their song “Ocean Man” (from ‘The Mollusk’) for the first movie’s soundtrack.

4.       Pantera: Another early ‘SpongeBob’ inclusion, Pantera rearranged one of their songs for the show’s second season. The song was “Death Rattle,” which was turned into “Pre-Hibernation,” and was included in a montage of scenes where Sandy and SpongeBob were getting ready for Sandy’s hibernation.

5.       Gene Simmons: Another famous metal face, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, also contributed to the show. Simmons lent his voice to the character of Sea Monster during the show’s fifth season. Announcing the part on the Kiss website in 2007, he said “I was born for this part. I've been waiting all my life to be a Sea Monster. It's in my blood. It's what I do. It's my job.”

6.       Dee Snider: Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is apparently a big fan of ‘SpongeBob.’ Like Simmons, he provided a voice for the show’s sixth season, playing a snail shell salesman named Angry Jack who was far from angry (you know, until “stuff” happens). The fandom must have been mutual, as original movie track “Goofy Goober Rock” was supposed to be a parody of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock.”

7.       Mötorhead: Mötorhead also had one of their tracks parodied for the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, except the band actually recorded the track themselves. “You Better Swim” is a reworking of “You Better Run” from ‘March ör Die.’

 ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ has been providing inspiration to fans both young and young at heart with its wacky, off-beat nature. Such is why there have been many musical artists (like the ones above) and actors who have jumped at the opportunity to voice characters or contribute music to the franchise. As long as people continue to be inspired by the show, Stephen Hillenburg’s characters will continue to live on in television (and music) history.

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Find music from these ‘SpongeBob’-loving artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Films About Fictional Musicians

The new remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ hits theaters this Friday, October 5. A retelling of the classic film, Bradley Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a seasoned musician who discovers up-and-comer Ally (played by Lady Gaga), making music and falling in love. The film is Cooper’s directorial (and musical) debut. Early reviews are positive, with critics raving about both the film and its music.

Of course, ‘A Star Is Born’ is not the only film in history to base its storyline around the musicians. There have been plenty of movies portraying the ins and outs of music and the music industry.  Some of these films take a comedic approach to the topic while others head in a more dramatic direction.

With ‘A Star Is Born’ ready to hit movie screens, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the other films based around music. Here are nine that feature fictional musicians as the main protagonists.

1.       ‘Singles’: ‘Friends’ before ‘Friends’ even existed, ‘Singles’ was the quintessential early 1990s young adult story, centering on a group of friends (some of them musicians) trying to make it in Seattle. Director Cameron Crowe based the film off the real life artists in the scene and how they worked to finance their music. Not only was ‘Singles’ about creating music, but it featured artists from the Seattle scene as well, including members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

2.       ‘8 Mile’: ‘8 Mile’ is the story of a white rapper trying to make it in the predominantly black Detroit underground hip-hop scene as he tries to clean up his life. Based loosely on the career of Eminem, who also makes his acting debut in the starring role, the film was a massive success. The lead single from the film’s soundtrack, “Loose Yourself,” went on to win both Grammys and Academy Awards.

3.       ‘This Is Spinal Tap’: A comedy about a fictional metal band reuniting for an American tour, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ became a cult hit following its release. The film has been lauded for its realism, with many people (including rock stars) believing that the band was real. Of course, the band did become real, releasing a handful of records and performing live together.

4.       ‘Almost Famous’: Less so about the bands performing and more about what happens behind the scenes, ‘Almost Famous’ comes at you from the perspective of a young reporter tasked with going on tour with a national headlining band. Based off director Cameron Crowe’s own experiences writing for ‘Rolling Stone,’ the film gives a real, if exaggerated, view of the 1970s rock scene.

5.       ‘Hustle & Flow’: ‘Hustle & Flow’ tells the story of a man trying to find a new life for himself as a rapper. The film shows the power of music to save people and change lives, as well as the struggle to be heard.

6.       ‘Blues Brothers’: Started as a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit, ‘Blues Brothers’ finds brothers Jake and Elwood Blues (the classic comedic duo of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi) reuniting their old blues band to help raise money to save the orphanage where they grew up. Based on Aykroyd’s love of blues, the film is mired in it, featuring appearances from legends like Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and more. Like with ‘Spinal Tap,’ the Blues Brothers become an actual band, releasing a handful of albums and playing live.

7.       ‘School of Rock’: ‘School of Rock’ is a comedy about a former rocker who impersonates a substitute teacher and drafts his class into becoming his new band. In the end, the class learns about working together towards a common goal. The story has become a modern classic, spawning a short-lived television show and a very well-received Broadway stage adaptation.

8.       ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny’: ‘School of Rock’ isn’t Jack Black’s only musical foray. He and real life music partner Kyle Gass also starred in their own musical film, ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny,’ a fantasy about a musical duo (Tenacious D) that goes on a “quest” to obtain a mystical guitar pick that will increase their skills. Tenacious D has released a couple of albums in the intervening years since the film and currently have a new animated YouTube series and album on the way (the first episode is out now).

9.       ‘Once’: The little indie film that could, ‘Once’ featured two artists who met while the male musician was busking and end up making music together. ‘Once’ stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who performed together as The Swell Season before disbanding a couple years later. The film’s signature song, “Falling Slowly,” also became a minor hit.

Over the years there have been a lot of films where music and musicians take center stage as the main characters. Musicians have been portrayed in both comedic and dramatic lights, in love stories and in epic adventures, all dealing with the music as a unifying theme. The latest remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ joins the pantheon of these films, hopefully doing the subgenre proud.

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Find music from these films and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. From soundtracks to rock, jazz, hip-hop and more, we have thousands of titles in stock. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.