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WEST GERMANY - CIRCA 1959: Jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis plays trumpet as he performs onstage in circa 1959 in West Germany.

Joel Katz

Happy Birthday to the Prince of Darkness

Author Joel Katz

Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis left us in 1991, he was born on this date in 1926. The winner of eight Grammy awards and hundreds of more accolades, he’s considered the most influential jazz musician of our time, and for good reason. He certainly influenced me.

As a kid, rock and roll was all there was for me with the exception of an occasional catchy pop song.

It was a Fall day in Philadelphia when I walked into Temple University’s radio station, Jazz 90 WRTI where Miles Davis’ “So What” was playing. Not knowing what it was, I had to find out. Then I bought the album, “Kind of Blue,” and listened to it over and over again; 46 minutes of “Wow!” It was released long before I was born and is regarded as one of the greatest Jazz compositions and albums of all time.

It introduced me to Jazz, Miles Davis, and his band members, including John Coltrane. More importantly, it opened my mind and taught me how to listen to music in a whole new way. Today I appreciate everything from Tchaikovsky to Tupac to Taylor Swift and credit that one tune on that one day for it.

Listen to Joel Katz and Maryann Morgan every weekday morning from 6 to 10 AM for everything you need to get your workday moving in the right direction.  Joel and Maryann keep you informed with news updates at the top of every hour, traffic and weather three times an hour, and Entertainment Updates at 6:10 and 8:10. Check out “What’s Trending” at 7:10 and “What Are You Talking About” at 9:10. The winning starts at 6:45 with the “Impossible Question,” and continues at 7:20, 8:20 and 9:20. Joel and Maryann in the Morning on Magic 98.3

 

Tina Turner: 10 Iconic Performances from the Queen of Rock & Roll

Tina Turner was a one-of-a-kind performer that plenty of artists, regardless of gender, have tried to emulate. Alas, there was but one Tina, and her energy and presence were truly all hers.

Turner’s death yesterday (May 24) at age 83 leaves a massive void in the music world that will never be filled. How lucky we are as fans to be able to revisit her many incredible on-stage moments over and over. Here are just 10 examples that show just how iconic of a performer she was and how there will never be anyone quite like her ever again.

  • 'The Tonight Show' - December 31, 1982

    Tina Turner delivered a powerhouse performance on The Tonight Show during a special New Year’s Eve show in 1982. It was about a year-and-a-half before the release of Private Dancer, which rocketed her to superstardom.

  • 'The Ed Sullivan Show' - January 11, 1970

    That fringe dress…the choreography…and that voice! Not stitch of a backing track in sight. What a queen!

  • 'VH1 Divas Live' - April 13, 1999

    This was the second Divas Live special from VH1, and it featured some outstanding performances and collaborations, like this one between Tina and Elton John singing “The Bitch Is Back.” Sure, there was drama during rehearsal between Tina and Sir Elton, but true divas are able to pull themselves together and put on an epic show.

  • Live Aid - July 13, 1985

    Hopefully, we’re a long way off from this happening, but when Mick Jagger eventually goes to rock and roll heaven, here’s hoping the first thing he says is, “Alright, where’s Tina?!” The way the capacity crowd inside Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium erupts will always be chill-inducing.

  • 'Late Show with David Letterman' - April 30, 1993

    After delivering a powerful performance of “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” Turner joins Letterman for a chat that involves her doing her best Mick Jagger impression. Unsurprisingly, it’s spot on.

  • 'The Midnight Special' - November 9, 1973

    Tina’s vocals alone make this performance awesome. Once you add in the choreography, it just takes everything to another level.

  • 'The Cher Show' - April 27, 1975

    Two queens just having an absolute blast together in complementing Bob Mackie dresses. What more can you ask for?!

  • 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' - January 29, 2004

    When Oprah turned 50, she had the ultimate birthday party on her talk show, complete with special surprise guest Tina Turner. Oprah’s reaction is priceless, and the fact that Turner strutted down those steps in heels sans a hand-railing is a subtle move that is totally badass.

  • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - January 18, 1989

    By now, we’re all so used to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony being a very polished, organized affair. However, in its early years, things were far more loose, especially when it came to the all-star jam that closes the ceremony. Seemingly, band leader Paul Schaefer calls out “River Deep – Mountain High” as an impromptu jam. Turner, obviously, handles the vocals, but her backing band is insane. Spotted in the video below are Bruce Springsteen, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon to name a few of the artists on the packed stage.

  • Grammy Awards - February 10, 2008

    Beyoncé is one, if not the, biggest stars of her generation, but even stars look up to someone. For Beyoncé, it was Tina Turner. When Turner received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, Bey brought the house down with a rousing rendition of “Proud Mary.” About three years later, the two of them performed “Proud Mary” together at the Grammy Awards. It remains one of the best Grammy performances of all time.

 

 

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

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