Thank you for visiting my blog. I am DJ-RJ of Music4Life DJs in Austin, TX. I am also a coach, trainer, photographer, geek. I write about music, DJing, life, and other topics I am passionate about.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Reggae Evolution - Best of 2007 Show
If you missed it, you can download the full show here: Music4Life Podcast.
DJ-RJ
Friday, December 14, 2007
Duran Duran
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
New Pictures Coming
RJ
Sunday, November 18, 2007
More Latin Vibes
Finally got a chance to see El Cantante with Marc Anthony & J.Lo on DVD this week. It's the story of Hector Lavoe. The music is great! Get the CD or check out the video.
Got turned on to Cortijo y Su Combo today from a friend and been checking out some of his songs via iTunes. He was popular in the 50s and 60s and incorporated the plena and bomba rhythms of Puerto Rico into his music.
Found that Andy MontaƱez was in his band in the 70s. He released an album called Salsaton in 2006, where he merged salsa with reggaeton that is very good. Nice that they kept most of the acoustic vibes of salsa as opposed to the same cliched reggaeton beat. Check out Se Le Ve.
All for now!
DJ-RJ
Monday, November 12, 2007
Great Weekend
Saturday night, I did a Sweet 16 party for Paige. Played almost all hip-hop all night over at Chez Zee's Gallery Room on Balcones. I spoke with Mary Frances after the event and was surprised to find out that the place is quite affordable to rent. Great for cocktails or a small party. They can comfortably feed 70-80 people.
On Sunday, I did sound at Unity and then hustled over to Pfluger Hall for a wedding. It was an Indian-Filipino union and we had a great time. Played some bhangra music and lots of other Top 40 hits. Also did the ceremony earlier in the day at her parent's house in Pflugerville. The ceremony was an hour long and was so beautiful. They had Filipino and Indian rituals. I had a great time and feel so fortuante to be part of their special day. Big shout out and congrats to Venu & Liezl !
DJ-RJ
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Two New Interviews
Here is a shot from Saturday night doing the hokey pokey:
Excited
Been updating the website and scheduling a photoshoot for the whole team. Tonight Lori and I will attend a dinner with ISES memebers. Have a new print ad for Austin Wedding Day that I am quite excited about. Got a great image and design that I think is going to grab people's attention.
And then of course there is music. The new Annie Lennox Sing is great. Interesting also to me is the return of the Spice Girls and their new single that seems to making some noise, as well as their tour and other deals.
Had two nice interviews on my Tuesday night radio show. One with Umberto Echo from Munich and also Kris Brown from Austin about his CD release which I was fortunate to be able to play drums on. Look for them on the PODCAST very soon (today hopefully).
This weekend I have a 14 year-old birthday party at Chez Zee and a wedding at Pfluger Hall.
Life is good!
DJ-RJ
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Wedding Folks
Great Swing Music
I was really impressed by The Quebe Sisters, who my sister had seen a few weeks ago in Ft Worth. These 3 young sisters play fiddle and sing like The Andrews Sisters. Simply amazing! We go to meet them and buy a CD. Quite impressive to see so much talent! Check them out!
RJ
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
October 13th - Salsa Time!!!!
RJ
On Saturday October 13th, Flamingo Cantina continues its exploration of international flair as Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca fuses an entire diaspora’s worth of influence to a chassis of Afro-Cuban origin. Born in the Congo of Angolan ancestry, Ricardo Lemvo formed Makina Loca 17 years ago in Los Angeles and the 10-piece band quickly attracted worldwide attention with their seamless blend of Cuban son montuno and Zairean soukous. With Lemvo fluently singing in each of Spanish, Lingala, Kikongo, French, English, and Portuguese, a Makina Loca set conjures exotic travel as an escape route from American cultural isolation. Promoting its fifth album titled Isabela after Lemvo’s newborn daughter, Makina Loca expects to open the hearts of those long-due for the Cuban clave’ rhythm to act as their Afro-Latin tour guide.
DJ-RJ opens the show with a hot mix of salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton and more.
Doors at 8:30 p.m. Cover is $12/$14; tickets are available at End of an Ear Records located at 2209 S 1st St and Flamingo Cantina located at 515 E. Sixth Street, venue phone 512/494-9336. www.flamingocantina.com.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Amazon selling downloads now!
iTunes does offer some of their music without DRM copy protection, though those are $1.29 each.
DJ-RJ
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I Know You Got Soul
Rest in peace Bobby!
RJ
Funk/Soul/R&B/Gospel musician and songwriter,Bobby Byrd past today in an Atlanta Hospital
Bobby Byrd was best known as James Brown's longtime sideman and co-vocalist on songs such as Licking Stick - Licking Stick, Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine and Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved. Byrd also recorded many solo funk tracks, most famously I Know You Got Soul (1971), which have been sampled by musicians including Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Ice Cube, LL Cool J and A Tribe Called Quest. He was the original leader and founder of The Famous Flames, the vocal group with which James Brown first became famous. Byrd is actually the man who discovered James Brown.
Bobby Byrd and James Brown met in a Georgia youth detention facility. Brown was an inmate, Byrd was not. Byrd's local baseball team played the prison team of which Brown was a member. It was Bobby Byrd's family that sponsored his release and took him in afterwards.
Byrd was leader of a vocal group called The Avons when Brown joined in the mid-1950s. The Avons later became The Flames, then The Famous Flames, before they were repackaged with Brown as the frontman. James Brown and the Famous Flames, with Byrd as a member, recorded many hit songs, including Please, Please, Please, Think, Bewildered, Oh Baby, Don't You Weep, I'll Go Crazy, and many more. Brown and The Flames were also known for their powerful on stage performances across the United States in venues such as the Apollo Theatre in New York, the Regal in Chicago,and The Royal Theatre in Baltimore (where they recorded the 1964 Top 10 Pop live album "Pure Dynamite: Live at the Royal}, among numerous other concert venues, and on film in the 1964 concert film the T.A.M.I. Show, where Brown, Byrd, and the other Famous Flames (Bobby Bennett and "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth) upstaged The Rolling Stones. Byrd also appeared with Brown and the group in the 1965 Frankie Avalon motion picture Ski Party, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and twice on The Ed Sullivan Show. Byrd was the only member of The Flames to remain with Brown when the group disbanded in 1968.
He was married to soul singer Vicki Anderson, another James Brown collaborator. His step-daughter is Carleen Anderson.
In October 2004 Bobby Byrd's songs I Know You Got Soul and Hot Pants were featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station Master Sounds 98.3. Also, in September 2005 his song Try It Again appeared on the soundtrack of Indigo Prophecy.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Blood Diamonds
I want to encourage all of you who are buying diamond rings to ask the people you are buying them from if the diamonds they are selling you are certified "conflict-free." The Kimberly Process was put in place in 2003 and it requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from blood diamonds. Apparently it is not working totally and diamonds are still being sold that have not been certified.
Here are some more links to get more information: Global Witness, Democracy Now.
DJ-RJ
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
On The Air
Tune in and enjoy the vibes!
RJ
Monday, June 11, 2007
The O'Neil Brothers
O'Neil Brothers
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Updates
Check her on MySpace: TESSANNE
Anne and I have booked another live show for Vida Deluxe on Wednesday, June 27th at Flamingo Cantina. We're also working on another date for Irie Bean the same week (we hope).
Anne and I were vendors at the BiGAustin Idea Day last week aty The Hilton and it was awesome! We provided music for the awards show, which was MCed by Ron Oliveira. Big thanks to DJ Ted who did an excellent job running the tracks. Next week we are doing the Seton Nurses Week show at Doubletree Hotel for about 800 nurses! Should be cool with a fashion show focusing on the history of nurse wear. Anne will have some of her scrubs and t-shirts on sale and Music4Life will be providing sound reinforcement and music for the show.
Renovation continues at the KAZI studios, so no live shows until that is finished. We're doubling our space and it should be a real nice to have more room to work in.
All for now!
DJ-RJ
When you can find joy where there is nothing, you can find joy in anything. Place no conditions on happiness, and it is always yours.
Embrace the uncertainty of the future, for within that uncertainty is limitless, fertile ground for creating beauty, joy and fulfillment. When you no longer need security, you will indeed have it.
Accept that you do not know, and there is no limit to what you can learn. Let go of the need to possess, and there is no end to what you can have.
There is a universe filled with beauty in each tiny grain of sand. There is a lifetime of experience in every small moment of the day.
Be true to your purpose and fulfillment will find you. With what you have to give, you can reach all you could ever imagine to seek.
See the joy where there is nothing, and everywhere else as well. Live the beauty that is now, and truly know the abundant richness that is life.
-- Ralph Marston
Friday, April 06, 2007
Great Food for Your Event
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Austin's Green Wedding Venue
DJ-RJ
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Aloha Spirit
Check it out and relax:
Hawai'i 101
DJ-RJ
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
New Wedding Planner
DJ-RJ
Friday, March 16, 2007
Building The 50-Year Marriage
Check out her website for more information: Block Out The Noise.
Wishing you the best this weekend!
DJ-RJ
Monday, March 12, 2007
Join Us at BiG Austin Marketplace 2007
Special thanks to Anne for kicking my butt to register. Her unwavering support continues to inspire me every day!
DJ-RJ
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Bridal Show
Special thanks to all of the couples who came by our booth today at The Convention Center and spoke with us about the reception. Ted, Lori and I had a great time and we look forward to making some more new friends to celebrate with. Special thanks also to Dan at PrintGlobe for the awesome banner and next day delivery too.
RJ
Thursday, March 08, 2007
New Venue in Dripping Springs
A client turned me on to an awesome new wedding venue today in Dripping Springs called Vista West Ranch. The venue is owned and operated by Cindy Pearson and her husband and has a capacity of 350. They are booking now and in the final stages of construction. They open at the end of May and they are currently running special pricing at $2,000. That's a great deal if you are looking for a nice place away from Austin.
They also have a floral business called Petal Pushers.
DJ-RJ
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Bridal Show - This Sunday
Monday, March 05, 2007
Recent Photos
Congratulations to Jeff & Nikki! From Saturday night out at Creekside Pavillion:
And last weekend at Trevor & Victoria's birthday party:
Having fun!!!
Tomorrow and Wednesday I will be recording the kids for UIL competition during the day.
DJ-RJ
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Beats for Pizza
Just finished working with Mark Brown on a demo for a commercial for Mangia Pizza. We came up with a cool beat and laid the vocals in about an hour.
Just got an MP3 on email from Nick and a new mix of the DnB track we are working on and it is coming along quite nicely. We set the lifeline to have it finished on April 1st and then we will release it digitally to iTunes and probably also Beatport and see what happens.
RJ
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Creating Music
I sent an MP3 of the Workie Workie riddim to General Levy (at his request). He is a ragga MC from London and he wants to voice a song on it. Next I will see about licensing the rights to the riddim track from Steely & Clevie.
Work continues on a drum-n-bass track that I have been working on with Nick Little. I think we're calling the project 10 Cents Mofo, which is what it costs Nick every time I send him a text message. LOL!
My sweetie and I are putting together a new band project called Vida Deluxe for a benefit for my friend Yellow at Flamingo Cantina on Sunday March 4th. Yellow is in the hospital and needs a heart transplant. The lineup is going to be great with Grimy Styles and Mau Mau Chaplains and more. Also, just found out Mad Professor will be in town Saturday night at Flamingo with his Dub You Crazy show. Should be cool.
Sent my application to ASCAP last night to start publishing the songs I have been writing under the name Music4Life.
Have been booking lots of shows with the DJ business too, so life is great!
Let me know if I can help you in any way and don't give up on your dreams.
DJ-RJ
Monday, January 29, 2007
Podcast Launched
Music4Life
You can leave comments and feedback there.
DJ-RJ
Monday, January 15, 2007
Great Vibes Today
Thursday, January 11, 2007
New Music Moving Me!
James Hunter's album, People Gonna Talk is like taking a journey back to the 50s when RnB was quite different from how it is today. All live instrumentation and crisp recording. James is an English soul singer and I can't wait to turn my father on to it. Very nice!
Another new thing a friend turned me on to is a French artist named Jehro (pronounced ZHE-ro). His self-titled album is really a breath of fresh air for me. He is a Frenchman who moved to London and soaked up the sounds of reggae and soul around him and his created his own sound from those influences. I hear Bob Marley influences, with sweet vocals, some in Spanish too. Acoustic soul vibes!
One of my MySpace friends posted some new songs to iTunes today and I quite like them as well. The group name is Ror-Shak from Brooklyn and their sound is smooth pop and electronic with Julee Cruise on vocals. Similar sound to Zero 7.
Check them out and enjoy some fresh new sounds!
DJ-RJ
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Recording - New Year Vibes - Pops
Had a great show on Monday (see comments for playlist). The new What It Is! funk compilation from Rhino is fantastic. Played some tracks from that and also excited about Omar's album called Sing (If You Want It). Since the new year turned over I have had a lot to sing about.
Later this week, my father is in town again. Tune in to my show next Monday from 1-3 pm when he will sit in with me agin. Last time we played 50s R&B and got great response from listeners.
This week Austin Wedding Day magazine will premiere their first edition for 2007 in a new format and size. I'm looking forward to seeing it as well as the new ad in it for Music4Life... then two weddings this weekend that I am excited about.
All for now. Seattle's Best just asked me to turn off the open sign so I guess I gotta get out of here.
All the best to you this year!!
DJ-RJ