"In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" the 1969 USA and UK #1 hit single by the American pop-rock duo of Zager and Evans, featuring Jake Lee Rau on lead vocals, has already caused a stir, not because it is innovative or original, but because it is -- in the middle of pop music's current creative void -- so immediate and imperative. It’s also built around the pillars of David Bowie’s China Girl and Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock… but with more guitars.
https://www.poesieplastique.com/
A prolific singer-songwriter and lifelong lover of music, Jeff Hartman has been writing and performing uniquely memorable music for over thirty years. He’s developed a soothing, guitar-driven melodic style that blends elements of smooth jazz and soulful, adult contemporary pop, earning him comparisons to artists like Brian Adams, James Taylor, and Richard Marx. What sets Hartman’s music apart is its tender, authentic vocal style, enhanced by his detailed narrative lyrics approach to songwriting. He incorporates Spanish into 3 of his latest releases, shifting the text to embrace both languages and appeal to an even broader range of listeners. His lyrics tend to focus on inspirational yet relatable themes: life’s blessings, the challenges of growing up, and the peaks and valleys of romantic relationships. “I write a lot about love, because love is so important! A number of my songs are written to and for my grandchildren and for their generation— instructional songs about the importance of apologizing when you’re wrong, how to forgive others, lullabies for the young ones, that kind of thing. I want to infuse my songs with love and the lessons I’ve learned in life.”
One of eight children, Hartman grew up in Moorestown, New Jersey, surrounded by music. His father was a jazz trumpet and clarinet player, and his grandmother was a child violin prodigy. Hartman was first drawn to the guitar at age ten, after witnessing a young church member and guitar virtuoso perform rock-ballad praise songs at a contemporary mass service. His father bought him his first guitar, and Hartman taught himself to play and sing along. He learned to play the trumpet and string bass in school bands, and later taught himself to play a little keyboard to support his songwriting. His strongest musical influences came in the form of classic 1970s and 1980s solo artists like Don McLean, Dan Fogelberg, and Carol King— artists whose music told rich, emotional stories that evoked a strong response in any listener.
After college, Hartman began a 30-year career teaching high school English and Spanish in Maryland, then to New Jersey, winning a number of awards for his unique, unorthodox teaching methods and dedication to his students’ development. As a tennis coach, he trained and developed hundreds of tennis players, many of whom earned NCAA Division 1 scholarships. He eventually built a successful business training junior athletes for the state, and international levels throughout southern New Jersey. “Tennis was my second passion and a good part of the reason my musical career took a turn in a new direction.” As various career opportunities arose, Hartman continued to play and write music on his own, and with which led to a serendipitous run-in with Philadelphia rhythm and blues legend Joe Jefferson. When Hartman was just 21, a chance encounter with the artist on a tennis court led to a lifelong friendship and decades-long musical collaboration. Jefferson became an important mentor and music industry guide for Hartman: “He taught me the ins and outs of the business”. “Most importantly, he taught me how to write great songs, and that it takes time, effort and selective use of words with power and punch. He was a model for excellence in songwriting. That’s why he wrote so many hits!” The two men met frequently to discuss music and write songs together, collaborating on the track "Young Love" (co-written with Randy Cantor) which charted on Billboard's "Hot Black" charts for five weeks, and the track “Guilty” performed by Starleana for Virgin Records.
Since that time, Hartman has become an internationally recognized songwriter and acclaimed recording artist with many well-loved releases under his belt, from the 2012 narrative pop-rock EP Curtain Call and the more acoustic-leaning 2017 EP Mansfield to his 2017 original full-length album Legacy. He was an active voting member of the Recording Academy for 15 years as well as a current voting member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists. As the owner of Screaming Wife Productions, LLC, he’s written over 50 original songs and released 7 albums to date, working with a range of Grammy-nominated writers and artists. In recent years, Hartman has been writing and recording with Kit Worton at Right Touch Studios in Northfield, NJ and Bob Fowler at SSR Recording in Smithville, honing his craft and fine-tuning his lyrical dexterity through co-writing a variety of music genres with talented local artists and producers.
Hartman’s skill and dedication to his craft have led to a steadily growing fan base and continuing recognition of his work as an artist. 2019 saw the release of the EP Average Joe, In 2020, Hartman released two new albums, 7 and Under Cover, as well as ten singles including both covers and new originals. His single “Cielito Lindo,” a Spanish-language track featuring acoustic guitar and vocals, just hit number one on Spotify’s Release Radar, as did his recent single “Sweet Johnny.” His music currently garners well over 30,000 Spotify streams as of this date and has amassed 500,000 spins on Jango Radio to date, as stream counts continue to grow daily. In 2021, Spotify’s “Release Radar” awarded Jeff 24, #1’s to date. With no plans to slow down, Hartman is poised to release “Jeff Hartman Acoustic Favorites,” a compilation of 27 of his most popular and current original songs. His music, including both originals and covers, can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and most major streaming platforms.
Jeff resides in Margate, NJ with his wife Paula owner of the Hartman Home Team, an award winning, nationally ranked real estate team.
https://www.jeffhartmanmusic.com/
Mark Easton tackles all instruments and lead vocals by himself, with an emphasis on a guitar sound. The only assistance being from two occasional background vocalists. There is really nothing here approaching blues-rock, things are more in a rock vein. He blends electric and acoustic guitars to great effect. The drumming is pretty rudimentary but is just right for the music.
Indian tom-toms lead into what else but “Indian Summer”. An infectious beat is laid down by acoustic guitar. He contributes some nicely wailing harmonica. Loud guitar rock powers the self explanatory “Your Driving’s Driving Me Crazy”. He describes the foibles of bad drivers in a hoarse vocal delivery. “Rumour Has It” gets its’ kick off by driving drums. More intense harmonica over acoustic slide guitar.
“It’s Never Going To Be The Same” goes back and forth from slow acoustic guitar to heavy electric guitar. It’s a bit of a heavy metal ballad. The narrator tells of his dream of a H-bomb dropping and he’s the only man left among “13 Women”. He runs down a litany of bad manors on “I Don’t Hate You, I Just Hate Everything You Do” to the accompaniment of Led Zeppelin style ringing acoustic guitar.
“Highland Fling” contains a tricky electric guitar figure. The world situation is bandied about on the title track “Free Yourself”. More of the same is the subject of “Digging Your Own Grave”. The Foghat treatment with traded off guitar lines is given to “I Just Want To Make Love To You”. Mark rocks out in grand style with the backing vocalists along for the guitar ride.
Mark has managed quite effectively to become his own rock band. He has the ensemble sound down to a tee complete with a driving beat. This CD is a virtual Garden Of Eden for lovers of the classic rockers of the seventies. Mark makes it all sound so seamless. Rock on!
Markeaston.net
In the realm of rock music, there are artists who play, and there are those who live and breathe it. Rhett May undoubtedly falls into the latter category.
Freddi/Henchi and The Soulsetters are well-known as 'The Prophets of Funk'. The musical party act first established their exciting stage presence through live shows at night clubs, they created their fun-loving recording identity as the good humored Crown Princes of Funk which includes their international hit "Funky To The Bone". Their all- time classic Dance album full of infectious early 1970s monster hits is now available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Spotify and other streaming platforms.. Dance your ass off!
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