AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Melissa Errico

Artist:Melissa Errico

Song: Uptown, Downtown

Album:Sondheim in the City

Melissa Errico is a Tony nominated Broadway performer who has recorded as a solo artist since 2003. She frequently performs in New York City clubs. She was born Mar. 23, 1970 in New York City. Her father was an orthopedic surgeon and her mother was a teacher. She met her husband former tennis pro Patrick McEnroe in grade school. They married in 1998 and have three daughters. Melissa was 12 years old when she appeared in the kids TV series The Great Space Coaster. She went to high school in Manhasset on Long Island and then at Yale. While at Yale, she got a role in a touring production of Les Miserables. She played Eliza Doolittle in a 1993 revival of My Fair Lady. She was Tony nominated for her performance in the 2003 musical Amour written by Michel Legrand. Meanwhile, Melissa signed a record deal with EMI's Manhattan label and her 2003 debut album Blue Like That was produced by Arif Mardin. She has appeared in several Broadway musical revivals. But in recent years, she has been more active as a recording artist and club performer. She recorded several albums for the Broadway specialty label Ghostlight. Uptown, Downtown is from her 2024 album Sondheim in the City. This is her first album for Concord Theatricals. It is a tribute to Stephen Sondheim. Uptown, Downtown is from Follies. Of course Concord started out as a jazz label in the 70s. Since they were sold in 2002, they have become a corporate monolith swallowing companies. They have recently merged with BMG. Concord bought Rodgers & Hammerstein in 2022 and started Concord Theatricals to release Broadway recordings. Sondheim in the City was produced by veteran producer Rob Mathes. Among the musicians on this album is veteran jazz drummer Lewis Nash. She recently released the album I Can Dream, Can't I? on her own label accompanied by pianist Todd Firth. She is playing New York clubs. Melissa has done films and TV but these days she is more active as a singer. Here's Melissa Erico performing Uptown, Downtown at the New York club 54 Below. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Touche Amore

Artist:Touche Amore

Song:Skyscraper

Album:Stage Four

Touche Amore is a post hardcore band that was formed in Los Angeles in 2007. What is post hardcore? Well, hardcore was an offshoot of punk. When hardcore faded in the 00s, bands like Touche Amore sprung up to replace them. They still had elements of hardcore but with a softer sound. Lead singer Jeremy Bolm was a post hardcore fan before he started the band. He had started a fansite for the post hardcore band Thursday. Then he decided to form a post hardcore band. They released a demo. By the time Touche Amore released the 2009 album To the Beat of a Dead Horse, the band was Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt on guitar, Tyler Kirby on bass and Elliot Babin on drums. The album got positive reviews from Alternative Press and others. And that was enough to get Touche Amore a record deal with the indie label Deathwish. The two albums on Deathwish did well enough to get them a record deal with Epitaph Records owned by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion. So now they are on the largest post hardcore label. Bolm dedicated the 2016 album Stage Four to his late mother's battle with cancer. The songs are credited to the band though Bolm writes them all. They share the royalties. Brad Wood was credited as producer. He's a recording engineer so I think the band self produces. That's not unusual for this kind of music. This is probably the album you should get if you are interested in this kind of music. It's available as a digital download. Touche Amore released two albums on Epitaph. They signed with Rise Records for the 2024 album Spiral in a Straight Line. Bands like Touche Amore are constantly on tour. Currently they are on a European tour. They may be due for a new album after that. Here's the video for Skysraper by Touche Amore. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Wonders

Artist:The Wonders

Song:That Thing You Do

Album:That Thing You Do!: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The Wonders were a fictional band created by Tom Hanks for the 1996 film That Thing You Do!. It told the story of a 60s one hit wonder. He hired actors to play the band members. Real musicians wrote and performed the music. The film was not a commercial success but it has become a cult film. And the title song charted on the Billboard Hot 100. As I said, Hanks wrote and directed the film and produced with Playtone partner Gary Goetzman. He also appears in the film as the band's manager. The members of The Wonders were played by Jonathan Schaech (lead singer), Steve Zahn (lead guitarist), Ethan Embry (bassist) and Tom Everett Scott (drums). Liv Tyler makes their costumes. So the four actors playing the band were not stars. And they also aren't musicians. So they were taught to mime the music. Canadian Howard Shore was hired to compose the score. He is best known for The Lord of the Rings scores. The two main guys brought in to write and produce the songs were Rick Elias and Adam Schlesinger. Elias was a member of CCM singer Rich Mullins' band. He also wrote songs for the TV series Dawsons Creek. He died in 2019. Schlesinger was the leader of the popular band Fountains of Wayne. He had become a prolific songwriter for films and TV when he died from COVID in 2020. Schlesinger wrote the song That Thing You Do! and it reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. The soundtrack album was certified Platinum and is available on CD. So who actually performed the music? It was mostly guys who are pals with Schlesinger and Elias. The lead singer on That Thing You! was Mike Viola of the band Dawes. Schlesinger did the backup vocals. We can assume that the music was performed by friends of Schlesinger. The musician names have never been revealed. Though That Thing You Do! was favorably reviewed, it was not a theatrical success and it became a cult movie through home video and cable. I doubt the film is made without Hanks. Here's the video for That Thing You Do! by The Wonders.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jan Hammer

Artist:Jan Hammer

Song:Miami Vice Theme

Album:Escape from Television

I became familiar with keyboardist Jan Hammer when he was a member of John McLaughlin's fusion band The Mahavishnu Orchestra. When that band ended, Hammer got into film and TV music and he topped the charts with the 1985 single Theme from Miami Vice. That show was really hot at the time. Hammer was born Apr. 17, 1948 in Prague, Czech Republic. His mother was a singer and his father was a doctor who played vibraphone in clubs when he was in school. Hammer started playing piano at age four. He was considering following his dad into medicine. But a family friend convinced him to develop his musical talent. He led a jazz trio while in high school and they toured eastern Europe. He studied at the Prague Academy of Musical Arts. Hammer's influences include Bill Evans, Paul Bley and Larry Young. After the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, Hammer received a scholarship from Berklee School of Music in Boston and he moved to the US. After graduating, Hammer toured with singer Sarah Vaughan. Then he joined John McLaughlin's jazz fusion band The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Hammer was recommended to McLaughlin by Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous of the fusion band Weather Report. Hammer was an early adopter of the Moog Synthesizer, especially the Minimoog. Drummer Billy Cobham was also a member of The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Hammer played on Cobham's 1973 debut album Spectrum. He also played on albums by guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Jack DeJohnette. And he recorded his 1975 debut album The First Seven Days for Columbia's Nemperor label. He appeared on guitarist Jeff Back's 1976 album Wired and then toured with him. And he led his own touring band. He continued to record and tour with Beck until in 1984, the producers of the TV series Miami Vice hired Hammer to compose the music for the show. Of course Miami Vice was a big hit and MCA Records released a soundtrack album. Not only did the album top the charts but so did the single Miami Vice Theme. Hammer won two Grammy awards and he was nominated for two Emmys. This comp CD is available as a budget CD. Hammer left Miami Vice and returned to touring and recording with drummer Tony Williams in 1990. Hammer has also continued to score films and TV shows including Tales from the Crypt. He also continued to record with Jeff Beck. Hammer still records on his own label, most recently in 2022. He seems to be semi retired at the moment. But it wouldn't surprise me if Jeff Beck convinced him to tour again. Here's the video for Miami Vice Theme by Jan Hammer.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day_Hugo

Artist:Hugo

Song:99 Problems

Album:No Strings Attached: Music From The Motion Picture

Hugo is a singer songwriter who forged an unlikely alliance with Jay-Z after his song Disappear appeared on Beyonce's 2008 album I Am...Sasha Fierce. This led to a record deal with Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation. And this cover of the Jay-Z song 99 Problems appeared in the 2010 film No Strings Attached. Jay-Z describes Hugo's music as "gangsta rock". In the video, Hugo presents himself as a one man band. Plus it's not every day you hear a banjo in a pop record. He was born Hugo Chua Alexander Levy Aug. 6, 1981 in London, England. His mother is writer and environmental activist M.R. Narisa Chakrabongse. She is Thai royalty so Hugo grew up in Thailand. Hugo appeared in Thai soap operas as a child. As a teen, he recorded four albums with the band Siplor. After some success, Hugo went solo and moved to London. That's when Beyonce recorded Disappear and Hugo signed with Roc Nation. His cover of the Jay-Z song 99 Problems appeared on his 2011 debut album Old Tyme Religion. It also played over the end credits of the 2011 film No Strings Attached. That film was produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. The stars were Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Hugo's album is available as a digital download. But the No Strings Attached soundtrack is available on CD. Plus I think most folks will only be interested in Hugo's version of 99 Problems. The film was a big hit. Hugo wrote all the songs on his album with various co-writers. Dave McCracken was one of those writers and he produced the album. Noam Pikelny of Punch Brothers played the banjo. And no, the song is not bluegrass. But I like the use of the banjo. Hugo last released an album last year. Here's the video for 99 Problems by Hugo.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Marble Index

Artist:The Marble Index

Song:We Can Make It

Album:The Marble Index

The Marble Index was a Canadian band that could have been successful if they had remained together longer. They only released two albums and a third album was shelved. Fans of indie rock should enjoy them. The Marble Index were formed in Hamilton, ON. in 2001. Brad Germain was lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter. Adam Knickle was the drummer. They were unhappy with some of the bands they had been in. So they decided to start their own band. After holding auditions for a bassist, they decided to bring in their guitarist friend Ryan Tweedle to play bass. The Marble Index was a 1968 album by the German singer Nico. After recording an EP, Dan Brooks agreed to manage them. He's a Hamilton native but he lives in England. He brought them to England to record their 2004 debut album The Marble Index. They self released it. But it did well enough that it was picked up by Universal Canada. The album was written and produced by the band and recording engineer John Kettle. They opened for The Pixies on their Canadian tour. This album is available as a budget CD. The Marble Index were nominated for a New Group of the Year Juno. Their 2006 album Watch Your Candles, Watch Your Knives was produced by Scott Shields. They recorded songs for an album called Destroy the Earth While There's Still Time. The album was shelved and The Marble Index decided to go on hiatus. There is talk that the shelved album could finally be released. They reunited in 2018. Brad Germain has recorded as Dinner Belles and Spirits. He currently leads the band Golden Feather and they released an album last year. Here's the video for We Can Make It by The Marble Index. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Disturbed

Artist:Disturbed

Song:Sound of Silence

Album:Immortalized: Deluxe Edition

The hard rock band Disturbed is an album and touring band. At this point, they don't need hit singles as their albums sell very well. This 2016 cover of Simon & Garfunkel's classic The Sound of Silence is probably their biggest hit. They are from Chicago. The band was called Brawl when they first formed in 1994. Members were Erich Ewalt on lead vocals, Dan Donegan on guitar, Steve "Fuzz" Kmak on bass and Mike Wengren on drums. Ewalt soon left and after advertising in a local paper, he was replaced by David Draiman. The big difference was Draiman writes original songs. He suggested the band name Disturbed. The name projects a dark image and the band's music reflects that. They recorded demos which had their mascot The Guy on the cover. He's on all their album covers. They signed with Giant Records with Warner Bros. Distribution and their 2000 debut album The Sickness has sold four million copies without the benefit of a hit single. They opened for Marilyn Manson in Europe. Kmak broke his ankle so he was replaced by Marty O'Brien. After Giant closed, Disturbed was on Warner's Reprise label. Kmak returned to Disturbed but was fired in 2003 because of "personality differences" and was replaced by John Moyer of the band The Union Underground. All of their albums were certified Platinum until the 2010 album Asylum was certified Gold. After touring, they decided to go on hiatus. They weren't getting along. During the hiatus, Donegan and Wengren recorded a 2013 album as Fight Or Flight. Draiman recorded a 2013 album as Device. Moyer was in several bands. Once they got that out of their system, Disturbed returned from hiatus in 2015 and released the album Immortalized. The album was certified 2XPlatinum. The album was produced by Kevin Churko who has produced a lot of metal bands. All the songs were written by the band except for the cover of Sound of Silence which reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. When asked about Disturbed's cover of The Sound of Silence, Paul Simon said he saw them perform it on Conan. He liked it and said so in an email he sent to Draiman. The Deluxe Edition contains three bonus tracks and is available on CD. Album sales haven't been as strong since then. I think the pandemic hurt disturbed because they couldn't tour like they usually do. Disturbed's 2025 tour was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their debut album The Sickness. They announced that they would take 2026 off. It remains to be seen what Disturbed will do. But I expect them to return in some form. Draiman and Wengren have been together for 25 years. I don't think they will give up the band name. They might hire new guys for the band. Here's the video for The Sound of Silence by Disturbed.