Jessica Wheeler, AliveTampaBay music columnist: Before the Beatles arrived in America, there they were, snapping their fingers, shuffling their impeccably shod feet, sha-la-la-ing and doo-langing all over the airwaves. They were American girl groups, their chiffon dresses and bouffant hairdos masking their young ages. And their hits dominated the supposed fallow ground of early 1960s pop.
Jessica Wheeler, AliveTampaBay music columnist: A distinctive look and blues-based sound have kept ZZ Top running long after many of their contemporaries disbanded. Sporting the same lineup for the last 45 years, the trio continues to record and tour, much to the delight of their fans. With more than 50 million albums sold worldwide, and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the band remains wildly popular.
AliveTampaBay Music Columnist Jessica Wheeler (with cool videos): Since its beginning in 1970, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has featured a whole lot more than just jazz. Blues, funk, folk, rap, country, bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, Latin, and Afro-Caribbean music are all featured at the festival, which sprawls across two long weekends of music. This year’s festival, beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday, May 1, is no exception.