Michael Simmons

Artie Shaw is one of the most captivating Americans of the 20th century, top shelf in a centenary lousy with geniuses. The poor Jewish kid from New Haven became...

New Yorkers like myself, who've found themselves stranded in Los Angeles against our sanity, have many descriptions for the place. "Where the sun never stop...

When Nashville was flooded this past Mayday, over 30 people were killed and many more lost homes, recording studios, and musical instruments. Few musicians hav...

Don Was is half of absurdist duo Was (Not Was) and one of the most respected producers in the record racket, having helmed platters for Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nel...

In the hierarchy of enigmatic rock stars, Van Morrison is royalty. His oeuvre is as erratic as his infamous moods, but when the Irishman is on, he's thrilli...

The 73-year old national prohibition against cannabis is one of the dumbest and most venal of American laws in a country lousy with dumb and venal laws. Million...

Richard Thompson's former producer Joe Boyd once wrote that Thompson's guitar playing has "no blues cliche, he is unapologetic about his whiteness," whi...