Eddie Van Halen's Story - The Smithsonian Talk

Music Television presents Eddie Van Halen's Smithsonian Talk

Music Television is primarily focused on the actual music, rather than talking too much about it, so this post is a rare exception.

Just below is pioneering rock & roll king and guitar legend Eddie Van Halen sitting down for a talk with a Smithsonian Talks series called "What It Means To Be American".  The discussion lasts almost one hour. Eddie covers his own and his family's life from when he and his brother, Alex, were little, before his family took a boat to America. His father was a musician who was able to pay their way over to America by performing on the boat that brought them. Perhaps, that was his brother Alex and Eddie's first real paying gig, on piano, when their father had them sit in one night. That's just the beginning of a great story that most have never heard, until now. Enjoy!



Back in the day before Eddie Van Halen was famous, when kids were learning how to play guitar or bass, one of the first songs learned was Deep Purple's song Smoke On The Water.  These days, kids like Tina S., a gifted young female guitarist in France, strive to master Eddie Van Halen's song Eruption.

Just below is some classic live concert footage of Van Halen from 1982 and one of their songs titled Eruption. Turn it way up.

Van Halen - Eruption

Connect direct with Eddie Van Halen twitter.com/eddievanhalen and facebook.com/eddievanhalen

Connect with Eddie's Gear Company at evhgear.com

Connect direct with Smithsonian Talks at whatitmeanstobeamerican.org

Space Capone - You'll Just Wanna Dance

LiveMusicTelevision.Com presents Space Capone and their song titled I Just Wanna Dance

Out of Nashville is a cool funky soul/r&b, disco act named Space Capone. This is one of their live recordings from a few years ago that still feels good. Turn it up & dance!

Space Capone - P.F.O. (Peach Flavored Optimo)

Connect direct with Space Capone at facebook.com/spacecaponemusic

The Movement of Jah People Celebrates #Marley70

The Music Television network of sites spent this entire week celebrating the lead up to Bob Marley's birthday, which arrived today, February 6th, 2015. The humble legend would be 70 years old today if he were physically alive.

His music will live forever and his soul lives on in the Movement of Jah people's hearts towards peace, love and positive vibrations for all around the world.  He was the ultimate activist for human rights, freedom and liberty around the world, and for legalization of an herb that has made great headway as of recent.

Just below and throughout each site in the network, we are grateful to the photographers and artists who granted use of their portraits and unique handpicked clips, films, full concerts, remixes, demo tapes, cover songs by others and more. Don't forget to turn it up and enjoy!

MusicTelevision.Com celebrates Bob Marley's 70th Birthday - Art by NipRogers.Com
Bob Marley art courtesy of Nip Rogers

His message was Peace, Love, Music and Liberty...

Bob Marley - Africa Unite (Live)

He sang "lively up yourself and don't be no drag"

Bob Marley - Lively Up Yourself (Live in London - 1977)

For real fans, this next film is spine tingling

Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman No Cry (Live in 1979)

After two Bob Marley Santa Barbara Bowl shows in 1976 and 1978, in 1979 they filmed the November 25th event, that was the final time Bob played Santa Barbara.

Bob Marley - Full Concert, Live in Santa Barbara (1979)

Connect direct with the official website for Bob Marley at BobMarley.Com, or follow on Facebook.Com/BobMarley or Twitter.Com/BobMarley

BUY MUSIC AND MERCH DIRECT FROM ARTISTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE :)

A big thank you to artist Nip Rogers for permission to use his excellent piece of Bob Marley art. Connect direct with Nip at NipRogers.Com or at Facebook.Com/rogers.nip


Clapton covers Marley - I Shot The Sheriff

Music Television presents Eric Clapton covering Bob Marley's song I Shot The Sheriff

In honor of Bob Marley's 70th birthday on Friday, February 6, 2015, the Music Television family of sites has been featuring the music and remembering the very humble, yet powerful activist and human rights leader whose music inspired many other great artists to achieve higher highs in their lives and careers. Such was the case with Eric Clapton, who covered Bob Marley's song titled I Shot The Sheriff, just about one year after Bob Marley & The Wailers' released it on their 1973 album titled Burnin'.

In 1974, Eric Clapton reluctantly recorded I Shot The Sheriff for his album titled 461 Ocean Boulevard. Clapton was reluctant because he did wish to be unintentionally disrespectful to Marley. However, when he ultimately did record it, rumor has it that Marley was pleased with Clapton's take. The song ended up being Eric Clapton's only #1 hit, yet so far in the U.S. and it reached the #9 position in the United Kingdom. A subsequent windfall of new ears listening to Bob Marley occurred as a wider audience, at the time, became more aware of reggae music and who Bob Marley was.  Clapton's success with the song helped bring Marley more into the mainstream consciousness. In 2003, Clapton's cover of the I Shot The Sheriff was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

There are many versions of Eric Clapton covering the song, both in the studio and live in concert. The filmed performance, just below, was filmed live at a concert at Hyde Park. As if to pay tribute to Marley's passing, the song starts off more gently as a pavane before breaking into the power of the song. Next, is one more version of Eric Clapton with Mark Knopfler and lastly, a wonderful live film of Bob Marley performing his song. Turn it up and enjoy!

Eric Clapton - I Shot the Sheriff - Hyde Park (Live)

Another great one was filmed live in Tokyo with Mark Knopfler.

Eric Clapton & Mark Knopfler - I Shot The Sheriff (Tokyo, 1988)

Here is a wonderful live take of Bob Marley, performing his song, live in concert.

Bob Marley - I Shot The Sheriff

Connect direct with Eric Clapton at EricClapton.Com

Connect direct with Bob Marley at BobMarley.Com, Facebook.Com/BobMarley and at Twitter.Com/BobMarley