CNN: The Knack lead singer Doug Fieger, perhaps best known for the 1979 hit, "My Sharona," underwent successful brain surgery Thursday, his doctor reported.Fieger, 53, had two brain tumors removed during the operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, publicist Guy McCain said.

Doug has been a friend of mine for about 12 years now and this news came as a shock. He's been an inspiration to me in many ways outside of music.

All the best, Doug.

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

If I had to tell someone why Steve Earle is one of my favorite contemporary musicians, on the top of my list would be "songwriter." He writes some of the best and most insightful songs of anyone trying it these days. So it's with a little sense of irony that tonight's selection is a live version of the Bob Dylan classic "It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry."

He performed this one for a captive audience in Tennessee. I have 10 promotional copies of my favorite Steve Earle cd, JERUSALEM, to give away tonight. Just send me an e-mail (downwithtyranny@aol.com) with the title of your favorite Dylan song covered by another musician-- and tell me why it's your fave.

A House is not a Home.

Wikipedia: During his career, Vandross sold 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance With My Father," co-written with Richard Marx.

Luther's Homepage.

(h't Catina)

Happy Birthday Jerry.

Suite Judy Blue Eyes

I'm in the mood for a nice ballad. Here's one of my favorites, "Blue in Green"

From the ground breaking record, "Kind of Blue"

Wikipedia: In 1953, pianist George Russell published his Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization, which offered an alternative to the practice of improvisation based on chords. Abandoning the traditional major and minor key relationships of Western music, Russell invented a new formulation using scales or a series of scales for improvisations; this approach came to be known as modal in jazz.

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Imagine!

I meant to put two videos in one post, but I can't do it...Stand By Me

Papa Was A Rolling Stone.

Loudmouth

Wikipedia: The Ramones were an American rock band and are widely considered to be the first punk rock group. While acknowledged as defining the sound and attitude of mid-1970s punk, they never really achieved the commercial success of their contemporaries The Clash or the notoriety of the Sex Pistols, but still had an immense impact on the punk and alternative music scenes

The Ramones...

(h/t Tommy)