Aretha Franklin

Music Texas Music HistoryMay 9, 2021July 16, 2021

King Curtis: Cowtown Soul Stew

It’s a nice, small brownstone with ornate gates on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, just two blocks from Central Park. A young Tom Cruise used to live in the building, as did Robert Downey Jr., when he was with Sarah Jessica Parker. But the front stoop at 50 W. 86th St. holds a tragic […]

MusicMarch 22, 2021August 15, 2021

Aretha Franklin from A- Z

May the letters of the alphabet spell out the story of a preacher’s daughter who sang sanctified rhythm and blues like none other and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A: “Amazing Grace.” Franklin grew up deep in the church, which was the concept of this 1972 return […]

More from Michael Corcoran

Get Michael’s Newsletter on Substack

You can subscribe to Michael Corcoran’s Overserved newsletter on Substack and support his ongoing work, including his upcoming book on the history of Austin music. Subscribe now.

Questions or Comments?

If you’ve got a comment on a story, just add it using the comment box at the bottom of each story. If you have a question for Michael or need his help with a project, email him here.

Your Bookshelf Can Look Way More Impressive – Order Now

Order [Ghost Notes]: Pioneering Spirits of Texas Music. “Ghost notes” is a musical term for sounds barely audible, a wisp lingering around the beat, yet somehow driving the groove. The Texas musicians profiled here, ranging from 1920s gospel performers to the first psychedelic band, are generally not well known, but the impact of their early contributions on popular music is unmistakable. This beautiful Tim Kerr-illustrated collection provides more background on the Texas from which these artists sprang, fully formed.

All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music (North Texas Lives of Musician Series) available in paperback and Kindle editions. A lavishly illustrated collection of 42 profiles of Texas music pioneers, most underrated or overlooked. All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music covers the musical landscape of a most musical state. The first edition was published in 2005 to wide acclaim. This second edition includes updated information, a bonus section of six behind-the-scenes heroes, and fifteen new portraits of Lefty Frizzell, Janis Joplin, and others, spanning such diverse styles as blues, country, hip-hop, conjunto, gospel, rock, and jazz.