Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

23 year old rising star John Newman follows his massive number 1 single “Love Me Again”, and equally rousing follow-up “Cheating” with the release on October 14th of his hotly anticipated debut album ”Tribute”. The album, co-produced by Newman, confirms his class as a songwriter, peerless power as a vocalist and offers conclusive proof that the UK has a singular new talent in its midst. “Love Me Again” which has achieved Gold Status in the UK for sales in excess of 500,000, has hit the No1 spot on iTunes in a staggering 16 countries across the globe and follows John’s previous anthem and chart-topper “Feel The Love”, which he co-wrote and fronted with Rudimental. October is going to be a very busy month for the young Yorkshireman who releases his new Island Records single ”Cheating” on October 7th , and played a special homecoming show at the Grade 2 listed Victorian Music Hall in Settle, on October 3rd. The Settle gig, which sold out in less than 2 minutes, will be a taster of what’

The 3rd February 2009, marked the 50th Anniversary of rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly's death in a plane crash. Fellow performers Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper", J P Richardson also died on the flight which took off from Clear Lake, Iowa to Fargo, North Dakota on that freezing night in 1959. Buddy Holly & the Crickets' first international hit was "That'll Be the Day" in 1957, Buddy was the first musician in his home town of Lubbock, Texas USA to have a red Fender Stratocaster . Back in the UK, Cliff Richard was the first rock 'n' roller to buy this most coveted item for Shadows' guitarist Hank Marvin. Hank Marvin and his red Stratocaster was an inspiration to 60s guitar legends such as Dire Strait's Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyds' Dave Gilmour and Pete Townsend of the Who. Buddy Holly's song-writing and great guitar riffs also influenced The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Today you can still get hold of an iconic