The Yardbirds’ New Guitarist: Godfrey Townsend

Look for US Fall Tour with A Who’s Who of Great Musicians

GODFREY TOWNSEND is the new guitarist for the Yardbirds. A favorite in the Classic Rock World, Godfrey has played with a range of greats from John Entwistle to Jack Bruce. 

In fact Eric Clapton’s guitar technician, Lee Dickson commented to John Entwistle, “Hey John, come listen to this guy...he’s got Clapton down better than Clapton!” Entwistle replied, “You twit!...that’s MY guitar player!” 

Godfrey Townsend joins a lineup with innovative and legendary musicians— notably, of course the Yardbirds’ leader/drummer/singer/co-founder Jim McCarty, bassist Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Billy Idol, Derringer, Joan Jett), singer/harpist/percussionist Myke Scavone (Ram Jam, The Doughboys), and  lead singer/guitarist John Idan (who is on their 2003 CD “Birdland” album which features guest appearances from both Steve Vai and Slash). 

Godfrey’s plays guitar, keyboards, sings, and is the music director of countless live performers, most notably his own “Clapton is God-frey” show and the Happy Together tour.

A favorite in New York City’s Max’s Kansas City and the China Club scenes, Godfrey’s been the guy that got famous rockers on stage to jam with the bands.  After a stint in Las Vegas working with Mitch Ryder, Spencer Davis, and Joey Molland of Badfinger, he was recruited by John Entwistle of The Who, with whom he performed a half dozen tours, a studio album, and a live album. Godfrey went on to play with Alan Parsons, Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson of Heart, Jack Bruce, Mark Farner, Christopher Cross, Flo and Eddie, and Dave Mason.  

Since the Yardbirds’ birth from 1963 to 1968, and then its 2003 reformation, the group has been known for its incredible guitarists. In addition to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, plus rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja have contributed to the band’s history.

Jim McCarty continues to lead this innovative British rock band that provides the crucial link between British R&B, Psychedelic Rock, and Heavy Metal, while pioneering the use of innovations like fuzztone, feedback and distortion. The drummer/singer/songwriter is responsible for its haunting sound.

 The Yardbirds are exclusively represented TCI (Talent Consultants International) for booking concerts. Stay tuned for an announcement soon of U.S. Tour dates for this November. 

Goldmine Magazine stated, “the band’s hallmark of top-notch musicianship remains. There are no passengers in this band.” 

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Nelson Mandela & Peace & Grace & Love

I work quite a bit with music from the African continent, both as a newly published songwriter, and in helping artists from there, most notably Sharon Katz, Wouter Kellerman, Jann Klose, Shawn Phillips, Alex Boye’.  I’ve been a cheerleader for many more!

From South Africa Sharon Katz made CNN News in 1993 as she created and led South Africa’s first, 500-voice multiracial choir. This became a 2015 award-winning documentary, WHEN VOICES MEET, selected for 25 film festivals and shown in over 50 countries, premiering in South Africa. (www.WhenVoicesMeet.com). Sharon Katz & the Peace Train have 5 other albums, and appear on the Rainforest benefit album, “Carnival!” alongside of Sting, Elton John, Madonna, Johnny Clegg…

This is Peace Train,” which appears on her 2002 Grammy-nominated album, “Imbizo.”  

  

Peace Train 

by Sharon Katz & Bolden Abrams Jr.(on Sharon Katz & The Peace Train “Imbizo” CD)

Chorus:

We need a sweet survival, love revival Peace Train

Make a heart connection, sweet affection, Peace Train

 Come on get on, come on get on, get on The Peace Train (2x)

Meet the Love Conductor, he’s your brother on The Peace Train

Choo Choo, choo choo! (2X)

Sister Ticket Collector, she’s the Hate Deflector, on The Peace Train

Choo Choo, choo choo (2X)

And when you see a child in her mother’s arms and you see her cry coz baby brother died, you know

There’s too much war in our lives

And when you pull your gun you see the children run, you make them terrified, you know

There’s too much war in our lives, I’m terrified

The world is love deprived.

Chorus:  We need a sweet survival, love revival Peace Train……………….

And when you start to cry and your heart hurts inside you know

There’s too much war in our lives

Hate mongers telling lies, a poor girl’s father dies 

The tears pour from her eyes and I can’t leave your side

I can’t leave your side

The world is love deprived.

Chorus:     Choo Choo to end

© 2002, 2018 by Sharon Katz 

 Listen to our Christmas songs here: https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/seasonal-christmas-hannakah

I want to turn you on to the holiday song NEVER TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED by Dan Berggren.

“Remember it’s the thought that counts!”

Ilona will be performing at the Cutting Room, New York City on August 1.

She has two Nashville gigs: August 5 at the Bluebird, and August 7 at the Basement. 

Ilona’s music, to me, is a cross between Pink’s and Taylor Swift’s, and she has grit with energetic pop arrangements.   

Her song LOVE IS STUPID is upbeat power pop about tossing and turning late at night because she’s missing her ex. (lyric below) 

Gary Lucas' Chinese Pop from the 1930s-'50s has developed quite a following. His partner Feifei Yang with multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler perform new Mandarin versions of songs by Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Jefferson Airplane, plus songs from the earlier part of the 20th Century.  Check out their new version of “Grace” in Mandarin:  "GRACE" --GARY LUCAS' THE EDGE OF HEAVEN LIVE @ the Laurie Beechman Theatre NYC 2/16/18 Chinese New Year from Gary Lucas on Vimeo. More shows, including today the last day at the Bolshoi Classical Music Festival, performing his original live solo soundtrack based on Russian classical music  accompanying the 1925 silent Soviet comedy “Chess Fever” directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin and Nikolai Shpikovsky.  Please explore www.GaryLucas.com Here are two artists that almost got away—Americana / Roots Rock & Roll ala Faces, Rolling Stones, Black Crowes is Josh Lewis, whose name I remembered as the original guitarist from one of my all time fave hard rock bands, Warrant.

Elliott Murphy; OPEN CITY:  Bluesy, ethereal guitar, Elliott's voice could be described as a cross between Tom Waits & Petty and Bruce Springsteen. This November is going to be an empowering time for this rock troubadour that the universe has been giving back to.  Soon I'll have complete info. One confirmation is Elliott is playing New York City's Rockwood on November 10.

  

Rebecca Loebe is a member of the Austin, TX-based trio, NOBODY’S GIRL, who were at the top of the list in this month’s ROLLING STONE for their country-pop cover of Blondie’s CALL ME:   https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/10-best-country-and-americana-songs-of-the-week-cam-kenny-chesney-and-more-701812/

This is Rebecca’s song, LIE, from her top ten European album, BLINK.

More

Rachael Sage’s new album, MYOPIA, has yielded a finalist in the IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards). The song is ”Tomorrow" is Rachael’s first co-write ever, with James Mastro, who is in her band, and was a member of the classic band, The Bongos.  ”People are crazy, but you’re not crazy, and neither am I”