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New York Series
From Bleecker to Ludlow – Change Documented Through Song
When writing about a specific place at a specific time, one manages to preserve that specific time in the art they…
New York Series: St. Vincent ‘New York’
"It’s very silly to make something like David Bowie’s death about me—it has nothing to do with me—but I will say…
New York Series: Lou Reed ‘Dirty Boulevard’
With New York at the height of the AIDS epidemic and parts of the city drifting towards a point of depression not…
In Focus: Organ Fairchild Jams Rochester
Buffalo-based jam band and winner of 2021 NYS Music March Madness, Organ Fairchild paid a visit to Rochester on…
Now Seems like a Good Time to Revisit “Which Side Are You On?”
With the moment in American history that we are experiencing right now - the return to the highest office in the…
The Warnings of Past Leaders: Gil Scott-Heron’s Revolution, Now Our Own
In times of revolution, those in upheaval look to the leaders of their communities for guidance and support. The…
New York Series: Rick James ‘Below the Funk (Pass the J)’
Many artists on the cusp of reaching their creative aspirations look forward, not backwards, to create their…
New York Series: Jay-Z ‘Where I’m From’
He was a one-man businessman who was conscious of the fact that pushing his product could become a life or death…
Method Man: The Wu-Tang Legend Who Turned Rhymes Into a Lifetime of Hits
One of the most influential emcees of hip hop's history, Method Man, aka Clifford Smith has seen successes in…
New York Series: Run-DMC’s Holiday Classic ‘Christmas in Hollis’
Run-DMC decided they were going to combine the fantasy and mysticism that comes with the holiday with real life…
Carole King & New York: A Career Retrospective
A walking music legend, Carole King’s roots in New York run deep. Born and raised in Brooklyn, a graduate of…
New York Series: Bob Dylan ‘Talkin’ New York’
New York was the perfect place for Dylan to experiment, meet new people who would greatly influence his career, and…
New York Series: Duke Ellington ‘Take the A Train’
The Harlem Renaissance was responsible for allowing African-Americans to focus on their past, as well as develop a…
New York Series: “The Dakota” by Christine Lavin – Remembering John Lennon…
On the date John Lennon was infamously shot outside the iconic Dakota, New York State Music reflects on Lennon's…
New York Series: Syracuse Fight Song ‘Down the Field’
Originally profiled in 2018, we take a look at the Syracuse Fight Song "Down the Field," its origins and place in…
New York Series: Samara Joy’s Shirley Chisholm-Inspired “Why I’m…
On Monday, November 18, the New York City Council passed a resolution designating every November 30 as "Shirley…
The Rise and Fall of the Borscht Belt
While Sullivan and Ulster counties today are known for their countless miles of Catskills trails, quaint hippie…
New York Series: ‘The Erie Canal Song’
As we approach the bicentennial of the Erie Canal in 2025, let’s look back at this marvel of modern engineering.…
Cafe Society: A Bastion of Solitude, a Beacon of Hope
In honor of Black History Month, we take a dive into the pivotal people, places, and events that have kept lasting…
New York Series: “New York Is Not My Home” by Jim Croce
The story and meaning behind Jim Croce's "New York is Not My Home."