#MusicalRoadtrip: Seattle

Welcome to another New Theme!

The premise behind this theme is to pick a location, and highlight some or all of the musical artists (not inclusive) that are associated with that location. The locations will not be limited to the continental United States. We’re going Everywhere! 

Since we’re just starting out, I’ve chosen a simple location.

Today’s location is Seattle, Washington.

I know there are quite a few artists associated with this dreary rain-infested city, so to keep it easier for myself, I’m just going with the first five that pop into my head. Don’t worry. We’ll be coming back for another visit :)

Today’s Roadtrip Playlist:

1. Heart - formed in 1970 by Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher, David Belzer, and Jeff Johnson. It evolved from an existing band, White Heart. Since 1973 the vocalists for Heart have been the sisters Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson. Over Heart's history, it has had three primary lineups.  Our Song today: Barracuda
2. Soundgarden - formed in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 1986, while bassist Ben Shepherd became a permanent replacement for Yamamoto in 1990. The band dissolved in 1997 and re-formed in 2010. Following Cornell's suicide in 2017 and a year of uncertainty of the band's future, Thayil declared in an October 2018 interview with Seattle Times that they would not continue as Soundgarden; they did, however, reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell. Our Song today: Black Hole Sun
3. Nirvana - formed in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Characterized by their punk aesthetic, Nirvana's fusion of pop melodies with noise, combined with their themes of abjection and social alienation, made them hugely popular during their short tenure. Their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock and roll culture. Our Song today: Smells Like Teen Spirit
4. Kenny Loggins - born in Everett, Washington (about 25 miles north of Seattle). His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded as Loggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977.  As a solo artist, Loggins experienced a string of soundtrack successes, including an Academy Award nomination for "Footloose" in 1984. His early soundtrack contributions date back to A Star Is Born in 1976, and he is known as the King of the Movie Soundtrack. Finally Home was released in 2013, shortly after Loggins formed the group Blue Sky Riders with Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman. He won a Daytime Emmy Award, two Grammy Awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Our Song today: Danger Zone
5. Kenny G - born in Seattle. He started playing saxophone, a Buffet Crampon alto, in 1966 when he was 10 years old. His 1986 album, Duotones, brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records. Our Song today: The Wedding Song

I’m trying to keep the playlists to 5 tunes each, so if you know of an artist associated with the location that was not featured, be sure to mention them in the comments. There’s always a good chance we’ll be re-visiting locations.

See you again soon!