If you grew up in America in the 1960s and 70s, it seemed like every time you turned on the TV, there was Tom Jones – the Welsh Elvis. Whether it was the Dean Martin Comedy Hour, The Bob Hope Special or the Sunday evening Ed Sullivan Show, there was Jones, one of the day’s biggest pop stars, belting out the songs. Slightly cheesy, sure, but there was no denying the power of his voice.
By Todd McGovern - No one epitomized the melding of music and art that took place in downtown Manhattan of the 1970s and early 1980s more than John Lurie. He didn’t so much burst onto the scene as help create the scene itself. To this day, John Lurie escapes categorization – Lurie is a self-taught musician, painter, actor, director and storyteller.