Simms Brothers Band - Simms Brothers Band (1979)

"All We Need Is Loving" by Simms Brothers Band


Frank Simms may be known for his voice acting work (as the voice of the Kool-Aid Man, the Honeycomb mascot, and on Dragon Tales), but he started his career in music.  Simms Brothers Band started playing in 1974 in coffee shops around Connecticut with the harmonies of George Simms, Frank Simms, and Dave Spinner around an acoustic guitar.  The Brothers added Mickey Leonard (lead guitar), Budd Tunick (drums), Doug Maki (bass), and Rob Sabino (keyboards) to become a full-fledged rock and roll band heavily influenced by funk and R&B.  With the help of manager Paul Ahern, the group was able to acquire a two-album deal with Elektra Records.  They worked with producer Mike Stone to record their debut album who added a glossy finish to their music common in seventies classic rock (dashes of Queen, Wings, and disco) that went against the style of their live performances.  The group toured nationally with Peter Frampton, but the album received no support from the record label and, as a result, garnered no commercial or critical attention.

Here is the discography surrounding Simms Brothers Band's debut album:

Take Me As I Am
Simms Brothers Band

"Back to School" by Simms Brothers Band


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Dragon Tales - Dragon Tunes (2001)

"Dragon Tales Theme"


Bill Dobrow is a session percussionist who played the congas and did finger snaps for the Once Blue album.  He is also credited with arranging music for the Dragon Tales PBS TV show. (Jesse Harris is also co-credited for helping to write the show's theme song.)  Dragon Tales was created by educator and artist Ron Rodecker with Jim Coane helping in development.  The show follows the leads Max and Emmie on their adventures in Dragon Land with their dragon friends Cassie, Ord, Zak and Wheezie.  The first episode aired on September 6, 1999.  Due to show's success, an album was compiled of songs from the show called Dragon Tunes in 2001.

Here is the discography surrounding Dragon Tales's debut album:

Dragon Tunes

"To Fly With Dragons"  Season 1, Episode 1


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Once Blue - Once Blue (1995)

"Trumansburg" by Once Blue


After meeting Norah Jones while she still attended UNT, Jesse Harris (already established in the music industry) began writing songs for her.  He helped her establish her persona after she moved to New York and started to find her voice.  He wrote several of her first few hits including "Don't Know Why" for which he won a Grammy.

At one time, he was half of a duo with fellow singer/songwriter Rebecca Martin called Once Blue.  In 1995, they recorded their debut album Once Blue together.  They held recording sessions for a second album that would not come to fruition except as bonus tracks on re-releases of that only album.  The duo discontinued in order to pursue their solo careers.

Here is the complete discography for Once Blue:

Once Blue
Once Blue (1995 EP)

"Save Me" by Once Blue


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Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002)

"Nightingale" by Norah Jones


Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar) was the lead vocalist for jazz rock band Laszlo and also the half-sister of Anoushka Shankar and daughter of Ravi Shankar (with music director Sue Jones).  She moved to New York in 1999 where she started work as a backup vocalist and lounge singer.  She gained the attention of executives at Blue Note Jazz while singing backup for Victoria Williams.  Norah had yet to develop a "voice of her own", but the record label was willing to work with her to find it whether it be jazz or not.  She started down that path on a first set of demos that would be released in 2001 as the First Sessions EP.  She followed that up the next year with her landmark debut album Come Away With Me.  The album gained critical attention and sold over 26 million units worldwide, going Diamond on the US charts.  Norah Jones would also end up winning five awards at that year's Grammy Awards and three of her collaborators would also win awards.  It is considered one of the best albums of the 2000s.

Here is the discography surrounding Norah Jones's debut album:

First Sessions (2001 EP)
Don't Know Why (2001/2002 single)
Come Away With Me
Feelin' the Same Way (2002 single)
Live in New Orleans (2002 live album)
Something Is Calling You (2002 single)
Come Away With Me (2002 single)
Turn Me On (2003 single)
Nightingale (2003 single)

"Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones


"Bessie Smith" by Norah Jones


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Laszlo - Laszlo (1999)

"Freak" by Laszlo

Laszlo is a jazz rock band from Denton, Texas that was active in the late 1990s. Made up mostly of high schoolers, they recorded one album before breaking up and losing their vocalist, who ventured off to New York to try and hit the big time with her singing career. How the tour got from Anoushka Shankar to Laszlo will be dutifully explained in the next entry.

Here is the complete discography for Laszlo:

Laszlo

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Anoushka Shankar - Anoushka (1998)

"Bairagi" by Anoushka Shankar


Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Rajan. She started her training on the sitar at the age of ten under the tutelage of her father. Anoushka performed for the first time at 13 and started touring with her father at 14. She released her debut album Anoushka in 1998 at the age of 17.

Here is the discography surrounding Anoushka Shankar's debut album:

Anoushka

"Pratham Prem (First Love)" by Anoushka Shankar

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