Two Thomas Dorseys

August 15, 2013

I have to start this post with a confession. A while ago, I had a music therapy client request the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” I had known the song for a while, but when I looked up the lyrics this time around, I noticed that the composer listed was Thomas Dorsey. “Huh,” I…

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Kansas City Jazz: Charlie Parker

March 4, 2013

Miles Davis once said that the history of jazz could be summed up in four words: “Louie Armstrong. Charlie Parker.” How cool is it that the second half refers to a musician who grew up here in Kansas City? Charlie Parker was born in Kansas City, KS and raised in Kansas City, MO. He attended…

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