Joanie Leeds Wins Her First Grammy! Singer/Songwriter is a Longtime “Theme Attic” Favorite!!!

Starting ten years ago at the radio station, and having the added goal of concentrating on new music by primarily independent musical artists, I thought that I was somewhat prepared for such a task.

After all, with a personal declining interest in major label artists for at least another twenty years before that, the transition should have been easy to take that knowledge from my house to the airwaves.

Ha!

In retrospect, that’s pretty funny!

For all of the hours that I had spent in record stores searching and learning about relatively “unknown” artists, was nothing like the volume of music received at the station.

It was comparable to taking a high school Chemistry class versus a college one: Everything you learned was covered in the first couple of weeks!

And everyone at the station all knew more about music than me–someone who had spent their whole life immersed in music(!)…and they would act like it.

I’m a fast learner and I threw myself into becoming familiar with some artists that were pouring into the station.

Fortunately for me, I found some very onward and upward artists!

One of those is Joanie Leeds!

The first album of hers that I ran across in the station’s new releases section, was “I’m a Rock Star!” 

I kept telling myself that it was a kid’s or “kindie” album–the category that it would fall in if you wanted to put a label on it. I should probably be looking for more mature music.

But it was difficult not to like it!

“Rock Star” was full of bright, catchy, pop songs!

I’ve always had a soft spot for somewhat playfully fun music! Jonathan Richman, Soupy Sales, Jerry Lewis, Spike Jones, and The Three Stooges are all in my “Theme Attic Hall of Fame!”

“I Wanna Be Green”–a song about recycling on “Rock Star,” became an instant perennial favorite for my Earth Day show!

Joanie‘s follow up, “What a Zoo!” was an even better collection of music featuring songs about animals!

It included the annual summer classic, “Mosquitoes!”

Continuing to develop and hone her writing skills–even though she didn’t need to, Joanie ended up with my #1 Song of the Year (Pre Philbys): “Falling!

I consider the last two songs to be two of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded!

Since then she has released several more wonderful albums!

All of them feature Joanie‘s strong, mellifluous vocals, as well as smart arrangements with beautiful harmonies!

Last year, she released her most “personal” album: “All the Ladies.” 

When I say “personal,” I don’t mean that she revealed some deep, hidden secrets.

I mean “personal” in an invaluable way of such importance that it would be considered a legacy work of art.

A legacy for her daughter!

A legacy for my daughter, who is now a mechanical engineer!

A legacy for girls, women, and ladies everywhere who encounter “Glass Ceilings!” (It’s the title of one of the songs on the album, too!)

And Joanie Leeds did it her way:

On the cover of the album for “All the Ladies,” are all of the women on the album!

And only women worked on it!

Joanie made her point that within the music industry, women encounter ceilings in so many studio positions.

That would not happen on “All the Ladies,” which won a Grammy earlier this month!

I will play a track from the album on my “Women’s History Month: 2021 Spring New Music Showcase, Pt. 2 on Wednesday’s “Theme Attic” with Phil Maq from 2PM-4PM ET! The first 70 minutes of the show is the Showcase, and it will only feature women artists!

You can listen at WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit, Michigan area, or use this link to stream the show: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!

I’m very happy and proud for Joanie Leeds!

Actually, bursting!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!

 

 

 

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