Monday, May 31, 2010

Tim Burton

Tim Burton was born on August 25, 1958, in Burbank, California. He has been a successful director since 1971. Tim Burton's films can be described as artsy or edgy or just plain strange. Many of his films have starred Johnny Depp including Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When Burton was a young boy, he would make short films in his backyard using stop motion animation techniques or shoot them on 8 mm film without sound. Burton was hired at Walt Disney Productions' animation studio, where he worked as a concept artist on The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron. Burton's personal artistic tastes clashed with the Disney style, and he longed to work on his own projects. Major motion pictures done by Burton include Beetlejuice, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, and the newest release, Alice In Wonderland. Burton has been nominated for several awards for his productions, and is known all around the world for his dark, twisted storylines. Well- known stars who have been characters in his movies have been Johnny Depp, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Winona Ryder, and Missi Pyle. All actors have stated that working with Burton was amazing, is an understatement. Burton can be described as "creative, fun to work with, a little odd, but certainly in a good way." as stated by close friend Johnny Depp.

Below are a few trailers for hit movies by Tim Burton, including Sweeney Todd, 9, and Alice in Wonderland.








Monday, May 17, 2010

Stevie Wonder


Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. He is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Blind from birth and raised in inner-city Detroit, he was a skilled musician by age eight. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy Jr., the president of Motown Records— Wonder made his recording debut at age 12. His first album, 'Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius', made the child a huge star, and gave Stevie a number one hit with single 'Fingertips'. The following year, he enrolled in the Michigan School for the Blind, where he studied classical piano. His late teen years saw continued success, with songs such as 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)'. Stevie worked on improving his skills as a songwriter, and producer, and he co-wrote most of his singles from 1967 onward. In 1971, he invested in his own recording studio, Taurus Productions, and recorded two albums on his own. Throughout the seventies and eighties, Stevie continued winning awards and releasing hit songs. He even opened for The Rolling Stones in their tour across America in 1972. He was given a chance to appeal to those who mostly listened to rock n’ roll. Those who heard Stevie Wonder play the concert often claim that they had never heard pop music cross the border into the world of rock so well. Following his rock n’ roll career, Stevie then released another huge pop favorite, You are the Sunshine of My Life. He went onto release Love’s in Need of Love Today and Pastime Paradise. He won three Grammy Awards and an Album of the Year award for his release of Innervisions. He then recorded I Just Called to Say I Love You, which topped both American and European charts. Even to this day, Stevie Wonder continues to release albums, one of the best being A Time to Love in 2005. Stevie has recorded more than 30 U.S. billboard hits, and has received 22 Grammy Awards which was the record for most Grammies given to a male solo artist. He is also very well known for his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr's birthday a holiday. In 2009, Stevie was congratulated with the title of a United Nations Messenger's of Peace. Stevie Wonder has seven kids, from his two marriages to Motown singer Yolanda Simmons, and fashion designer Kai Milla Morris, as well as several relationships. Overall, Wonder has had 10 number one hits on the pop charts, and 20 R&B number one hits, and album sales totaling more than 100 million units. As well as this, he has produced and collaborated with a multitude of other successful artists. Wonder plays the piano, synthesizer, harmonica, congas, drums, bass guitar, bongos, organ, melodica, and clavinet. Stevie Wonder is an amazing performer, and will continue to blow the world's mind with his outstanding knowledge of how to please a crowd, how to rock several instruments, and to put on a kick ass show.

Below are two videos. The first one is Stevie Wonder rocking out on Sesame Street, singing his smash hit Superstition. The second one is Stevie Wonder singing another smash hit, Don't You Worry About A Thing.