New Music - Toby Madigan

Just this week I discovered a new artist of whom I am pretty fond. Toby Madigan is a hot little number, and doesn't seem to have any issues letting his fans see it. He is an out performer, and was arrested at a No On Prop8 rally in California.

According to the website, Toby splits his time between West Hollywood and NYC. He has released his first indie offering, Left Brain/Right Brain. Chatroom Romance is now starting to get some play on LOGO, although I am also fond of Somebody. I have DL'ed the CD, which you can do directly from his website. I like it very much, especially Somebody (I Can Talk To), The Rest of Me,One Last Time, and Something Was Missing. It is a strong first effort, moving from the fun Chatroom Romance to some serious tales of love. Toby is at his best when speaking from his heart, as some of his more politically charged lyrics come out a bit stilted, which is not usually the case in his lyrics. It is a wonderful first effort, and I look forward to hearing more as he matures as an artist. On YouTube, there is also an interesting acoustic version of Madonna's Like A Prayer, singing with the star of High School Musical Tour, Arielle Jacobs.

You can find out more about Toby at his website.

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Great Music - Daniel Cartier

What can I say about Daniel Cartier? First, I really love his music. I have all the CDs he has released, and a DVD. His singing, his songwriting, I love it all. Second, he is hot! Third, I have had a little bit of communication with him to order some of the material, and he is an incredibly nice man. So what more can you ask for? So far, his latest, You And Me Are We, is my favorite, but I truly enjoy the others as well.



Daniel sings everything, from uptempo songs like Beautiful, to a gorgeous and touching rendition of Auld Lang Syne. There are rock songs like Lost In Detroit, and the country flair of Lay It On, while one of my favorite songs, Doofus of Love, has an updated doo-wop feel.



Daniel has his own channel on YouTube, and offered many cover versions of songs for his fans, sung on a webcam in his home. He makes all the songs his own, from Des'ree to the Eurythmics to Broadway tunes. One of my favorites is his cover of Moon River. There are so many that are great, including Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.



Daniel is also an artist, with some of his work hanging in galleries in New York. He also had a farm and store on the New England coast, although he has moved to Nashville, TN, with his fiancee Joe. He has recently mentioned he is working on a new album, and I couldn't be more thrilled.



You can find out more about Daniel at his website.

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Worth Another Listen - Paul Lekakis

From Soundtrack to my Day

Back in 1987, a song hit the clubs that had everyone dancing. The song was Boom Boom (Let's Go Back To My Room) and it was impossible not to run to the dance floor. It was sung by Paul Lekakis, the stunningly handsome Nordic God. I ran out and bought the single, but had to wait to buy the CD, Tattoo It. But I did buy it first chance I got. I still listen from time to time, grooving to the sound of My House, One Step Closer, and others. From the coy You Blow Me Away to vibrantly sexy You Know You Want It, not to mention the beat-driven Are You Man Enough and Tattoo It On Me. This CD was meant to put a party in your pants - an easy feat if you took one look at the cover shots.



Paul went on to do movies - like Circuit and Sex, Politics & Cocktails - and a variety of shows in regional theater and Pride events around the world. And he still does music, having the singles Let It Out, Assume The Position and (I Need A) Vacation, all of which are in my collection. Just last year, I purchased a video collection of his songs, including a video shot to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Boom Boom. I also received a couple of signed photographs with the package, warming the cockles of, among other places, my heart.



Never particularly in the closet, Lekakis talked openly in the 90s about being HIV Positive, and continues to do work in that community. He has certainly kept himself in top shape, and looks even hotter now than he did when he first come on the scene.

From Soundtrack to my Day

You can find more pictures and information at Paul's website.

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