Crib Notes

Atlanta-based music industry legend and former James Brown promoter Bob Patton died last Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Piedmont Hospital of an aortic aneurism. He was 70.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, Mr. Patton launched his music career as a teen with a weekly radio show. He would grow up to become a highly-respected music promoter. He had personal and professional dealings with stars that included Isaac Hayes, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis and B.B. King. He booked act for American Bandstand, the TV show.

“He was in the business 50-something years and worked with everybody from the Beatles to Prince,” said Sammy Blue, founder and executive director of the Georgia Legacy Foundation, a Decatur-based nonprofit that assists musicians with their careers.

“I’d say he was one of the greater promoters of what I call real American music.”

Read the full AJC obituary on Patton.

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Seems like there was more action behind-the-scenes than onstage, despite the 20-plus performances at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Chris Brown reportedly got gangsta with his girlfriend Rihanna, causing them both to cancel their performances. The alleged reason behind the smackdown should bring a whole new meaning to their upcoming collabo, “Bad Girl,” produced by Atlantan Polow da Don for the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. Meanwhile the real “gangstas,” Lil Wayne and T.I., delivered upstanding, redemptive performances — neither of which required NARAS President Neil Portnow to excuse their inclusion in the program, the way he had to when Eminem performed to the chagrin of gay rights activists in 2001.

Of course, the Recording Academy continued this year with the ultra-lame generational mashup theme that made for some of the oddest pairings ever.

Surely, Stevie Wonder would’ve been insulted if only he could’ve seen how silly he looked on stage with the Jonas Brothers. The Al Green/Justin Timberlake pairing was quite a yawner, but perhaps we should be thankful that Timberlake didn’t attempt to rip Green’s shirt off for a grand finale. And did we really need to see B.B. King and John Mayer trade ugly guitar faces for the second year in a row?

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B.B. KING As living legends go, King’s still vital on stage, his new album is his finest in decades — it’s worth the inflated ticket price to see him somewhere other than Chastain. $65.50-$86.50. 7:30 p.m. The Tabernacle. 404-659-9022. www.livenation.com. — HH

GANG GANG DANCE, RAINBOW ARABIA, NOMEN NOVUM Gang Gang Dance stands tall at the forefront of New York’s indie avant-garde by crafting a jumbled mass of dance-art-punk-electro skronks. Likeminded acts Rainbow Arabia from Los Angeles, and local freak rock duo Nomen Novum open. $10-$12. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

(Photo Credit: www.bbkingclubs.com)

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