On May 24th, 2010, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released their preliminary annual uniform crime report for 2009. As I reviewed this list I was simultaneously inspired and depressed by the multitude of legendary performers that have come from the places that topped the murder rates rankings. I believe that music heals and I also believe that our music is the very best American tradition. This correlation is more than a coincidence, there is a direct connect between pain, suffering, hard times and eternal music.
The following list is a musical tribute to 2009’s ten highest murder-per-capita cities with a population over 100,000 in America. If you are a numbers person and have TONS of free time you can review the FBI’s documentation here.
Each video features an artist from the corresponding city in the list. A couple were a reach but mostly it was a difficult choice for which artist/video to post. I hope these cities can turn this horrible stat on its head and find solace in the deep, hard-earned, and spiritual music that was born of the same place.
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TEN: HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
Gene Pitney – “Town Without Pity”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
NINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Emmylou Harris – “Red Dirt Girl”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
EIGHT: NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
Sarah Vaughan – “The Shadow of Your Smile”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SEVEN: FLINT, MICHIGAN
Grand Funk Railroad (Lead Singer Mark Farner) – “Inside Looking Out”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SIX: BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Chris Thomas King – “John Law Burned Down a Liquor Store”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
FIVE: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
FOUR: DETROIT, MICHIGAN
The White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
THREE: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Chuck Berry (w/ Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) – “Johnny B. Goode”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
TWO: RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
Primus (Les Claypool) – “Tommy the Cat”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
ONE: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Louis Armstrong – “When the Saints Go Marching In”
