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Mr. Graham A. Leftwich
Band & Orchestra Director
Roxbury & Stark Schools
Stamford, CT
Home of The
"Stamford Rockestra"
-An exceptional group comprised of band & string players
-performing legendary songs of our time-
-MyBandRules is a site dedicated to Music Education, Music Lessons, Music Appreciation and Instrumental/Vocal Music Instruction-
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Winning Lyrics
Friendz World Music-Hightlights
FriendZ World Music is the premier African Drum Ensemble in the Northeast.
I had the pleasure of doing lighting and sound for this amazing group as they performed their 'magic'. They serve up a virtuosic display of authentic African rhythms, dance and voice. Let the spirit enter your soul!
Wynton Marsalis-"Happy Birthday"
Inprovisation Masterclass
BB King in Denmark 1988-
"Stormy Monday"
BB King at Austin City Limits festival 1996-
"Stormy Monday"
"Crazy Train"
Album Version with Anime Video
Ozzy Osbourne "Crazy Train" Live
Rush's Neil Peart performing one of his mind-blowing drum solos!
Rush "Tom Sawyer" 1981
Le Studio in Toronto, Canada
YES "Rounabout" 2017
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony Performance with
Geddy Lee (RUSH) playing Bass in place of the late Chris Squires
Pink Floyd 1994-
"Dark Side Of The Moon"
Jimie Hendrix at Woodstock 1969-
"Foxy Lady"
Sly and The Family Stone at Woodstock 1969-"Wanna Take You Higher"
The Who at Woodstock 1969-
"Pinball Wizard"
Santana at Woodstock 1969-"Soul Sacrifice"
Joe Cocker at Woodstock 1969-Performing the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends"
Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock 1969-
"White Rabit"
Santana at Woodstock 1969-"Evil Ways"
Janis Joplin at Woodstock 1969-
"Try a Little Harder"
Crosby, Stills and Nash at Woodstock 1969-
"Suite Judy Blue Eyes"
The Beatles-"Hello Goodbye"
The Beatles-"Penny Lane"
The Beatles-"Revolution"
The Beatles-"Here Comes The Sun"
The Beatles-"Get Back"-scenes from Peter Jackson's Beatles documentary on Disney+
The Beatles-"Let It Be"
Stevie Wonder-Superstition 1974
Stevie Wonder-Superstition 2019
The Temptations "My Girl"
The Jackson 5-"I Want You Back" and "ABC"
featuring an 11 year old Michael Jackson!
Sam & Dave with Booker T & the MG's
"Soul Man"
Otis Redding-"Dock Of The Bay"
Recorded just before his death in a plane crash
The whistling in the 3rd verse was supposed to be singing but he never got to finish it.
Sam Cooke-"A Change Is Going To Come"
Civil Rights at this time was at a
tipping point in America.
Many artists wrote songs about this topic.
Bob Dylan performing his iconic song
March, 1963 at the young age of 20,
"Blowing In The Wind"
This song was said to have inspired Sam Cooke to write his song 'change is going to come'
Marvin Gaye-"What's Going On" live in 1972
Berry Gordy-Motown thought this song was too politically controversial. Legend has it that the song was secretly leaked to some radio stations. It became such the 'buzz' on the streets that Berry Gordy was forced to release it. Our country was embroiled in the Vietnam war at this time and many people were asking "why"?
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell bring the house down with this great song:
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Aretha Franklin, also know as
'The Queen of Soul' sings Otis Redding's 'Respect'. This became the anthem for the 'Equal Rights' movement. A knockout performance!
Wilson Pickett "Midnight Hour"
Awesome soulful goodness!
Beethoven's Symphony #5
Herbert Von Karajan and the
Berlin Philharmonic-1972
Simply awesome power and beauty!
The Story of World Famous Violinist Joshua Bell and his Red Stradivarius Violin. The famous Huberman Stadivarious was stolen and missing for 50 years until.....
World renowned violinist Joshua Bell performs in the Washington Union Station as an experiment. Do you think anyone recognized him or his virtuosic playing?
RUSH the Canadian power-house trio which put the world on notice that 'progressive-rock' was here in a big way.
-Geddy Lee (bass, keys and vocal)
-Alex Lifeson (guitars)
-Neil Peart (drums)
This is "Tom Sawyer" one of Rush's greatest songs.
Roy Clarke shows his chops here as he rips Malaguena on a steel string guitar. This man could play any stringed instrument you handed him...just a monster talent.
Not only was Sammy Davis Jr. a fantastic singer and world renowned tap dancer, he was a mind-blowing drummer and vibe player.
Check out this Ed Sullivan appearance!
Viola Smith-"Worlds Fastest Girl Drummer"
played with Caroll Francis & her Coquettes.
A fantastic All Girl Big Band.
Viola just passed away this past October at the age of 107!
Glenn Miller's "In The Mood"-An awesome Big Band that has style and swing like few others.Vibe with the buttery smooth Sax section and watch the Trombone tricks!
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington
"It Don't Mean A Thing"
Listen to the vocal mastery and 'instrument like' soloing. Ella was the first black singer to win a Grammy Award in 1959. She insisted that concerts she sang at be non-segregated.
The 'Blues Brothers' on Saturday Night Live. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi totally deliver the goods on this one!
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"There's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses. HIT IT!"
Stark Broadway Kids Perform Aladdin in Spring 2019
Davenport Ridge Elementary School 5th Grade Chorus
Performing: "Dancing In The Streets"-Spring 2020
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