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Local And National Musicians Stream Shows For Fans During Coronavirus Isolation

In an attempt to bring some enjoyment to people stuck at home, musicians around the nation and central Ohio are hosting their own intimate performances for fans.

The idea of musicians using their various social media channels to perform a song or two for fans is nothing new, but it's expanding and becoming more significant amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Springfield, Ohio-born John Legend was among the first to host an in-home video show. On Instagram, Legend’s wife Chrissy Teigen provided some background vocals for the most recent set.   

Legend and Teigen singing Good Morning…

Legend encouraged those in a position to give to support area food banks during the pandemic. Other streaming shows have been creative, blending in messages from health officials as Bastille vocalist Dan Smith did with this popular song. 

Smith singing Jolene…     

Other musicians are using the time to dust off some older material and take viewers into an intimate practice session. That's the case for Chick Corea, who's been sharing his time at the piano with fans. 

Chick Corea playing the piano…

Corea often displays his inspirational sign that reads - Creativity, Imagination, Improvisation equals the Antidote. Local musicians are taking part in the online concerts too, including Columbus' own Angela Perley.

Perley performing Ruby Girl…

Chad Davis and Kyle Glispie form the Columbus band WestSide Revival, and the duo performed for more than two hours Saturday, taking requests from their fans and raising some money to support local businesses. 

WestSide Revival performing Behind Blue Eyes...

WestSide Revival has another show planned for this weekend. Eef Barzelay, who performs under the moniker Clem Snide, hosted an online session for the new release Forever Just Beyond, playing the album in full on a turntable and explaining how the songs came together. Meanwhile, NPR has been compiling and updating a list of virtual concerts. Here’s a link to that list.  

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.
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