As the son of legendary guitarist Carlos Santana and grandson of blues pioneer Saunders King and internationally celebrated violinist and mariachi bandleader Jose Santana, it’s safe to say that Salvador grew up with strong musical roots.
In today’s data-driven world, it’s perhaps only fitting that the modern-day mix tape was brought to life by an algorithm. In 2000, Pandora burst onto the scene, offering people a new kind of radio; breaking songs down into basic components, categorizing them and streaming playlists tailor-fit to listeners’ personal preferences. To date, there are over 250 million registered Pandora users—clearly, the creators of this platform were onto something.
The man behind the complex categorization system that powers Pandora (the Music Genome Project) is chief musicologist, Nolan Gasser, who recently posed the question: “How can we make use of that information to make our lives better?” To answer that question, he turned to music therapists, who show us day after day how music can in fact make our lives better—especially when something goes wrong. Today, we explore the possibly of Gasser’s relation-identifying algorithm making an even deeper impact than it has already made. Continue reading →
In our new Spotlight Series, we’re featuring some of the incredible, diverse talent performing on Levitt stages! This week we’re taking a look at ‘80s alternative rockers Soul Asylum, playing at Levitt Arlington this Saturday, May 23, and their smash hit “Runaway Train.” Continue reading →
The wait is finally over—the 2015 Levitt concert season is officially here! Dust off your picnic baskets, grab your dancing shoes and get ready for the largest Levitt concert season yet!
This season features another energetic and eclectic mix of performances by emerging stars and seasoned musical legends that you won’t want to miss. Click here to see when your local Levitt will be kicking off its 2015 concert series!
Spring is in full swing! Once again, colorful signs of rebirth fill the great outdoors—from chirping baby birds to flowers bursting into bloom. It seems everywhere we look we’re reminded just how lovely new beginnings can be.
Before diving into yet another fun-filled summer, let’s take a moment to take stock of the season’s friendly reminders and try something new (or perhaps share something new with a young loved-one like we see in today’s Levitt Loves)!
In just over a month, genre-busting classical strings meets hip-hop duo Black Violin will kick off the #LevittTour stopping at six Levitt cities across the country. Get a sneak peek of what’s to come when they arrive in Memphis (June 13), Arlington (June 20), Los Angeles (June 26), Pasadena (June 27), Bethlehem (July 11) and Denver (July 17)! All shows are free and fun for all ages.
Are you excited that it’s finally May, Levitteers? Not only are we that much closer to the start of concert season, but it’s also National Bike Month, a celebration of cycling first established in 1956!
Here at Levitt, we wholeheartedly support the many benefits of biking, from healthier living to reducing our carbon footprint to improving the overall livability of places. We’re thrilled to see the country moving towards increased bikeability, with initiatives like protected bike lanes and bike share programs growing more popular in cities like Los Angeles and Memphis.
This month, whether you’re a veteran cyclist or a biking beginner, we encourage you to join the movement! Check out our fun bike-related trivia, see all the awesome events happening for National Bike Month and get inspired to go for a ride! Continue reading →
As a longtime Lehigh Valley resident, Levitt SteelStacks Board Member, Tito Negron, has experienced firsthand the transformation of Bethlehem, Pa.’s iconic, larger-than-life blast furnaces: from powerful steel-makers to devastating eyesores to pinnacles of the awe-inspiring backdrop to Levitt SteelStacks.
Growing up, Negron’s father used to work at Bethlehem Steel, which at its height was the country’s second largest steel producer, employing 30,000 workers. When the company closed in the early 2000s, Negron’s family was one of the manywho had to move elsewhere in search of new employment opportunities. Today, Negron has returned to his hometown, where he is raising a family of his own.
In this Faces of Levittvideo, Negron and his wife, Amy, explain why having access to a rich variety of free, live music is so important for their family. “To expose the kids to so many different kinds of music, weekly, is absolutely priceless,” says Amy. Levitt lawns provide clean and safe places where family members of all ages can enjoy free, live music. With Levitt SteelStacks in their backyard, the Negron family plans to call Bethlehem home for years to come!