On April 16, 1980, the post-punk world was forever altered with the release of Joy Division's seminal album 'Closer.' Following the band's groundbreaking debut, 'Unknown Pleasures,' this album solidified their place in music history. With haunting tracks like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and 'Isolation,' 'Closer' painted a dark yet compelling picture of despair and emotional turbulence. The record was a remarkable commercial success, peaking at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and gaining a cult following that endures to this day. The original pressing of 'Closer' is a prized possession among vinyl collectors, often sought after for its striking cover art and immersive sound that encapsulates the bleak yet beautiful essence of the band's unique style. Vinyl enthusiasts recognize the limited vinyl releases of the album that have emerged over the years, including the 2015 remastered edition, which has rekindled interest in the band's profound impact on alternative music. Joy Division's music resonated deeply not only within the UK but also around the world, influencing countless artists and movements in the decades that followed. Tragically, the band's frontman, Ian Curtis, passed away just a few days before their U.S. tour was set to begin, adding a haunting layer to the album's legacy. Despite this heart-wrenching loss, 'Closer' remains a testament to Joy Division's genius and emotional depth. The album has inspired a myriad of genres, from goth to indie rock, proving that even in darkness, music can shine brightly. Today, 'Closer' stands as an iconic record, forever etched in the annals of music history, inviting listeners to explore the depths of human emotion through the power of vinyl.
Bill And Pat Medley
Bill and Pat Medley were a distinguished couple known for their contributions as composers, educators, and piano performers.
Bill was born on November 20, 1926, in Lubbock, Texas. He met Pat Duncan in 1944 during a summer singing school in Hot Springs, Arkansas, shortly after graduating high school. Pat, from Springfield, Arkansas, was finishing her junior year at the time. Both were piano instructors at the school. During World War II, Bill served in the Army and was stationed at various posts across the southern United States. After returning in 1946, he married Pat in Morrilton, Arkansas. Recognizing that Pat had stronger music reading skills, they chose to attend Arkansas Tech in Russellville to strengthen his fundamentals. Remarkably, within three weeks of starting their formal education, the Medleys mastered their first two-piano pieces and were performing two-piano concerts by the end of the semester.
Their talent caught the attention of Boyd and Helen Ringo, a well-known duo-piano couple, who invited them to the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, where the Ringos were faculty members. At the University of Tulsa, the Medleys earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music while also teaching young students and refining their duo-piano skills. After four years, they returned to Arkansas Tech to further develop their duo repertoire before embarking on a remarkable performance career that included over a thousand concerts and recitals across 47 U.S. states, all 10 Canadian provinces, and Australia. During the 1950s, they averaged 80 performances annually and set a duo-piano concert record with 119 shows in the 1958-59 season. Their first teaching position in Iowa was at Parsons College in Fairfield, where they arrived in 1963, working only two semesters each year, which allowed them to maintain a smaller touring schedule.
Following the closure of Parsons College in 1973, Richard Williams, conductor of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, played a key role in bringing the Medleys to Cedar Rapids, about 95 miles north. He encouraged the dean of Mount Mercy College, which was experiencing a decline in its music program, to offer them teaching positions. The Medleys significantly impacted the Mount Mercy music program, enhancing its focus on music education. They taught there until their retirement in 1991, after which they relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas. In Fayetteville, they volunteered, taught private lessons, revised the syllabus for the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association, initiated a music competition, and even offered classes at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR. In 1992, they returned to Cedar Rapids for a final performance with the Cedar Rapids Symphony.
In addition to their extensive performance career, the Medleys were also dedicated pedagogical composers. They authored The Medley Way, an original piano method series published by Hal Leonard Music Company, and their pedagogical solos are published by Willis Music Company, FJH Music Company, and Alfred Music Company. Bill Medley passed away in 2018, followed by Patricia Medley in 2019.
