Good Morning, Everyone. Here's what has happened since my last Deni Bonet Blog post. My e-mails from the post I had written made me realize--at the risk of sounding like a Carlton Sheets infomercial--"the sheer power of The Internet"! Later, it dawned on me that in New York and into the Northeast where Deni is a well established headliner at so many local venues, she has a tremendous following! And from the "lurkers" who e-mailed me en-mass (all kind, by the way) the basic question posed to me was why I didn't comment on Deni's three CD releases. So, I just shrugged my shoulders last night and thought, "Okay, I'll give it a shot". So, here we go!
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How amazing it is for me to know a musical artist who is literally out there creating music in a way that is heads above the proverbial crowd (and mind you, without having to stand on any one's shoulders). To begin with, this CD is what The Beatles producer George Martin would call "A new phase CD". A few words about a few stand out selections (actually they're all stand-outs). The moment I heard Deni and her band perform "Too Much Fun" at a small concert hall and later at an outdoor Music Fair, I felt a bit like "a scout" who could pick out a single that would take off like a rocket ship. This tune is a mix of humorous sensibilities, then it grabs you by the collar with a rhythm section and a strong melodic hook that will have you singing the chorus at the top of your lungs!... "Is This A Test" is a strong opener that leaves little doubt that you are in the midst of a serious rock artist who can play tight and loud with an expressive pulse of what lies ahead. This accounts for why the stats are so high for downloads. "Life Isn't Fair" is a message Steve McQueen imparted on his son Chad, from his own life's journey. It is a message that resonates with all of us who have suffered a loss (of any kind) and closes with a surprising reassuring humanity that leaves little doubt we are all in this life together. It is reminiscent of the title (and the reality) of Beach Boy Brian Wilson's son title "Love and Mercy". I'll limit my comments to one more: the title track with a little secret. Deni includes a "Bonus" full band track. Here's what I love about "Last Girl On Earth": this selection. Deni wrote this with a brave dose of confidence and vulnerability and puts her "cards on the table" about life's choices in love. The ending will cause you to pause the CD and just reflect quietly; that is to say, the song really stays with you and becomes "parked" in your heart. It's unforgettable and very beautiful. The three panel fold out is the loveliest CD design I have ever seen. Proof positive that this CD was not created overnight. Far from it. This one took years and the results are just astounding. There. You have my comments on this. AND: It's very affordable! Song List: 1.Is This A Test?2. How Far Can I Push You? 3. Word Up 4. Small Talk 5. Gold Plated Diapers 6. Too Much Fun 7. Don't Turn Away From Love 8. Last Girl On Earth (NOT the band version which is up there) 9. I Want To Get Arrested 10. It Sucks But It's True 11. Fuck It ( Yes, there is a "Family Friendly" version included on Track 15) 12. Don't Make Promises 13. Life Isn't Fair 14. Last Girl On Earth (Full Band Version) 15. Stuff It
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MTV "Unplugged" couldn't have matched this effort. Deni actually sponsored a contest on her blogsite for visitors to submit names for a short Acoustic CD and this was a fun treat (if not a "Deni Fix") while work continued to evolve on "Last Girl On Earth". Deni's vocals are so strong on these selections and she actually pulled off a n Acoustic set of gems that is really a celebration of life. This one is memorable also when Deni invited bloggers to submit questions she posted on Index Cards and asked New Yorkers on Video. I pulled the line from "Too Much Fun" where Deni sings "Michael does my taxes". Deni spots an unsuspecting man on camera who quickly picked up on the fun of it all; he read the card while Deni filmed him, and then ad libbed with his own answer (which was just hysterical). "Cheat On You" was a selection that was actually filmed during a performance Deni gave and it is particularly strong here along with "I Scream Your Name". Song List:1. Cheat On You, 2. Alone, 3. Too Much Fun, 4. Don't Turn Away From Love, 5. I Scream Your Name and 6. Use Me.
Finally, this is a sentimental CD for me because I first caught Deni's tour in support of it and later we became friends. Let me just reiterate that "Alone" quickly and firmly establishes what Deni does with the Violin that differentiates her not only from other Violinists I am familiar with, but present day musical acts in general. No one is doing what Deni does! That is as succinctly as I can state the matter. In "Bigger Is Always Better", I felt Deni to be blazing a path and this CD is filled with very strong and soulful selections that pull you into the inimitable "groove" that she creates with her uniquely identifiable vocals for example on the reflective "Time To Make A Plan" and "Violin Girl" with plenty of stretching out with solos on "Sunshine" and "Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie". Speaking of solos: I first heard "The Goddamn Violin Solo" during the Cyndi Lauper Tour where Deni steps forward on stage and solos. In a blazing hot few minutes, she firmly establishes herself as a major talent who can bring down the concert house (which she did with 3,000 people), and then rebuild it from the ground up; this composition, written during Deni's West Virginia days is a consummate concert show-stopper and itself worth the price of the CD. Overall, I must say that Billboard magazine and others did hear this CD and overwhelmingly loved it. You will too. It rocks. It's pure Deni--"tongue in cheek" and a marvelous debut filled with optimistic energy. Moreover it gives you and I a glimpse of what lies ahead for this talented lady straight up to the current release, "Last Girl On Earth". Song List: 1. I Scream Your Name, 2. The Girlfriends of Dorian Gray, 3. Alone, 4. Bigger Is Always Better, 5. Sunshine, 6. Time To Make A Plan, 7. Then I'll Really Love You, 8. Violin Girl, 9. Tic Toc-edit, 10. Phat, Stoopid, Totally Deaf (a Northeast Radio talk show host had Deni explain this title to great comic relief!), 11. Our Love's Got An Attitude, 12. Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie; 13. The Goddamn Violin Solo, 14. Please De For Me, 15. Sunshine--the Love Mix.
Along with Gordon Lightfoot, Kris Kristofferson is among my favorite male songwriters. I had the pleasure of hanging out with long-time Kristofferson band member and solo artist Billy Swan ("I Can Help") during the 4th show I saw with Kris and his full band on tour. Kris was being managed at that time by the late Bert Block and we talked about how Kris' albums historically were never blockbusters, although "Shake Hands with the Devil" (released after his co-starring role with Barbra Streisand in "A Star is Born") did well. In spite of the lack of huge sales, among his hits are "Me & Bobby McGee" (popularized by the late Janis Joplin on her final album, "Pearl"), "Help me Make it Through the Night" "Sunday Morning Comin' Down", "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends", "For the Good Times", "The Silver Tongued Devil & I" (and a song I'd play at 4:00 AM driving on my way to the helicopter pad at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati when I was still reporting television news for NBC TV--- the clever "To Beat the Devil".
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To keep life interesting, Kristofferson, a Rhodes Scholar with a Masters degree in Philosophy, served in the military and resigned his commission in 1965 after turning down a teaching position at West Point Military Academy. Determined to make it in music, he became a janitor at Columbia Records in Nashville while watching Bob Dylan record his epic "Blonde on Blonde". While I never "connected the dots" between my singing along with the part narrative/part song "To Beat the Devil"in Ohio on those 3 degree Winter mornings, Kris also worked as a commercial helicopter pilot for Petroleum Helicopters International.
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"That was about the last three years before I started performing, before people started cutting my songs... I would work a week down here [in south Louisiana] for PHI, sitting on an oil platform and flying helicopters. Then I'd go back to Nashville at the end of the week and spend a week up there trying to pitch the songs, then come back down and write songs for another week... I can remember 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' I wrote sitting on top of an oil platform. I wrote 'Bobby Mcgee' down here, and a lot of them [in south Louisiana]."
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After pursuing Johnny Cash with cassette tapes (which John would throw into his lake at home), Kris decided on a new approach and landed a helicopter in Cash's back yard to "hand deliver" "Sunday Morning Comin' Down". By then it was 1969 and Cash was into his 2-year television variety show where he introduced it and the song became a hit.
Kristofferson was signed to Monument Records as a bona fide artist with Fred Foster managing Combine Music, Kris' songwriting label. While others had success with Kris' songs such as Ray Price's "For the Good Times", Waylon Jennings' performance of "The Taker", Bobby Bare's "Come Sundown"), and Sammi Smith with "Help Me Make It Through the Night", Kris's LP's sold slowly. So, Kristofferson decided to make his acting debut in Dennis Hopper's "The LastMovie" and "Cisco Pike". He appeared at the Isle of Wright Festival and released his 3rd album, "Border Lord". Again, sales were sluggish. Yet, he won big at the Grammy Awards after releasing his 4th album, "Jesus Was A Capricorn". Again, sales were slow but "Why Me" was a huge success. His 5th LP "Spooky Lady's Sideshow" was a commercial disappointment. So, he threw himself into movies such as "Blume in Love", Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid", Sam Peckinpah's "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia", "Convoy" (with Ali MacGraw no less!) , our most recent "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" feature, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "Vigilante Force. a disturbing "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea", "A Star is Born" where he described working with Streisand as a "sobering experience", and his 9th album that sold well but failed to chart "Shake Hands with the Devil" before resuming acting in "Freedom Road" and the well documented box office bust "Heavens Gate". Coolige and Kristofferson sadly divorced after three well accepted albums of duets. Here was a man writing songs only others could have success with! I have them all and I love them! He joined Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Brenda Lee for an album called "The Winning Hand". More movies followed until the country power group of Nelson, Kristofferson, Jennings and Kristofferson toured as "The Highwaymen". In 1977, he was inducted into The Songwriter's Hall of Fame, in 2004 The Country Music Hall of Fame and the rest as they say...is history.
Round round get around I get around Yeah Get around round round I get around I get around Get around round round I get around From town to town Get around round round I get around Im a real cool head Get around round round I get around I'm makin' real good bread
I'm gettin' bugged driving up and down the same old strip I gotta finda new place where the kids are hip (Music & Lyrics by: Brian Wilson)
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We are such a spoiled nation. With fuel and vehicular fatalities so high along with insurance rates, recall that in 1974 speed limits were reduced to 55 miles per hour. We saved billions in gasoline dollars and more importantly, we saved lives. So, someone please explain to me why the hell we post 65 MPH signs on freeways when people drive along as if every U.S. highway was The Autobahn? Why not enforce 55 MPH on highways? Consider: We would be sending a message to the fat cats at the gas companies, we'd save billions on fuel and bring down the annual vehicular fatality statistics and insurance rates! Plus States would make money from the traffic tickets they issue to speeders for so many worthy things. Like what, you ask? How about creating new jobs, with our need to replace approximately 21,000 U.S. bridges in the United States that are in dangerous condition. Or rebuilding Levy's and Dams? Or repaving roads? We have so many people out of work thanks to outsourcing (stripping our country of all manufacturing). Consider the possibilities when the next car passes you on a 65 MPH highway doing 80 MPH! And no, I make no apologies for being on a so-called "Soap Box". How dumb can we get? Moving on...
Hey, when I was traveling all over Florida a couple of years back, I noticed that from roughly West Palm Beach South towards Ft. Lauderdale Beach, people used a lot of fun-looking Vespa motor scooters along Highway A1. They save a lot of fuel. I asked three guys who owned them about price, construction, performance, versatility and all of that. True, when it rains you need a car. On that score, I pride myself that my older Honda CRV saves fuel. It has about 120,000 miles on it (but to all preppies: It's paid for). Yes, I'm no fan of car payments. And NOW there's a cool way to assert your personality and be good to the environment! (See photo below). :-)
Now this car I love! Where I live in Arizona, Mini Coopers are everywhere. I queried Panthergirl over at The Dog's Breakfast about her Mini, and she advised me not to test-drive one unless I was serious. Some weeks ago, I took one for a test drive. Get this: 37 miles per gallon in the city; 46 on the highway! It was very well built and with mucho safety items. (Plus a Fender Twin Reverb and a couple of guitars fit in easily with the fold down seats. That's how my mind operates. Ah, someday...
Another pet peeve I have are pick up trucks modified to being the height of a yardstick off the ground with tires so large, they alone would kill you. This photo is a stock pickup you'd buy from a dealership. When I park next to one, and carefully pull out of a parking spot (I always park to drive forward because I freak out that a small child with parents who don't pay enough attention to them (morons considering how easily abductions happen in broad daylight in this crazy world) could easily walk behind a vehicle backing up and be struck. For this reason, I back up into my apartment space. But when a neighbor's boyfriend parks his pickup there, pulling out "blind" is dangerous. What is our obsession with huge monster trucks and SUV's?
Personally, I have never cared for SUV's. (Show me the "Sport" in "Sport Utility Vehicle" and I'll buy you a hand-rolled Cuban cigar to go smoke somewhere else). A good friend of mine was killed in a collision (he was said to be at fault; we'll never know what really happened) in his Corvette. I was traveling in Atlanta when the news hit me and I remember sitting on the edge of my hotel bed crying. We think it's possible he may have had a small stroke, even though he was a young guy. He left behind 3 kids and a wife who is an author friend of mine. I also dislike driving behind SUV's in city traffic because you can't see the traffic light's above you. Granted, I have friends who make sensible use of their SUV's for business. For example, I have girlfriends who run businesses such as a catering company, another who does concert staging and yet another who handles graphic art designs and huge sign displays. But I ask you, "How big is too big?"
To be fair, if you have kiddo's I can see where you want maximum protection. For Mom's who have toddlers, as I say, I understand wanting to be as protected as possible. For example, I work with a cool single girl who has a Ford Explorer and a young daughter and she feels safer in her vehicle. But these gas guzzlers cost what--$90 to fill at the gas pump? PLEASE! There has to be a smarter way!!
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So, how you get around? Taxi? Bus? Subway? Fellow blogger Martini of "DMC & Me" has a cool DeLorean! Do tell!
The Boys on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (Ed reportedly took them to Mass!)
"Interesting that we should happen to find ourselves in love with the same woman"
"Find Mr. Lazlo's luggage and put it on the plane."
No, not this kind of trading!
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It's been a fun couple of days trading. No, not on the New York Stock Exchange! On The Michael Manning Exchange! Yes, of course there are many "exchanges" from Euro's to Dollars and so forth. But there are also e-mails and Blog Posts. However, mine began with a cool trade. A former musician with "The Temptations" in 1993 and I traded Fender Strat Guitars. So, I came out pretty good. I now have a 2008 Eric Clapton Fender Strat with a Maple fretboard. I know, I know. I've heard several people say there is no difference, but for me there is a difference in the way the strings resonate on different wood. My rule of thumb with is "lighter wood, brighter tone". But I could be wrong (hell, I've been wrong before)! Truth be told, I was never totally happy with my Jeff Beck model Strat because of the Redwood fretboard. So, that's resolved. Now, I have three standing offers for my amp set up which weighs in quite a bit--as in heavy. See, in Phoenix apartments are not required to install elevators (and now I can hear Bud Buckley's song "Elevator" with Deni Bonet's violin present--that always gets stuck in my head now!). Thanks Bud! So, anyway I'm located on the Julia Roberts/"Pretty Woman" 3rd floor--remember? Richard Gere: "The top floor?" Julia Roberts: "It's the best!" (yeah, crank up the Roy Orbison song...briefly for effect). No amp gear is friendly with 39 steps and three landings! Especially when your speaker cabinet is technically a "two man up" lift. So, I'm considering selling. "Considering". Moving along...
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I consigned a 1900 Irish poker table and a 6 place Oak table. In Phoenix, I discovered that Oak isn't "in". Neither were my bar stools, so up on "the block they went", along with a storage trunk (I use 2 to pack my stereo speakers when I move and the second one was a bad fit). In Ohio, I snagged a floor rug that I will make a killing out here along with an Indian wall rug that may be harder to consign because it has bright Red in it--considered an angry color. I try telling people that the Red is actually for an "Amorous" effect.What the hell, right? A little salesmanship. As I traveled from Antique and Consignment Shops (which are fun for me) I ran across a certain sideboard from the East that Californian's are paying HUGE bucks for and I snapped it up for pennies on the dollar! We (as in the consignment staff and I) compared a tiny end table by the same (un-named) manufacturer and it went for $898--yeah, ridiculous I know. I grabbed my find and had a delivery guy tote it up here before anyone discovered it.
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Some Die Cast automobile models were right-sized before The Smithsonian came calling. I found a very cool frame shop that preserved my Emcee gig materials from this past February's National Parkinson Foundation Gala in a frame I already had from home along with a variation of The Rolling Stones movie poster from Scorsese's film, "Shine A Light", an 8" X 10" of The Beatles performing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and two 8" X 10" glossies from the movie "Casablanca". Very cool too: The top shot is Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund and Victor Lazlo standing outside "Rick's Cafe Americain" bar, and the one below it of the airport scene. What follows is hysterical! The framing lady and her husband love "Casablanca", although he can't stand it when she does the dialogue aloud! So I said, "How about the scene at the airport?". And we acted it out with sound effects right there in the store! I did Bogart and Claude Reins. The sales lady did Ilsa Lund and the background music. What a hoot!
With everyone going "Green" I had already replaced every lamp in my apartment with these cool twister-looking bulbs. Don't they look cool and inspire you? Other changes: I've had it with Cable TV, so I canceled it and don't miss CNN's Glenn Beck or their news segments with that silly game where people e-mail captions to stories and Anderson Cooper has the embarrassing task of playing along with Erica Hill (replete with Musak playing in the background with sound effects).
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Hey, a friend of mine in Florida was picked out of the phone directory to have her home made greener by the local utility company. It was very cool. She had loads of new appliances and energy-saving stuff installed! It was FREE! So she called me sounding very excited!
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"That's my entire show for tonight. Thank you and good night" ---Lenny Bruce
"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE"!
Martin Scorsese is an interesting director. Having seen The Rolling Stones"Shine A Light" twice now (my doctor said he can't wait to see it) I thought I'd reach back for a film often overlooked in the Scorsese portfolio. This is his 4th outing in ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. It was filmed in 1974 starring Ellen Burstyn (who managed to beat out Faye Dunaway's performance in "Chinatown"--pretty heady stuff)!
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As the plot goes: Following the death of her husband, a 35 year old Alice Hiatt (Burstyn) and her smart-mouth 11-year-old son, Tommy (Alfred Lutter III) hit the highway from New Mexico to Monterrey, California where she intends to pursue her dream as a singer (in Monterrey?). Her cash runs out in Tucson, Arizona, where she and Tommy wind up renting a room in a motel by the week. Alice gets a job waitressing in a greasy spoon called "Mel's" run bya belligerent Vic Tayback as...well, Mel!If some of this is starting to sound like the late 1970's sit-com with actress Linda Lavin, you're right. But this original is no sit-com. It is gritty with a full range of emotions and real-life situations played out with Scorsese casting Alice as his protagonist. Credit must be given to Scorsese who was asked by Burstyn what he knew about women? His response was "Not much. But I'm willing to learn"! After a a series of abusive relationships, and even meeting up with a freak in actor Harvey Keitel, Alice runs into a farmer named David (Kris Kristofferson) who understands heartbreak and hard times. Diane Ladd is unforgettable as a foul-mouthed waitress Flo and the psychologically unstable Vera (Valerie Curtin) in this movie about ordinary people trying to articulate their dreams, while life derails them in one way or another.
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The Cast is: Ellen Burstyn as Alice Hiatt; Alfred Lutter III as Tommy; Billy Green Bush as Donald; Harvey Keitel as Ben; Diane Ladd as Flo; Vic Tayback as Mel;Valerie Curtin as Vera; Kris Kristofferson as David and Jodie Foster as Audrey. Produced by: Audrey Maas, David Susskind and Sandra Weintraub; Written by: Robert Getchell; Directed by: Martin Scorsese. 1975 ACADEMY AWARDS: WINNER Best Actress in a Leading Role: ELLEN BURSTYN; NOMINATED: Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Diane Ladd; and Best Writing, Original Screenplay: Robert Getchell. A beat off the beaten path? What can I say?
Deni Bonet, Singer/Songwriter/Violinist came to be my friend in the most magical set of circumstances that has me convinced after 5 years that the planets must have been aligned perfectly for my good fortune. Here's what happened: Deni was on a worldwide tour with Cyndi Lauper. Following a lay off from ABC News Networks in the Southwest, my oldest brother suggested that I return to Cincinnati to "retrench", and while I was at it, rebuild and landscape my Mother's home. Some 36 months after we lost my Dad, Mom's house needed some "TLC". My Dad had so much pride, it was difficult to do house repairs that he so enjoyed and well, you know how that goes. Houses need constant upkeep. It was a particularly stressful time for me personally and professionally as we all can relate! Well, one freezing cold February night--truly on the spur of the moment--I drove to The Taft Auditorium and bought a ticket to the Lauper concert. In a rare show of genius, Deni was included in the road band and during a high energy moment, she stepped forward with her blue Barcus Berry Electric Violin to solo. Simply stated, I had never seen anyone redefine a musical instrument for Rock and Roll with such astonishing virtuosity and intensity as Deni! I remember thinking to myself, "This pretty girl with Red hair and a smile that begets such a mischievous sense of humor has the chops to go head to head with any band". So, I Googled "Deni Bonet" later and discovered she has either toured or recorded with Sarah McLachlin,REM, Robyn Hitchcock, Gravity Kills and has her own band. Deni is not only a fascinating Classically-Trained Violinist who rocked out on Tchaikovsky by day and then literally "Rocked" on West Virginia weekends with bands and artists in college--including but certainly not limited to--Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band, Allen Toussaint, she even co-founded "Mountain Stage" a musical program of artists who caught the attention of PBS Television (Public Broadcasting System). Her approach to music is--and I'll paraphrase here--'Why wallow in misery when music has the ability to lift us from our worries?' She is a fun, delightful and sensitive person; she is also an intelligent writer and master arranger as I later found out on her Blog that features "Duets with Deni"--a New York television show! And yes, I was right about my observation from the 11th row of The Taft Theater among 3,000 people. Deni has an incredible sense of humor. :D)
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Facing a major shoulder reconstruction (and possibly the partial loss of my right arm) a dear friend of my family worked for 24 hours to network me to The Cincinnati Reds Baseball team surgeon, Dr. Timothy Kremchek, M.D. Tim is a highly regarded Orthopedic Surgeon who repaired Britney Spears' knee and has a roster of patients from The Rolling Stones to the late opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Professionally and personally I needed a break from my own projects. To my great surprise, I learned that Deni was leaving the Lauper tour after playing The Great Wall in China and sets in Australia for a West Virginia gig with her full band in support of an extraordinary CD called "Bigger is Always Better" (okay, get those nasty thoughts out of your minds! :D). I thought this was a very gutsy move, and so I phoned the concert venue and secured a ticket to "The Stretched String Festival". I had exchanged a few emails with Deni and her Manager and decided that the 4 hour road trip away from my own worries was "just what the doctor ordered"! Fresh off a 22-hour flight replete with Jet Lag, Deni and the band kicked off the set with her song, "Alone"--and without exaggeration-- I've yet to see any artist smile, wink at the audience and then launch into a riveting high impact/high energy performance! A couple of Gin & Tonics relaxed me, and I began to notice a rare phenomenon. Deni's songs are original, infused with humor and emotion, but moreover, she manages to create what can only be described as "a groove"--these unforgettable melodic riffs that stick with you! That, my friends is magic. Casually joking toward the end of the show, she told us that she had mastered the art of Margarita glasses, wherein one could easily throw the contents over one's shoulder. Seizing the moment, I pulled out some "convincing cash" and wrote this note on a paper napkin to a nearby bartender: "GET DENI A MARGARITA. HURRY!" The Bartender smiled and to my horror, dressed in a tuxedo shirt and tie, he mixed the drink and walked right up to the stage and placed it at Deni's feet. I almost died of embarrassment! I'm sure Deni's Manager wondered, "Who is the moron who ordered this?" Deni laughed it off, and after the show was over, I praised her performance to her Manager. Then quite unexpectedly, he located me in the outer hallway where I was buying copies of the CD for my business partner and another friend. He asked if I would like to meet Deni? I said "Oh, my! Only if she is up to it". (I'm SO not into bothering well known Celebrities ever--and Deni had just played three encores). Remember the pretty girl with that unmistakable Red hair who tickled me at The Taft Theater? Well, she walked out and yelled to me pointing (which still makes me crack up): "Are you the guy who sent me that Margarita?" 35 minutes of relaxing conversation later, I knew instinctively that I had made one of the most treasured friendships in my life. This girl is the "Real Deal"! Fast forward to today:
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Deni is back with a fresh, new CD that is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves to Rock and feel inspired. And let's face it my friends, with a war still going on and in such an uncertain world, we need some good news! Now comes the warmth of beautiful vocals and highly original songs that The Beatles would be proud of! Deni has herself been compared by major international magazine articles to Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders to The B-52's!She has opened shows for The Fifth Dimension, The Temptations, Kansas(and I could go on forever). Her music is identifiable and infectious. My dear friend, Singer/ Songwriter Bud Buckley has recorded with Deni and just last week, he told me over the telephone that when Deni walks into the recording studio, the positive energy she brings to those who are gathered is "just magic". Bud was sad to watch her walk off to catch the subway home and I told Bud, "Yeah, I relate". I thoroughly hope each of you will go to Deni's website and order her new CD (and even her previous two releases). They are priced sensibly and realistically and I give you this BLOG as my Toast to Life for a Wednesday and Thursday! Deni Bonet can be found at "Deni at Last Girl On Earth" on my Blogroll. Here's her Web address:http://www.http://www.denibonet.com/buyit.htm. Her Blogsite Page is: http://www.denibonet.com/blog.
The Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana
What Might Have Been!
Studebaker Cars on Display
The Champion
The Starliner had more orders than the company could fill!
The 1953 Packard Caribbean: A year before the merger with Packard
My Dad & Uncle owned 1951 Mayfairs This is a 1953 Executive that differed little
1956: A company in trouble still producing innovative designs This is the Packard Patrician.
The 1962 Avanti lives on today with Avanti Automobile Company!
The Last Ditch Effort to mate Packard & Studebaker's Strapped for cash, it was merely cosmetics.
Rear Photo of The Last Model
Gee, if you're a rocker, I guess you'd have to be Jeff Beck to appreciate a good car story or two, since he restores hot rods when he isn't touring. One of my hobbies is collecting vintage 1/18 scale die cast automobile models. I've had a love affair with cars since I was 6 years old. Yesterday, I spoke with one of my best friends who informed me that there is a strong rumor that GM officials may have been "asleep at the wheel" and allowed the defunct Oldsmobile brand Copyrights to elapse in 2006. Rumor has it that a clerk at the U.S. Copyright office informed a relative who works with Toyota, and they snapped up the Oldsmobile branding for a mere $5,000 (US) filing fee. (Let's hope this is a joke). Olds was always a fine automobile that is well remembered for the sporty 1972 442 V-8 convertibles. But in latter years, the brand was lackluster and was phased out by General Motors in 2004. More news on that later.
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My collection cars of choice are roughly from the 1940-1970 period. Particularly in the 1950's era when designers such as Raymond Loewy and others created absolutely stunning works of art that stimulated the imagination and made the world more interesting than the homogenized cars of today. My car, to cite an example, looks as homogenized as a refrigerator rolling down the boulevard. But this story is full of intrigue, "what might have been" (my favorite theme) and just plain bad decision-making. It involves two one-time powerhouses: Packard and Studebaker.
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The Studebaker-Packard Corporation was created in 1954 when Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan purchased an ailing but equally enigmatic Studebaker Corporation of South Bend Indiana. Both companies produced incredibly beautiful works of art when it came to automobiles. Here's the rub: Studebaker was larger with a huge dealer network, but Packard had a stronger balance sheet and a better executive team. The hope was that both companies would stabilize financially and beefed up their product line. Packard president James Nance and Nash-Kelvinator Corporation president George Mason would merge Studebaker-Packard with Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motor Car Company to become American Motors, which would have become the third-largest car maker in America. Tragedy struck when Mason suddenly died and George Romney (father of Mitt Romney) succeeded Mason. Romney, as the story goes cared little about the car business and arguments over strategies and parts sharing killed off Nance and Mason's dreams of sharing a common platform for the combined automobiles. Things grew worse when Packard executives discovered that Studebaker had been--shall we say "less than forthcoming"--with their true financial condition. To give you an example, Studebaker's break-even point was 282,000 cars sold in one year; the company was hanging by their proverbial fingernails selling 82,000 cars in 1954. It got worse when 30% of Studebaker's big dealer network abandoned them by 1956.
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By the summer of 1956, Studebaker-Packard was in deep financial trouble. The banks refused to lend them money to buy time and correct this disaster. In a plain example of poor judgment, Studebaker-Packard entered into a management agreement with Curtis-Wright Corporation. C-W was led by Roy T. Hurley, insisted on major changes. In the move of a testosterone-driven idiot, Studebaker-Packard's defense contracts and plants where were cherry picked by Curtis-Wright, and worse, stockholders demanded changes. In one of the worst moves in the history of American manufacturing, Hurley decided to shut down Packard production in Detroit, Michigan which had much more square footage to produce large and small cars in favor of Studebaker's much smaller South Bend, Indiana plant. He focused on smaller economy cars at a time when Cadillac was making big money on larger vehicles. The final Packards for 1957 and 1958 were essentially window dressing cobbled together to offer the public a fresh looking car when the changes were cosmetic. The final Packard rolled off the assembly line on July 13, 1958. James Nance left for a stable job at Curtis-Wright before Ford Motor Company recruited him to work on the Edsel project (which failed during the recession of 1958, through no fault of his own). He left the auto business and ultimately became Chairman and CEO of Cleveland National Bank in 1962 and Chairman of Cleveland State University. He died in 1984. Sherwood Egbert was hired to shut down Studebaker and diversify the company. But instead, he fell in love with the innovation he saw within Studebaker, however, he led an effort to develop the famous sports car called The Avanti! Diagnosed with cancer he was eased out of the company and died in 1963. Studebaker rolled it's last car off the assembly line in 1966. The photos above represent the artistic imagination of the best designers. Some young investors bought the Packard name and developed a concept car, but it unclear if they were able to progress further. Meanwhile, The Avanti sports car continues to live on today! For you Jeep Sahara owners, American Motors WAS formed and Jeep was part of that car line. In fact, until 2007, the "flat 6" engine was owed to Nash.
L-R: Gunner, 7 with sister Garlynn 4, on Father Gus' lap
L-R: Gunner with his Mother Janna and a hospital buddy playing Candyland
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The choice to become "involved" is a serious one. From the non-profit organizations we select, to the people we pray for --or for those of you who don't pray-- I should add "the people we hold in our thoughts and hearts for a positive outcome". In a perfect world, there would be no loneliness, no wars and no disease. But on balance, our world gives us people like Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, and Robin Williams to help us "level the playing field" with humor. Particularly when life becomes very hard, and someone we either know or heard about needs help, good vibes, meditations, shout-outs and positive prayers. Gunner Gillespie is 7 years old and he needs us.
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Since we all lost Sahara Aldridge only last November 5th, I have been directed (for reasons I don't question or even need answered) to the circumstances of two young children, boys ages 2 and 7 on my Blogsite. They are dealing with cancerous tumors on their brain stem. You will meet the 2 year old boy next week on my blogsite. For today, I'd like to introduce you to Gunner Gillespie of Benton, Kentucky. Some 25 days after Sahara's passing, Gunner was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor on his brain stem. I realize tumor types and circumstances are each unique. Gunner's type of tumor is called a pontine glioma. I am told that this is highly aggressive, highly malignant, treatment-resistant and a recurrent tumor. It is an extremely rare form of terminal cancer that strikes children between 4-10 years old. Gunner has been battling back with doses of radiation and chemotherapy battle this cancer. Statistically, the medium survival rate is less than 12 months with the chance of survival beyond 1 year less than 8%. I read the stats, but I am also aware of the power of the human spirit.
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Whether you are a man of Faith as I am or not, (I am respectful of all beliefs that are peaceful and of positive energy and goodwill) few of us have this situation to face. Many people become fearful and turn away from a subject as this because it is after all painful; perhaps it brings back bad memories to some, or we feel "spent". This is all to human and I have faced it down. You need not feel obligated. But to those of you who find this subject troubling, I say this. Your words of supportiveness to this brave family really helps them to take another step forward. There is Love among us, and if you care to try and leave even just one message, here is the link to Gunner via CaringBridge at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gunnergillespie. As Gunner's parents Janna and Gus write: "Please, Please say prayers to move Gunner's mountain. Pray for God to give Gunner a complete and whole life. Faith can move mountains". By the way, CaringBridgeis a free, non-profit web service that connects family and friends to share information, love and support during a health care crisis, treatment and recovery. By the way: Gunner is collecting post cards from around the world. If you know of someone that can send postcards, please have them sent to:
Gunner Gillespie
109 Lakeside Drive
Benton, KY 42025
Besides the post cards, Gunner is also looking for members to join Gunner’s Magic Train and you can do that by signing the buddy map if you have not done so below.
Gunner wants his train to chug around the world Here is the site:http://www.buddymapping.com/maps/gunnersmagictrain
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Those of you who have children can perhaps empathize on a deeper level than those of us who are single, like myself. Send a note of goodwill and check your feelings afterward to see if you'd like to keep in touch with Gunner and his family. As for me, I receive daily updates and I follow them. It's a terrible thing to be left alone. Don't let this family feel isolated. This is a tough little guy and I've monitored his determination. Textbooks and statistics are one thing. Matters of Faith, Hope and Love are another. They are powerful. That's my Blog for today. Life is a gift, my friends. Share the Love!
Below is a You Tube that my good friend, Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist David M. Bailey e-mailed me. Those of you who have been along on my Blog for a while may know this. But for all newcomers, I'll be brief. David was in the corporate world when he was stricken with debilitating headaches. Surgeons later removed a baseball-sized tumor from his brain and sent him home with a virtual shrug of of the shoulders and told him he could expect to live 1-2 years. David refused this prognosis and began an aggressive search to find a way to live a full life. That was over 13 years ago. David left the corporate world after his surgery and at the suggestion of his wife, picked up his guitar after 10 years of not playing. Today, David now tours more than anyone I know and he lives in Virginia. His songs are about Love, Peace, Hope and making the most of every minute in Life. I featured David on "THE INTERVIEW" some time after he had been featured himself on "60 Minutes". In January, 2007 I was carefully led inside an Oncology Nurses conference (I try to avoid the word "snuck") and after the show we finally met. Recently, David tried his new Computer camera for fun with a song called "Love Wins". You can Click On it at:
"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "MURDER BY DEATH"!
The Spoof of Spoofs! __
In the comical world of spoofs, "Murder by Death" is a murder mystery that has exasperated college film class professors with this warped tale written by Neil Simon and directed by RobertMoore. Wealthy and eccentric Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) invites five of society's most revered investigative minds to his spooky house with the following: Kooky husband-and-wife detective team Dick and Dora Charleston --ala Nick and Nora from "The Thin Man" (David Niven and Maggie Smith); Sidney Wang--ala Charlie Chan (Peter Sellers) is accompanied by his adopted Japanese son (Richard Narita)--this is killing me already just writing this!; Belgian, Milo Perrier (James Coco), is accompanied by his idiotic French assistant (James Cromwell); the elder Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester) is along for the ride--pardon me--with her wheelchair-bound nurse (Estelle Winwood); a Bogart-like private eye Sam Diamond (Peter Falk) is here with his "dame" and loyal secretary, Tess Skeffington (Eileen Brennan); a blind, albeit, conscientious butler (Alec Guinness) rounds out this invitation list and you have a comic murder mystery of lunatic proportions. Yes, it's a screwball comedy, therefore I selected it! Need I say more? Oh, yeah. I better credit the Cast & Crew. Therefore...
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The Cast & Crew: Directed by Robert Moore and Written by Neil Simon; We have here: Eileen Brennan as Tess Skeffington; Truman Capote as Lionel Twain; James Coco as Milo Perrier' Peter Falk as Sam Diamond (Bwahaha!); Alec Guinness as Bensonmum; Elsa Lancaster as Jessica Marbles; David Niven as Dick Charleston; Maggie Smith is Dora Charleston; PeterSellers is Sydney Wang; Richard Narita is Willie Wang; James Cromwell is Marcel; Nancy Walker is the Maid and last but not least, Estelle Winwood is the Nurse!
It's about 40 minutes away from the next movie show time for "Shine A Light" as I write this BLOG. I may go back and see it. This is Martin Scorsese's bio-concert film shot two years ago in New York's Beacon Theater. First of all, I love this band because they refuse to die and otherwise go away. Critics have called them dead since the late 1970's, but they are the most reinvented rock and roll act without equal. I must say that they are a curious concert draw. As I told Singer/Songwriter Bud Buckley during a telephone call two days ago, the one thing I didn't like about the show was that it was over-produced. A supporting keyboardist was just fine to have along. However, I would have penciled-out four aspects from the show, had I been Scorsese: (1.) the horn section, (2.) the back up singers(3.)Jack White III. And yet with the typical heavy-handed management and faceless money men aside who encourage this crap, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards play through a patch work of stacked Fender amps with the "drive" switch left on throughout the entire show--and THAT I love. They are a loud, open band. And yet, they are mesmerizing for guys at or over age 60 who are millionaires many times over. Their mortality is very visible with lean "skin and bones" appearances and deep crevices lining their faces. Nevertheless, center-stage is Jagger--who possesses the same energy he had 40 years ago-- losing 10 pounds per performance that no 20 year-old could possibly keep up with. More so than the live CD "Get Your Ya Ya's Out" from 1969 or any live outing since, this concert set list contained a heavy dose of hot blues rock. Footage of Jagger on a private jet poring over pages and pages of songs numbering into the hundreds as he assembles a set list for the show leans heavily towards the albums, Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile, Some Girls, & Tattoo You receiving ample representation. The arrangements are quite different with new intro's and less than perfect singing tossed to the wind with rushed tempos but all of it--still "in your face". Buddy Guy joins the boys with Muddy Waters' Champagne & Reefer and he burns the wires but good.Lastly: (4.) I would have also penciled out Keith Richards' solo turn as vocalist. As a guitarist, he is a genius, if not an intentionally self-destructive chain smoker who seems to shrug his shoulders at death and dying. He and Woods are incomparable with trading solos and even Jagger picks up a Taylor acoustic guitar in an impressive showing with harmonica. I was probably the only person present in the theater who didn't recognize Christina Aguilera who walked on stage to sing Live with Me with Jagger as a duet, but she wasflawless. Rarely featured live, She Was Hot and Just My Imagination are attacked by the band on extended outings as if they were a hungry clan worried about raising enough rent money. The film is definitely worth seeing, and kudos to the decision makers who kept the stage simple and not a technical distraction of the band's 1990's shows. How long this band will go on touring is any one's guess. But I'd like to catch them live. If you can't, this is the closest you will get to the experience. The Rolling Stones are a tradition in an age where manufactured schlock has it's 15 minutes of fame. These guys refuse to bow to convention and fashion. They could care less about aging; they just rock. All in good fun!
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JUMPING JACK FLASH
SHATTERED
SHE WAS HOT
ALL DOWN THE LINE
LOVING CUP
AS TEARS GO BY
SOME GIRLS
JUST MY IMAGINATION
FARAWAY EYES
CHAMPAGNE & REEFER (WITH BUDDY GUY)
TUMBLING DICE
BAND INTRODUCTIONS
YOU GOT THE SILVER
CONNECTION
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
LIVE WITH ME (WITH CHRISTINA AGUILERA)
START ME UP
BROWN SUGAR
SATISFACTION
PAINT IT BLACK
LITTLE T & A
I'M FREE
SHINE A LIGHT
Directed by: Martin Scorsese; Director of Photography: Robert Richardson; Editor: David Tedeschi; The Rolling Stones are: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, Darryl Jones; Produced by: Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner and Steve Bing.
Having seen singer/songwriter Jewel in concert, I like her. When her book "a night without armor" was published I picked up a copy with some skepticism. But I was pleasantly surprised. Her subjects of the matters of heart are earthy and expressed nicely. Here is a brief quotation of a short poem. Tell me what you think. I like it, so here it is:
Collect Beads of Night
Collect beads of night
Fill your skin with the dark weight of the wet sky. Let boldness live in your heart and I will recognize you amongst the many and claim you as my own
_____ This excerpt was undertaken as a component of embodiment in a critical review.
To my friends at Charter Airline, Champion Air (formerly MGM Grand Air): God Speed! This was the last all Boeing 727 operator in the United States and they were terrific. After a certain Vacation Packager withdrew their contract, that sealed their demise. The carrier shut down and will be liquidating. Champion Air says it has enough cash on hand to pay off all creditors. In defense of another fine airline, Frontier Airlines, who filed Chapter 11 this week after a certain credit card processor began withholding funds: to paraphrase (and embellish) the late Strother Martin from the film Cool Hand Luke:'The credit card processor asked for it, and they got what they asked for'. The Chapter 11 filing was the only way for Frontier to get the credit card processing company to knock off that kind of malfeasance. The airline is still flying and will consider suing the card processor. I was so annoyed that the credit card processor company would siphon off receivables from services already rendered to passengers. My own understanding is that they have no legal right to use these strong-arm tactics. But I wish Frontier well! They have a hell of a good quality product. New subject...
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Seraphine, Angie Ledbetter and Kathryn Magendie are all very cool! So they inspired me to share a cool poem by Leonard Nimoy. Well, they did so indirectly without knowing it, okay? There. Now, I'm at peace with myself. Here it is Ladies and Gentleman:
Leonard Nimoy
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Rocket ships
Are exciting
But so are roses
On a birthday
Computers are exciting
But so is a sunset
And logic
Will never replace
Love
Sometimes I wonder
Where I belong
In the future
Or
In the past
I guess I'm just
An old-fashioned
Spaceman
---Leonard Nimoy
(from his book, "Warmed by Love")
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P.S.Janet at "The Art of Getting By" asks what your favorite quote(s) are: I answered that I borrowed one from Deni Bonet at "Last Girl on Earth" from the liner notes of her CD "Bigger is Always Better".
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"We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough"
--Helen Keller
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Also: Please stop by and Congratulate Marj at "Subways to Seashells". She Graduated! :)
All I can say is that I am honored by the good people over at The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania for Linking to me with my BLOG "What's A Musician to Do?". Quite an honor, guys. Thank You and God Bless!
To say I find this lady intriguing would be an understatement. Truth be told, as I blogged to you all last year, after attending a Lucinda Williams concert at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles (it was recorded for a "Live" CD). Shelby Lynne camebouncing out on stage unannounced and frankly, I loved her sass and her voice. In a world where pop divas appear on the musical landscape as often as I shower and shave (thanks to the "short cut" that the moronic "American Idol" television show pushes shamelessly), and the virtually indistinguishable nature of each "star" who winds up getting signed to a recording contract, I do know one thing. Shelby Lynne plays by her own rules and she refuses to answer to fashion. She records what she wants and in a gutsy move, this 39 year old songbird has a phrasing that blows away any 20-something. And while I'd love to hang out with her, I'll have to settle for this CD, that just arrived in my mailbox. Have a look and a listen at this:
"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT" PRESENTS: THE MISFITS!
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Our "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" feature has unintentionally neglected the inclusion of the late Marilyn Monroe. It would be an understatement to say that Monroe was misunderstood in her personal and professional life. The burgeoning number of books on her life at the library all include the specifics about the conflicts and difficulties during the filming of THE MISFITS. In this author's opinion, the best biographical source is "Marilyn Monroe" by Barbara Leaming. This film, sadly, became Marilyn's final film along with that of Clark Gable. What intrigues me with this film is the subject matter of Arthur Miller, a stunning cast including Montgomery Clift, and the fact that the production endured such an unfortunate (and well documented) strain for nearly everyone. Of the major stars, only Eli Wallach continues at 92 to work on stage and in movies.
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Cinematographer Russell Metty captures the breathtaking vistas in the final years of Black & White in the early 1960's. Even without taking into consideration that Marilyn Monroe's life was falling apart, she summons up an outstanding performance as Roslyn Tabler a dancer from the Northeast who flees to Reno, Nevada for a quick divorce. She finds herself in the role as the social conscience among three men involved with profiteering from selling horses to a processing mill to make dog food. Filmed and in fact, set in 1960, Clark Gables' role as Gay Langland is one of a seemingly gruff, care-free cowboy whose career is disappearing as rapidly as his children who abandon him as he seeks quiet refuge from his emotional suffering in alcohol. The brutality of his pain is visceral. His business partner and buddy Eli Wallach as Guido has lost his wife and his path in life. He painstakingly asks Roslyn to save him. Both the Gable and Wallach characters fall in love with Monroe's Roslyn (Gable is the leader in this race) before Montgomery Clift enters the picture. As Perce Howland, Clift portrays a bitter man who is cheated out of his father's ranch by a step-father who offers him only wages. As a sullen and broken-hearted cowboy, Clift is brilliant. Thelma Ritter is the sarcastic Isobel. As 6 Mustang horses become the target of the illegal round up for the processing plant, Roslyn comes to understand this ugly and shocking reality. The Mustangs have much in common, along with the group of broken lives Monroe, Gable, Clift and Wallach come to represent "misfits" in a world that is changing at blinding speed. Director John Huston's decision to allow Gable to do his own stunts (being dragged 400 feet by horses) is believed to have led to his fatal heart attack 11 days later at age 59. The film was itself misunderstood by the public and only recently has received the appreciation as a work years ahead of its time.
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The Cast: Clark Gable is Gay Langland; Marilyn Monroe is Roslyn Taber; Montgomery Clift is Perce Howland; Thelma Ritter is Isabelle Steers and Eli Wallach is Guido in this film of vulnerability and humanity laid bare. Produced by Frank E. Taylor with the musical score by Alex North; screenplay by Arthur Miller.
Tomorrow we look at a largely overlooked film that was not well received by the public upon it's release, but is regarded as a screen gem today! On Thursday, we return to "Friday Movie Suggestion Night".
On Sunday, I stopped in at my local Ford dealer and they actually had a Mustang "Bullitt" GT on hand. However it was in the Black paint job and not the Highland Green from the Steve McQueen film of the same name. Since I've owned a Mustang and have driven Shelby's and Cobra's (that I did not own), I spent many happy hours putting my own Mustang "through the ringer" to learn how to handle it in all situations. I wasn't about to waste the dealer's time, but we became involved in a very interesting discussion about the late stunt man Bud Ekins, and also the late Bill Hickman (who drove the menacing Black Dodge Charger in "Bullitt") that the dealership manager soon walked outside and joined in on our discussion of stunt driving. The manager then left and came back outside to hand me the keys to the "Bullitt" Mustang GT and said "Take her out for a spin!". Well, I didn't. But I plead guilty to starting the engine and revving it up. A splendid machine...new subject.
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Skybus Airlines(2004-2008)
My thoughts and prayers are with those employees who lost their livelihoods when Columbus, Ohio-based low cost/low fare carrier Skybus Airlines, Indianapolis Indiana-based ATA Airlines and Honolulu, Hawaii-based Aloha Airlines filed for bankruptcy and then promptly shut down. I had just finished my Airways magazine article on ATA, North American and World Airways (the latter two are still operating). God-Speed to all of you.
ATA (1973-2008)
Aloha Airlines (1946-2008)
This tragically follows closely on the heels of my recent BLOG on cashing in frequent flier miles...new subject.
Lastly, in the Positive News Department, I was approached by The Blues Society of Western, Pennsylvania to ask my permission to reproduce my recent BLOG:What Is A Musician To Do? And of course, I granted the request. I'm very good about doing this when I am asked. It was an honor. Count your blessings if you are working and let's hope the economy improves!
Architects have done splendid work to incorporate the old Lorraine Motel as a component of a modern National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. When I passed through Memphis in 2003, the hotel had a chain link fence around it, and its future was in doubt. Many of you worldwide will recall this former motel as the scene of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fortunately, funds were raised for constructing the new Museum. Thus, a site of a staggering tragedy has been transformed into a Museum of Hope! I find this poignant--that a site where darkness once lurked is now a beacon of light. Dr. King stepped out of his room onto the second floor balcony (where the wreath is placed). As he stood, James Earl Ray assassinated Dr. King with a rifle from a rooming house across the street. The white Cadillac automobile pictured above was to have taken Dr. King and his entourage that night to a rally to support City Sanitation Workers who staged a strike for better working conditions.
Above: The Rev. Bernice King and Martin Luther King III were joined by his wife, Arndrea. Bernice and Martin recently lost their sister the late Yolanda Denise King. The three placed a wreath at the tomb where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King are buried. Afterward, Bernice King addressed approximately 2,000 students at the nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church - where her father preached from 1960 until his death - and urged them to continue her father's cause. I visited this memorial site 2 years ago and listened to recordings of Dr. Kings sermons inside the gift shop--which are incredible and very inspiring!
Hi--This is Jill Munroe, Michael's personal secretary. I've decided to sun myself while he returns home from his big birthday "blow out". I've decided this would be a good opportunity to take a sun tan with my friends at Manhattan Beach. With Southwest Airlines cheap fares, I'm "free to move about the country" as the TV commercials say! Oh, by the way, "Happy Birthday Boss Man" !
Hey, what are your 5 Top Favorite TV Shows? Here are mine:
My Wife and Kids
Highway to Heaven
Larry King Live!
Austin City Limits
Bugs Bunny
Well, the sun is setting and I see that Jennifer has already been here. So I need to go add some SPF, as my friends are calling me back to the beach.
Hi-This is Jennifer. Michael is unavailable today due to the fact that I have him hostage for his birthday. He is banned from Blogging for the entire weekend. In fact, I made him run an errand and I noticed that he left his computer on. So, you'll understand if I post a very short message so you don't worry. After all, it's going to be a very long weekend. But then, I'm sure you can understand...
Hi, this is Golf Widow, guest-blogging for Michael today.
Normally on Friday, it's Friday Movie Suggestion Night, but in "light" of our increasingly across-the-board alarming costs for electricity and fuel, I've decided that I'm turning off my television and my DVD player on Friday night, April 4th.
In fact, I think I'll turn the lights off as well.
So this Friday night, it's Friday BOOK Suggestion Night, By Candlelight.
What you will need is a candle in a sturdy, appropriate candleholder (I'm using a hurricane candle set in a heatproof candle dish, myself), a flame provider (I have a butane lighter shaped like a penguin, courtesy of Andy Martello), and a copy of the book I'm going to recommend right now ...
This book is still very much in print, and should be available at your local bookstore or library. I know for sure it's available online; it's a classic for its time and wildly popular.
Optionally, you'll also need a snack. I'm going to go with carrot sticks, because they require no fossil fuels to prepare and they don't leave crumbs in the pages, but I am, by no means, the Popcorn Police - have whatever you like best.
Also optionally, if you have an iPod or a battery-powered CD/cassette player, load it up with as many Queen songs as you can find. It helps set the mood.
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I chose this book for one very important reason.It's one of my favorites, and it's really funny.Two reasons.It's one of my favorites, and it's really funny, and it references a lot of really great Queen songs.Three reasons.It's one of my favorites, and it's really funny, and it references a lot of really great Queen songs, and you're not going to be able to say, "Oh, well, I'll just wait for the movie," because it's been about fifteen years now and I don't think anyone's ever going to agree on how properly to convey any of this onto the big screen.Sorry, I'll come in again.
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The style of this story is, for the most part, kind of confusing at first. The time periods jump from that of the Biblical story of Genesis, to about the copyright time (early 1990s), backward to about eleven years prior to that, and round and round she goes.
Furthermore, there are footnotes everywhere, which make the average reader freak out: "I didn't know there was going to be a quiz!"
Even furthermore, the tone of the text is that of traditional British humor (or, I suppose, "humour"), in the manner of Monty Python, Douglas Adams, or Doctor Who.
I promise you, stick with all of this stuff. It's incredibly funny. Including the footnotes. Really.
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The basic premise of the story is: "What if the Antichrist decided he didn't feel like doing the whole Armaggedon thing?"
This premise is set up with the birth of the Antichrist (the part taking place eleven years prior) and the assignment of two supernatural entities: an angel sent from heaven, and a demon sent from hell, to manipulate the child's environment (switch the Antichrist infant with the newborn child of an American attaché in England), thus setting him on the predestined path to the end of the world.
Unfortunately, the Powers that Be fail to notice that the two entities they have chosen are the angel Aziraphale (who is just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing) and the demon Crowley (who isn't so much a "fallen"angel as one who "sauntered vaguely downward"), and that two such entities would, having had since the Biblical Genesis to get to know one another, probably be on pretty good professional terms, if not friends in the strictest sense.
They also fail to notice that an additional boy child has been born on the same night, and the seemingly-easy baby swap has now become an unfathomable game of Three Baby Monte.
Aziraphale and Crowley, with the help of a variety of humans (most notably, a 17th century witch and her last surviving descendent; the last two soldiers of the infamous Witchfinder Army; a delightful phony clairvoyant; and a trio of kids who are best friends with Antichrist Adam Young), not to mention The Four Horsemen (now bikers, the only "real" Hell's Angels) of the Apocalypse, and a Hell Hound named Dog, set about interfering with Adam's environment rather than steering him in one direction or the other.
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Without giving the ending away completely, I can assure you that everything turns out nicely (as in "nice and accurate" and ALSO in the traditional definition of "niceness"), which you already know, because the world is still here.
You might need to reread this book after you finish it, particularly if, like me, you skipped all the footnotes the first time. Do go back and read them. They're as funny as the rest of the text.
It also helps if you stick a bookmark into the section at the beginning where they list who the characters are, and refer to it as needed.
Lastly, be glad that you're at home, reading by candlelight, and not in a public place, because you will laugh out loud, and some people frown upon that sort of behavior, especially when they're not in on the joke.
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Final note, not related to the book, but to one of its co-authors, Terry Pratchett:
Terry has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. He is in a desperate struggle to accomplish as much as he can in the time he has, and is also working very hard to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research, to see if a cure can be found as quickly as possible, now that he has a vested interest in doing so. This is also a cause near and dear to my own heart, as my own family has been affected by it, and some of your own have as well.
Terry has himself already donated
£500,000 ($1 million US dollars)
and invites us to join together and further the cause. Visit Match It for Pratchettand help as much as you can. You don't need to go beyond your means ... he doesn't expect one person to give as much as he has. In fact, my posting this here cost me, precisely, nothing.
(However, in my defense, I did donate $5 US, which was all I could afford.)
And now, back to the end of the Friday Book Suggestion Night, By Candlelight Stuff, which, if we follow Michael's normal style of post, means we need a tagline, in very large letters:
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APOCALYPSE? NOW? (BUT IT'S JUST GETTING GOOD!) (And don't forget to come back tomorrow to wish Michael a Happy Birthday!)
Edgar Bronfman Jr. (Photo: Courtesy of Warner Music Group) __
Years ago author Harvey Mackay wrote a best-selling book called "Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt". In that spirit, one has to wonder how musical artists are surviving in today's commodity-driven economy. Now comes Edgar Bronfman, a venture capitalist (by the way that does not make him a bad guy) who has served as both Chief Operating Officer and CEO of the billion dollar Seagram's whiskey business, among other ventures. He has hired on Jim Griffin, a former Geffen Music recording industry executive to spearhead yet another business move to make CD's obsolete. Namely, by bundling a monthly fee into consumers' Internet-service bills for unlimited access to music. He touts this plan as an initiative to keep the wounded record labels afloat. His goal is to create a business model to return money to music artists and copyright holders alike. Even if Edgar is on the level (I've yet to meet him) I counter that he may as well purchase caskets and burial vaults for the music industry and in particular, musicians. Here's what I back my statement up with.
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The recording industry has shrunk from a $15 billion business in 1998 to a $10 billion business in 2008 as CD sales plummet. Many of you may not recall the short-lived band that is a favorite of Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and others (myself included) called "The Raspberries". In just 3 years of their existence they had huge hits such as "Go All the Way", and the rock anthem "Overnight Sensation (big hit record)" before lead singer and guitarist Eric Carmen went solo in 1974 and and had two singles: "All By Myself" and "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again". He later penned and performed "Hungry Eyes" for the movie Dirty Dancing. When The Raspberries reunited in October, 2005 for a concert at The House of Blues on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard, Eric Carmen was asked if the band would tour and record. He answered cautiously, "We have to be realistic". Eric pointed out that when the band hit it big in the 1970's, vinyl LP's were all the rage. He went on to question how viable it is for The Raspberries (or any music artist) to tour and record when the public can download their music for free? Granted, CD sales account for a small percentage of an artists' take. I'm always surprised at how my own favorite artists tour so vigorously. The sad truth is that after the show, those tents and tables you see with people hawking T-shirts, caps, koozies, coffee mugs and online memberships at $29.95 annually and higher is how musicians are making their money as they struggle to adapt to a "commodity-driven" economy. Witness a friend of mine who was with Sony/BMG Entertainment as a Pubic Relations professional. She was laid off and hired back as a "consultant". First, she's a smart girl who saved her money. Secondly, the bad news is that she is no longer among a staff of Public Relations colleagues. Those staff members are gone! She now provides her own health insurance and is in charge of getting 40 artists (including Norah Jones and Rod Stewart) airplay on FM stations. So, she talks to FM station Production Manager's (my old PM was on the "turnaround team" I headed up, so I know their job descriptions well). Listen to what Griffin recently had to say about U.S. record labels trying to stay in business.
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"Today, it has become purely voluntary to pay for music. If I tell you to go listen to this band, you could pay, or you might not. It's pretty much up to you. So the music business has become a big tip jar" he said.
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Eric Carmen was referring to the rise of what is called "peer to peer file-sharing networks". For years, digital-music listeners have argued for the right to make copyright law obsolete and free music distribution universal. In 2007 alone, the Recording Association of America, sent 5,400 threatening letters to students at more than 150 university's, and reached settlements with more than 2,300 of them. RAA also filed formal lawsuits against the 2,465 others, who blew off their letters and did not respond.
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Griffin calls the industry's plight "Tarzan economics" and I quite agree. The industry needs a new business model. I don't think any musician disagrees with this as an obvious point. But what is the answer? Sony BMG Music Entertainment is trying to develop an online music subscription service that would give users unlimited access to its catalog. Apple is negotiating with major record labels to offer consumers free access to the entire iTunes library in exchange for paying a premium for Apple hardware. My view is one of skepticism that $5 a month can equate into a projected $20 billion annual take in exchange for the right to download, and burn CD copies free of restrictions? I don't see the feasibility in this kind of thinking. This isn't a business model; it sounds more like a weak prayer! In 1994, Aerosmith's "Head First" became the first song available on The Internet. My question is: With everyone I know who is a professional musician recording and marketing themselves exhaustively on Indie (Independent) labels, how will they become empowered to make a living? Think about it.
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Note: After last weeks film festival here on the BLOG page, I'm taking a break (just this week) from our "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" feature. FMSN will return next Thursday night!
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This is a Radio Interview with what has been called "Arguably, the most influential Power- Pop group ever to emerge from West of The Atlantic"--Entertainment Weekly. Pull it up and enjoy!
_____ http://www.raspberriesonline.com/mini_audio1.html HAVE A NICE DAY!
L-R: Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kim Cattrall.
(Photo Credit: Craig Blankenhorn)
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These are approximate Net Worth figures for fans of "Sex and the City", the HBO series that was canned 4 years ago. Sarah Jessica Parker(who had the emotional intelligence to leave Cincinnati as I did) is worth approximately $25 million; Kim Cattrall: $10 million; Kristin Davis : $4.5 million and Cynthia Nixon: $2.5 million. There. That's my entire BLOG for today!
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
Good Morning, Everyone. Here's what has happened since my last Deni Bonet Blog post. My e-mails from the post I had written made me realize--at the risk of sounding like a Carlton Sheets infomercial--"the sheer power of The Internet"! Later, it dawned on me that in New York and into the Northeast where Deni is a well established headliner at so many local venues, she has a tremendous following! And from the "lurkers" who e-mailed me en-mass (all kind, by the way) the basic question posed to me was why I didn't comment on Deni's three CD releases. So, I just shrugged my shoulders last night and thought, "Okay, I'll give it a shot". So, here we go!
MTV "Unplugged" couldn't have matched this effort. Deni actually sponsored a contest on her blogsite for visitors to submit names for a short Acoustic CD and this was a fun treat (if not a "Deni Fix") while work continued to evolve on "Last Girl On Earth". Deni's vocals are so strong on these selections and she actually pulled off a n Acoustic set of gems that is really a celebration of life. This one is memorable also when Deni invited bloggers to submit questions she posted on Index Cards and asked New Yorkers on Video. I pulled the line from "Too Much Fun" where Deni sings "Michael does my taxes". Deni spots an unsuspecting man on camera who quickly picked up on the fun of it all; he read the card while Deni filmed him, and then ad libbed with his own answer (which was just hysterical). "Cheat On You" was a selection that was actually filmed during a performance Deni gave and it is particularly strong here along with "I Scream Your Name". Song List: 1. Cheat On You, 2. Alone, 3. Too Much Fun, 4. Don't Turn Away From Love, 5. I Scream Your Name and 6. Use Me.
Finally, this is a sentimental CD for me because I first caught Deni's tour in support of it and later we became friends. Let me just reiterate that "Alone" quickly and firmly establishes what Deni does with the Violin that differentiates her not only from other Violinists I am familiar with, but present day musical acts in general. No one is doing what Deni does! That is as succinctly as I can state the matter. In "Bigger Is Always Better", I felt Deni to be blazing a path and this CD is filled with very strong and soulful selections that pull you into the inimitable "groove" that she creates with her uniquely identifiable vocals for example on the reflective "Time To Make A Plan" and "Violin Girl" with plenty of stretching out with solos on "Sunshine" and "Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie". Speaking of solos: I first heard "The Goddamn Violin Solo" during the Cyndi Lauper Tour where Deni steps forward on stage and solos. In a blazing hot few minutes, she firmly establishes herself as a major talent who can bring down the concert house (which she did with 3,000 people), and then rebuild it from the ground up; this composition, written during Deni's West Virginia days is a consummate concert show-stopper and itself worth the price of the CD. Overall, I must say that Billboard magazine and others did hear this CD and overwhelmingly loved it. You will too. It rocks. It's pure Deni--"tongue in cheek" and a marvelous debut filled with optimistic energy. Moreover it gives you and I a glimpse of what lies ahead for this talented lady straight up to the current release, "Last Girl On Earth". Song List: 1. I Scream Your Name, 2. The Girlfriends of Dorian Gray, 3. Alone, 4. Bigger Is Always Better, 5. Sunshine, 6. Time To Make A Plan, 7. Then I'll Really Love You, 8. Violin Girl, 9. Tic Toc-edit, 10. Phat, Stoopid, Totally Deaf (a Northeast Radio talk show host had Deni explain this title to great comic relief!), 11. Our Love's Got An Attitude, 12. Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie; 13. The Goddamn Violin Solo, 14. Please De For Me, 15. Sunshine--the Love Mix. 
