I’m just gonna share a few musical factoids with you today. So if you’re not in the mood for that sort of thing, it probably won’t interest you that Paul McCartney released an album on December 5, 1973. Yeah, December 5, 1973, saw a release of “Band On The Run” in the United States. One source I saw said that … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: music history
I’ll tell you, right up front, it’s a metaphor for Heaven. And I didn’t come up with the metaphor because I had to. Because if someone told me I had to, I probably would’ve skipped the whole darn thing. Yeah, I guess I’m just one of those hardheaded writers who doesn’t want to be told how or what to write. … The rest of the story…
Today I read a few snippets of articles that talked about the value of scripture memorization when it comes to teaching kids about faith in Jesus and His word. That brought back memories of vacation Bible school in a small eastern Kansas town. The VBS teacher certainly encouraged scripture memorization. So, being the eager sort of nerd I was to … The rest of the story…
I like the way you walk. Well, say that you’ll be true. Well, say that you’ll be mine. If you’ve been around long enough to recognize those three sentences, you’re (shall we say) not exactly a young person. Or you could be a young person who’s into vintage swamp rock. Yeah, you read that right. Swamp rock. And swamp rock … The rest of the story…
Ipecac. No, I’m not talking about the story of the headless horseman. I’m talking about syrup. And this ain’t from Aunt Jemima or even Cousin T’s. Ipecac syrup is some kinda tough stuff. In fact, ipecac is what they use in medical situations (poisonings, etc.) to induce vomiting. So, obviously it’s not something your body needs or wants. And yet, … The rest of the story…
Business owners can’t be coasters. At least not if you wanna have any kind of shot at success. Because the only way to coast is downhill. And, last time I checked, that was the opposite direction of success. Business owners who prefer to go the success route have to: rent an office or design a own home office buy the … The rest of the story…
He and I are connected on the social media channel, X. The “he,” of which I speak, is Bryan Duncan. And, for those of you who aren’t aware (or just don’t care) X is the platform that used to be called Twitter. But Elon Musk bought the platform. And he likes to add the X label to his businesses, so … The rest of the story…
Here’s a snippet of one of those songwriter stories I get a big kick out of. It’s about Cindy Walker. What?! You never heard of her? Somebody oughta bing your noggin. Check this out. In 1940, Cindy Walker, at the age of 22, accompanied her parents on a business trip to Los Angeles. As they were driving down Sunset Boulevard … The rest of the story…
To say I thoroughly appreciate and enjoy digital technology would be like saying Pete Rose was a decent hitter. Or Michael Jordan was a pretty good basketball player. Yeah. Understatement. But I was big time analog before that was even cool. I even wrote an analog man song about a guy who lives his life without modern tech. Ironically I … The rest of the story…
My brother and I got an Aiwa reel-to-reel tape recorder for Christmas one year when we were pre-teens. And that might have been a Christmas that helped shape the course of my creative life. You’ve probably heard of an Aiwa reel-to-reel tape recorder. Or at least some kind of reel-to-reel tape recorder. Right? And I gotta say it was a … The rest of the story…
Twenty-six years ago I remember hearing somebody say how corrupt our government has become. And they said it felt like people who want to stand up for truth, justice, and the American way (to quote from the old Superman TV show) just face impossible odds. Of course, it can feel like that. These days it can feel like that way … The rest of the story…
If you’re a fan, you might remember Cyndi Lauper singing “All Through The Night.” I don’t know how high it made it on the charts. But I know it was one of her hits. Here’s the chorus: We have no past we won’t reach back. Keep with me forward all through the night. And once we start the meter clicks, … The rest of the story…
The anchors, the weather and sports reporters, the investigative reporters, and the editorialists all talked a blue streak night after night. So, it was ironic when Theo felt something like the stroke of a paintbrush across his heart. Because it wasn’t the same feeling as a physical paintbrush stroke. It was more like a blue streak of cool light. And … The rest of the story…
I’ve always had a place I could go when I needed to drown out the noise of the world. Music. And when I was 22, I bought a piano. Not just a another electronic keyboard. Nope. An actual, upright piano. It was a Rudolph Aeolian. Oh man, it was sleek, had a clear, smooth tone, and I was thrilled. I … The rest of the story…
“Survey says?!” Remember that question on Family Feud? Apparently that show is still on TV. But I haven’t watched it in decades, so I can’t say. But the reason I bring it up is because of the whole “survey says” thing. And that’s because I want to recommend you keep believing the Truth regardless of what any survey says. Keep … The rest of the story…
One day, way back when, as I sat in my college dormitory room in Manhattan, Kansas, I looked out the window and saw feathery, floating flakes of snow. An early Autumn snowfall had just started. So, I knew it wouldn’t last. Or maybe wouldn’t even stick around at all. So, as I did at just about every opportunity, I flipped … The rest of the story…
The second best gift God created inside me is music. It’s been a constant companion. Even through the years when I had no human constant companion. It’s been a reminder that I’m “wonderfully made.” Music brings me internal and inexplicable joy. In, and through, my circumstances. Just as life is music to my ears, music is life to my ears. … The rest of the story…
Apparently it all started in a “gentleman’s club.” So, as you might expect, there is some controversy involved. Wait. What was that? You think I’m talking about a strip joint?! Far be it from me to stoop to such levels. No! I’m talking about the gentleman’s club where the Star Spangled Banner got its start. So, get your mind on … The rest of the story…
It’s probably just me. But certain old songs can take me right back to almost a particular moment in time. And I don’t mean a phase of my life. I mean an actual mental snapshot of a particular moment of my life. A great example of what I mean is the song, “Ramblin’ Rose.” And that moment in time was … The rest of the story…
I remember two small wall hangings my Grandmother had above her stove in her kitchen. One said, “No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best.” And the other one I like even better. It said, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” And I remember her telling me that when it seems like … The rest of the story…