I think whoever was assembling the “lower third” for CNN’s news segment on the late great Jimmy Buffett (RIP, you magnificent bastard and musical role model of mine) was trying to choose between saying that he’d played for over 50 years or 5 decades, settled on “50 years”, and forgot to change the final word.
Consider this another reminder to use processes and tools to double-check your work before you put it out into the world, especially if it’s a rush job.
In honor of Sinéad O’Connor, who died too damn young, one of my favorite tracks from her repertoire.
Back when I was a DJ at Crazy Go Nuts University’s engineering pub, Clark Hall Pub, I knew that this lesser-known version of Sinéad O’Connor’s single The Emperor’s New Clothes was a sure-fire way to get people on the dance floor. I got a lot of mileage of out it back then, and I still do, so here it is:
This is the Hank Shocklee mix, named after its remixer, who among other things co-founded Public Enemy and the music production group The Bomb Squad.
Requiescat in pace, Sinéad.
I was a synth player before I was an accordion player. Also, electronic keyboards are a great way to practice without annoying the neighbors — or more importantly, Anitra:
Canadian singer-songwriter and absolute music legend Gordon Lightfoot died yesterday at the age of 84. He’s behind classics such as If You Could Read My Mind, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and my favorite, Sundown:
Requiescat in pace, Gordo.
I’ve been saying it for decades and finally Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden agrees with me. On Wednesday, she included Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville as one of 25 recordings to be listed as “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
As you might have guessed, the band I play with — The Tropical Sons — play Margaritaville, and we’ll definitely be including it in tomorrow’s sets in Downtown Clearwater.
This Saturday, April 15th, Clearwater will be holding its annual Ukulele Fest in the District in their downtown area, and I’ll be playing on Cleveland Street near the Capitol Theatre with Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m..
Ukulele Fest in the District is described as:
A fun-filled and educational day for families, couples, and singles of all ages featuring free beginner Ukulele lessons, advanced classes for experienced Ukulele players, continuous music by world class ukulele/ acoustic groups along the streets, face painting; food, drink and merchandise vendors, great restaurants and an exciting early evening concert. Bring your ukulele and strum along!
Come on down, bring a ukulele, and catch me for some good ol’ accordion-and-ukulele rock and roll!