Monday, November 29, 2010
(343) CARL PERKINS AND THE EARLY BEATLES :GLAD ALL OVER
Of course to this day ex Beatles and many other famous rock n rollers are still giving tribute to my generation's music.
Due to the old video expiration we've replaced the old one with this new "old one!"
March 2014 )
Saturday, November 27, 2010
(342) THE GIRLS GO CRAZY FOR THE BEATLES SHE LOVES YOU NOVEMBER 1963
If ever there was a threat to Elvis it was The Beatles. But we didn't know that just yet. Elvis kept up on what was happening in rock and roll in Britain and he had heard of the Beatles but I don't think any of us too them as seriously as we could have. Elvis was coming through the archives of the greatest Rock and Roll records ever made, looking for a song he wanted to record and make his own and playing demos for me up at the house.
Elvis, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, and the Rhythm Orchids, Bobby Darin, and me, were just a few of the early rock and rollers who were on The Ed Sullivan Show. And now it was the Beatles who would change the sound with appearances on television shows like Ed Sullivan. (Yes, Elvis sent them a congratulations telegram.)
Kennedy had been assassinated and the country was in despair. And while the Americans had first invaded Britain, now it was the British (they were called "the Brits" then, without offense) groups that would invade the United States.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
THANKSGIVING : EVERY DAY IS FOR GRATITUDE
Christine Trzyna here: Wes and me were thinking about what we are grateful for. I said I appreciated the opportunity he has given me to work with him over the years and how much I've learned about the early Rock and Roll scene since I met him and we've worked on our blog and our book. He said he could not do it without me.
Actually we could not produce this blog if it were not for a lot of technology that other people invented or let us use for free that we could not otherwise afford, such as Google Blogger first and foremost. We also use - and want to thank - Youtube (and a great many Youtubers, especially our Swedish friend Arne who has been hosting Wes Bryan music videos for some time)... Yahoo, Meez (our avatars), Photobucket, (our streaming pictures) and the Los Angeles Public Library, especially for their Internet services and Databases that I use considerably in order to research and write.
One of the themes of this blog, besides music, is FRIENDSHIP. I think we can all say that we feel gratitude every day for those people who have been good and true to us through the years. Wes and I have become friends over time and that makes working on this special.
We want to thank YOU too for stopping by our blog, making WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC one of your reading waystation, as you make your way through your day!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Monday, November 22, 2010
(341) NOVEMBER 22 1963 JFK ASSASSINATED and OUR INNOCENT ERA ENDS
We walked around in shock, gathering at our friends houses to watch the news coverage that our President Kennedy had been killed. I never felt this kind of devastation again until 9/11. Kennedy had brought humor and glamour to the White House, he was behind the Space Program and so many other great ideas that gave us enthusiasm and hope for the future.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
(340) TURBULENT TIMES TO LIVE THROUGH LATE 1963
When I think back to November 1963, I can say that the good times were rolling and we thought they would never end - until the moment that JFK was assassinated.
Elvis had "Fun in Acapulco coming out" and had put out a number of albums that year. Buddy Knox, my music partner and friend, though he would pursue his performing career for years more, had a Golden Hits album out... I had a few songs recorded by other artists out and was driving around Hollywood in a Jaguar living on songwriting residuals.
I was writing songs at American Music and recording demos for other artists, and had not completely given up on the idea of being an actor.
My friend Christine White had house parties in the Hollywood Hills and introduced me to other actors living and working on the West Coast as well as one particular agent who was very famous.
And none of us had heard of the Beatles or could imagine the impact this British group would have on music or American culture or us!
Elvis had "Fun in Acapulco coming out" and had put out a number of albums that year. Buddy Knox, my music partner and friend, though he would pursue his performing career for years more, had a Golden Hits album out... I had a few songs recorded by other artists out and was driving around Hollywood in a Jaguar living on songwriting residuals.
I was writing songs at American Music and recording demos for other artists, and had not completely given up on the idea of being an actor.
My friend Christine White had house parties in the Hollywood Hills and introduced me to other actors living and working on the West Coast as well as one particular agent who was very famous.
And none of us had heard of the Beatles or could imagine the impact this British group would have on music or American culture or us!
Monday, November 15, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY P.J. PROBY!
We're posting this great fan video of PJ...
I think P.J. is about seventy two years young now, but who knows... he might be even younger!
I think P.J. is about seventy two years young now, but who knows... he might be even younger!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
VETERANS DAY : CAN'T HELP THINKING ABOUT BOB and DOLORES HOPE
It's Veterans Day and as you know I am proud to be a veteran myself and proud that my brothers and father also served - so many of my ancestors did - even in the Civil War.
I can't help but think about Bob and Dolores Hope and their work to entertain the veterans. Bob passed at age 100 in 2003 and last year Dolores celebrated her 100th birthday.
Bob Hope put countless hours into shows that entertained our service men around the globe that he was by an act of Congress given THE FIRST "HONORARY VETERAN" AWARD!
We're linking to VETERANS ADVANTAGE which has an article on Bob and has some background on his entertaining the troops.
I can't help but think about Bob and Dolores Hope and their work to entertain the veterans. Bob passed at age 100 in 2003 and last year Dolores celebrated her 100th birthday.
Bob Hope put countless hours into shows that entertained our service men around the globe that he was by an act of Congress given THE FIRST "HONORARY VETERAN" AWARD!
We're linking to VETERANS ADVANTAGE which has an article on Bob and has some background on his entertaining the troops.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
(338) CASHBOX MAGAZINE 2010 : 58 YEARS OLD
CASHBOX, Billboard's big competitor, has been around 58 years now and it's been charting music in the United States all that time.
The methods for charting music are controversial especially as the way music is selected to be played on the radio has changed over the years from the days when the Personality DJ's personally selected records and played the ones they loved over and over again. (Dewey Philips was the personality DJ who broke Elvis Presley's first recording!)
Personality DJ's were responsible for making or breaking artists for some time and then radio went to a top 40 format based on charting sales.
Today, by my way of thinking, it might be more difficult than ever to gauge popularity based on sales because there are so many ways to listen to music without buying it (or concert tickets).
In 2006 Cashbox became an INTERNET-ONLY magazine so we are linking to this site which has lots of links and a jukebox. Like other music sites there is a contributory aspect to the on-line magazine.
The methods for charting music are controversial especially as the way music is selected to be played on the radio has changed over the years from the days when the Personality DJ's personally selected records and played the ones they loved over and over again. (Dewey Philips was the personality DJ who broke Elvis Presley's first recording!)
Personality DJ's were responsible for making or breaking artists for some time and then radio went to a top 40 format based on charting sales.
Today, by my way of thinking, it might be more difficult than ever to gauge popularity based on sales because there are so many ways to listen to music without buying it (or concert tickets).
In 2006 Cashbox became an INTERNET-ONLY magazine so we are linking to this site which has lots of links and a jukebox. Like other music sites there is a contributory aspect to the on-line magazine.
Friday, November 5, 2010
RALPH WALDO EMERSON Quote
"Joy of companionship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile. It is the spiritual inspiration that comes to you when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
(337) AROUND THE BUSINESS : MAGAZINES - COLUMNISTS - THE MAKERS and BREAKERS of the STARS
Friends, Christine and I were talking the other day about publicity - advertising -marketing. Then and now.
Today we have People, Vanity Fair, the National Enquirer, and so many other magazines and newsprint that feature coverage of celebrities - not to mention the many sites on the Internet about the rich and famous. For the film business Daily Variety is still around after many years. In the music business we still have Billboard and Cashbox which have been around since before I had my experience with fame.
When I was up and coming in New York and then Los Angeles there were FAMOUS STAR MAKERS and BREAKERS, columnists, who I think welded more power than most columnists do today; they were all nice to me.
I've been thinking about how different Hollywood was in the early 1960's than it is today. Los Angeles was not as congested and crowded as it is today and the business was friendlier. Someone couldn't hire you, they still might send you over to see someone else they knew.
It was easier to get around town because the freeways actually moved. Having a car - a great car - was the thing - and I sure did have some nice cars!
Celebrities went out on the town and they were not hiding away. I can't tell you how many people I met just dining out or driving down the road.
Celebrities were very conscious about making an appearance and being seen around town. They were practically looking for the photographers! Not ducking them!
Today people are taking responsibility for their own fame when they post performances on Youtube, or do as some of my friends have, by having a presence on other social network sites up to promote themselves, their performances, or their products. We blog here on Google and have a Youtube station.
Today we have People, Vanity Fair, the National Enquirer, and so many other magazines and newsprint that feature coverage of celebrities - not to mention the many sites on the Internet about the rich and famous. For the film business Daily Variety is still around after many years. In the music business we still have Billboard and Cashbox which have been around since before I had my experience with fame.
When I was up and coming in New York and then Los Angeles there were FAMOUS STAR MAKERS and BREAKERS, columnists, who I think welded more power than most columnists do today; they were all nice to me.
I've been thinking about how different Hollywood was in the early 1960's than it is today. Los Angeles was not as congested and crowded as it is today and the business was friendlier. Someone couldn't hire you, they still might send you over to see someone else they knew.
It was easier to get around town because the freeways actually moved. Having a car - a great car - was the thing - and I sure did have some nice cars!
Celebrities went out on the town and they were not hiding away. I can't tell you how many people I met just dining out or driving down the road.
Celebrities were very conscious about making an appearance and being seen around town. They were practically looking for the photographers! Not ducking them!
Today people are taking responsibility for their own fame when they post performances on Youtube, or do as some of my friends have, by having a presence on other social network sites up to promote themselves, their performances, or their products. We blog here on Google and have a Youtube station.