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Thursday, July 26, 2012

ALBERT SCHWEITZER Quotation on

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life; music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

(425) GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS PALISADES PARK

Written by Chuck Barris, and recorded by a number of artists, Gary Lewis and the Playboys had a hit with this song in the summer of 1965. The Palisades Park referred to in this song was in New Jersey but production on this version takes us all back to the summer trip to an amusement park, on a board walk, or overlooking the ocean, and a lot of fun.

A new link for us : GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS OFFICIAL SITE! Just as the son of Dean Martin and the son of Desi Arnez were succeeding in the music business, the son of Jerry Lewis, Gary, and his band, the Playboy's, got into the business and had a few hits.

From Gary's site; "It was the summer of 1964 when Gary Lewis and The Playboys were discovered by producer Snuff Garret. Before long, with the producer/arranger team of Garrett and Leon Russell behind them, they took their first single, "This Diamond Ring" straight to number one..."

Check out or past posts on Snuffy Garret and Leon Russel!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

HELEN KELLER Quotation on Friendship

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” - Helen Keller

Friday, July 20, 2012

THE BEATLES : BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR

Came out in 1964 in Great Britain and in 1965 in the United States, on the "Rubber Soul" album, the Beatles were dominating the charts in those years. They idolized some of the artists of my era and covered many early rock and roll songs, now classics, but by writing most of their own material and performing and recording their own material, grew wealthy with various Intellectual Property Rights. Things slowed down for singer-songwriters who were trying to sell their original music to others to perform but the cover tune era never really died.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Sunday, July 15, 2012

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : POST (209) SURFARIS WIPE OUT!

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : POST (209) SURFARIS WIPE OUT! June 29 2009

Surfaris - what a great name for a group, so evocative of surfing adventure! Their surf hit "Wipe Out" - recorded in 1962 - has to be one of the most memorable of all the surf music that came out in the early 1960's and is played as an eternal classic - every summer since! "Wipe Out" is famous for that invigorating drum solo. Since the Surfaris have web sites and even a Google Blogger - yes they blog too! - we're posting links to them that probably tell their story better than we could!


UPDATED July 2012 Linking to active Surfaris official site!

Friday, July 13, 2012

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : POST (58) EDDIE COCHRAN : ROCKIN THE SUMMERTIME BLUES

(58) EDDIE COCHRAN : ROCKIN THE SUMMERTIME BLUES

I met Eddie Cochran at the Sheridan Hotel in New York City, where I also met Jerry Capheart, a man who would figure big in my future one day when he signed me to be a staff songwriter at American Music in Los Angeles.

Buddy Knox called Eddie Cochran "The Blond Elvis."


In England, the Beatles had followed him and Gene Vincent around. (When it came to Rock and Roll, first the Americans invaded England, then there was a British invasion of America.) Eddie performed at an Alan Freed produced Rock and Roll show for New Years about the time I met him. It was the same show I saw Ritchie Valens perform for the first time on.

The world of early Rock and Roll was tough. Eddie carried a Derringer hand gun in his boot and I hear it came in handy more than once, like when he was threatened by the boyfriends of certain fans...


Eddie Cochran wasn't the only one who packed a gun while on tour or while walking the streets of New York but I decided I could take care of myself with my fists. I grew up rumbling with my brothers, had learned some karate and self defence while in the U.S. Army, and admired the boxers who I tried to meet when they came into the Turf restaurant for meals instead of eating across the way at Dempsey's, which was owned by the boxer Jack Dempsey. We all had security concerns that were not met by our record labels or our management. We didn't have body guards and it was up to us to protect ourselves. It was also legal to take a gun on a plane...

During my tour with Buddy Knox I performed two of Eddie Cochran's hits, "Summertime Blues," and "Come on Everybody." Here's Eddie performing those hits on television - You Tube presentations.


"REMEMBER EDDIE COCKRAN" NEW SITE above! January 26, 2011


ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME LINK HERE http://www.rockabillyhall.com/EddieCochran.html


History of Rock - Eddie Cochran! http://www.history-of-rock.com/cochran.htm

Eddie Cochran died at the age of 21, at the height of his fame, in 1960 while touring in England, in a tragic automobile accident on the way to the airport. Gene Vincent was left with a limp in the same accident.


ALL LINKS ACTIVE JULY 2012 New Video added

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

PLEASE ENJOY OUR PAST POSTS AS WE TAKE A VACATION

The Search feature on this Google Blogger will take you to so many interesting posts. While we take a little vacation, please enjoy WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC!

If you're using our sidebar of links, and you find a link that is no longer viable, please let us know via comments.

We are always open to suggestions!