Can You Help? ERSEL HICKEY ESTATE HEIRS?

In November 2012 we got a message from someone identifying themselves as ROYALTY PHOENIX who said that BMI is looking for heirs to the ERSEL HICKEY ESTATE.

Since we've posted a lot on Ersel, who was a friend of Wes's from his New York City days, it made sense that someone would contact us but ROYALTYPHOENIX didn't say how she knew or how to get in touch with her.  I called BMI in Los Angeles over the holidays and talked to a nice person or two, but was told I should call New York. 

What I wanted to tell New York was that I remember reading a YOUTUBE comment on an Ersel Hickey music video from a woman who called Ersel "UNCLE ERSEL." If this woman was really his niece then she could be the link to his estate, or maybe even an heir.  Now I can't find that particular comment/video.  I decided to post on many of the current Ersel Hickey YouTube videos to put the word out.  On one of them someone also claimed to be a great nephew - four years ago!

So I'm trying to track down a person in Ersel's family with your help.  I'm doing so because I know that Wes thinks so highly of Ersel and I wouldn't want anyone who is deserving of Ersel's royalty/intellectual property money to loose out! 

We have our Comments turned on and Information you leave will not appear on the Internet for the world to see.  If you know something about this you can feel secure that we will not publish your phone number, e-mail, or identifying information.  If you think you may be an heir please call BMI New York.

NEIL YOUNG : SINGER SONGWRITER MEMOIR : BOOK EXCERPT ABOUT TOURING AND YOUTUBE

NEIL YOUNG 
WAGING HEAVY PEACE - A Hippie Dream
Published by Blue Rider Press - Penguin Group
C 2012 Neil Young

Chapter 11, pages 89-90 of hardback

"There are a lot of things that can go wrong on the road.  If you get sick, you still play, but people think you are losing your edge.  If you have half a house, people don't feel that they are part of something.  If you don't have a great crew, your shit doesn't sound right.  If you don't have the best equipment, your show may not sound as great as the last one or the next one.  If you have a reputation, it is on the line.  If you forget what you are doing, it shows up on YouTube. If you remember what you're doing, it shows up on YouTube. If you do something new that isn't ready, or something old that you screw up, it is on YouTube.  If snot comes out of your nose while you are playing the harmonica and slithers down the harmonica rack onto your T-shirt, it is on YouTube.  If you say something stupid..."  - Neil Young

(Neil is working on a sound system that will vastly improve the quality of downloaded music.  He is known mostly for his work with Buffalo Springfield which had a debut album in 1966, and then as the Y in Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.)

- Christine Trzyna

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.

OUR CRITEREA FOR YOUTUBE VIDEOS : HAVE A LISTEN TO OUR YOUTUBE STATION

The YouTube station we have is embedded to the left is PLAYLIST ONE. On the net you can also see the station itself along with PLAYLIST TWO. Each features a different set of music. And from time to time we check to see what videos have expired and find the best substitute possible.

We often seek videos that have historical value because we like the idea that you can get a view of the performers and the times - the sets - the fashions - the overall style of a concert or television show.

We listen and watch each video because we want to make sure that it fits into our standards for the blog. That means parents should not be concerned if their child is watching that video, though we love creativity and innovation.

We also give lots of points when a YouTuber provides some historical information as part of their post. We know opinions vary, but we appreciate the effort.

Last but not least (not at all) we care that a YouTuber is following the guidelines that we all agree to in having these wonderful accounts. That means that the particular account owner does not indulge in any abusive practices. Let's face it. It's easy for people to hide out behind an account on the Internet and post just about anything, even things they would never say to someone's face. That is not at all in the spirit of helpfulness or cooperation.

WE THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED VIDEOS and SENT US SUGGESTIONS!

Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna

WAIT FOR ME BABY WES BRYAN

The flip side of Freeze, a Doo Wop song sung by me with the great Ben Alexander on the sax! We'll be replacing this video soon: the Youtuber who first presented it is reworking his channel and has been in touch!

CHUCK BERRY : LEON RUSSEL'S COVER 1964 : ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN !

Leon Russel ! Really! that is him! Leon Russel is someone who I admire greatly and worked with a little in the studios as a studio musician back in the early 1960's! Here he appears on a show that was extremely popular - Shindig.

(353) MARLON BRANDO or JAMES DEAN THE SCREEN TESTS

Recently we found these screen tests on YouTube and thought you'd enjoy taking a look at them. James Dean and Marlon Brando have both become acting legends.


AND MARLON BRANDO testing FOR THE ROLE THAT JAMES DEAN GOT

THREE STARS sung by TOMMY DEE : THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED : A TRIBUTE VIDEO PUT UP ON THE NET BY A RITCHIE VALENS FAN!

Tribute to Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and J.P Richardson (the Big Bopper) and Roger Peterson (The Plane's Pilot!) includes radio broadcast announcing the tragic crash. Featuring Tommy Dee performing the song "3 Stars."

We're linking to the video posting website on Myspace called GOTTALOVERITCHIE! This fan site is approved by Ritchie's brother in Pacoima, California, up the road from us. I met Ritchie in New York back stage of a big Alan Freed Rock n Roll show!

ELVIS PRESLEY IT HURTS ME RECORDED JANUARY 12 1964

HELLO TO NEW READERS IN MORE COUNTRIES

I started updating today (early) since I had the day off... Just went through the links A-J and fixed a lot of old posts. I also let our readers (and listeners) on YOUTUBE know!

I want to say hello to our new readers who checked in on us today from
INDIA
IRAN
ALGERIA
KUWAIT
and the UKRAINE!

This is the miracle called the INTERNET.

We hope the Google TRANSLATER is helping you! - if you need it!

Christine

UPDATE! Hello to GEORGIA (Former Soviet) and HONG KONG!

ELVIS PRESLEY 500 MILES

Listening to this song reminded me of being at Elvis' parties when the guests started singing along with Elvis. Elvis loved to sing. He's known for the massive audiences he performed in front of at the end of his life, but he loved singing to one or a few people too.

Members of The Entourage were also musical and so many of us - me, Johnny Rivers, P.J. Proby, and so many other people also brought our guitars and our own songs as well as songs we covered with us as part of the entertainment. And on the piano - Cliff Gleaves!

One of the most wonderful memories I have of Elvis and his parties in Los Angeles is the outbreaks of performance that happened spontaneously.

We want to thank the Youtuber "Jackiej61too" who posted this! What a find! Jackie told us that IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO HAVE HER VIDEO POSTED ON OUR BLOG and says "ELVIS FOREVER!"

THANK YOU TO YOUTUBERS for the HISTORICAL MUSIC VIDEOS ! YOUTUBE STATION CTNWB

YOUTUBERS have been terrific!

If you're reading us you know that we have been able to bring the SOUND of MUSIC to our MUSIC BLOG thanks to Youtubers!

If you turn our station (CTNWB) where we have two play lists you can hear a couple hours of music, all pertinent to our story! Our blog goes to PLAY LIST ONE. Using the seach words CTNWB youtube you can go to PLAY LIST TWO.

We want to thank you all again!

(Please let us know if while you are reading you come across a video we've posted that's defunct.)

BING CROSBY : DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR ?

(350) NAT KING COLE THE CHRISTMAS SONG

This song by NAT KING COLE is a classic among classics.


VIDEO REMOVED

THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THIS BLOG !

We've come so far from the day when we just had the idea that we would blog.

We started out with the basic template that Google Blogger offered, and over time changed the look of this blog three or four times. We feel settled with the customized look we use these days- the baby blue- but you never know...

This past year, because of YouTube contributers we've been able to link to some of Wes Bryan's early recordings, and we want to THANK YOU for that. It's a thrill for me, believe me...

We've also enjoyed experimenting with the Photobucket slideshow and the fun Wes Bryan Meez avatar; I really look a lot like him!

Hubba! Hubba!

Most of all, I have enjoyed hearing from old friends and making some new ones...

THANK YOU for reading WES BRYAN- MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Wes Bryan

and Christine Trzyna

RARE FOOTAGE OF ELVIS' DEATH in 1977

THERE WERE SO MANY VIDEOS TO CHOOSE FROM but we decided on this one... George Klein was friends with Elvis since high-school and very loyal.

ELVIS PRESLEY LAST STAGE PERFORMANCE

WES BRYAN BLUE BABY (also called SO BLUE OVER YOU)

Arne did his thing and got this one up on Youtube before anyone else did and made up another beautiful photo collage to go with it. THANKS ARNE!

(296) SUNSET STRIP RECORD COMPANIES : DOT RECORDS

Pat Boone was the star of Dot Records, owned by Randy Wood, a Southerner, who may've been more open to talent from the South. According to Mike Callahan and Dave Edwards, who we are linking to here, he had over 60 hits on Dot, as late as 1968. While working for Pat and in and out of Randy's offices I met Lawrence Welk's son. Thanks to this YouTuber who loaded up three of Pat's earliest Dot Records recordings!

1959 PLANE CRASH YOUTUBE VIDEO

Buddy Knox and I were on tour when the news reached us.