Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS "DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS ON and GOLLY MISS MOLLY"
How many dress colors does the Devil wear? There's the Devil with the Red Dress and then the Devil with the Blue... Does it have anything to do with being a Devil from Detroit, the Motor City? Christine
Does Mitch Ryder have an official site? You bet! MITCH RYDER NET
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
FRANK SINATRA : FROM CAPITOL RECORDS TO WARNER AND HIS OWN LABLE : REPRISE :FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Post (416) FRANK SINATRA : FROM CAPITOL RECORDS TO WARNER AND HIS OWN LABLE : REPRISE
Capitol Records was probably the hottest big record label by 1965 other than RCA, Elvis' label. Capitol had the Beatles and Glen Campbell, but they lost Frank Sinatra to Warner Records where he got his own label and distributor which he called Reprise Records.
Jimmy Bowen produced the record "STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT" which was a hit for Frank, got him HIS FIRST GOLD RECORD, and is known today as "classic Frank Sinatra" though it was recorded years past his early days of performance and stardom.
We're linking to the official Frank Sinatra site so you can read about Frank his way!
Frank was on the same charts as his daughter Nancy!
Capitol Records was probably the hottest big record label by 1965 other than RCA, Elvis' label. Capitol had the Beatles and Glen Campbell, but they lost Frank Sinatra to Warner Records where he got his own label and distributor which he called Reprise Records.
Jimmy Bowen produced the record "STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT" which was a hit for Frank, got him HIS FIRST GOLD RECORD, and is known today as "classic Frank Sinatra" though it was recorded years past his early days of performance and stardom.
We're linking to the official Frank Sinatra site so you can read about Frank his way!
Frank was on the same charts as his daughter Nancy!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
(481) NANCY SINATRA'S BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN'
A while back we posted on Nancy Sinatra when she was one of the guests on the TV program that featured Elvis Presley and her father, Frank Sinatra, The Welcome Back Special. Elvis had just returned to the United States from Germany and the United States Army.
"Are you ready boots? Start Walkin!" These words are so associated with Nancy, who chose to record songs on Frank's Reprise label (where my friend Jimmy Bowen became a producer) that portrayed her as a take-charge, in control, and liberated woman. The song was written for her by Lee Hazelwood and it became a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom, making Nancy one more American who Invaded Britain.
No doubt initially aided by her loving dad, Nancy, who appeared on the Welcome Back Special in what was a prim prom-gown kind of dress, had moved with the times, the early 1960's and the dancing Go Go Girls.
Now Nancy has her own site, but we found it down, and we think it may be bombarded because of the news recently that a son of Mia Farrow's may be Franks. We proceeded to the Sinatra Family site and same thing.
So we're going to post the links for you here and hopefully when you try them, they'll be up!
NANCY SINATRA OFFICAL link
SINATRA FAMILY OFFICIAL link
Lee Hazelwood passed away in 2007. Here's a link to some good career information for the man who was known to be a rugged individualist!
CBENJAMIN WORDPRESS ON LEE HAZELWOOD link
Church Benjamin is a Blogger on Word Press! His theme is SONGS YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD, and he's a good writer.
"Are you ready boots? Start Walkin!" These words are so associated with Nancy, who chose to record songs on Frank's Reprise label (where my friend Jimmy Bowen became a producer) that portrayed her as a take-charge, in control, and liberated woman. The song was written for her by Lee Hazelwood and it became a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom, making Nancy one more American who Invaded Britain.
No doubt initially aided by her loving dad, Nancy, who appeared on the Welcome Back Special in what was a prim prom-gown kind of dress, had moved with the times, the early 1960's and the dancing Go Go Girls.
Now Nancy has her own site, but we found it down, and we think it may be bombarded because of the news recently that a son of Mia Farrow's may be Franks. We proceeded to the Sinatra Family site and same thing.
So we're going to post the links for you here and hopefully when you try them, they'll be up!
NANCY SINATRA OFFICAL link
SINATRA FAMILY OFFICIAL link
Lee Hazelwood passed away in 2007. Here's a link to some good career information for the man who was known to be a rugged individualist!
CBENJAMIN WORDPRESS ON LEE HAZELWOOD link
Church Benjamin is a Blogger on Word Press! His theme is SONGS YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD, and he's a good writer.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
BOB DYLAN and NEIL YOUNG ? AN ALBUM COVER and RECORD LABEL PRINTER
Christine here! Taking my dog for a long walk one very early morning, we found the doors of a business wide open. Inside were machines. Strange looking machines. Couldn't figure them out, unless maybe Dr. Suess had done some manufacturing here!
There were some people around and so my friendly dog went in nose first and I followed. We spoke to a man named Bruce. He explained that Impressions LA Printing Services and Dorado Music Publishing over at Burbank Boulevard in NoHo were in the business of printing album covers, the innards of the covers, and the center labels. We're talking for VINYL records here.
Those machines - one from the late 1950's, another from the mid 1970's - others a history of album cover and record label printing! I felt like a secret shopper when Bruce told me that they'd received recent orders from Bob Dylan and Neil Young. See people are buying Dylan and Young record albums in vinyl even when the same music is available in CD. (As you may know from Neil's memoir which I covered here a while back, Neil is involved in getting better quality sound recording onto those CD.s) The records that were recorded originally and pressed on vinyl are being ordered in and for that, an artist needs more album covers printed too. Bruce said Neil reminded them that he wanted his covers to look as old as the originals do today. A small run is about 1000.
I'm posting this because they were friendly people and because they give TOURS TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN. So while we don't do advertising on this Google Blogger, we thought you might want to give them a call about the little tour. When I was there those strange machines weren't running. I hope to go back someday when they are!
Their number is 818-761-9295
There were some people around and so my friendly dog went in nose first and I followed. We spoke to a man named Bruce. He explained that Impressions LA Printing Services and Dorado Music Publishing over at Burbank Boulevard in NoHo were in the business of printing album covers, the innards of the covers, and the center labels. We're talking for VINYL records here.
Those machines - one from the late 1950's, another from the mid 1970's - others a history of album cover and record label printing! I felt like a secret shopper when Bruce told me that they'd received recent orders from Bob Dylan and Neil Young. See people are buying Dylan and Young record albums in vinyl even when the same music is available in CD. (As you may know from Neil's memoir which I covered here a while back, Neil is involved in getting better quality sound recording onto those CD.s) The records that were recorded originally and pressed on vinyl are being ordered in and for that, an artist needs more album covers printed too. Bruce said Neil reminded them that he wanted his covers to look as old as the originals do today. A small run is about 1000.
I'm posting this because they were friendly people and because they give TOURS TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN. So while we don't do advertising on this Google Blogger, we thought you might want to give them a call about the little tour. When I was there those strange machines weren't running. I hope to go back someday when they are!
Their number is 818-761-9295
Thursday, October 10, 2013
A FRIEND IS SOMEONE...
Who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. - anonymous
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
JOHN FOGERTY WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM and OFFICIAL SITE LINK - AN EXCELLENT SITE!
JOHN FOGERTY OFFICIAL SITE - It's excellent!
John explains he was drafted for Viet Nam in 1965 but went into the Reserves. His site explains the Viet Nam War and the Protests that began about 1967 and the upset he felt about politician's sons being able to avoid the draft. That's what's behind his song "Fortunate Son." He wrote the song in 20 minutes, but after a lot of thought about these issues.
Here's a version with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Christine here! At the Grammy Museum exhibit, I learned that Creedence Clearwater Revival was considered a FOLK REVIVAL MOVEMENT, a revival of AMERICANA, with a kind of anti-hippie movement with roots in the American South. The influence of Pete Seeger and Duane Eddy on John Fogerty is explored.
Here's the link to the exhibit! GRAMMY MUSEUM : JOHN FOGERTY WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE
We first mentioned John Fogerty on this blog in 2008, due to his pre-Creedence work with the Blue Velvets.
John explains he was drafted for Viet Nam in 1965 but went into the Reserves. His site explains the Viet Nam War and the Protests that began about 1967 and the upset he felt about politician's sons being able to avoid the draft. That's what's behind his song "Fortunate Son." He wrote the song in 20 minutes, but after a lot of thought about these issues.
Here's a version with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Christine here! At the Grammy Museum exhibit, I learned that Creedence Clearwater Revival was considered a FOLK REVIVAL MOVEMENT, a revival of AMERICANA, with a kind of anti-hippie movement with roots in the American South. The influence of Pete Seeger and Duane Eddy on John Fogerty is explored.
Here's the link to the exhibit! GRAMMY MUSEUM : JOHN FOGERTY WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE
We first mentioned John Fogerty on this blog in 2008, due to his pre-Creedence work with the Blue Velvets.
Friday, October 4, 2013
HELLO TO AUSTRALIA, ISRAEL, VIET NAM, and HUNGARY
Welcoming Early Rock and Roll Fans from all over the world! Thanks for reading WES BRYAN- MY LIFE IN MUSIC. Friends, check out that long long list of links! There is so much energy and talent in the sites that we link to and this blog wouldn't be what it is without them!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
GRAMMY MUSEUM - THE RINGO PEACE AND LOVE SHOW
Christine here!
Recently went to the GRAMMY MUSEUM, lured by the Ringo show. The Museum has had shows focusing on John Lennon and George Harrison in the past, which I missed. This video shows some of the exhibits that include clothing and costumes worn my Ringo, a replica of the Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band drum, various drum kits Ringo played, and lots of memorabilia, including a wall of Ringo Albums and a wall of Beatles Albums (I think I have them all!)
There is an old early 1960's television console playing black and white Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show with a early 1960's sofa in front of it. I lingered in the area and I have to say, all around the exhibit people were smiling. There was a happiness in the air. I was reminded that the Beatles and maybe especially Ringo had a great sense of humor in their day, and I kept thinking "Ringo is the one who kept a friendship going with all of them, even when the others were not getting along."
At the same time the Museum has a JOHN FOGERTY and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL SHOW. Wes is a John Fogerty fan! The emphasis here was on roots music, and the American South.
GRAMMY MUSEUM ORG SITE link here.
The museum was crowded. It was full of people from all races various ethnicities, young and old. It's very hands-on and very much about SOUND as well as the visuals.
This visit, I spent time in the ARCHIVE. That's where there are videos to watch of special Interviews and Performances that were featured at the Grammy Museum. I watched some of Gordon Lightfoot (one of my favorites) and some of Michelle Phillips.
The Grammy Museum is a great place to visit and as things are in Los Angeles, with music appreciation classes and classes in the arts in public schools unfunded, field trips to this museum may be it for the school children!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
JAMES DEAN PUBLICITY PHOTO from DOVER PUBLISHING
Dover allows the use of this photo for NON-PROFIT use and under FAIR USE. That means that if you credit Dover and use it on a blog or web-site or other place which is not a business (no advertising) and it's about James Dean for educational or personal purposes it's OK. If you want to use if on a site for profit/gain, contact Dover and pay up! (There's more than one reason we do not do advertising on this blog!)
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
JAMES DEAN BORN COOL : DOCUMENTARY : JAMES DEAN FESTIVAL 2013 LINK!
The film-makers have decided to post this on YOUTUBE and that is VERY COOL! Featuring family and friends, made originally in 2002!
JAMES DEAN COMMUNITY FESTIVAL 2013 LINK
JAMES DEAN COMMUNITY FESTIVAL 2013 LINK
Saturday, September 21, 2013
(480) POUT LIKE JIMMY
Back when Buddy Knox and me had our photos done by Bruno of Hollywood, I was still thinking about acting too, as many of my peers did - like Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin were doing. I had been promoted as a "singing - acting" sensation while with United Artists. I had traveled for years on the road as a singer, but I hadn't given up on acting.
Christine White, James Dean's friend and girlfriend before he was famous, was also in Hollywood and, as a successful working (early) television actress, she advised me to get another manager and agent for acting. I'd first met Christine as a tourist, one who read fan magazines, during a brief Hollywood vacation before I even lived in Akron.
She was sweet enough to make some introductions once we were both back in Southern California.
Dean was a country boy who went to the Big Apple and took up jazz and playing the bongos - a Beat. Then he went West, to California, to make movies and race cars.
I was a country boy who also went to the Big Apple and then West, to California, but though I owned some sports cars in my time, which I bought from music residuals, I didn't have what some say Jimmy did, the death wish.
I grew up in Murphy, North Carolina, and then Cottage Grove, Oregon. I remained a Southern boy. I might have been a Renaissance man but I wasn't Beat.
Dean was supposed to be moody. His family would say that too was just part of his promotion.
I was shy, but when they asked me to pose for pictures they expected me to "do" Jimmy, pouting. I was an actor who was supposed to live out of character! I never saw the facial resemblance between me and James Dean myself. I thought I looked like him from some angles. His family said I moved like Jimmy.
By the early to mid 1960's I was maybe the first person to give up on "The Next James Dean" promos. I wanted to be myself. I was a happy guy, out for fun.
Christine White, James Dean's friend and girlfriend before he was famous, was also in Hollywood and, as a successful working (early) television actress, she advised me to get another manager and agent for acting. I'd first met Christine as a tourist, one who read fan magazines, during a brief Hollywood vacation before I even lived in Akron.
She was sweet enough to make some introductions once we were both back in Southern California.
Dean was a country boy who went to the Big Apple and took up jazz and playing the bongos - a Beat. Then he went West, to California, to make movies and race cars.
I was a country boy who also went to the Big Apple and then West, to California, but though I owned some sports cars in my time, which I bought from music residuals, I didn't have what some say Jimmy did, the death wish.
I grew up in Murphy, North Carolina, and then Cottage Grove, Oregon. I remained a Southern boy. I might have been a Renaissance man but I wasn't Beat.
Dean was supposed to be moody. His family would say that too was just part of his promotion.
I was shy, but when they asked me to pose for pictures they expected me to "do" Jimmy, pouting. I was an actor who was supposed to live out of character! I never saw the facial resemblance between me and James Dean myself. I thought I looked like him from some angles. His family said I moved like Jimmy.
By the early to mid 1960's I was maybe the first person to give up on "The Next James Dean" promos. I wanted to be myself. I was a happy guy, out for fun.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
THE HOLLYWOOD BUG CONTINUES TO BITE ME : FROM OUR ARCHIVES POST (150)
(150) THE HOLLYWOOD BUG CONTINUES TO BITE ME
In New York acting was respected as a dramatic art and the stage was the place to be.
I studied at Actors Studio in New York with Lee Strasberg, who is now legendary.
The Studio System of Hollywood put actors on contract. The amount of money to be made was quite limited in those years compared to what successful actors demand and get today - very limited.
Even when an actor made millions for the studios on a picture, or a top agent like Henry Wilson was going to negotiate for you, the actors take was limited. Of course some stars managed to get their contracts rewritten for more money. Wealth for many didn't come outright from pay or overnight but from investing what they earned in real estate - land especially - in Southern California, which had experienced a first surge of the building boom after World War II.
So you had to love acting and love it enough to do it knowing you might never make a lot of money. You had to appreciate the many perks that came with being a famous actor, including meeting people and making connections that could do you some good, but you had to earn it all the time. You had to do things their way.
Just as James Dean had moved to Hollywood and making films, many of my peers, including of course Bobby Darin, looked forward to a movie acting career. It was one thing to make grueling promotional tours around the country, one radio or television station after another, and another to be known almost instantly around the whole country because you were seen in the movies. So long as the move from stage to screen included musicals, it made sense to the viewing public that an actor would launch into song.
In New York acting was respected as a dramatic art and the stage was the place to be.
I studied at Actors Studio in New York with Lee Strasberg, who is now legendary.
The Studio System of Hollywood put actors on contract. The amount of money to be made was quite limited in those years compared to what successful actors demand and get today - very limited.
Even when an actor made millions for the studios on a picture, or a top agent like Henry Wilson was going to negotiate for you, the actors take was limited. Of course some stars managed to get their contracts rewritten for more money. Wealth for many didn't come outright from pay or overnight but from investing what they earned in real estate - land especially - in Southern California, which had experienced a first surge of the building boom after World War II.
So you had to love acting and love it enough to do it knowing you might never make a lot of money. You had to appreciate the many perks that came with being a famous actor, including meeting people and making connections that could do you some good, but you had to earn it all the time. You had to do things their way.
Just as James Dean had moved to Hollywood and making films, many of my peers, including of course Bobby Darin, looked forward to a movie acting career. It was one thing to make grueling promotional tours around the country, one radio or television station after another, and another to be known almost instantly around the whole country because you were seen in the movies. So long as the move from stage to screen included musicals, it made sense to the viewing public that an actor would launch into song.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
MIDNIGHT EARL WILSON : HE ANNOUNCED THAT I LOOKED A LOT LIKE JAMES DEAN : FROM OUR ARCHIVES POST (401)
An Evening News copy of an Earl Wilson Column that mentioned me! (We couldn't get it to enlarge so you could read it, but you can try!)
EARL WILSON was the syndicated columnist who announced that I'd been signed to United Artists and that I looked a lot like James Dean. One of the hardest working journalists that ever lived, Earl didn't just rely on contacts to give him information, he continued to interview even as the years went by. Being mentioned by Earl ever so briefly was a dream come true for the up and coming actor - singer - songwriter I was back in New York.
We learned that Earl's son, Earl Junior, gave his father's papers to Ohio State college, the school he had graduated from.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
WES BRYAN IN CENTRAL PARK "TRICK PHOTO" TAKEN BY MY MANAGER IN NEW YORK
I had to really look at this fun photo to recognize it as Wes Bryan, but it is, and probably because he is not so recognizable it was barely used. His manager at the time took the photos which played up his James Dean-ess and they were distributed in publicity packages to the press by what Wes calls the "United Artists Publicity Machine." The clue here is the overcoat, as James Dean was famously photographed in one walking around New York City.
A copy of this photo has been on sale at e-Bay (and thus the vintage image distortions) for about $25.00 and is rarer than some of the other publicity photos out there.
How'd they do that?
Christine Trzyna
Sunday, September 8, 2013
WES BRYAN ON THE COVER OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL'S ROTO MAGAZINE 1957
Local Akron, Ohio photographers and journalists and DJ's, as well as Southern Boys like Jimmy Bowen, Buddy Knox, and even Elvis Presley, were influential in my career - and this 1957 cover was my lucky break. It makes me wonder about the role of Fate in a life.Thursday, September 5, 2013
(479) JAMES DEAN THE ICONIC ACTOR and WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME and MY DAD
People say to me, especially when they see this blog, Wes, you met so many interesting people!
I have.
I've also lived my life as a private citizen and private person for many years since those days when I was part of a scene in New York, on the road, or in Los Angeles.
Today I'm a retired senior citizen, and so many of my friends and associates, one's I've written about, have passed.
You know, I did meet and have friendships with many people who became famous - more famous than me - Elvis Presley being the most famous of them all, but it's funny because the person I wanted to meet and never could, besides Marilyn Monroe, was James Dean.
My dad was initially not for my having a career in entertainment.
Dad was teaching me the home building and remodeling trade and we were in Akron, Ohio working when my picture hit the Akron Beacon Journal Roto Magazine cover, and it was a photographer on staff there who saw the resemblance and did that cover.
I always credited him with "discovering" me but I also had to my credit Jimmy Bowen, who was in Akron and liked a demo I did in a kitchen, and a local DJ who played my demo, too.
Soon Hollywood was sending telegrams and calling me as was New York - United Artists.
I went visiting my dad, and remember being in a movie theatre in the South with him where we'd gone to watch a James Dean movie together. Dad got the full picture of whose shoes I was supposed to fill then, especially because early on I was "discovered" and promoted to be "The Next James Dean," after the real James Dean's death, on September 30, 1955.
Since beginning this blog, we've focused on music, because there was a fork in the road for me early in life, and that was acting or music and I took music, but this month we're taking a detour to focus a bit on Jimmy.
I have.
I've also lived my life as a private citizen and private person for many years since those days when I was part of a scene in New York, on the road, or in Los Angeles.
Today I'm a retired senior citizen, and so many of my friends and associates, one's I've written about, have passed.
You know, I did meet and have friendships with many people who became famous - more famous than me - Elvis Presley being the most famous of them all, but it's funny because the person I wanted to meet and never could, besides Marilyn Monroe, was James Dean.
My dad was initially not for my having a career in entertainment.
Dad was teaching me the home building and remodeling trade and we were in Akron, Ohio working when my picture hit the Akron Beacon Journal Roto Magazine cover, and it was a photographer on staff there who saw the resemblance and did that cover.
I always credited him with "discovering" me but I also had to my credit Jimmy Bowen, who was in Akron and liked a demo I did in a kitchen, and a local DJ who played my demo, too.
Soon Hollywood was sending telegrams and calling me as was New York - United Artists.
I went visiting my dad, and remember being in a movie theatre in the South with him where we'd gone to watch a James Dean movie together. Dad got the full picture of whose shoes I was supposed to fill then, especially because early on I was "discovered" and promoted to be "The Next James Dean," after the real James Dean's death, on September 30, 1955.
Since beginning this blog, we've focused on music, because there was a fork in the road for me early in life, and that was acting or music and I took music, but this month we're taking a detour to focus a bit on Jimmy.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
MARTIN SHEEN QUOTE on ELVIS PRESLEY and JAMES DEAN
"Jim Dean and Elvis were the spokesmen for an entire generation. When I was in acting school in New York, years ago, there was a saying that if Marlon Brando changed the way people acted, then James Dean changed the way people lived. He was the greatest actor who ever lived. He was simply a genius."
- Martin Sheen
Monday, September 2, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
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