Archive for the Music category.
Thoughts that come to mind reflecting over the past month.
1) JetBlue Flight Attendant, Steven Slater, is a jerk. (my opinion) What may seemed like an enviable act of courage, it was, in fact, an act of stupidity for which he should not serve as an example to others. Rude customers comes with the territory in service jobs, especially those dealing with a high volume of the public. That’s life.
2) Polls show that 20 percent of Americans now think that Obama is a Muslim, up from 11 percent. Count me among them. To me, it’s obvious. America was duped in 2008. A recent CNN poll also reveals that 60 percent of Americans doubt his birth records. Count me in as well.
3) Boo to the PGA. Golfer Dustin Johnson got the royal screw when officials docked him two strokes for grounding his club in a patch of dirt they called a sand trap. Otherwise, he was certain to be in the three-way playoff for the PGA Championship, with a possible prize of $1.3 million.
4) The due sensitivity of Americans and families of three thousand 9/11 victims should take precedence over the sensitivities of Muslims who want to build a mosque next to Ground Zero. A mosque can be built anywhere. The site of the attack is immovable.
5) Solution to the drug wars all over the world and in the U.S.: Legalize, tax and control. No black market? No crime. Cartels are out of business, so are street gangs. Courts, prisons and cops would depressurize case loads and taxpayers would benefit from redistributions of funds for more effective purposes. Meanwhile, studies show, drug use would diminish.
6) We should relocate the United Nations from New York City to Haiti. I can think of many advantages, especially the surge it would create to the economy of that struggling nation. The United States is voted down 77 percent of the time by third world countries, (to whom we provide foreign aid) while footing 22 percent of the annual operating costs, equaling $440 million. This would save enormous taxpayer dollars plus eliminate an open door policy for spies, insurgents and diplomats who abuse their immunity.
7) I don’t care if men marry men or women marry women. It’s better for people to love, not hate. Plenty of that to go around. Same sex marriage seems awkward and outside the box, but when I really think about it… so what?
Ever notice how Islam dominates the happenings in western affairs these days, compared to ten years ago? How much more in the next ten years? Twenty? With Islam, comes Sharia. Folks in denial choose to wear rose colored glasses. That’s dangerous for the future of western cultures.
9) The Glenn Beck rally in Washington D.C. drew a half million Americans, demonstrating peacefully for love of country, without spewing hate. What’s so bad about that? I enjoyed watching a taste of patriotic unity for once.
10) The prison system in this country is a national disgrace. There is no rehabilitation, no rights, very little schooling and preparation for release after long periods removed from society. That spells bad news for more crime victims, and high recidivism rates. Meanwhile, prison inmates are being used for slave labor while factories and corporations lay off workers at $9.00 an hour, in order to out-source to inmates at 50 cents an hour. Are you surprised, that corporations hire lobbyists to pass laws to keep the prison populations at maximum?
11) Another direct hit from a major hurricane to New Orleans would portend the end to a great city. Survivors would eventually migrate elsewhere.
12) America’s Got Talent has evolved into a junkie show with mostly circus acts and hip hoppers performing over audiences that scream constantly on command. But once in a while, comes a diamond in the rough, which is what happened with this 10 year-old child, Jackie Evancho. Enjoy:
Click here: YouTube – America’s Got Talent – Jackie Evancho
Posted on July 20th, 2009 by marshallfrank in
General,
Music
As the media frenzy wanes following his untimely demise, pundits continue to exalt Michael Jackson, ad nauseam, as “the greatest entertainer” of all time. In fact, Jackson may have been the most popular entertainer of all time, but to call him the “greatest” is a stretch.
Jackson was a mesmerizing song and dance act, who relied on back-up dancers and singers to enhance his performance, not to mention sound equipment that wasn’t yet invented in days of yore. Beyond that, Jackson did little else. He was one-dimensional. He didn’t act, he didn’t impersonate, he didn’t have a wide vocal range, nor could he classically dance beyond his own unique style. Had an unknown Michael Jackson auditioned as a bare solo in the initial phase for today’s American Idol show — minus instruments, dancers, chorus or sound machines — I doubt he would have made it to the next round.
Young folks unfamiliar with the entertainment industry beyond the years of Madonna should be forgiven, for they simply don’t have a frame of reference for “all-time.” Show business has been around for eons during which we have seen many who could be tagged “the greatest” in terms of raw talent and spellbinding entertainment.
Vaudeville gave us Bob Hope, Berle, Ray Bolger and Rudy Vallee. Later came Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra and Carol Burnett all of whom could do just about anything, and do it better than well. Liza Minnelli’s one-woman show was unparalleled by anyone. And, of course, there was Elvis.
But one man stands alone like no other. He was not only great, he was multi-dimensional, bursting with raw talent in a myriad of genre in which Michael Jackson — and most others — could not come close. Another great performer once knelt on hands and knees before an packed audience to kiss his feet.
This entertainment giant overcame discrimination during the heights of segregation. He could not sleep in a hotel with white people, nor eat at their tables, nor walk in the front door of the very night clubs he was performing in. Yet the show went on. He fought against the Las Vegas and other establishments for black’s rights. He was a remarkable impressionist. He was an accomplished actor, appearing in thirty-six movies, one of which he sang the memorable Gershwin song, “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from in Porgy And Bess.He also starred with the original “rat pack” in the 1960s. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his Broadway performance in Golden Boy. He sang with a wide vocal range and a variety of style, including blues, jazz, popular and Broadway songs, selling multi-millions of records — via 48 albums – in a genre that was not considered his best forte.
That was reserved for his sheer power as a stage performer, singing and dancing with moves that Michael Jackson later emulated, including the earlier version of the now-popular “moon walk.” The hat, the legs, the poses, the leanings, the spins, the look…they were all his long before Michael Jackson was but a notion in his father’s mind. His tap dancing routines have been used on teaching films for young dancers. More than anything, his connection with an audience was personal, loving, intimate and caring. He reached out and touched, not from afar but up close and personal. He looked people directly in the eyes, though he only had one of his own.
Besides his on-stage accomplishments, he served his country in the U.S. Army during WW II. He wrote a book. He was politically active, respected and adored by both sides of the aisle. He was the first African-American to be invited to sleep in the White House. (by Richard Nixon) He actively fought on behalf of the civil rights movement. His only public controversy brewed from marrying a white woman in 1960, considered risque in those days. The list goes on.
Controversy? We’ll not even mention Jackson’s issues of questionable behavior, his crisis with racial identity, his known payoffs of hush money to accusers of sexual misconduct, not to mention criminal charges for which he was acquitted. That is another story by itself.
Yes, this little man was a true giant of a human being, on and off the stage. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to span the eons of stage, screen, radio and music, there can be no comparison in terms of sheer diversity of talent. That was graphically personified during a 1990 televised tribute, when one of show businesses most eminent stage performers, Gregory Hines, dropped to his knees and gave professional homage to “the greatest,” of all time – Sammy Davis Jr.
Sorry, all you young folks, that you didn’t have an opportunity to see how greatness is truly defined.
Set aside a few minutes, and enjoy a few tidbits:
For a sample of his impersonations
Click here: YouTube – Sammy Davis Jr. – Impressions
In the first 6 minutes of the next video, Davis shows his tap dance skills, then he sings Old Man River.
Click here: YouTube – Sammy Davis Jr.- Tap Dancing,Singing,
Davis doing Bojangles:
Click here: YouTube – Sammy Davis Jnr “Mr Bojangles”
Can you even imagine Michael Jackson ever being roasted:
Click here: YouTube – Sammy Davis Jr. gets roasted
Google YouTube for Sammy Davis Jr., there’s much more.
It’ll be a long time before we see the likes of him again.
Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by marshallfrank in
Music Only in America.
It was bigger than any convention for either party. It was bigger than a Super Bowl. It reached out to more television sets than any program in history. In the end, a scruffy, 25 year-old bartender with facial stubble and messy hair stood weeping in mid-stage as American Idol, 2008, amid screams, confetti, cheers and record contracts falling at his feet. David Cook’s rise to stardom, fete accompli.
Over 95 million viewers participated in the voting process. That doesn’t say much for the poor turnouts we see for political elections.
I’m not a big fan of today’s pop music culture, but I have to give credit where credit is due.
This show does it well.
It all begins with three judges — Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson — scouring the nation for signs of talent, selecting a very few from thousands of auditions from amateur singers who — if they get the thumb’s up — move on to the next phases. Contestants must be between ages 16 and 29. Once the final dozen is assembled, the voting is all left to the fans. Judges critique each performance, but have no more weight in the scoring process.
I don’t take well to all of it. Teeny-bopper girls waving hands and screaming at the foot of the stage during and after each performance is more of a distraction than an asset to the show, and it’s sooo scripted. Some of the finalist kids are voted upward based more on popularity, and less about their musical talent. Such was the case, in my humble opinion, of dreadlock-laden Jason Castro, who had little stage presence to accompany his voice, yet millions of young fans thought he was “cool.”
Nevertheless, the majority of talent that did emerge via the voting process was worthy of stardom. Syesha Mercado, who finished in third place, was my pick for the top spot. This young woman not only sung beautifully, her range and versatility of music far exceeded most of the competitors, and she displayed stage presence equal to anyone on Broadway, past and present.
Brooke White, pianist, guitarist and vocalist also exhibited a vast range of styles. I had thought that Michael Johns, the eldest of the group, would have won it all. His Rock & Roll was dynamic as any. Seventeen year-old David Archuleto, who looks more like he’s thirteen, was the favorite of the judges. I didn’t agree. The boy has a good singing voice, but that’s where it stops. His lack of maturity seeps through. When the songs are over, he reminded me of a little kid opening toys under the Christmas tree.
The final ten weeks are grueling for all the kids who are still in the mix. They must learn an array of new songs and rehearse constantly, plus participate in more choreography with past finalists who are still part of the American Idol summer programs.
What I would change: Much like the premise of “Dancing With The Stars,” reduce the weight of fan voters to fifty-percent with judges (maybe five instead of three) weighing the other half. And dump the screamers.
Nevertheless, I’m hooked. I’ll look forward to the next season as American Idol starts fishing once more for the best hidden singing talent in the nation. Never can tell. It could be someone you know. Maybe even — you.
Posted on May 3rd, 2008 by marshallfrank in
Music There’s nothing that can be better for a kid, than to have great parents, good health, born talent and ambition. This is a story to warm one’s heart.
Though my Mom had spent many years and dollars hoping her son would one day play violin in Carnegie Hall, alas, she would never see the day. Raging hormones, testosterone, friends and sports would put a major dent in those ambitions as I reached my teens. So, I became a cop.
But all is not lost.
Fast forward some fifty-five years, to the fall of 2006. Knowing I had an interest with violin, good friends asked if I would be interested in meeting a 13 year-old girl and to listen to her play. “Oh… no,” I thought. “Not another rendition of Twinkle Twinkle.” But, I capitulated and agreed to a brief visit at our home.
Remember the name: Esther Muradov.
Weighing around 70 pounds, the diminutive child looked less than her years. She came with her mother, Pervin, a piano teacher and Russian immigrant who arrived in America with her husband in 1990. After polite introductions, our friends, my wife (Suzanne) and I settled in to listen. Pervin sat at the piano. Esther stood. I prepared for the worst.
Poised, confident, she held the instrument perfect. The bow touched the first string, and — shockingly — the hair rose on my arms. I gasped. She played the first movement from a Vieuxtemps concerto. Flawless. Dazzling. Amazing. When she struck the final note, everyone was applauding except me. My jaw had fallen to the floor. This was no easy piece for Jascha Heifetz, yet Esther Muradov.
Esther said she practiced four hours a day since the age of four. I asked about her dreams. She hoped to play, one day, in Carnegie Hall.
Meanwhile, she had just been qualified to participate in an international music competition in Ibla, Sicily. But her family is of modest means and didn’t have the money to travel.
There were other problems.
Esther had a mediocre violin, certainly unable to match the instrumental quality of her competitors.
An honor student with many awards in dance, music and science, Esther would have to attend public high school where her mother felt her talents and abilities would be thwarted.
Electro-charged by such a wondrous kid, Suzanne and I both felt the calling to try and help. First, I offered Esther an opportunity to play a few test notes on my own 18th century Italian-made violin which produces a tone equal to the many of the best instruments. “Which do you like to play better?” I asked. “Yours or mine?”
Bashful, she looked for approval to her mother. Then she said, “Well, yours.”
It’s okay, I have a spare. Consider it an unlimited loan.
Then we organized a special fund raising recital, to be held inside a gutted, double-wide trailer currently used as a sanctuary for the Unitarian Fellowship. Because the facility would only seat 110, we decided to charge $50 a ticket, hoping that some people of means and serious intentions might attend. Some said we’d be lucky to fill a few seats. But, with the help of a local newspaper article, it was a sell-out. Esther played several pieces to standing ovations. As host, I conducted a brief interview which demonstrated her articulate and humble nature.
This has to be logged as one of the great inadvertent successes of my life. Not only did Esther and her family raise the money to compete in Ibla, some people in the audience found her musicality and charm so endearing, she was invited to play in the private homes of wealthy benefactors. From there, she secured other admiring sponsors. Rotary Clubs also invited her to various luncheons where scholarship monies were awarded.
As a bonus, another recital attendee saw the spark of academic brilliance in Esther, and with special recommendations to follow, was encouraged to apply for scholarship to the Phillips Institute in Andover, Mass., one of the more prestigious private schools in America.
Today, Esther is a scholarly freshman at Andover.
The Ibla Competition? Naturally, Esther was among the top winners. As part of her award package, she was invited to play at Carnegie Hall in April of 2008, along with a handful of other winners. Her dream would come true after all.
It was an evening we could not miss. A half an hour before the recital was to begin, Suzanne and I managed to visited with Esther in the back hallways of the famed concert theater, as singers could be heard warming up in studio rooms nearby. Now fifteen, she looked beautiful and aglow in her Cinderella dress, though wrought with anxiety as the minutes passed. I spotted my violin behind her in the case, looked around furtively, and lifted it under my chin. Then the bow. From there, I played a few bars from Tchaikovsky’s Canzonetta…just to caress my treasured instrument of fifty-five years, and to wish it well in its prestigious debut.
Not long after, I sat in the audience and watched with pride, this young talent playing the Lalo concerto as the tones from my violin reached glorious heights. Never had it been played so beautifully.
To my mind, this is a story with a happy beginning, not an ending. Esther Muradov now has a first-rate violin, she has played in Carnegie Hall (I suspect not for the last time) and is attending a first-class private school on scholarship. She has inspired a handful of Brevard County music lovers to apply for a foundation for tax-free support of creative artists. She has captured the heart of many admirers who are standing in line to offer their assistance. There will be no limit to her future. All she has to do is, be Esther.
Meanwhile, her parents have much to beam about, having provided the inspiration, love, sacrifice and guidance while helping her to develop those natural talents. For more on Esther, visit her web site:
Click here: ESTHER MURADOV
As for me? Suzanne and I bask in a great feeling of satisfaction knowing we may have helped to jump-start a promising and prosperous life ahead for this deserving young lady.
Besides, now I can truthfully say… “I played violin in Carnegie Hall.”
Mom would be proud.
