Category Archives: Out & About

Thoughts on Leon Russell

Leon Russell

Thinking about Leon because this new book just came out: ‘Leon Russell In His Own Words’, edited by Steve Todoroff and John Wooley. Todoroff has been working on a Leon book for at least 30 years that I know. Todoroff ambitiously had some conscripts go through the union logs in L.A. to find how many recording sessions Leon played on; there are probably thousands.

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Elton John bids “Farewell” in Tulsa

There was once a show called Name That Tune, where contestants would compete to name a song in the fewest amount of notes. There weren’t too many rounds won by hearing a single note. For the fans gathered inside Tulsa’s BOK Center Saturday night for Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” they accomplished the feat. When John sat down in front of his piano after taking the stage, he played the opening note of “Bennie and the Jets,” which was instantly recognized by the crowd. What followed was a nearly three-hour trip of some of his biggest hits, with some lesser-known songs sprinkled in for good measure.

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The Day the Music Died: Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly (1936-1959)

“I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride But something touched me deep inside: The day the music died.” —Don McLean, American Pie, (1971)

The snow was heavy on that night 60 years ago.  The only alternative to riding all night long in a dirty, unheated bus to the next concert gig was a tiny airplane.  Shortly after takeoff, however, the plane carrying Buddy Holly, along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, disappeared into a snowy cloud.

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A personal tribute to George H.W. Bush

Oak Ridge Boys & band with George H.W. Bush at the White House, Congressional BBQ Picnic (Photo Kathy Gangwisch)

What can we say that hasn’t been said or WILL be said about the loss of President George Herbert Walker Bush… That he was the 41st President of these United States…. That he was a selfless Naval pilot in the South Pacific… That he was an Ambassador to China… the head of the CIA… a Vice President… a leader… a hero… an example of being a gentlemanly force on the world stage… That he was fortunate enough to have been married to one of the most wonderful women who ever walked this planet? Continue reading