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RAISE HIM UP

I never paid much attention to country star Randy Travis until a few years back. During a minister's retreat in New Mexico we were told we would get a surprise visit. After listening to an hour of lectures we left the room for a while.  When we returned to our long dull meetings we were greeted by Randy Travis. He gave a free concert. I learned that day CD's fail to do justice to Travis' booming, compelling voice. He certainly mesmerized this old nominal country music fan. Easter day seems fitting to post my favorite, Raise Him Up. The song provides both spiritual and social implications to the resurrection of Christ. (originally posted in April 09)

Randy Travis
Tags: Randy Travis, MTV Hive

ELIZABETH TAYLOR GROWS UP II

Boy, you didn't mess with this beauty queen in real life:

In 1947, 15-year-old Elizabeth Taylor told off her boss, MGM head honcho Louis B. Mayer, arguably the most powerful man in Hollywood, for being mean to her mother.  She left the mogul’s office crying, fully convinced she was going to get fired.  It turned out she was wrong and after a few weeks the young actress recognized that she was a valuable commodity and by fighting she could get often get her way.

She was so mysteriously wicked that she evolved into a wolf with sheep's clothing. For that reason she drove a man's man absolutely insane. His inflated ego mindlessly drove him to make a daring attempt at conquering this vixen. He soon discovered, however, he got hopelessly tangled up with a raven haired black widow. Yet, if he willingly gave into her she fought for him like no other friend. What a woman!

ELIZABETH TAYLOR GROWS UP

Most of us know by now that last week we lost an old school movie goddess. Elizabeth Taylor began as a dramatic compelling little girl thespian with her role in National Velvet . And, the world watched while God gifted this adolescent actress with a rare natural beauty that took our national breath away. Rarely does God offer us both the rich combination of artistic skill combined with hypnotic beauty in one package.  Classic Hollywood produced either a craftswoman or an alluring queen while never the twain appeared to meet. Enter Elizabeth Taylor. The little girl disposition subtly evolved into a gentle, yet mysterious seductress who knew how to render a man's man utterly helpless. Raven hair, voluptuous physicality, and glowing eyes, combined with her acting skills made her immortal. We shall never see the likes of Ms.Taylor again.

Elizabeth Taylor won her first academy award for her dominating role as Gloria Wandrous in BUtterfield 8 . The movie also starred singer Eddie Fisher and veteran actor Lawrence Harvey. Butterfield 8 confirmed what we already intuitively felt. Eddie Fisher belonged on the turntable, not the big screen. Lawrence Harvey, however, offered a more telling surprise. This established handsome-man actor could not muster up enough talent to stay in the game with Ms. Taylor. When one watches the movie it becomes immediately clear that Harvey is out of his league when paired with Queen Taylor. In fact, she profoundly outclasses the whole troop in this one. Below features a scene from Butterfield 8 between Harvey and Taylor that undoubtedly gives the edge to Taylor.  

THE GIPPER'S SOCIOLOGY 101 CLASS

A legion of educational and experiential streams forge ones leadership character. The great Ronald Reagan no doubt, swam the current of those streams while on his way to immortality. His days in radio, movies, and Hollywood politics honed his tremendous communication skills. But, to become a great leader of men, one must know the people he desires to influence. Ronald Reagan's vast knowledge of the collective American personality probably came during his days as weekly host of the popular television show General Electric Theater. Each week Mr. Reagan brought a new movie into our living rooms. His contract with GE required that he travel extensively, meet GE employees across this great nation, and be an ambassador for the corporation. The video below describes Reagan's work and education with GE. Just one more stream, sociology stream to be exact, that emptied into the vast ocean of greatness that we know as "the Gipper." 

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REMEMBERING THE KING

The King of Rock entered our world this day in 1935. Mega fame and fortune at a young age formed a backdrop for personal tragedies and an inflated sense of self worth that catapulted Elvis Aron Presley into a surreal existence. Yet, in this writer's opinion, Presley embodied a style that made him the most charismatic entertainer in the history of the medium.

Elvis Presley originated a trend that young musicians and rockers poorly attempted to emulate for several decades. His pompadour hairstyle evolved from the truck driver culture he seemingly admired as an idealistic youth. In addition, one can hear his penchant for extreme vocal coloration and tonal variances in singers such as Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Rick Nelson, and a host of other Elvis wanna be's. Beatle founder John Lennon, received his first inspirational vibes from watching Elvis Presley. Lennon declared, "I watched Elvis and said to myself, 'That's not a bad job.'" His lead guitarist Scotty Moore, pioneered the Rockabilly sound. He received his inspiration from the Travis picking style of Chet Atkins and influenced the likes of George Harrison, Carl Perkins, and John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. In fact, Moore once told Fogerty, "You stole all my best licks."

Elvis lived a life of contradictions. He grew up sporadically attending the Assembly of God Church. He prototyped the individual who constantly struggled with the angel on his right and the demon on his left. Elvis' spiritual tug o war and his divorce from Priscilla, led to his emotional and physical demise. His manager Col. Tom Parker, a carney personality, helped make him a star, but also kept him away from several key opportunities such as the starring role in the movie West Side Story.

One of his most outstanding performances came from the title song in his immortal signature movie Jail House Rock. While he was no Gene Kelly, Elvis choreographed this scene and won respect with critics for his work. Good stuff for an amateur hillbilly. Note the original moon walk in this one.

In 1968 Elvis recorded his famous comeback special on NBC t.v. This blogger still remembers watching that special all those years ago. Presley specifically requested a new young song "painter" from Lubbock, Texas named Mac Davis, write a piece for the television program. The song, "Memories" stands as my favorite of all Elvis recordings. (I'm a bit prejudice since Lubbock is my home town) Mac Davis also wrote "In the Ghetto," "A Little Less Conversation,"(the theme song for the television series Las Vegas) and "Don't Cry Daddy." Listen to "Memories" below.

A young Elvis Presley did a yeoman's job in the movie King Creole. The picture provides some outstanding cast members such as Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, and Amarillo, Texas native Carolyn Jones. (also known as Morticia on the old t.v. show The Adam's Family)

I also suggest listening to Elvis 56. The recording presents some of the best from the year that launched Elvis into stardom. His voice sounds raw and fresh. It also shows off a few of Scotty Moore's best licks. Not to mention a little lead guitar from Elvis on the track "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy." Notice the echo sound on Moore's guitar. Sun Studios developed that sound through an echoplex- a taped delay. Those machines often broke down, but they gave Rockablliy guitar its trademark sound.

Indeed we miss the King. Hey, but I think I saw him the other day working at the Sonic in Austin, Texas.

(Originally posted August 2007)

BELATED THOUGHTS CONCERNING TRUE GRIT

Rooster Cogburn's been resurrected. That's right. He now, however, resembles Jeff Bridges. And, like the Duke of old Bridges performs with Oscaresque precision.

Cogburn confirms that humanity's most surly among us often possesses a soul. Enter a young girl named Matti Ross. Matti hires Rooster to hunt down her father's cold blooded killer. Jeff Bridges convincingly baits us into hating mister Cogburn. Hailee Steinfeld (Matti) inspires us to love him.  

True Grit implicitly serves up other ethical offerings such as justice, selflessness, and character transformation. 

A good time should be had by all who delve into True Grit's compelling pleasures.

EDDIE FISHER RIP (1928-2010)

The man could down right sing. Eddie Fisher's disastrous marriages to Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, and other notables, often overshadowed his God given voice. Like a boat sailing smooth waters; blue skies; not a care in the world, Fisher's tenor pipes might put prozac out of business. If life has you uptight lay down on the old couch with a pair of earphones and listen to this:

HE DIDN'T MESS AROUND BOY

So goes the colloquialism attributed to a young Ricky Nelson. The Rock n' Roll hall of famer born in 1940 to Ozzie and Harriet Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, grew up as familiar face to millions of Americans. Ricky, his famous band leader father Ozzie and singer mother Harriet Hilliard, along with brother David all evolved into a household item by 1952. This notable family starred in Ozzie's brainchild sit com The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet from 1944 to 1966. They made the risky transition from radio to television in 1952. Ricky, the young, sickly little blond, evolved into a dark haired, athletic man's man and Rock star in 1957. That's the year a new Ricky Nelson emerged on the scene. While he and a date listened to Elvis Presley Ricky bragged that he too made a record. His father Ozzie got to work and put together an exceptional band including song writer and guitar sensation James Burton. Ricky recorded Fats Domino's I'm Walkin and the rest is as they say, "Histwa." The song reached #4 on the Billboard Charts. Nelson during the 50's sold more records than any other rock star except Elvis. Often he appeared at the end of the Nelson's television program, showcasing a newly cut single. Smooth baritone crooning, blue eyes blinking in rhythm to the music, girls screaming, parents drew a sigh of relief. Young Ricky, the all American boy, stood in stark contrast to what many adults perceived as a bad boy medium. He and his father held differences of opinions concerning music styles. Thus, Ricky often complemented his A side singles with a mellow B side. The issue evolved into a source of contention between father and son. Eventually Ricky wanted off of the show. Ozzie reluctantly acquiesced and allowed his son more freedom in his choice of music. Fledging ratings demanded this from Ozzie if he wanted the show to survive.

In 1963, under a new lucrative contract with Decca Records, Nelson's star began to fade. He found new light, however, in a young lady by the name of Kristin Harmon. She was the daughter of former Michigan football great and Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon. Her brother Mark stars in the hit television series NCIS. Ricky and Kristin were wed April of 1963. Watch below as Nelson plays a spirited Ray Charles' composition I Gotta Woman. The piece displays both Ricky's vocal range and James Burton's Rockabilly guitar.

Changes hit Rick quickly. After The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ran its course Rick embraced a new musical genre called Folk Rock. The boy who started his career knowing only three guitar chords transformed into a pretty darn good guitarist even learning classical music. He wrote a classical piece for his wife entitled Song For Kristin. Around 1969 Nelson began touring again and formed the Stone Canyon Band. The bass guitarist for the band, Randy Meisner, later formed the immortal Eagles. A now rather obscure Rick Nelson wrote and recorded the most successful song of his career, Garden Party. The song is a response to a concert Nelson held at Madison Square Garden where fans booed him when he broke out playing some contemporary music.

I saw Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band Live. Nelson rarely talked. He cut the crapola of waxing eloquent while introducing a number. He simply played his music, one song after another. He had great instincts and knew what people wanted. For that I will always be grateful. On December 31, 1985 Rick Nelson died in a plane crash over DeKalb, Texas. The tragedy stole his life long ago and far away. But, his music will live forever in the heart and soul of America. Bob Dylan once accurately described Ricky explaining:

He sang his songs calm and steady like he was in the middle of a storm, men hurling past him. His voice was mysterious and made you fall into a certain mood.