"Jerry Lee Lewis" by Rick Bragg (2014)

The first time I ever saw Jerry Lee Lewis was in Virginia Beach. It was about 1980; just after the “Killer” had been stricken with bleeding ulcers. It was at a small venue; a place with tables. I had one only a few feet from the small stage. He did a short set with the band and then dismissed them from the stage and offered to take requests.

I was quick to call out for some Webb Pierce. Just as quickly he looked at me and said, “You’re too young to know Webb Pierce!” It was like an accusation on his part, but then he grew thoughtful; fingers roaming the keys of the piano; and said, “I can’t drink anymore, but I sure do love to sing about it!” Then he launched into a wonderful barrel house piano version of “There Stands the Glass.” When he was through playing it he looked at me and asked, “How’d I do, son?” I do not recall my reply; probably because I was speechless.

Now, author Rick Bragg has written a biography of Mr. Lewis which most likely will serve as his oral autobiography; much in the same way that Merle Miller’s “Plain Speaking” serves as Harry Truman’s. Mr. Bragg spent 2 years with Mr. Lewis while writing this book; sometimes in the entertainer’s bedroom; which is equipped with a locking metal gate. The author doesn’t tell us whether or not the gate is there to keep the imaginary demons out; or the real ones inside. At any rate, this is where Mr. Lewis spends some of his time when not touring. (He was still performing on a limited basis until a year or so ago.)

Along with Jerry Lee’s own story; and the demons which haunt him; Mr. Bragg has given a good history of Ferriday and Louisiana in general. He describes it as a hard place; and as a southern boy himself he recognizes the dichotomy between religion and reality. He understands why Jerry Lee worries that playing rock and roll may exclude him from Heaven. It is only through his strong belief in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ that he manages to hold on these days.  He is; after all is said and done; the cousin of Jimmy Swaggart; an evangelist of note, if not an entertainer in his own right.

The book has a surprising humanity to it, given all that one associates with Jerry Lee Lewis and the Devil’s music. And Rick Bragg is just the right person to put it all done on paper. The conflict he feels with the talent God gave him to play rock and roll; or what just may be “the devils music” after all; worries him. It is plainly apparent that he comes from a place of ghosts, some of which haunt him. But at the same time he makes no apologies for who he has been and what he has done. He would; he believes; have done it differently now, but acknowledges freely that he probably wouldn’t. He’s a walking contradiction.

Rick Bragg does an excellent job in conveying the true essence of Jerry Lee Lewis; the original “bad boy” of rock and roll. He was there at the beginning and is still around today; at a time when most of his colleagues, and rivals, are gone. He is; as they say; the last man standing. He’s had health troubles; women troubles; financial troubles; you name it. He’s buried wives and children; been to the top of the pops and then down to playing cheap bars and clubs; then back up again, several times.

He’s been counted out as many times as Keith Richards; yet he’s always bounced back.  At 79 years of age; his body is ravaged by pain and he can only sit or stand in any one position for a few minutes at a time. But, recently married in 2012 to his longtime friend and recent caregiver; Judith Ann Coghlan; 14 years his junior, he is still rocking his life away.

"The Little Cloud that Cried" - Johnny Ray (1958)

This artist is new to me. Ran across his name in a book I was reading, and as is my wont, I went to You Tube to check out his act. I wondered what the earpiece was all about because this video precedes the days of headsets and the other devices attendant to a modern performance. Now I was hooked.

Turns out that Johnny Ray wore a hearing aid! It was now time to hit Wikipedia; always a good place to start before going on to books and interviews. 

John Alvin Ray was one of the more complex American singers and songwriters of the 1950’s. He achieved early success here in America but by the 1960’s his star had faded. He did, however enjoy a long and successful career in Europe; especially in England; and performed overseas until the year before his death in 1990.

Born in 1927 he lived on a farm with his parents. At age 13 he was hurt in a blanket toss during a Boy Scout outing. That injury cost him the hearing in his left ear. By 1958 he was just about completely deaf, but kept performing. He appeared with Ethel Merman in the movie “There's No Business Like Show Business” in 1954 with Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, and Marilyn Monroe.

By the time he made that film he was drinking heavily and also had been arrested twice for soliciting sex with other men. The first arrest was in Detroit at a burlesque house; he paid a fine quietly and the story was largely unreported at the time. After a second arrest; also in Detroit; he went to trial and was found not guilty. Surprisingly these arrests did little to hurt his career; although it must be noted that Liberace was a huge hit at the time and the public was not really on a witch hunt against homosexuals.

In many ways Johnny Ray was considered an early harbinger of the rock and roll sound, singing songs with pop lyrics. Tony Bennett has referred to him as the true father of rock and roll. Not sure I would agree with that, but he was a major component of the changes taking place in music at the time. He was kind of like Bobby Darin in some ways. His influences seem to have been Kay Starr, LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter. His hit single “Cry” was an influence to an up and coming Elvis Presley and he had the girls screaming several years before Elvis did. The King even took some of his lesser known moves from Mr. Ray.

By 1952 he was a major star in America; within the next year he was playing to sold out crowds in England and Australia. Sometimes when he sang he cried; which only served to endear him even more to the audiences. But by 1960 his American label dropped him and his star faded at home. But his recordings; both new and old; never stopped selling outside of the United States.

For more about this artist; including his marriage to Marilyn Morrison; the daughter of the Mocambo nightclub owner; check out this Wikipedia article. And for even more about his unusual career the following link to a blog called The Hound Dog will be very informative.

http://thehoundblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/johnny-ray-little-white-queer-that.html

______________________________

NO MATTER WHAT

See the portraits of these two men? Now see the difference in the way some people view them while claiming that race is not an issue in their assessment. If that were true then the only other explanation would be a lack of honesty on the part of the people making that claim; or else just a willingness to spout what they have heard from their favorite talking heads on the television and radio.

President Obama stated several weeks ago that he had no strategy for the problems in the Mideast with the group known alternately as ISIS/ISIL; pick your poison, they’re both the same to me. At any rate, a firestorm of protest was unleashed by the Right; "how can he say that?" " We need a man like Bush. He would have done something!"

Well, as demonstrated by the current mess we find ourselves in, he would have done something too quickly and ultimately it would have been the wrong thing. So, the Right is critical of a President who thinks before committing American lives and money to a decision. That’s a terrible thing…

Now; and this is in advance of the speech that the President will be making this evening about his strategy on the issue of ISIS/ISIL, pick your poison they’re both the same to me; they are already all over talk radio with the following reactions to what has not happened yet. Appropriately I have chosen to respond in advance to their pre-responses. It’s what I do. Here goes;

If the president takes a strong view against ISIS/ISIL; pick you poison they’re both the same to me; he will be viewed as having been indecisive for not having had an initial strategy.

This will make him suspect in the eyes of the American people.

It will provide comfort to the enemy who realize that he does not react quickly enough to situations, as did President Bush.

Now, remember, this is what they will say if they agree with him! I won’t even bother with what will be said if he is soft on the issue and they dis-agree!

So, in answer to the pre-analysis of what hasn't happened yet, since this is obviously the “party line” which Conservatives will be running with anyway, we say the following;

President Obama took the time- just a few weeks- to figure out a strategy for doing something which may affect us for decades to come. President Bush, on the other hand, did not. He was reckless and We, the People, are still paying the price for it.

It will make me less suspect of the President. Just knowing that he is not striving to get a quick knee-jerk reaction from me; in the way that the War in Iraq was sold to the American people; will be comforting. The knowledge that someone is not being reckless at the top of our government; where they never pay the price for wrong decisions; will be refreshing to most. It smacks of deliberate and considered leadership.

It will discomfort the enemy to know that we will be thinking before we act. This will have the opposite effect of empowering the enemy; sometimes with money and weapons; as was the case under Ronald Reagan with the Taliban who gave us Osama Bin Laden courtesy of our own tax dollars.

Well, that’s my “pre-editorial wrap up” for the speech tonight. The speech won’t contain any surprises. It will probably be an outline of what we are going to do as a coalition with other nations. Not sure if I care for coalitions anymore. We seem to do most of the paying and heavy lifting, but it’s probably better than thumbing your nose at the whole world. We shall see. But those are my predictions for the Conservative “take” on the speech, based upon what I am hearing on talk radio this afternoon about what hasn't happened yet.  

Top 100 Posts for July

This is the "short list" of the top 100 posts for July. I say short list because I got tired of transposing it after 74. The program I use to track my posts does not let you copy and paste it in a user friendly manner. If it did I would post this entirely useless information more often! 

Actually, I use a really simple version of Google Analytics which does not have the fancy "bells and whistles" which come with many other programs. Those actually give you the latitude and longitude of the person reading in real time. Yikes! I can't think of a better way to scare off a reader than by placing them under what amounts to electronic tracking. I actually stopped following 2 blogs which had that feature. 

I can only tell what states (all 50) and foreign countries (58) are reading my posts. And I can also tell which are the most popular, which is really helpful in deciding what to post in the first place. Actually, to be honest, I just post what I like; this being what I call a "destination" blog. I do try to keep a mix of music, movies, a book a week, a story and a couple of other things each week.

But there is something cool at the end of this post; if you've evn gotten this far; it's the reverse side of the above list from WQAM Radio 560 AM in Florida for the 1st week of August 1969. It's the best illustration of a list I could find. Besides, it gives me a chance to dust it off and show it off. I've had it for 45 years.

Five years and almost 1900 posts later I am still finding stuff to put up here. What started out as a weekly book review quickly turned into a daily obsession with me. No big surprise there. The biggest surprise for me has been that people actually find it, read it, and some even come back for seconds. Thanks!

So, here's the "short list"; If there is anything there of interest to you just precede the words with rooftop review, put it in your browser and  go. It would have been a Herculean task to post all the URL's! And, at about 125 pounds, I ain't him.

  1. fowl owl on-prowl-quincy-jones-1968.html

  2. seven-foys-with-bob-hope-and-james.html

  3. its-only-me-chapter-19-usns-pawcatuck_25.html

  4. joe-seneca-bluesman.html

  5. sip-little-tea-with-goldie-smothers.html

  6. vance-hotel-statesville-nc.html

  7. candy-cigarette-by-sally-man.html

  8. james-brown-and-rolling-stones-on-tami.html

  9. 70-most-unforgettable-characters.html

10. its-only-me-chapter-18-merchant-marine.html

11. hoagy-carmichael-hong-kong-blues.html

12. jimi-hendrix-brothers-story-by-leon.html

13. the-frank-sinatra-spectacular-1965.html

15. baffled.html

16. dear-leader-by-jang-jin-sung-2014.html

17. dubrows-brooklyn-legend.html

18. last-photos-of-john-lennon-and-paul.html

19. errol-flyn-and-fidel-castro-1959.html

20. john-lewis-and-voting-rights-act-of-1964.html

21. happy-birthday-mom.html

22. liberating-dixie-by-ed-williams-2014.html

23. moscow-on-hudson-with-robin-williams.html

24. post-world-war-two-in-photos.html

25. eyewitness-to-lincolns-assassination.html

26. hugette-clark-real-life-mystery.html

27. one-meat-ball-depression-era-songs.html

28. life-is-like-mountain-railroad-jerry.html

29. spirit-in-sky-norman-greenbaum-1969.html

30. alone-in-my-home-jack-white-2014.html

31. dont-love-me-anymore.html

32. dubrows-brooklyn-legend.html

33. blues-story-shout-factory-anthology.html

34. shanghai-diary-by-ursula-bacon.html

35. marlene-dietrich-lili-marlene-biography.html

36. valley-of-tears-solomon-burke-with.html

37. don-gibsons-grave-shelby-nc.html

38. the-world-according-to-me-jackie-mason.html

39. occams-razor-and-talmud.html

40. the-wedding-july-4-1986.html

41. two-men-come-down-same-chimney.html

42. mint-museum.html

43. betty-smith-life-of-author-by-valerie.html

44. goree-state-prison-texas.html

45. romare-bearden-at-100-rodins-missing.html

46. going-my-way-with-bing-crosby-and-barry.html

47. love-me-or-leave-me-nina-simone.html

48. nixons-darkest-secrets-by-don-fulsom.html

49. cole-porter-begin-beguine-2-versions.html

50. donalds-diary-donald-duck-1954.html

51. supreme-city-by-donald-l-miller-2014.html

52. romeo-and-juliet-andy-griffith-style.html

53. man-on-wire-with-philippe-petit.html

54. petrified-forest-with-leslie-howard.html

55. guys-and-dolls-and-other-writings-by.html

56. vice-by-sgt-john-r-baker.html

57. world-war-two-ration-books.html

58. francois-villion-written-for-bridegroom.html

59. food-blues-by-shel-silverstein-recorded.html

60. aladdin-and-his-wonderful-lamp-with.html

61. the-caine-mutiny-with-humphrey-bogart.html

62. ants-in-plants-max-and-dave-fleischer.html

63. old-photos-every-picture-tells-story.html

64. societys-child-janis-ian-1967.html

65. nobodys-darling-but-mine-andy-griffith.html

66. my-father-my-lord-with-assi-dayan-2007.html

67. thoughts-on-turning-59.html

68. the-preacher-and-bear-jubalaires.html

69. 4-non-blondes-whats-up-1992.html

70. kings-highway-at-east-16th-street-two.html

71. city-on-fire-by-bill-minutaglio.html

72. doc-martin-with-martin-clunes-and.html

73. take-this-man-by-brando-skyhorse-2014.html

74. tempted-glenn-tillbrook.html

My Cat in the Back - A Midnight Tale

I couldn’t believe my ears. Then I heard it again; it was my cat.  There’s nothing too strange about hearing him; except that he NEVER comes in the back of the house. Well, almost never; at least not for about 3 years now. And, he has a good reason.

It was almost 3 years ago that Midnight took his celebrated solo flight attached to the talons of a local hawk. The backyard at that time was not as well developed as it is now, and many of the neighbors hadn’t even planted a tree or erected a fence yet. So, the back was basically on long open field, long enough to land a small plane on. This is exactly what the hawk must have thought when he swooped down and grabbed Midnight.

Midnight has always been well fed, in spite of his somewhat haggard appearance. He has always gotten his tuna twice daily and some dry food is always in the bowl on the porch for him, along with his water. So he has never really been a lightweight. This point was proved when the hawk was forced to abandon his dinner about 3 houses down and 20 feet up. This meant that Midnight was about to go down 20 feet. It’s all relative to where you are at the moment.

So, down he came with a torn ear; the last grasp of the hawk’s talons desperately trying to hold on to his dinner. And, until the other evening, Midnight has refused to go back there again. This is why I was so surprised to hear his distinctive meow coming from beneath an old picnic bench which Sue uses to pot her plants.

He came out when I went to him, but he wasn't keen on hanging around for long. He was there on a mission. He usually comes home for dinner at about 5 o’clock. It was pushing 7 when he finally showed up looking for his tuna. So, he came around the house and caught my ear. Then we both walked back up front for his dinner. But as we crossed the back yard I did notice that he stuck awfully close to both the house and me.

Here is a song by Steve Earle which is probably pretty close to how the hawk feels when he’s up there. It’s from the 2008 album “Washington Square Serenade” by Steve Earle. Midnight generally likes his stuff, just not this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAmdOPCPu3A

Typical Month at Rooftop Reviews

"Jimi Hendrix - A Brother's Story" by Leon Hendrix... Aug 14, 2012	4397
The Vance Hotel - Statesville, N.C. Sep 19, 2010, 24 comments	3857
The King and Elvis Aug 16, 2010	1136
Birmingham, Alabama - September 15th, 1963 Sep 15, 2011	397
"Ants in the Plants" - Max and Dave Fleischer (1... May 11, 2013	372
Leap Year, George Washington and the Jewish Calend... Feb 28, 2012	146
Popeye Meets Bluebeard - Chivalry Is Not Dead Aug 13, 2013	139
Oleans Street - My Secret Walks Oct 1, 2010	135
Midnight - Cat Napping at Noon Mar 11, 2013	125
Follow up on "Decoding the Lost Symbol" by Simon ... Dec 5, 2009	115

It's been a typical month at Rooftop Reviews. The things I write today won't even "chart" until next year. Sometimes I'm surprised at what gets on there at all! Dismiss the Jimi Hendrix one; it's largely junk mail. I just keep it for the numbers it generates. By next month it will be gone and something else will replace it.

Sometimes it's seasonal. Like in April; my top hit then will be about the Civil War and also about the American Revolution. Surprisingly; overall; the Civil War is the more "popular” of the two. I wonder if that says anything about us as people?

The Vance Hotel is a regular in the top 10. It actually gets comments and also generates e-mails; which I prefer. The Vance is one of those places which attracts people; partly because of its reputation as one of the better hotels of the "old days"; and partly because it has a ghost. Now, that's unique...

Of course; the King and Elvis. I mean, anything about Elvis will get you a hit. I am putting Elvis in the keywords for this. Hey, I may start doing that with all my posts! But seriously, some folks actually do read this stuff. And I'm glad they do.

From cartoons to old films and books and history and stuff that I don't even recall, this is the best value for your buck on the web. Why? A- It’s free. B- There are 7 articles at any given time, as opposed to most other blogs where you can only look at one article at a time. They do that to get the extra hits. I don't need to. That's why I have Elvis and Jimi.

Elvis- Christmas Comeback Show (1968)

This was the ultimate Christmas special in 1968. Elvis had been lying about; making crappy movies for almost 10 years at this point and some folks thought he had lost his edge. Were they ever wrong! In this 72 minute special Elvis goes through every type of entertainment. Between singing, playing guitar, dancing, the production numbers and duets with Ann Margaret; this show represents the all-around entertainment which was the staple of television, especially around holiday times.

But the best part of this show; the part that blew all the naysayers away; comes at about 40 minutes into the show, when Elvis; along with his band; perform a medley of his greatest hits from the 1950’s acoustically and absolutely live. 

The drummer is using sticks on a chair to beat out the rhythm, and Elvis can’t seem to get a neck strap for his guitar. But this is the portion of the show which showed the world that he still had “it”. At one point he simply wiggles a pinky and the audience goes wild, much to the amusement of Elvis. Even the Beatles had to shake their heads to get that kind of reaction.

Don Gibson's Grave - Shelby, N.C.

A few days ago Sue and I took a drive to Shelby, N.C. to visit the grave of one North Carolina’s premier compose/singer/songwriters, Don Gibson. You may not know the name offhand if you are not a country music fan, but you know his songs. Elvis did rather well with “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and I’m sure that made Mr. Gibson very happy. And his list of songs goes on and on, touching 2 decades, and influencing the direction of country music, keeping it grounded to its roots.

I took one of my guitars with me to play and did a credible version of 2 of his songs which are favorites of mine, “Sea of Heartaches” which was written by Paul Hampton and Hal David and first recorded by Mr. Gibson in 1961.  I also did a bit of “I Can’t Stop Loving You”; the lyrics are posted in brass at the base of the other side. It was fairly easy to figure out, and I hope I did it justice!

The actual monument, which is made of green Jade from Asia, is about 15 foot tall and contains everything you want to know about his music and career. Apparently, he was also a Mason.

On the way out we spied this unusual looking stone just a few rows over from Mr. Gibson’s grave. It sports a fiddle and the Atlanta Georgia Music Hall of Fame logo, so I had to take a look at the other side to see what was what.

This is the obverse side of the marker which lists her name and dates of birth. Of course now I have to find her music on You Tube and be thankful to Don Gibson for having inadvertently introduced me to another great artist in the chain that makes music the veritable river that it is. For more about Mr. Gibson’s life go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Gibson

Hopefully, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, located in Kannapolis, will soon have a guitar form the Gibson family to grace their wonderful collection of memorabilia of native North Carolina’s most beloved musical artists. Although he was inducted into the Hall several years ago, his space there contains only a plague at the present time. Hopefully; with time; that will change.

There is also a Don Gibson Theatre located in downtown Shelby, which houses most of his guitars and stage outfits. It is also a functioning musical venue which seats 4,000 people and hosts some of the leading country artists of the present day. Their site is at http://dongibsontheater.com/

And to view more about the NC Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis, and the many varied artists who originated here, go to their website at; http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/