"Klansville, USA" - A PBS Film (2015)

I just read this book back in January and somehow never reviewed it here. Don't know why, except that one book ends and another begins. Sometimes a good one gets left out. Such was the case with that one. But, in case you missed the book there is a PBS documentary of the same name and by the same author; David Cunningham.

Reading the book was an eye opener in that I would never have guessed that over half of all the KKK memberships and claverns in the United States were located here in North Carolina; many within 100 miles or less from my home. Kannaoplis; which is 18 minutes from my house; was a particularly active area. There is a tree located about 3 miles from me which is indicated on the chart showing the location of each of the lynchings which took place between the turn of the last century and the dawn of this new one. 

The film is stark and will leave you wondering how the hell they got some of these films. They actually show the "secret" initiation ceremony and other portions of the documentary show men, women and children parading; with hoods up in broad daylight; down the streets of Salisbury, Greensboro and other cities throughout the state. Watching them reminded me of the people who indiscriminately allow themselves to be filmed saying and doing idiotic things today. What were they thinking? 

I passed through North Carolina for the first time when I was 9 years old in early 1964. We were on a trip to Virginia and Washington, DC when we decided to go a bit further and see where my Dad's cigarettes came from. So, we wound up in Raleigh and also Durham, where the biggest cigarette manufacturers were located.

The most memorable part of the trip for me was stopping at a Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, complete with restaurant and orange roof. What could be more welcoming than the familiar corporate colors, which meant comfort and civility? We entered the restaurant and ate our meal. I was amazed listening to the accents and hearing the waitress call everyone "honey" and "sweetie." Man, I was down South! Then the Coca-Cola truck arrived to make a delivery.

The waitress behind the counter greeted the driver flirtatiously and with honey dripping from her every word. The driver, too, played his part perfectly. With his rolled up short sleeved Coca Cola shirt and a cigarette dangling from his lips he was the embodiment of an American workingman. Then they spoke.

She began by barking, "Boy! The trucks here, get it inside!" A small black kid; skinnier than me; came out from the kitchen area. He never looked up; only down at the floor and mumbled "Yes, 'aam." And as he went to to the door and the task of wheeling in those cases of soda; which were taller than either of us; the driver added, "And don't you break nothing now, y'hear?" This film captures that with crystal clarity.

Crossing the Line with Strange New Laws

Something is wrong up in Raleigh; which is home to our State Legislature here in North Carolina. Some bizarre new laws are being proposed; and in some quarters embraced; that would have an adverse impact on many of the state’s citizens. Literally and figuratively they have crossed the line.

The new traffic ordinance would erase decades of traffic engineering studies and allow you to pass on a double yellow line on a blind curve if the car in front of you is not going as fast as you’d like. Yes, there are requirements in there somewhere about the percentages of speed required to avail yourself of the rule. Let's see how that works out.

I suppose the effect of that safety factor will have drivers using their cellphones as calculators to determine if they are in compliance. But generally people will just pass one another as they do now anyway. I don’t mind if they want to die; I just feel sorry for the ones who are in that oncoming lane and will be feeling the full impact of this foolishly considered piece of legislation. 

Then there is the brilliant move to a flat fee; paid annually; for gas taxes which have always been paid at the pump at the time of purchase. This has always been the fairest way to tax the roads; it’s referred to as a “Use Tax.” The little old lady down the street; who uses her car to attend church once a week and pays about $1.50 in taxes based on about 5 gallons of fuel at 30 cents per gallon tax for an annual total of $78; will now have to fork over $210 at the end of each year. Meanwhile someone with an SUV or pickup who uses 50 gallons per week for a tax of $15 at the pump for a total of $780 per annum will be getting quite a break!

Our local laws are also getting just as twisted. Only one week after the Charlotte City Council voted down a new Gender Friendly ordinance; which would have let you use the public restroom you felt most comfortable with on any given day; the City is now touting the success which the schools are enjoying in the same sex classrooms being tested in one of the city’s Magnet Schools. I am not making this up. Just so you know; the laws don't bother me half as much as the inconsistencies.

But, consistency and reasoning has flown the coop in the great state of North Carolina. I remember when I moved here about 16 years ago. The biggest case of county corruption involved the misappropriation of $1,500 by a local councilman. Sue and I laughed aloud that this item even made the news.

Since then we have had politicians resign in disgrace and scandal; and the former Mayor of Charlotte is currently under Federal Detention for trying to sell the city. And, as far as new laws are concerned, the biggest story when we moved here was whether or not the old Confederate flag would be removed from one of the local parks. Well, those days are gone; and we ain’t laughing anymore.

   

Greg Hardy - Buying Justice

The Appeals trial of Greg Hardy; football player for the Carolina Panthers; was terminated in a dismissal Monday when his accuser; the elusive Nicole Holder; did not appear. Nothing sinister going on; she has been sighted skiing and partying elsewhere in the country in recent days; leaving many with the impression that she’s spending the money which Hardy provided her with to not appear at the trial. Indeed the media have confirmed that a deal for an undisclosed sum has taken place.

It seems odd that the Prosecutor’s office in Mecklenburg County; which is where the offense and original trial took place; sees nothing wrong with this. On the surface many will agree. But examine this a bit more closely and see if it passes the smell test, or if it smacks of a double standard.

First you have to forget the victim in this case; as she has seemingly done herself. That leaves Justice as the defendant; an ironic twist considering that the victim was the original Plaintiff. Her actions; or should I say inactions, along with the acquiescence of the Mecklenburg County Prosecutor’s office; have turned justice on its head by allowing Ms. Holder to walk away from the Appeals portion of the trial she initiated.

That’s right; the victim here has now become the person obstructing justice in her own case; in which she alleged she was beaten and threatened with physical violence at the hands of Greg Hardy. She has; of her own volition, and for profit; sold her status as a victim and become the criminal. She has done irreparable damage to the claims of women everywhere who have been legitimately assaulted.

As for the Prosecutor’s Office I have but one question; what is the difference between offering someone money to withdraw testimony, and intimidation of a witness? Surely there is an element of intimidation involved in this. If someone is willing to give you $100,000 to go away quietly, then I must assume they would pay $50,000 for you to disappear if you refused the offer. And the recipient of that $100,000 knows this is true to a certain degree. And that constitutes intimidation, even if she accepts the money which should never have been offered.

When someone files charges with the Court there is a perceived bond between the two. The victim has asked for the court’s help in resolving a problem which is beyond the Plaintiff’s ability to solve on their own. When that person then walks away from the Court; in this case by not showing up for the trial; they sever that bond and the expectation of protection that it offered. And when money changes hands that victim becomes a criminal.

But the real victims in this travesty of our Justice system are the thousands of people who will not be taken seriously when they file domestic abuse claims. Then there are the rest of us; we have all been robbed collectively of our faith in the Justice system to go beyond the money and deliver real justice.

The Prosecutor has said that this is just a misdemeanor case and not worth pursuing; but it seemed to be worth a lot more to Greg Hardy; underscoring just how wrong the Prosecutor is, as well as undermining the credibility of Ms. Holder’s original charges in the first place. As I said, the real losers here are you and I.

Note: The Prosecutor’s Office was unable to answer my questions concerning why they did not seek a subpoena for Ms. Holder to appear; citing only that the judge would have had to sign off on one if it were issued. In this case it appears that the Prosecutor’s office did not consider it to be worthwhile according to District Attorney Andrew Murray.

  

Mr. Murray’s office has not been able to locate Ms. Holder since November, in spite of her numerous appearances on social media. If this assertion is true; that the DA’s office has not been able to locate their star witness since November; in spite of what Mr. Murray describes as “extraordinary efforts”; then it smacks of gross indifference of the well-being of Ms. Holder by the DA’s office.That in itself will serve as a deterrent for other victims to come forward.

You can contact the District Attorney’s office directly at 704-686-0700. Tell them Rooftop sent you.

  

Tal Henry & his North Carolinians (Undated)

There’s a great misconception of North Carolina when it comes to music. Many people think of the state as being predominantly represented by such musical acts as Earl Scruggs and Andy Griffith, or “shag music” from the shore. And we’re proud of that stuff. But our musical history is much more diverse than that. It covers all genres; including the rare and elusive traveling jazz -dance band orchestra and comedy act of Tal Henry and His North Carolinians.

Well, in actuality Tal Henry was born in Georgia in July of 1898. He arrived in North Carolina; Burlington to be exact; after he had completed his education at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music located in Dayton, Virginia. In North Carolina he worked at Elon College, near Burlington, where he taught violin, an instrument he had been playing since he was 7 years old.

His first experiences playing for entertainment seem to have been in the Burlington area around 1919. He was the violinist with Frank Hood and his band; now making his home in Greensboro. By 1924 he had taken over the band which he named Tal Henry and His North Carolinians. It’s not clear just how many of the band members were from North Carolina, but the name was a big draw at college campus parties and social events in the surrounding area.

Next the band found work in Washington, Pennsylvania doing the same thing as they had in Greensboro; playing dances and events; only now they had a home at the Washington Hotel where they were under contract as the house band. Remember that radio was just coming into play as a major means of entertainment, and so “society bands”; as they were known at the time; were still in great demand.

The next move the band made was to Charlotte; which at the time was poised to become the great center of music that Nashville became later on. Charlotte only lost her hold due to the logistics of the vaudeville circuit. At the time her 50,000 Watt transmitter at WBT-AM was the largest one in the South, and as such the station drew all kinds of entertainers to its studio on Tryon Street. Arthur Smith was a regular and had his own show. He loved Charlotte so much that he never left it; dying there (here to me) just about a year ago. There the orchestra performed at the opening of the Hotel Charlotte in 1924. But the bands big break finally arrived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when they were introduced to Bob Hope and George Burns. They were booked to join the troupe for a sixteen week tour beginning immediately.

From then on the band worked more or less non-stop for about 27 year; appearing on stage, at galas and celebrations, on radio, television and even a few movies along the way. They worked with just about everybody in show business at the time, including; Bob Hope, ,Mary Pickford, Kate Smith, Kay Kyser, Fred Waring, Paul Whiteman, Jan Garber, Duke Ellington, Vincent Lopez, Randolph Scott, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Hal Kemp, Jack Marshall, Nat "King" Cole, Ina Ray Hutton and even a young Lionel Hampton.

I have run across the name of the band several times over the years while reading both fiction and non-fiction books. I figured it was high time to find out who he was and how he fit in to the history of music in North Carolina. He may not have been born here, but North Carolina is the place he learned how to swing.

"Blood Done Sign My Name" with Ricky Schroder and Nate Parker (2009)

Ricky Schroder shines as Pastor Vernon Tyson in this 2009 film about a preacher who comes to the town of Oxford, North Carolina in 1970 with his family. The film is based upon a true story. It involves a local black man named Dickie Marrow who has just returned from Vietnam and was killed by a white man who thinks he heard him insult his wife. The actual murder was committed by grocer Robert Teel and his son Larry, who were both acquitted of the crime by an all-white jury.

William Chavis was the only real witness to the crime, asides from an elderly black woman. Both of their testimonies were discredited in order for the white men to walk free. During the trial a man arrives in town to organize the resistance among the people. He is known as a “Stoker.” He fuels the fires of dissent, hoping to help effect change. He is the legendary Golden Frinks, who roamed the country from one hot spot to another for the ten years between 1964 and the early 1970’s. This film is as much about him as it is about Dickie Marrow.

It is also a film about the effect our actions have on those around us; not least of whom are our families. Both main characters struggle to maintain a balance of what they are fighting against, as well as an awareness of how those actions will affect their children. This is particularly true of the Pastor’s young son.

Excellent cinematography and location shooting in North Carolina make this an extra special film to watch. The statue of the Confederate soldier is still in front of that court house; and several others in the state. I would not have them removed for all the tea in China. They serve as a reminder of an inglorious past, and were they to be removed we might forget the shame of those times.

Johnny Bristol - NC Music Hall of Fame

This is the first of a new series of postings I will be doing about the artists who are in the NC Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis, N.C.  The music which has emanated out of North Carolina over the tears is much varied and covers every musical genre you can possibly think of; from Opera to Funk and everything in between. I plan on doing posts about these artists to commemorate their birthdays. Mr. Bristol’s big day was Monday February 3^rd.

Johnny Bristol is a perfect example of the diversity of the music which has originated in North Carolina over the past 100 years. Born February 3, 1939 Mr. Bristol spent his early years living in Morganton, the county seat of Burke County, in the mountains near Hickory. The town boasts quite a few famous people. In addition to Johnny Bristol there is Etta Baker, known for her version of the Piedmont Blues, a separate genre unto itself. In addition to the likes of Senator Sam Ervin, the town also lays claim to Frankie Silver who was the first woman ever hanged in North Carolina. On the other end of the spectrum, the town is also the home of Paige Summers, the Penthouse Pet of the Year for 1998. Now, that's what I call diversity!

Mr. Bristol is mostly remembered as a musician-songwriter as well as having been a producer for Motown during its most active period, from the late 1960s to the 1970’s. His own hits include the one above, which is kind of an Al Green thing from 1974, to the song he wrote about his home town of Morganton, which can be viewed here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8mMB5vZK2w

His first real musical success came in Detroit, where he had landed after serving in the Air Force in the late 1950’s. As part of the duo Johnny and Jackey; aka Jackey Beavers; they recorded about half a dozen songs on two different independent labels, both owned by members of Berry Gordy’s family. While these records were only successful in the Mid-west, they were instrumental in opening the doors for him at Motown. By 1965 he was working at Motown as a songwriter and producer. He was the guy behind the mixing board for such hits as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Your Precious Love”.

This was probably the most creative period of Mr. Bristol’s career. Everything he touched seemed to turn to gold; as in gold records. Wikipedia lists the following records among his accomplishments;

The Velvelettes "These Things Keep Me Loving You" (1966); Gladys Knight & the Pips' "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971) and "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" (1972); and Jr. Walker & the All Stars, who charted with a number of Bristol-written singles and albums, including "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" (1969), "Gotta Hold On To This Feeling" (1970), "Way Back Home" (1971) and "Walk in the Night" (1971). Mr. Bristol even recorded Jermaine Jackson's first solo record, "That's How Love Goes" in 1972.

In addition to all the above, he was the last producer to work with The Supremes and The Miracles, before they both lost their lead singers. “Someday We’ll Be Together” is actually a cover version of Mr. Bristol’s single with Jackey in 1961.His voice is even the male response on the final released version by the Supremes.

In 1973 he was briefly associated with CBS Records as a producer, but the label seemed to be unenthusiastic about his artists, which included Boz Scaggs and also Johnny Mathis. By 1974 he was with MGM, where he seemed to get his “second wind”. He was now ready to emerge as an artist on his own.

With MGM he recorded 2 albums and placed several singles in the charts. "Hang on in There Baby"  was released in 1974 and hit #8 in the US on the Pop charts; #2 on the  R&B charts;  and even enjoyed success overseas, placing #3 in the UK. "You and I",  "Leave My World" and "Do It To My Mind" followed one after the other in 1974, 75 and 1976. In 1975 he was nominated for a Grammy as Best New Artist.

After leaving MGM he went on to record with Atlantic Records, a relationship which saw him working with some of the artists he had worked with at CBS. In particular he was instrumental in creating Boz Scaggs “breakout” album “Slow Dancer” in 1974. He also produced the Tom Jones album “Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do” which contained 5 cover versions of Mr. Bristol’s songs.

By the 1980’s he was firmly embedded in the European market with such artists as Ami Stewart. He continued recording through the early 1990’s, making music with Earth Wind and Fire, as well as a recording with his daughter Shannon Bristol. He even enjoyed some degree of success in the Japanese market at the time. Good music knows no borders.

Mr. Bristol passed away at his home in Michigan on March 21, 2004. He died of natural causes at the age of 65. Although some would not consider him to be a major artist; or superstar; he was, and continues to be well regarded in musical circles. NC Music Hall of Fame is pleased to include this artist among its inductees.

For more on the NC Music Hall of Fame use this link;

http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/

This post is also available at

http://ncmusichalloffamebios.blogspot.com/

Howser House

Nestled about an hour from our house, in the Kings Mountain National Park, is the stone house built in 1803 by a veteran of the Revolutionary War named Henry Howser. The house was home to several generations of Howser’s who farmed the fertile soil there. The site itself is also historically significant; as it sits right on the edge of what was once a famous battleground in the struggle for Independence.

The area in which Kings Mountain sits was a hotly disputed area during the war, with the Loyalists largely holding sway over the daily lives of the people who lived there. Because of this a group of volunteers from Tennessee were compelled to set out to cross the mountains separating Eastern Tennessee from the Piedmont area of the Carolinas. They took their canons with them.

The result of their efforts to help the people there throw off the yoke of British rule became known as the Battle of Kings Mountain. It was a significant victory, as it allowed the Continental Army to exert some control over the all-important mountain routes which were needed to resupply the Continental Army on the other side of the mountain, and as such it united the efforts of both colonies to be free.

The house itself is made of the local fieldstone and was considered to be quite a palace for its time and place. Oddly, although located within the boundaries of the Kings Mountain National Park itself, the house is only open 2 days a year; once in May and then again on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That’s when Sue and I went, last Saturday.

The Howser House is a treasure for anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of life in the early 19^th Century. Staffed by volunteers in period costumes, the visitors are shown how things were done in the old days; everything from raising herbs and vegetables to cooking and even constructing such a house are either demonstrated or discussed.

Sue and I love these type of day trips, as they require very little walking for me, but also provide a fantastic window back in time. With Sue being a member of DAR; and her great grandfather several times removed, Henry Pensinger being an American revolutionary Veteran; these sights are almost personal in a way. With no photographs, and very little in the way of written reminisces of the time, this is one of the best ways to see and feel what his daily life must have been like.

The following links will provide directions and information on both the Howser House and Kings Mountain National Park;

http://www.npca.org/about-us/center-for-park-research/stateoftheparks/kingsmountain/KIMO-report.pdf (about the Park)

http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1090&context=archanth_books  (about the Howser House)

"Met Her On the Mountain" by Mark I. Pinsky (2013)

When VISTA volunteer Nancy Morgan arrived to Madison County, North Carolina in 1970 she believed that she could make a difference in the lives of the working poor who lived there. And, to some extent she did. By most accounts she was a friendly and outgoing young woman who was determined to do what she could to help in the War on Poverty. Her future plans after her stint with VISTA involved obtaining her nursing degree and returning to Madison County to provide health care to the people who lived there. It just didn't work out that way.

One night in June, as Nancy was headed home to her cabin next door to the grocer’s, she was apparently abducted, raped and killed. Her body was left; bound; in the backseat of her government issued Plymouth, where it was found several days later by a passing motorist answering the call of nature.

What followed was one of the most botched investigations imaginable, with local law enforcement competing with the FBI for clues to solve the killing. The body was left on Federal land, and should have been a Federal crime scene from the beginning of the investigation until the last. Even local politics played a part in not solving the case of Ms. Morgan’s murder. The case is still unsolved as of this writing.

Social attitudes were also a sticking point in the investigation, with the more conservative local folks believing, in some measure, that Ms. Morgan was too sexually active. Books were found in her belongings concerning S and M. It was reported that she had several lovers in the area. It was even rumored that she was killed by a local woman, jealous of Nancy’s easygoing ways. None of these things were ever proven to have had a bearing on her murder. As a matter of fact, none of those things was ever proven at all.

The title of the book comes from the ballad “Tom Dooley”, which was actually written about a murder in Statesville, North Carolina. The author traces the roots of mountain violence back to the original settlers from Scotland and their clan wars. The violence was almost endemic there, and some of that culture did spill over into the Appalachian Mountain communities. The suspicion of outsiders also played a part in this true life mystery.

The most striking thing about this book is that the crime remains unsolved. The author, a VISTA volunteer, who although he never actually worked with Ms. Morgan, thinks he knows who killed her. Carefully culling everything known about the people with whom she dealt in Madison County, he pieces together a picture of good gone bad, and justice denied. This is a compelling book.

Blowing Rock

Sue and I took a day trip up to Blowing Rock the other day. It was a beautiful, sunny and not too warm day for a road trip, and we hadn’t been to Blowing Rock in years, so it seemed like a good place to go and catch some fresh air and sunshine. Everything looks so fresh and clean when you’re several thousand feet above everything else.

The views are spectacular, 3,000 feet up with a stiff wind blowing all year long. At times the gusts can be over 150 miles per hour. Hang on to your hats! The cause of the stiff winds is the sheer when the wind hits the side of the mountain and causes a severe updraft.

At times, during the winter months, you can actually watch the snow “falling” upward with the wind. This is no optical illusion, as with the Empire State Building, where the refraction of the sun’s rays can make it appear that the rain is falling upwards. That phenomenon is just a mirror like reflection of the reality. At Blowing Rock it is the reality.

Of course, the best part of any road trip is the people, and pets, you meet along the way. This fellow, Gus, was waiting in the car outside of the chicken place in eager anticipation of a wing or two.

A Southern Snow

We came home in the driving snow on Saturday night. That is, we were driving and it was snowing. It was a southern snow; which never seems to amount to much; yet has a profound effect on us northern transplants. It brings out the Christmas in us; notwithstanding that Christmas has passed us by already. There is a joy in remembering the bite of the cold; all the while knowing that this is just a southern snow; and as such it will be gone shortly after the sun rises in the morning.

To give you an idea of the contrast in weather we experience here in North Carolina, this is a picture of Coddle Creek Church; not 8 miles from our home; just one week ago. It an be unsettling... 

But, Midnight never seems to be fazed by these changes at all; just as long as he gets his tuna!

And the next morning - all is bright and sunny once again. A typical North Carolina snow event. And did I mentioned that it thundered?

"The Fire of Freedom" by David S. Cecelski (2012)

The story of Abraham Galloway is not one which we were taught as kids. It is the true tale of a man who wanted his freedom badly, and went to extraordinary lengths to acquire it. With a deft hand, author David Cecelski takes the reader along on a journey which begins with Abraham’s birth in 1837 as a slave in Smithville; near the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina; and through his younger years apprenticed for a time as a brick layer.

It is fitting; in a way; that he was named Abraham, for he too would lead his people to freedom, just as Abraham had led them from Ur to Canaan in the Old Testament. In a way, this is the story of two Abrahams; one a slave; the other the President of the United States. That the two would meet in person, at the White House, in the midst of the Civil War is not surprising, as they were both exceptional men, and both would die far too young.

Abraham Galloway was a firebrand for freedom. He breathed it, spoke it and fought for it. He took his grievances all the way to the White House in 1864; and in between he organized African-American troops who would fight the Confederate army in the slave state of North Carolina. And when the war was through, he embarked upon a political career, becoming one of the first black men ever elected to the Legislature in North Carolina.

Most of the story takes place in the area of New Bern, North Carolina and the battles in the area of Wilmington. But the book goes far beyond the simple story of Mr. Galloway’s quest for freedom. In the spring of 1864 it became apparent that the Confederate troops were being massacred in the field when captured. For Galloway, these reports hit very close to home. At the Battle of Plymouth in early 1864, Confederate General Ransom’s brigade had taken no prisoners after encountering African-American troops in the field. They even killed the women and children hiding in the woods. This was the catalyst for Galloway’s meeting with the President.

After meeting with Lincoln, Galloway embarked on a tour of the North to raise money to supply the African-American brigades. A soldier, statesman and a spy for the North, Abraham Galloway’s story is a must read for anyone who is seriously interested in the history of the Civil War. The sheer determination, and will to persevere, against overwhelming odds; all while facing the loss of his own life to further what he saw as justice; will forever stand tall among the stories of war and those who gave more than was expected of them.

Mr. Galloway passed away at the age of 40 in 1870, just as the Ku Klux Klan began their 100 year denial of South's defeat. Had Galloway lived there is no telling what else he might have contributed to the advancement of Civil Rights in an era which begat Jim Crow Laws and institutional segregation.

With a skilled eye for detail, as well as the politics of the era, Mr. Cecelski has given us a piece of history long forgotten. And, in doing so, he has underscored the importance of the role which African-Americans played in taking their first steps toward obtaining their own freedom.

"Against All Odds" by Eddie Ray (2012)

 

I just finished reading “Against All Odds” by Eddie Ray. It was fantastic. In understated tones, he has delivered a living portrait of a time, though long gone, which still influences us until this very day. The book is all about taking chances and trusting your instincts in order to help make your dreams come true. It's the story of a family, raised in segregation, and yet still successful by virtue of hard work. And lastly, it's the story of one man's continuing search to define who he is and how the hell he got to be where he is today. In short, it was a pleasure to read.

I would never exchange my own life for someone else’s experiences; I’m fairly satisfied with my own; but I would have loved to have been along for the ride with Eddie Ray on his journey. In the same bold, yet somehow humble, fashion which has marked his incredible career in the music business, noted A & R (artists and repertoire) man Eddie Ray has penned a very impressive memoir. As he puts it, the book covers his journey from the “stockroom” at Decca Records; where he began his work as a shipping clerk; and his time at Aladdin Records, working for Leo and Eddie Messner; to the Boardrooms of America’s largest record companies; becoming the first African-American hired as a major executive of a major record company; in his case, Capitol Records in the mid 1960’s. In between those years he was interacting with some of the most famous of the Rhythm and Blues acts; including Fats Domino and Irma Thomas. It was while working with Ms. Thomas that the Rolling Stones did a cover version of her record “Time Is on My Side”, which cemented their place in the “British Invasion”.

His descriptions of traveling in the Jim Crow south with Fats Domino will have you scratching your head in disbelief, as they were relegated to eating bologna and cheese sandwiches behind grocery stores because no one would serve a “colored” man. The juke box inside might be playing “Blueberry Hill”, but you couldn’t buy a piece of blueberry pie if you were a black man. Not even if you had the number 1 record!

Filled with glimpses into the life of an African-American man in the days before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the author takes the time to explain the history of the music he promoted. What is rock and roll? Where did it come from, and how did it evolve? In this slim 200 page book the author has provided us with some of the answers to those questions.

Mr. Ray also chronicles his service on the President’s Copyright Tribunal in the early 1980’s under the Reagan Administration. Every artist today owes Mr. Ray a debt for the fair share they receive from their work. He redefined what constitutes a “performance”,  and how much a performer got paid for the recordings and films they had made. With technology changing, this was groundbreaking stuff.

The book begins far away from Franklin, North Carolina in 1926, where Mr. Ray was born. By cleverly starting in his later years, Mr. Ray incites the reader’s curiosity about just who he is and where he came from. His parents were hard working, literate people. There was a radio in their home on which Mr. Ray and his mother would listen to the Gospel shows on weekends. Reading was something which was revered. And when it came time to go to high school; which was not possible in Franklin back then; he went to Laurinburg Institute in the Eastern part of North Carolina to obtain a high school diploma. Later, at age 50, after having made a success of himself, he even went to college and obtained his degree. He describes it as one of the proudest moments of his life.

In his early years Mr. Ray was always encouraged by his parents to do his best; and more importantly, to pay no heed to the limitations placed upon him by the color of his skin. A man will be what he wills himself to be seems to be the attitude imbued in the author at an early age.

From his summer jobs working with tobacco, and also at a ball bearing plant in Connecticut, Mr. Ray got his first look at New York City, and the lighted marquees bearing the names of all the famous acts of the day. He vowed to come back there someday with a creation of his own. From such dreams, reality grows…

After a 120 day stint in the US Army was behind him, he set off to discover what he was really meant to do. Arriving in Los Angeles on his 19^th birthday, working as a dish washer, Mr. Ray seems almost to have accidentally fallen into his profession. Living in a skid row room while washing dishes made him hunger for more in life; and the music industry was where he would find it.

The story of Mr. Ray’s accomplishments; and how they have even affected you as a listener of music; is one that I highly recommend. It is at once, a history of the music industry as it pertains to artist’s rights and royalties; and also the story of a man searching for ways to repay the kindness which was shown to him by others on his way up the ladder.

His accounts of the artists he has handled are far more than I can name here. So, let’s just say that if you were listening to just about anything in the 1960’s, Mr. Ray had his hand in it somewhere. And, he is not shy about his “misses” either. He describes how he lost Janis Joplin and Michael Jackson to other labels by mere days.

But, more than all of the above; more than all of the awards and accolades he has received; as if those things wouldn’t be enough to constitute a book all on their own; Mr. Ray has written a portrait of his own search for the meaning behind it all. And you know what? I think he has found it. This is a terrific book.

For more about Mr. Ray, or the NC Music Hall of Fame, use the following links;

www.eddieraymusicman.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Odds-Remarkable-Story/dp/1478213477

http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/

http://robertwilliamsofbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2012/10/eddie-ray-against-all-odds_1.html

Doc Watson - "Deep River Blues"

Doc Watson, the veteran country-bluegrass icon from North Carolina, has passed away. There is nothing that I can add to anything you have already read about him; all the stories are true. Three generations of the Watson clan have entertained us, and his grandson carries on beautifully, but we will always miss "Doc" Watson, the man. He embodied the grace of living; building his own home, running the farm, and in between dazzling us all with the sheer joy of his playing. I saw him once; at the North Carolina Fiddlers Convention in 1979. It was also my first experience with pure grain alcohol. Both were memorable moments in my life. Rest in Peace, Doc.

Wade Mainer - R.I.P.

North Carolina is the home to so many styles of music, from opera to bluegrass, we've got it all. Wade Mainer, who passed away the other day at age 104, is a perfect example of some of the musical innovations to have come from the mountains of North Carolina.

Imagine living in a time, and place, in which the only music you ever heard was in a church on Sundays, or, if you were lucky, on an instrument at home. Wade Mainer was born into such a world. Radio was barely 4 years old at the time of his birth, and still referred to as the "wireless". Broadcast music was still a few years off in the future when he was born.

Here he is, courtesy of You Tube, playing his unique 2 finger style of banjo, which influenced everyone from Earl Scruggs to John Hartford. This video was made last year when he was only 103 years young. They say singing, and playing, will do that for you. Keep you young.

"Our Vanishing Americana" A Documentary by Mike Lassiter and Scott Galloway

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Mike Lassiter and Scott Galloway, both local residents, were having a screening of their film, "Our Vanishing Americana", at the local Public School in Davidson this past Sunday. Originally published as a book by Mr. Lassiter in 2006, this beautiful collection of photographs, and their accompanying stories, were, with the aid of Scott Galloway, made into a wonderful film documentary in 2009. I originally ran across this book at the Library in Mooresville and saw the film last winter on TV1, a local municipal station. The whole idea of making a film from the book sprang from the simple act of Mr. Lassiter's having met Mr. Galloway. Sharing the same passion for these old stores propelled them to collaborate on the film. So they set off to revisit several of the places shown in the original book.

Utilizing the photographs of local "Mom and Pop" stores, Mr. Lassiter had drawn an impression of North Carolina that seems to disappear more quickly with each passing day. (Witness the old Fire Station on South Boulevard as a recent example.) It's what we do here, tear down the old buildings and landmarks, replacing them with corporate arenas that no one wants, or attends. Shopping malls, large and small, along with housing developments, dot the countryside where once there were beautiful, intimate towns and country stores. Some of these stores had been owned and operated for generations by the same families. There aren't that many left.

I am lucky enough to live in an area of the state that is home to a few of the stores highlighted in the book, as well as the film. The personalities of the people in the original photos seem to spring to life on the screen. And Mr. Galloway does a superb job in making that happen. He captures on film, that quality of light, and even the ambience of the places he films. With the added combination of Mr. Lassiter's narrative, the whole experience takes on a life of it's own.

The music that punctuates portions of the film is, for the most part, all homegrown. From "Country Roads" by native son James Taylor, to the rollicking sound of "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show, the music is pure North Carolina, and speaks to the beauty of the area.

One of the best, and most poignant portraits in the film is the segment that deals with Hinckle's Market in Lexington. The store is in it's third generation, and while the current owner and his brother have often contemplated closing it, whenever a customer comes in and tells him that the town couldn't live without him, they simply keep on.

D.E. Turner's Hardware store, located about 15 minutes from my home, is featured in the film. I have purchased odds and ends there for over 10 years. I have bought as few as 4 screws there when necessary to complete a job. His Radio Flyer collection of toys is unequaled the area.

The whole point of this effort by Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Galloway, is not simply to sell nostalgia, but more importantly, to ask what we can do to preserve these stores for our children and grandchildren. And while we all understand the necessity of shopping for the best price, maybe we can step back a bit and buy some things from our local Main Street stores. Only by keeping the stores economically viable can we hope to keep them going for yet another generation. And the most important thing of all is that with each of these "mom and pop" shops that gets lost - we lose a little bit more of ourselves.

Here is the link to the site for "Our Vanishing Americana." Hurry up and take a look, it's going fast. And thanks to Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Galloway for a delightful treat on a Sunday afternoon.

http://ncamericana.com/

The Smithsonian Institute

On July 10th, 1846, President James Knox Polk, formerly of Mecklenburg County, 20 miles from where I now reside, established the Smithsonian Institute. It would not be completed for 9 more years and then it became, for a while, the "nation's attic." It's where we put stuff we didn't know what to do with.

When I was a kid the Institute was the main attraction with the added feature of the new Air and Space Museum. Now the Institute is a complex consisting of 16 museums in all, including the National Gallery of Art. All are easily accessed by Public Transportation. Get acquanted with them through this link and if you ever have the chance to see our nations Capitol, then make the time to go.

http://www.si.edu/museums/

There's something for everybody in this wonderful collection of American art, sculpture, and even actual planes; such as the Spirit of St Louis, in which Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic solo, something which had never been done before. The plane sits above the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, which eventually took us to the Moon. The contrast is awe inspiring. In only a 66 year span, man had gone from walking to flying to the Moon...

Thanks to the vision of one of our lesser celebrated President's, this Museum is still the "nation's attic", and a great place to look at our collective pasts and futures. Exhibit dates and transportation information are provided on the site, which is easily navigated, even by me!

Hanging Out In Taylorsville

Taylorsville is a small town about 60 miles Northwest of Charlotte in Alexander County. Passing through it seems like your typical town in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, with the usual assortment of box stores, supermarkets and restaurants. But Taylorsville has one thing that many other towns lack, that is Police Chief Tony Jones.

All across America there is a vacumn in relation to the activities available for teenagers caught in the social void between the ages 16-21. Too old to want to be at home at night, and too young to cruise the bar scene, these teens are like folks without a country. And in many towns a group of these kids simply hanging out, or skateboarding in empty parking lots, can become a source of concern and complaint.

Taylorsville is the only incorporated town in Alexander County. But there still isn't much to do at night. So, like teens everywhere, they needed to come up with a place to meet, and horse around a bit, with their friends. With such a large parking lot, and most teenagers having access to cars, Walmart seemed like a good idea.

Now you might be thinking, "I've heard this before.... group of rowdies hanging out in a parking lot, spinning donuts and screeching tires, vandalism, etc." But you would be wrong. I had the same initial reaction when I saw the article in today's Charlotte Observer.

It turns out that this is simply a good place to hang out with friends, exchange local gossip and arrange other activities. Both the store and the police allow this activity to exist unhindered, as long as there are no problems. And so far, so good. Apparently things have been going on in this fashion for the past 10 years with no major mishaps.

Between 9 PM and 3 AM the kids come and go. Some do shop in the store, but most simply hang out away from the entrance, near the Garden Center, and exchange gossip or make plans. The Taylorsville Police Department passes through periodically to say hello and to see that all is well.

This is where the leadership of Chief Tony Jones and the management of Walmart come into play. Together they have done something that is rarely done nowadays; they have treated a situation with common sense. They have shown their faith in groups of young people to hang out and have a good time without hurting anyone or damaging anything. And this faith will pay off in the long run. It will make more tolerant and sensible adults of the kids. It will also prove wrong the stereotypes of today's young people as rude and arrogant. And it also allows the Police to do their job more efficiently.

Knowing where the town's kids are, and in many cases, who they are, makes it easier to seperate the good from the bad. Knowing who is who, and where they are, can make a Police Officer's job alot less complex. So, I just wanted to give a big "high five" to Chief Jones and the Taylorsville Walmart for their innovative and tolerant approach to "hanging out." Thanks for using your hearts and heads to deal with a common issue that is often perceived as a problem. In the long run this measured approach will pay off in ways that cannot even be quantified.

The Ava Gardner Museum - Smithfield, N.C.

Sue and I took a long drive yesterday, about 150 miles each way in the pouring rain, to see this low key, non-descript tribute to one of Hollywoods most enduring legends. The museum is actually a converted store front on Main Street in Smithfield, a few miles from where Ms. Gardner was born in Grabtown, which was nothing more than an intersection at the time, and still is today. That she is buried about one mile out of town is even more amazing than her life, which took her all around the world, until, like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz", she finally comes back home.

The exhibits range from a very informative 18 minute film of her life, to display cases which highlight everything from her clothes to personal items. There are letters from Vincent Price and Mickey Rooney, the watch she gave her friend Ernest Hemingway, and lots of her own things from her apartment in London, where she spent her last years, after a long time living in Spain.

Born in 1922 in Smithfield, she spent some of her early years watching movies at the local theater, The Howell, which still operates today. It was there that she saw Clark Gable in "Red Dust", the 1932 movie she would someday remake with Gable retitled "Mogamba." She remarked, of this film, that it was like a dream come true.

Her career began early, at age 18, when someone noticed her and approached her boss,(she was working as a secretary in Smithfield) in an effort to gain her name and phone number. He claimed to have connections with MGM and could get her a screen test, which was the dream of every young woman at the time. Her boss, acting in a shrewd and protective manner, had some photos taken which he then presented to MGM in New York. A screentest was arranged and the rest is history.

Within 2 years she would wed Mickey Rooney, that lasted 2 years. From there she moved on to band leader and clarinetist Artie Shaw. That marriage lasted only about one year, due in large part to the attentions being lavished upon her by Howard Hughes, who was paying for Ms. Gardner's mothers health care.

In 1951 she married Frank Sinatra, who was in the midst of a career downturn, just as she was on the upswing. Her sucess in the musical "Showboat" had made her one of the hottest actresses of the time. The two quarrelled constantly, and though they were the true loves in one anothers lives, the marriage didn't last. When she went to Spain to make "The Barefoot Contessa" with Humphrey Bogart, she fell in love with the country. Within 2 years she would move there in an effort to distance herself from Hollywood and Sinatra. But their love for one another would never really fade away.

During this period she became lifelong friends with the poet Robert Graves. His notes and letters to her are part of the exhibit. Her circle of friends was largely composed of people not in the Hollywood "loop." Gregory Peck, one of her favorite co-stars, is represented in the collection through some of his letters to her, which are on display.

Although her last years were spent in London, where she was truly happy, her longstanding desire was to be buried next to her parents in Smithfield. When she passed away in 1990, her wish was honored and she came home to rest alongside them, only a mile down the road from the museum which houses some of the things she loved most.

Fort Macon, North Carolina

After the War of 1812 and the destruction of Washington, D.C. by the British, the United States Government realized the need for more coastal defenses along the line of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Only the strategic placement of that fort prevented the capture of Baltimore by the British. Foreign invasion was getting to be a problem. The Spanish had invaded Beaufort in 1747 and the British had come the same way in 1782. Public sentiment after the last minute victory in New Orleans in 1814 demanded action.

So between 1817 and 1834 the U.S. government built 40 more forts from Maine to the Gulf Coast and even in California. Fort Macon, located in Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina was one of these forts. The fort is designed as a pentagon, much like Fort McHenry in Baltimore with a series of trenches, redoubts and moats. All of the brickwork is beautifully done. The structure is so pleasing to the eye that it is hard to think of it as a place of battle.

Construction began in 1826 and the work was completed in 1834 at a cost of $463,000. A good look at these arches, which comprise the main structural integrity of the fort, give you an idea of their beauty. They circle the entire fort on the inside and enabled the defenders to move about the fort with relative safety. Imagine the cost of this brickwork now!

Most of the materials for the fort were found locally. Clay and sand for the bricks were readily available, as were large quantities of wood. The fort was manned intermittently from 1834 until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. During most of the intervening years the fort held only an Ordinance Officer to oversee the safety of the guns and powders stored there.

Sgt. William Alexander and his wife were the acting caretakers on April 14, 1861 when the Beaufort Harbor Guards, a local Southern Militia, demanded its' surrender. It was home to the Confederacy until April of 1862 when the fort was retaken by Union forces. The cannon marks are still clearly visible on the outside walls.

At the conclusion of Civil War the fort became a penitentiary from 1867 through 1876. At that time it was returned to "caretaker status", meaning that only an Ordinance Officer and his family remained in the fort. There would be no more troops quartered there until 1898 and the Spanish-American War. At this time the fort was manned by African-American soldiers under African-American Command. This was pretty surprising to me as North Carolina was still legally segregated at the time.

These floors were made locally by cutting down and slicing the trunks of trees and then making the slices into square tiles. They have more than stood the test of time. They also bear testimony to the use of local materials in the forts construction.

In 1903 the guns were removed and sent to Federal Arsenals to be used as scrap metal. In 1924 the fort was sold to North Carolina for $1. It became the states second Public Park. In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps refurbished the fort and it became a tourist attraction until the outbreak of World War Two.

Coastal Artillery Units manned the fort for the duration of the war as a deterrent against the Nazi U-boats, which, at the time were exacting a heavy toll on Allied shipping. At the end of the war the fort reverted back to its main role as a State Park and continues to attract over 1 million visitors a year.

Located just down the road from Atlantic Beach, it is a nice addition to the stark beauty of the beach. A nice stroll and a look into the hardships of the past can sometimes put a different spin on the troubles we all face today.

This bird was trying to share a sandwich with me on the balcony of our hotel room. It has no relation to this story and is included here only to lend a little color, and perhaps humor, to an otherwise straightforward historical piece. Kind of like a reward for reading this all the way through.