"The Snow Man" - (1932)

With much of the country in the icy grips of late winter storms I thought a cartoon about snow would be appropriate. So, I picked one which shows bad weather to be all that it is, and yet offers some hope for a reprieve from the onslaught.

I have no real information to share about this cartoon; the credits at the beginning have been cut short, so I can't even tell you what studio produced it. But it is good enough to stand on it's own merit.

Apparently the evil Snowman arrives right around Christmas; kind of like the Grinch; and makes everybody miserable. That's just what he does; it's his "thing."

But soon his victims grow tired and one of them fast forwards the wintry season through the use of what appears to be a seasonal adjuster, bringing on a new spring. And, just like the Wicked Witch of the West in "Wizard of Oz", he melts away and the world goes back to a warm and friendly place once again.

So, take heart. This won't last forever.

Bolivian Kick Boxer Meets U.S. Marine

If you've already seen this then you can move on. But if you haven't, it's worth watching. I don't have any details to go with this; someone sent it to me in a forward. The best part is watching this Bolivian guy dancing and flipping through the air while the Marine stands patiently waiting for the right moment to take him out.

I have been in a couple of fights during my lifetime. Even when I won I lost. Hitting someone can hurt just as much as getting hit! For those two reasons I have generally avoided fisticuffs. But, when pressed, I have always waited for the right moment and gone for the knees. My reasoning was simple; if my opponent couldn't chase me he couldn't beat me up!

But what to do when your opponent is a kick boxer of championship quality? Just watch and see...

Note:  Apparently this is from a movie called “Never Back Down” which was released in 2008 and starred Sean Faris, Djimon Hounsou and Amber Heard. I am unfamiliar with the film so I have no comment to make about it other than that this is a great scene. Too bad it’s not real…

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/

"Mud" with Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon (2012)

Don’t be fooled by the slow methodical pace of this film. It all leads to a stunning and surprise ending. Neckbone and Ellis are two young boys living near the river in Arkansas when they encounter a man named Mud who lives in a houseboat which has somehow become lodged in a tree on a deserted island in the river. He claims that he is waiting on a girl named Juniper; played by Reese Witherspoon.

Ellis’ parents are in the midst of a separation which resembles some of the problems that Mud and Juniper may have been having. It’s hard to tell what is real or not with Mud; played by Matthew McConaughey. He is obviously on the run from something, but what? It turns out to be a murder. Mud has killed a man who wasn’t treating Juniper right. He expects her to come and meet him on the island. Mud plans to fix the old boat up and make his escape down the river. At least that’s the plan.

When Neckbone; played by Jacob Lofland; and Ellis; played by Tye Sheridan; spot Juniper in town they assume that she has come to rendezvous with Mud. But there are bounty hunters gathering to avenge the death of one of their own. The boys see all this activity and put two and two together. They are divided about what to do, or not, to help Mud.

 

Mud convinces them to scrounge parts to help him renovate the old boat. This leads to some conflicts between Ellis and his father, who is trying to save his marriage and his home on the river. When Ellis realizes that Mud has used both himself and Neckbone for his own selfish ends he is furious, but when his life is suddenly on the line, just as Mud is about to make his break, Mud is the one who rescues him in a dramatic race against time from a deadly snake bite.

Although he is being relentlessly pursued by the bounty hunters he insists that Neckbone take him to visit Ellis before he leaves. A gun battle ensues with the bounty hunters, who have been staking out the boys home, and aided by his mysterious friend from across the river he is able to escape to freedom.

Joe Don Baker; as the mysterious neighbor; and Sam Shepard; as Ellis’ dad; both deliver outstanding performances. Armed with a gripping screenplay director Jeff Nichols has delivered a flawless film. You really don’t want to miss this one.

"Let It Go" - Idina Menzel from "Frozen" (2013)

This is a clip from a new Disney film called "Frozen". Animation; at least the modern version; doesn't usually get me too excited. But this clip is absolutely majestic. The song is one of empowerment, sung by Idina Menzel, who plays the character Elsa in the film.

I have not seen the film, and probably won't. But this sequence is so breathtaking that I just had to share it with someone. I understand that in this scene Elsa has discovered her magic powers and casts off the forces which have been holding her down.

Her sudden freedom to explore her own limits enables her to create a stunning ice palace form her own imagination. If this scene is emblematic of the rest of the story, then Disney has created an excellent film for your daughters and granddaughters. This is the kind of entertainment which will enable them to soar.

"Rot, Riot and Rebellion" by Rex Bowman and Carlos Santos (2013)

When Thomas Jefferson first stated that “the tree of Liberty needs watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants” I don’t think he ever envisioned himself in the role of the Tyrant. But that is exactly what happened when he was forced to confront the students at his dream, the University of Virginia in 1825, just one year before his death.

Discipline at the school was non-existent; the idea being that young gentlemen could be trusted to act upon their honor. And act they did. These sons of southern aristocratic plantation owners had such thin skins; and thickly inflated senses of honor; that they were in a perpetual state of dueling with one another, and even there professors.

Such was the situation that Jefferson, only one year prior to his death in 1826, was forced on occasion, to make the 8 mile journey from his home at Monticello, to the University in order to quell the problems there. On one such occasion he was struck speechless and broke into tears. It was hard for him to see his dream school begin its life in a state of disgrace. To make matters worse, one of the leaders of the student rebellion was his own grand-nephew.

The story behind that day and how it came to be in the first place; is the subject of this wonderful little book by Messrs. Bowman and Santos as they explore the beginnings of Jefferson’s dream of higher education in what is considered to be America’s first public University.

From its first conception by Jefferson as the first public university in America the whole idea was plagued with problems and disagreements about how, and who, should fund it. The authors give a very accurate accounting of all the machinations which went into the project.

But by far the most enjoyable portion of the book is the story of its first few decades of students. They flogged their professors, misused their servants, drank to excess, gambled profanely, and otherwise did their best to squander their own futures as well as Mr. Jefferson’s dream.

The story of how the student body was finally tamed, and how the school became the model of Mr. Jefferson’s original vision make this book a very worthy chronicle of the history of higher education in America. And, through the antics of some its earliest alumni; including Edgar Allan Poe; it is also just plain fun to read it, and realize that, with the exception of the students having servants, not much has changed in regards to student life in the almost two centuries since Jefferson’s experiment first came into being.

"The World According to Me" - Jackie Mason (1988)

Hang on to your seat for this rollicking one hour ride with America's favorite former Rabbi, Jackie Mason as he takes you on a trip throughout his lucid mind. In his skillful way he tackles everything from religion to politics, and even Sweet and Low in this film of his one man show which ran for several years on Broadway before touring some of the major cities across the country.

Everybody knows the story of how he was blacklisted by Ed Sullivan over that mistaken thumb gesture in March 1968. "Here's big one for you" was the line that got him in such hot water. That line was the result of the show's director signaling to him with fingers, how many seconds he had left before they cut away to a news bulletin. I believe it was the night that President Johnson announced he would not seek re-election as President that year.

But there was life for Mr. Mason after Ed Sullivan. He did a bit of time in purgatory, playing all the comedy clubs in Los Angeles before landing a role in the Film "Car Wash". From there he got a big break with Jay Leno and then more film cameos came his way. Before long he was back on top; doing his thing on Broadway; where he even did a follow up to this show in the early 1990's.

If you have never seen this gifted performer before, take special note of the psychiatrist routine. It rivals any of the double talk ever done by Abbott and Costello, or even the Marx brothers. It also is very logical as well as comedic, questioning just who we really are.

Sue and I saw him in an impromptu performance at the Lyric in Baltimore one time. He did a bit of old stuff; realized there were Jews in the audience; his words, not mine; and then proceeded to slay us with another 2 hours of new material which had part of the audience leaving, and the other part laughing. He even warned them beforehand. This is one of my favorite comedians; enjoy the show!