I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Picturing the Southwest is at the San Diego Museum of Art through August 20th.
On display thru August 20thHAIL and FAREWELL to one of only two US professional athletes (the other being Otto Graham) to win a major league championship in more than one sport, Gene Conley— a World Series champion with the Milwaukee Braves and NBA championships with the Boston Celtics — who has died at the age of 86.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Stark the Cat— a California kitteh who went missing three years ago, then was found in …. Austin, Texas (and now soon to be reunited with his family thanks to a microchip).
Stark the CatAMONG RECENT EUROPEAN PROTESTORS are those not in Hamburg, Warsaw or other hot-spots … but rather Venice— where thousands of locals gathered in the streets to ask authorities to stop transforming the city into an ever-growing tourist destination: citing a lack of necessary services and an increasingly rising cost of living, with one saying ‘’It is getting impossible to find a place to live; every apartment becomes a bed and breakfast.’’
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Phoenix the Hero Cat— a Welsh kitteh who has the knack of being able to awaken a sixteen year-old boy with Type 1 diabetes ….. when she senses his blood sugar level is dangerously abnormal.
Phoenix the Hero CatTHE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a follow-up to two previous mentions of the Hillsborough Disaster— a tragic series of mistakes, followed by a cover-up (abetted by Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspaper) that led to 96 fans being crushed to death in a soccer stadium in Sheffield, England back in 1989. Now, six officials (from law enforcement and stadium management) will face prosecution, twenty-eight years later.
BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
DIRECT DESCENDANTS? — Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman and Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Paul Krugman (born 1953) Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… as one of a number of "musician's musician" guitarists in American music — the most successful rock n' roll instrumentalist of all time was Duane Eddy— who hailed from that country/rock stronghold of Memphis, Nashville, Detroit ... actually, the upstate New York town of Corning (yes, known for its glass and ceramic works). From the late 1950's to the early 1960's, he helped popularize the guitar as not just an accompanying instrument - nor just a solo vehicle - but as a melody creator all by itself, and an influence for many to follow.
His family relocated to Arizona when he was thirteen, and he received the break he needed when he met the local DJ/producer Lee Hazelwood (who later wrote "These Boots are Made for Walking" for Nancy Sinatra). It was Hazelwood who - upon hearing Eddy on guitar - suggested that he add reverb and concentrate on playing melodies on his lower (bass) strings and - by bending them - emphasize the twang (as opposed to the clean notes jazz players had long focused on, such as Duane's own idol Les Paul). Lee Hazelwood also had a knack for being able to mix Eddy's recordings - such that a big guitar sound came out despite the technical limitations of the day (and the tiny radio speakers people owned).
His 1958 debut single Movin' and Groovin’ was an influence on the Beach Boys "Surfin USA" several years later, but it was Rebel Rouser that was his breakout (and later signature song) - and which at this link you can listen to.
Eddy went on to have fifteen Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1963, with his debut album Have 'Twangy' Guitar-Will Travel helping to begin the long transition from singles to albums that accelerated later on. His highest chart hit Because They're Young reached #4 in 1960. He also recorded an instrumental tribute album to Bob Dylan in 1965 - which Bob thought validated the quality of his music, that he was more than just his lyrics.
Duane Eddy had a signature style that was resistant to change - and when the British Invasion took place in 1964, his music all of a sudden seemed dated, as he faded from the charts. (If it was any comfort to him at the time, that happened to a lot of other performers, too). But he did have two subsequent Top 40 singles: a 1977 country cover of "You Are My Sunshine" (with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings) and a 1986 remake of his 1960 Peter Gunn Theme that not only earned him his only Grammy Award but also enabled him to become the only instrumentalist to have had Top 10 hit singles in 4 different decades in the UK. And he participated on the 1994 Red Hot + Country benefit album for the AIDS cause.
But Duane Eddy had a huge influence on musicians to follow, because (a) he was the first rock star to have multiple signature guitars: made by Guild as well as Gretsch and Gibson, (b) acting in films (such as "Savage Seven", "Wild Westerners" plus the TV series "Have Gun, Will Travel") and most importantly, by (c) the names of those who cite him as an influence: John Fogerty, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Page, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler and Hank Marvin of The Shadows are just a sample. "Rebel Rouser" was used in the "Forrest Gump" film, and "The Trembler" was used in "Natural Born Killers".
Duane Eddy has a 1993 compilation album of his best recordings, and his most recent recording of new material was Road Trip that was released in 2011. Despite turning age 79 this past April, he still performs in concert and a few weeks ago appeared at the birthday tribute concert for Bob Dylan in Nashville.
Duane Eddy was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2008, was awarded a "Guitar Legend" award by Guitar Player magazine in 2004 and was ranked as #64 by Rolling Stone in its 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.
Duane Eddy as a young man .. and much more recentlyOf his versions of songs with lyrics: I most enjoy the 1948 Stan Jones tune (Ghost) Riders in the Sky that Johnny Cash also had success with. And below you can hear Duane Eddy's instrumental version.
An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel Their horns were black-n-shiny and their hot breath he could feel A bolt of fear went thru him as they thundered through the sky For he saw the Riders coming hard and heard their mournful cry
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name: "If you want to save your soul from Hell, a-riding on our range Then cowboy: change your ways today or with us you will ride Trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies."
x xYouTube Video