I got to spend Labor Day weekend with 3 of my favorite hiker pals, on a two-night camping trip. It was too damn hot. I was too damn out of shape. My pals weren’t ready to run marathons, either. Still, we had the best time. We were in the woods! Our adventures included a 7-mile…
Read More Two nights in the woods!Ahh, the Kinks. Always contrary. Always independent. Always special. The greatest band of its era, save the Fab Four. Ray Davies was an unparalleled songwriter, and his brother Dave and drummer Mick Avory added the perfect musical elements to each track. They broke up in 1996. Or 1997. And, despite periodic rumors of reuniting (they…
Read More Now, THIS is how you do a re-release!When Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off at 11:38 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, 1986, the TV networks didn’t even carry it live. Space launches had become routine, no longer big news. That changed, 73 seconds later. I was in the newsroom of The Sun-Tattler, a tiny but feisty daily newspaper serving Hollywood, Florida and its…
Read More Getting the news out, in Olden TimesAmong the music courses I took in college (I was a music minor) was “History of Jazz” and “History of Rock.” Those who know me would think I disliked the former and loved the latter. Actually, the opposite was true – due entirely to each teacher. The man who taught the jazz course (unfortunately, I…
Read More I could title this ‘It’s Only Rock & Roll’ but I won’t