Program Notes and Reminders and Some Miscellany

To start an update on some of the programs:

TABLETALK: On June 10 Joe Brancato joins the program to talk of his brilliant creation in Stony Point, NY THE PENGUIN REP . Their lineup of productions this year is quite impressive as is the facility. More on June 10. In addition Joe Brancato is working with your never so humble correspondent in setting up a series that will feature some of the artists we feature on shows like TRADITIONS.

TRADITIONS: Laurie Lewis will be joining the program along with TOM ROZUM on June 3. See below for the details. It should prove to be a most insightful and entertaining hour.

The other important matter regarding TRADITIONS is the scheduled appearance of Clay Eals. Clay is the author of FACING THE MUSIC---STEVE GOODMAN. An interview with Clay Eals and myself will air on TRADITIONS on June 24 with the second half airing on July 1.

The book and the author are so fascinating it had to be presented in 2 1 hour parts---with lots of music by Steve Goodman, J0hn Prine, Jethro Burns, and more. My suggestion---do not miss it and get the book if you want to really know Steve Goodman.

For those who miss the first installment it will be archived on Clay Eals website---see above--FACING THE MUSIC.
SUNDAY SIMCHA: Have you ever wanted to hear Jewish artists doing non- Jewish material. Sure do hope so. The June 3 program does just that. It includes Geo. Burns, Mike Burstyn, Bruce Adler----and, yes, Steve Goodman. Stick around for that.

MISCELLANY: The Marquee changes, as you know, from time to time. It has changed on the Daily Rooster. Steve Goodman remains here for a while. The Daily Rooster has bid farewell to Harry Chapin for a time and now welcomes some scenes from Gilbert & Sullivan. The trivia question there is---you can answer here if you like---what is the play on words in the title RUDDIGORE that so offended people when it opened. Oh, how times have changed.

SOME NEW VIDEOS AND GUEST MENTIONS

Like the movie theaters of old the marquees change from time to time and so do the a the presentations. Dear Brother Theodore has now left this stage but his memory is still pressed for eternity in an interview I did with him. THEODORE is more than my humble interview and shortly a film commemorating his life will be released. The filmmaker will be my guest on TABLETALK at that time. As to my interview---it was available on Ebay for a time but was removed by edict from a person purporting to represent BROTHER THEODORE. Since he had claimed to be THEODORE then I can only assume that it a true cosmic THEODORE experience.

The marquee, as said, has changed. Check on the right side for some videos of the late and surely great Steve Goodman.

Clay Eals has now written a most complete and very readable biography of a performer that has been under the radar for so long and yet his music has inspired us. It has also inspired other writers and performers. Not the least of which is John Prine who was a great friend of Steve's. The picture you see here is from recently released CD which I have played on TRADITIONS a bit. It shows this consummate artist in all his glory captivating the audience.

FACING THE MUSIC is the title of the Clay Eals bio of Steve Goodman. It weighs in at some 800 pages. 800 pages of really good writing that makes you feel you have gotten to know Steve Goodman. You read about his childhood in Chicago and those of a certain age will surely relate to the stories there. His loving family, his singing in "shul"--his family practiced Reformed Judaism. As the author quotes Steve---and I paraphrase--Jewish music sure has rhythm. One of his later songs paid tribute to that.
Steve, as we know, had been diagnosed with cancer at an early age. Yet, he battled for years---raised a family, performed, and always hoped for the best outcome. Yet, he knew of his mortality. As the author states, at one point, he {Steve} never liked the word "Terminal" at the airports he flew from. Sounded, to him, so ominous.

You cannot make a synopsis of a book this large and this informative in the few short paragraphs I offer. Suffice it to say that there are over 1,000 interviews from friends, artists, relatives, and more in this book. Pictures abound. Some never before seen in public.

Steve Goodman wrote with and performed with some of the most brilliant people we have in this and in many other genres. Think of Harry Chapin, Pete Seeger, Michael Smith, Bonnie Raitt, and so many more.

To read Clay Eals book is to really delve into what made Steve Goodman --Steve Goodman.

Clay Eals will be my guest on TRADITIONS near the end of June. We will talk of his wonderful work and intersperse it with some of the Steve Goodman songbook as we go along.

Knowing that there are so many Steve Goodman fans, aficionados, or whatever word once chooses, this is an event not to be missed. The book can be purchased or ordered at any of your favored book stores. This semi review and appreciation is of a figure finally commemorated in a truly detailed, interesting, readable work. The cover of the book is below---open it and enter the world of one of "folk" and eclectic music's great writers and performers.

Leaving this late and great consummate artist let me now urge you to tune in to TRADITIONS---besides every week---on June 3 you will hear a live performance by the Grammy award winning artist Laurie Lewis. She will be joined by Tom Rozum--a wonderful artist in his own right. We will be talking of their varied interests. From music to river rafting. With lots of live music, I am sure.

SUNDAY SIMCHA: As we always do there will be much traditional Jewish music. On June 3 I will be featuring that alongside with many Jewish performers that do not necessarily do "Jewish" music. Performers like George Burns, Don Rickles, Mike Burstyn, and, yes, Steve Goodman (if you read above), and more.

Comedy Corner will not be neglected.

TABLETALK: Those of you in the Rockland County area--and beyond. I will be featuring an interview with the founder and director of the most brilliant and outreaching drama group in the area. Namely, The Penguin Rep. Broadway quality performers with Broadway like settings in a suburban venue. Hard to come by. We will find out more about it then. Stay tuned.

WFDU offers the variety not found elsewhere.

A HEADS UP FOR MAY 20

The heads up is for TRADITIONS:

Gospel music is something that has a great appeal to me and, I believe, to our audience. There is a White Gospel genre and there is a Black (African American) genre. The crossover artist in all this is Elvis Presley.

If you tune in on Sunday you will hear the two different influences and how they differed---and also, later, blended. To some extent. You will hear the White Gospel of salvation as evinced by Roy Acuff and Hank Williams.

Which will lead us into the world of people like these:
The Dixie Hummingbirds---together now for over 75 years.

Then there is always the glorious voice of Paul Robeson and the songs of freedom that will be given to us by Kim and Reggie Harris.

The program will have a lot more, including a some old favorites and some wonderful new material. A few surprises as always.

The Gospel portion will air in the 4 PM hour. Here is a trivia query---in what category did Elvis Presley receive his only Grammys. The first 3 respondents that respond on this website will get a randomly selected CD.

The Heads Up for SUNDAY SIMCHA: Comedy Corner should prove to be a highlight of this program. Though, admittedly, the music and artists featured will be of great interest. Including a little contest---any ideas how to alliterate the title for Trivia on Sunday Simcha. Let me know. We have Traditions Trivia for the other program. What about this---how about Sunday Simcha Sechel? If you can come up with a winner you can get a CD.

Finally, the book about Steve Goodman is issued and the author will be with me shortly. You can get this book now at your favored bookseller. Featuring over 1,000 interviews, a CD, and brilliant writing about an artist who, as he said to me, don't know about him but do know of him. Hopefully this book will change that. So many people know "City of New Orleans" and do not know that the greatest RR song ever written was by Steve Goodman. The song, if you listen carefully to the words, is a metaphor about Steve Goodman and the nation.

In our interview you will also hear of John Denver's recording prior to Arlo Guthrie's and of Denver's claim to partial authorship. Great story.

That interview will be on TRADITIONS---with Steve Goodman music from the CD that comes with the book. So---if you are male---get an athletic supporter--if female--I have no advice. It is a very heavy and worthwhile tome.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS UPDATES

Scrolling on the right you will find the videos updated on a fairly regular basis. Say, about once a week. The same will be true on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER (which you can access by clicking on the right of this page). There the videos will be on the left and will also be updated fairly regularly. Mayor LaGuardia is now gone and you can enjoy some time with Harry Chapin.

As you probably know by now BROTHER THEODORE is featured on this page this week and a film of his life will soon be released. The Filmmaker will be joining me on TABLETALK once that memorable event occurs.

A Few Program Updates

TRADITIONS: Some upcoming guests, which I have announced earlier are as follows:

LAURIE LEWIS on June 5. Laurie will be performing some older pieces and some new ones from her brand new CD.

MODERN MAN on TBA. The very dignified gentlemen will be joining me probably in June to try to hide the fact that they have a new CD being issued. Sort of like commemorative postage stamps. Time for collectors to rejoice.

CLAY EALS is the author a new biography---a long overdue comprehensive biography of STEVE GOODMAN. The book will be available by the end of June and the author will be my guest on TRADITIONS . The book comes complete with a CD of tribute songs to Steve Goodman and some interviews with him. In addition there are interviews with John Prine, Leo Kotke, Arlo Guthrie, Steve Goodman's classmate---Hillary Rodham Clinton, and, you know, the famous many others.

The exact date of this interview will be posted shortly. This is an alert that this book is well on its way now to being available.

TABLETALK: In the very near future a film on the life and times of BROTHER THEODORE will be released. The filmmaker will be joining me at that time to talk of THEODORE and also the film. That is anticipated for late June or early July airing.

For a little taste of BROTHER THEODORE and not Oleum Canus (his family's product) some clips of him will be on this page by Sunday Evening. This will replace Pete Seeger for the moment on this page. You will be able to see Pete Seeger again at a later time.

A reminder that to view the video and not just hear audio scroll to the top of the page after clicking on the frame you want to see.

THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER has some new videos for you enjoyment and edification as well. Just click on it. Let it be known if you are edified---if not perhaps you are billified or some other fied.

An Addition You Will Enjoy

Perhaps I should have shown a crystal set. In biblical terms Crystal Sets begat classic radio which begat classic TV which begat crap TV which now begat Internet Videos. I believe that is a quote from Bill Hahn 13:1 of a testament no one ever heard of.

The new means of communication and narrow focusing of it is a long way from the days of B/W TV when the announcer held up a hand lettered sign about next days limited and pathetic programs. Also a far cry from the halcyon days of radio entertainment which is now replaced---with the exception of one or two places (OK WFDU and NPR)--with canned schlock and sometimes abusive and insulting schlock.

The new means are truly an amazement and something that now makes us all journalists but also makes one wonder about the truth. The nice part is that it allows for some nice features to be shared with others. This is what I have tried to do now on this site---and on The Daily Rooster.

Scroll down on the right side and see some Memorable Moments via You Tube. They will be updated on a regular--but not a daily-basis. You will see this on The Almost Daily Rooster as well. Shortly there will be different ones each site.

A usage hint. If you just want the audio you can hear it by clicking on the picture of the frame you want. If you want to see the video merely scroll to the top of the screen once you hear the audio and the video will be playing there. Enjoy some memories and sometimes some newer material. Hopefully some surprises will be coming on a fairly frequent basis.

As to the picture at the top of the beauty from the 1950s. We could do a whole riff on obesity since the advent of remote controls for TV. At least Mr Couch Potato had to put the beer down for a moment to walk over to the TV to change the channel from NBC to The Dumont Network back in those days. Now he just sits there with his remote and he still cannot find The Dumont Network---but he can find hundreds of other channels. Is there a Beer Channel? If not yet there will be.