Some Marquee Changes and Some Updates

While Paul Robeson will remain with us thanks to this wonderful technology, for a time, it is hoped you will also visit the PLAYLIST page for some music for The High Holy Days commemoration. A visit to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER will garner you a view of "If FDR were GWB"--fascinating.

As to updates for the various programs---and that, basically, is what this page is about don't forget:
TABLETALK Sept 16---Mort Zachter and his wonderful book DOUGH.
SUNDAY SIMCHA: Sept. 16---Arthur Levy of SONY LEGACY joins the program to talk of his involvement with the music, his generosity in our collection, and his career.
TRADITIONS: Some guests that will be visiting the program when I am on in the fall include: EMILY KURN, MUSTARDS RETREAT, and others that will, it is said, TBA.

OK--an aside here. As a youngster I perused the radio schedules and always wondered what TBA meant. I figured it to be quite important. Sure, some kids could recite the baseball box scores and all the stats, others could tell you of basketball and football figures. Me--well, ever trying to be popular, knew all the radio schedules. Sure made a big hit with the good old peers. I don't know of them today but as for me I guess that good old Shaker Hymn worked out---"...we all come down in the place just right".

Some other day---perhaps if it is requested--- I could play a song that I played over and over again on a wind-up Victrola given to me on my 10 birthday---and a record that came with it. I fantasized being On Air---age 10---the song---Phil Harris doing "That's What I Like About The South". I can still do all the words. So---Won't you come with me to Alabamy, etc;

Have to stop and wind up the old Victrola now.

A Personal Thought and Some Other Musical Mentions

This being a "blog" and is on the Internet one never knows who is reading it. Given that, and given that quite a few folks seem to be checking in each day, it seemed that a personal message and update on events was warranted.

Many of the artists I have had the honor and pleasure in knowing have been contacted via e-mail with the less than momentous news that after some 8 years I will no longer be attending the NERFA conferences at Kutshers Hotel (or whatever place they decide to hold it in). There are a number of reasons for this and none have to do with the wonderful artists and people I have had the pleasure and honor of communing with there and in other venues. It does have to do with the people that are the ones organizing the event. As many organizations, sadly, they seem to have their inner circle for their own self interests. While I do not fault them for that since that is a fact of life in most organizations (though not others that I am involved in) I do fault them for their communications asking for volunteers---judging, panels, etc; and never responding because they have who they want. Right---yours truly is not among that revered list who would have been happy to serve on panels, help select artists for showcasing, or MC a showcase (which seemed to upset a few a while ago when I added a bit of Catskill "Shtick").

Prior to this commentary I had written to "the powers that be" out of courtesy. No response, as usual.

Most of the people that received my e-mail were quite supportive and in agreement. I don't want this to discourage anyone from attending who thinks it can be of benefit to them. Whether or not it will be would be best left to be answered by prior attendees. Some of which I have heard from.

As always I am delighted to be of any assistance I can to artists if they submit their work to me via mail. As you can see below many do. Just recently, as you see, Mustards Retreat, Modern Man, Emily Kurn, and more have done just that. All will be on TRADITIONS shortly as well. As the sign off says---stay in touch and stay well (if the mold at Kutshers does not get you---the food is good, though).

On a musical and positive note now:

Since there are many that go to Florida I have to tell you---MODERN MAN is appearing at the WILLOW THEATRE in --where else---Boca Raton, Florida on Sept. 30. The perfect venue for ASSISTED LIVING.

MUSTARDS RETREAT will be in the NY/CT area and will be joining me at the end of September on TRADITIONS.

ROD MacDONALD will be at THE TURNING POINT in Piermont New York on September 6 (tickets are almost gone)

THE ARROGANT WORMS at THE HURDY GURDY FOLK MUSIC CLUB in Fairlawn NJ on September 15.

We end today with the thought that Kutshers Country Club (can you believe that name---oich!! I could do a riff on assimilation) has seen better days. NERFA may also have. Me---I still see good days, NERFA notwithstanding, thankfully. The point is---a life and a career is made by honesty, openness, and one's own charisma.

NEWS AND REVIEWS

In the "knock your socks" off department of new CDs a few have arrived recently and were spoken of that way on TRADITIONS by your never so humble author. Well, today we add to the growing but select group.

David Tamulevich on the left and Michael Hough on the right--together MUSTARDS RETREAT. Their new CD is so new that there is not a picture of them on that album to show. Suffice it to say MUSTARDS RETREAT "There...and back again (snapshots from life on the road)" is in the above mentioned department. Soon there will be a sock shortage around here since quite a few have been knocked off.

This CD is something that all can appreciate for its simplicity and no overdone production values. You put it into your player and just listen and feel like singing along with the great variety of songs on it---from Cottonfields to the great opening track---Lost My Heart To You. A Dave Carter song and the ever popular Steve Gillette composition are just part of it. All so wonderfully recorded before an appreciative and warm audience.

While I will be delighted and honored to be able to present this CD when I am on TRADITIONS September 9, if you visit their web-site and contact them I am sure you can order an early copy.

MUSTARDS RETREAT are tentatively scheduled to be guests on TRADITIONS near the end of September.

TABLETALK: Never, to this mind, has a book cover ever told the story in one picture. This does.

MORT ZACHTER has written a most readable and witty memoir and will be my guest on TABLETALK on September 16.

This truly brilliant first work by an author who has been able to make a career of writing---after practicing law and accounting---because of what transpires in this wonderfully and wittily written memoir is a story that is not to be missed.

While we are not going to give all the details away in our chat on TABLETALK, or on this page, it can be said the book is more than just about Mort Zachter and his family. It is about an era. It is about a culture. The best part is that you of a certain age will re-live that era and those who are not of that age will appreciate the insightful and humorous way it is presented.

Remember TABLETALK is for you early birds---Sundays at 8 AM. While it streams on the web it is not archived and, surely, some of the people that have appeared are people you do not want to miss having a chat with me---Eliz. Swados, Phil Patton, Michael Oren, Daniel Silva, David Margolick, and so many others. Now--Mort Zachter.

SUNDAY SIMCHA: It is probably known that we have had some wonderful archival material that has been presented recently. One of our listeners, a former producer of much of this material, has sent it to the program. Arthur Levy, the gentleman's name, will be a guest on the program shortly. As they say---whoever "they" are---TBA. Figure late September.

Sunday Simcha will be featured in a few Jewish Center newsletters shortly and while February is the month that pledges are requested a brief note or financial show of support for this program--which, happily, is garnering many new listeners---is always appreciated.

The place for that would be: WFDU 1000 River Road Teaneck, NJ 07666 Att: Station Mgmt.

Now go and check out Henny Youngman on the Playlist Page, Union Maid on The Almost Daily Rooster, and our good friend Rik Palieri right here.

AN ASIDE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

While the playlist will posted tomorrow an alert to the new video was warranted. Hoping to keep some Jewish material on this site we leave Lenny Bruce and move into the hilarity of Henny Youngman. While the titles do not reflect him he is a major part of this. They should be watched in sequence since it is a sequence of an old Johnny Carson show featuring Henny.

For clarification---the program was aired in 1963.

This video will be found on the Playlist page which can be accessed by clicking on the right side of the page. Talk about cross-promotion. Way to go.

Program Notes for Future Reference

A very brief update. Since this page has been intended for Program Notes, as the title implies I shall give you a few followed by a few other items that pertain to that:

TRADITIONS: This coming Sunday will be filled with some interesting juxtapositions of music. From the satirical to the summer mood pieces you will find the likes of artists new and those we should hear again. I have always thought that it is nice to present the new---but, like classical music, let us not forget the ones we have heard before---a whole set of music from them and their relationship to radio awaits and the mood of summer awaits. Along with new material.

SUNDAY SIMCHA: A wonderful poutpourri of material from the present and the past. In additions a Simcha Question (could not alliterate---any suggestions welcome) that can only be answered by listening to the program---there will be a song and I hope you can identify the artist.

Hopefully, you will check The Almost Daily Rooster since there is some wonderful new topical material for Labor Day up there in video form.

As you know the site, as is this one, is updated frequently and your comments are always welcome. I would ask you to have the courtesy to leave a name. We are a friendly family here--- I hope.

I suppose I cannot leave this post without a picture of at least one or two of the artists that you will hear this weekend:

I am sure you recognize Bill Staines and Ronnie Gilbert.

We commemorate summer, Gospel Lite ( you will find out what that is about by tuning in) and also the sad occurrence and the anniversary of the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti. Would TRADITIONS ever leave you without the topical classics---and the remembrances we need? You tell me.

More Views & Reviews

Since the wonderful events of the Clay Eals book signing were described below it is time to move to another event this week:




While dropping in from whatever galaxy they were visiting this week and, like myself, trying to stay within the proper time-frame of NYC parking regulations (that could eat up the profits), MODERN MAN appeared at the METROPOLITAN ROOM on W. 22d Street in the former Men's Clothing District. OK ---segue---click on the right side on THE DAILY ROOSTER and we will talk about that and other matters of such great import.

Now the appearance by the hellions of hooliganism aka Modern Man. The turnout was, truly, almost as good as their performance. Aside from the "known" material there were, as usual, a few surprises. Without going into too much detail let it just be said that from humor to a serious moment and back to humor worked well---as only sincere pros can do.

On a personal note I have to say how touched and embarrassed I was by David Buskin's comments about me. I don't take compliments well and, as I always say, they are the talent. Being a conduit is like being a pipe===you want the oil and not the pipe it flows through.

OH--such modest analogies. I guess now is a good time to mention that you should listen to SUNDAY SIMCHA on Aug. 29. Mare Winningham has a song---What Would David Do?. Well, as to Buskin, we know it is JEWS DON'T CAMP.

Now is a good time to suggest you click on the right side on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER. There you will find some very clever videos (aside from the ones here--including Family Guy) and some random thoughts of this past week. Not necessarily musically inspired.

As you may have surmised by now that this site will update various programs that are on WFDU and some local appearances by artists but the main thrust is a connection with the listenership to TRADITIONS, SUNDAY SIMCHA, and TABLETALK. A connection with all the wonderful folks in cyberspace that might find the programs and the other pages of interest is a bonus.

Some of the artists that have appeared on the programs have evinced an interest in attending NERFA (Northeast Regional Folk Alliance) this year. It is held at Kutshers Country Club (quite the misnomer--one could do quite a riff on that name) in November. While I have been attending for many years now and found it a wonderful experience mingling with such great talents I have to say that my plans for attending this year are quite uncertain for various reasons. Many having to do with the organization sponsoring the event and the facility one has to pay bucks to reside in as a neighbor of things you would hire an exterminator to clear your home of. That said, I surely do not want to discourage any of the people that have evinced the interest I mentioned.

SO-a few CDs (dare I say "recordings' and date myself---or as Christine Lavin once said to me---"..dating yourself---you are a sick person") you might want to know about:

MODERN MAN: Assisted Living


TERRI HENDRIX: The Spiritual Kind


EMILY KURN: Things Change


AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS: The Drugs I Need







THE DAILY ROOSTER AWAITS YOUR VISIT. JUST GO TO THE RIGHT AND CLICK ON THE LITTLE FELLOW ( HIS NAME) AND LO AND BEHOLD SURPRISES AWAIT.