THURSDAY---Another Edition of......

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)      Do retired cops, besides receiving over the top pensions, still get angry when one disagrees with them?  Oh, that controlling and wearing of a uniform is something hard to get rid of.  You know that's personal---right?

2)      Thinking of the above comment makes you thankful that Germany did not win WW2 but we now know that human nature (which includes the U S) is only steps away from the same nature---sadly, human nature.

3)      Think of 3 people at a table and each one is texting---talking about one of the others.  Whole new definition of having dinner with people.  

4)      I am always impressed by folks who, no matter their age, continue to go to educational courses and open themselves up to new ideas.  Would that people who only see things in black and white do that.

5)      Seems like Teabaggers see things in black and white and you have to wonder if they would have been involved in the original Tea Party unless, of course, there had been a Palin type shrew leading the cause---for a hefty fee.

6)      Why do people use Debit cards when they can use Credit cards and let the issuers give you a free monthly ride and if you overdraw a Debit card you may end up paying 37.50 for that 2.50 slice of Pizza you were so hungry and salivated over.

7)      Wasn’t it a wonderful time when telephones made telephone calls and did not become an entertainment center and a venue to pay e bills?

8)      If you don’t see money then you don’t realize you are spending it.  Las Vegas knew that years ago when you purchased chips.

9)      People of age are leaving the stage; as usual.  Whitney Harris died at 97.  The last of the prosecution team at Nuremberg after WW2 and the founder of the first International Criminal Court.  Unfortunately, the crimes go on.

10)                    One has to wonder how it is ever possible to hold anyone responsible of anything in the corporate and industrial world given all the intricate chains of ownership.  Seems like only the person who robs a 7/11 store or mugs someone in the street gets the original version of justice.  Justice for the large gang is elusive---Madoff, excluded---he did get his comeuppance. 

11)                    What a delight to see Pete Seeger (and Fred Hellerman and Ronnie Gilbert) still active and mesmerizing at those grand old ages.  Would that we all had such verve and drive.   Happy 91 on May 3 to Pete Seeger.

12)    Do join me Sunday on TRADITIONS when we celebrate Pete Seeger's 91st.(5/3), mine (5/2)---a bit before that, and re visit a wonderful show of last week in Tarrytown.

More Than Just A Review

While making mention of this on the May 9 Sunday Simcha program and, surely, this Sunday (May 2)when we commemorate the 91st Birthday of Pete Seeger (5/3) and yours truly---not quite there yet-- this is something that has to be mentioned even sooner. A glorious evening that was billed as a concert---and a memorable one it was--but was in fact a most touching and wonderful surprise 50th Birthday Party for a family by the name of Wolofsky and organized by their wonderfully sentimental and caring children. Amazingly it was a surprise---which was a great surprise to me. How do you keep it a secret that you are going to Tarrytown Music Hall from Canada and on that stage will be----Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Work O The Weavers, The Klezmatics---and the biggest surprise to them---Theresa Tova (you have heard her on Sunday Simcha)--along with the perfect image of Woody Guthrie--Rob Tepper (you have heard him on Traditions)? Not to mention some great monologues by Nora Guthrie since this was also a benefit for The Guthrie Archives and for the sloop Woody Guthrie.

More than just a review because those are the basics.  What transpired on that stage was, besides an historical event, a wonderful musical celebration.  From the moment Pete Seeger took the stage the audience was mesmerized and, as it always is with Pete Seeger, involved.  Followed by The Work O The Weavers who keep that wonderful tradition alive and keep updating it and then having Fred Hellerman come on was surely a homecoming for many.  Fred Hellerman calling on Pete to join him ("...I am not used to being alone on a stage") was a brilliant moment as they did an old ---hardly  remembered--favorite, "The Frozen Logger".

While the Work O The Weavers were still on stage an intruder came up----Woody Guthrie.  Had you not known he had passed on you would have seriously believed that Rob Tepper WAS Woody Guthrie.  If one can see his full production (When The Curfew Blows) it is not to be missed.

There you see what I am writing of.   Woody Guthrie re-incarnated.  Or, as Nora Guthrie state--"...I am freaked".  That says it all.

After intermission at this grand old entertainment palace that still lives on we were regaled by The Klezmatics who surely know how to blow a house down.  The big surprise of the evening--for the Wolofsky family at least was the person who joined The Klezmatics for a great rendition (among other things) of Kisses Sweeter Than Wine---in Yiddish.  Prior to that the big surprise of the evening was the elder Mr. Wolofsky running up on to the stage to hug Tova---and idol of his for many years.  The Klezmatics then continued with music that made the rafters ring and the spirits soar.

For a final ending I have to close with this description of it and follow it with the photo you saw at the top since this was a truly historical and personal event---and also benefited some wonderful works of historical meaning---The Guthrie Foundation and The Sloop Woody Guthrie.

For that grand Finale which started with This Land Is Your Land and then had Pete Seeger signalling all the others to come forward; then leading them in Goodnight Irene and have them (Pete signalling) for them to sing the last chorus as the slowly walked off the stage-----What An Evening.  

THURSDAY AND ANOTHER EDITION OF.....

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1) Why do I get the feeling that door men (people---so PC) negotiations do not take into consideration the tips and Holiday gifts that seem almost obligatory? Guess I will not be producing a benefit concert for them and I doubt I could have afforded a door man(person) for such an event in any case.

2) I loved this line---which I attribute to May Sue Twohy----Iceland’s final dying economic wish was to have its ashes spread over Europe. Let us now pray and say Amen. Hallelujah brothers and sisters.

3) I finally met a knowledgeable person who feels as I do about the merits of Phil Ochs vis a vis Bob Dylan. Phil Ochs. Period.

4) Facebook is a wonderful place for people to stream---just like a good urine flow. Some folks there just have to leave their inane brain droppings all over the place as the Canadian Geese do with their anal droppings here on many grassy areas.

5) There is a great side effect to a Prostate shrinking med---it stops hair loss. Does that mean baldies have huge prostates and do not take this boon to Mankind. Womankind has other problems.

6) The VA is terrific if you do not need immediate care.

7) When did people become Senior Citizens and stop being Old Folks? Was it around the time they had gone to Assisted Living and were not in Old Age Homes?

8) I am hoping that you tune in to Traditions on May 2 when we will commemorate Pete Seeger on his 91^st Birthday (5/3) and the loveable yours truly (5/2)

9) Sounds like a great show coming up at Tarrytown Music Hall on Saturday, April 24 and there are still a very few seats available. Did I mention—Work O The Weavers, The Klezmatics, Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, and some great surprise guests---all for a benefit for The Guthrie Foundation and The Woody Guthrie (Sloop)?

10) I am still wondering why we need a fence between the U S and Mexico and not Canada. I can imagine why but wouldn’t it be nice if the Mexicans could be as open and friendly as Canadians---they don’t have to apologize for everything. I know there is more to it---but who has space and time for an essay on Mexican politics and drug traffic.

PETE SEEGER AT 91

On May 3 Pete Seeger will be celebrating 91 years of life and music. I will surely be commemorating that on TRADITIONS on May 2 (my selfish note---my birthday that day--promise I will not sing). In the meantime something you might find of interest regarding Pete Seeger.

One of his great hits. Better way of putting it is one of his most memorable songs was Wimoweh. This came out of a misunderstanding of the pronunciation of the word---Mbube. The original recording was by the writer, Solomon Linda of S. Africa with his group The Evening Birds.

Over the years the song became a great hit in many forms and, sadly, Linda never received any royalties until, recently, Pete Seeger made arrangements for them to be sent to him. The song had been commandeered by groups such as The Tokens and re-named The Lion Sleeps tonight.

True BS since there are no lions in S. Africa (to my knowledge). Also a lion hunts at night.

The Lion in the song refers to the Zulu leader who will once again regain control of the tribe---so to speak.

In any case, Pete Seeger, singing the original version had a huge hit with it. Both as a solo artist and with The Weavers.

What follows are two versions---the original (which I thank Sharon Katz of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train for sending me) featuring Solomon Linda and then The Mahotella Queens. Stick around for May 2 and here Linda and Pete.







Two versions---the original and another brilliant one. Join me on May 2 for Solomon Linda and the Pete Seeger version and a tribute to this brilliant elder. Pete Seeger.

A Biographical Suggestion and an Interesting Offer.

A very brief note here regarding THEODORE---aka--BROTHER THEODORE.

Having been in contact, recently, with the writer and producer of a documentary of his life a thought occurred to me which is a fairly infrequent event.   May I suggest that you jump over to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER and read a brief commentary of him, see a clip of this early performance artist, and aallow me to make you an offer you can very readily refuse.

See you there.  If not you will have joined the multitudes of those who don't know what they are missing---and, truly, do not care.

LIU in Orangeburg NY ---and the Adult Learners Program

During the summertime there is a wonderful program being offered by LIU in collaboration with some local folks that offer a number of courses for Senior Citizens---Senior Citizens--you know---us old folks.  The website for them is this .

Right now they are offering many courses of interest and one of them is a wonderful class in Folk Music.  That course is, in the instructor's own words, and overview of the subject.  I am hoping to be able to offer, in the fall, a class that will focus each week (classes meet once a week) on a particular artist, his/her music and history.   Some may even appear there.

I have found a keen interest in the present offering and do believe this can fill the void left by an overview.  So many of the "students" were asking for more information on a given artist.  

Please contact the link above if you are interested in signing up for something like this and also to urge them to present such a class.  While I would certainly entertain suggestions about who to focus on I have quite a few artists in mind.  Not necessarily ones you might have thought of.   The "students" seem to like discovering new things---new to them, in any case.

Think of this---artists that have been quickly covered in the overview class---Burl Ives, Pete Seeger, etc;  

Would people not like to know of such as Cisco Houston, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, Jean Ritchie, Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk, and ever so many more---including  Kate Campbell, Eric Bogle, Hank Williams, and so many more in the later eras?

So---contact LIU if there is interest in this.