Best wishes, and our thoughts and prayers, to Bo Diddley, hospitalized in Omaha NE, after suffering a stroke following a concert in Council Bluffs IA. 78 years young, and still rockin’.
May he rock on for another day. And more after that.
Get well, Bo.
-k-
I made it through last night’s Academy of Country Music Awards long enough to see George Srtait perform, but not long enough to see Kenny Chesney walk off with the Entertainer of the Year award1. During George’s performance, SWMBO walked over to my chair, extended her hand, and invited me to dance. I got up, and we danced to George, backed up by his renowned Ace in the Hole band. I was tickled to see that his fiddle player and steel guitar player were the same as when we saw him in the MCI Center (now the Verizon Center) several years ago. That was a great show; it was a concert in the round; we were on the floor level, on an aisle, and had a great view of the proceedings. We were close enough to the back row that we could have danced to live music that night. I’m bummed to this day that we didn’t. If we ever get a chance to see a George Strait concert again, I hope we’re fortunate enough to get similar seating arrangements. I won’t miss the dancing opportunity a second time.
-k-
[tags]academyofcountrymusic, georgestrait[/tags]
1
The 42nd Academy of Country Music Awards are in progress on CBS. Not much else on, so I’m giving it a shot. Survived a groaner of a song by Kenny Chesney, to see George Strait and Whisperin’ Bill Anderson take the stage to accept the award for Song of the Year. Good deal.
George is up for 7 more awards; I hope that will keep me motivated through the Big and Rich appearance that is destined to happen.
-k-
[tags]academyofcountrymusic, georgestrait[/tags]
Don Ho, the iconic singer who made Tiny Bubbles famous, has passed away at age 76. And as I write every time I remember someone who has passed on, I had no idea about his life beyond what I heard on the radio or saw on the teevee.
When he returned home and took over his parents’ struggling neighborhood bar, Honey’s, he put together a band and started performing at his father’s request.
“I had no intention of being an entertainer,” Ho said. “I just played songs I liked from the radio, and pretty soon that place was jammed. Every weekend there would be lines down the street.”
Serendipitous things sometimes happen.
Tiny bubbles in the wine,
make me happy, make me feel fine,
tiny bubbles make me warm all over
with a feeling that I’m gonna love you ’til the end of time. 1
-k-
[tags]donho[/tags]
As a veteran of NASCAR pre-race coverage, I’m asking myself which definitely non-country singer will be introduced as A Country Music Sensation. So far, my bet is on … shudder … Big & Rich.
And my pre-race pick to win the 500: Tony Stewart.
-k-
Technorati Tags: NASCAR, tonystewart
Periodically, and thankfully, not too frequently, SWMBO and I stay up far too late listening to music, dancing, laughing, and crying.
Last night was such a night. We listened to music, George Strait, the Siderunners, and a host of others. It was a real iTunes Roulette night that lasted frighteningly close to sun up. Such shenanigans should kill old folks on the spot, but we’re survivors.
Notwithstanding how much I love her, and what fun we had, I wouldn’t give a nickel to do it again. Until the next time, that is.
-k-
The 80th annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree takes place on the National Mall tonight. The President will light up the tree, and several musical artists will perform.
I’m all for peace, but this thing bothers me; there will doubtless be religious trappings of every religion but Druidism(though the tree itself may cover that), inspiring to few of any religious persuasion, and ignored by those that don’t believe. Or it will be devoid of any religious reference, and be merely a feel-good winter festival.
In either case, why bother?
-k-
Technorati Tags: pageantofpeace
One year ago today, this old blog got off to a modest start. A year later, it humbly rattles on. I’ve debated about “branding” and such-like twaddle, and today it occurred to me: I am a mutt.
Yep, I like NASCAR, classical music, good single-malt scotch, a good cigar, Chevys, country music, escargot, pulled pork BBQ, pickup trucks, NPR, Coors or Bud, podcasts, and the occasional dip of Skoal.
So, I like what I like, and during the next year, I’ll share some of all of the above with y’all. OK?
I guess I’m supposed to render statistics, so here goes:
Modest numbers for a modest man. Keep showing up, comment when you’re moved, and life will be good.
-k-
From one of SWMBO’s merry e-mail jokesters:
The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500-man
elite fighting unit called the U.S. REDNECK SPECIAL
FORCES (USRSF)These North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia,
Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee boys
will be dropped into Iraq and have been given ONLY
the following facts about Terrorists:1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don’t like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death
of Dale Earnhardt.This mess in Iraq should be over IN A WEEK.
There may be something to that.
-k-
That’s the title of George Strait’s latest and greatest CD. I picked up my copy on a visit to the local Target this PM. I would have bought it in any event, but this little snippet from the 10/01 Washington Post sealed the deal; I’ll type this in from the dead tree edition, I haven’t the energy to find a link:
THe rap on Strait is that he’s been doing the same album since 1981, alternating ballads, Texas swing and two-steppers in practically the same sequence on every disc and hiring the most spirited musicians to capture it all in the studio.
Well, he’s done it again …
That was all I needed to read, right there.
-k-
Technorati Tags: georgestrait