A lot of attention is paid to the 6a to 6p economy...but that has been a disservice to its 6p to 6a sister of the night. 24 Hour Dallas intends to change that...and we talk with the organization's Coordinator, Bryan Tony, on the most recently released episode of the DMOU Podcast.
Chick here to listen...or find us on your favorite podcast platform.
Even those of us that love the "classic" versions of the quintessential holiday song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from artists like Dean Martin may not know that the tune dates back to the mid 1940s. And, that it was penned and performed by a couple to encourage guests at their lavish parties to go home.
Eventually, it found its way into the movies and was first performed to public view by Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams. And then no fewer than 10 duets followed in 1949, featuring names like Bing, Doris, Bob, Ella and Dinah.
But, as I dove into the history of this classic, there was one that stopped me in my tracks; a version that deviates so subtly from the original that it is elegant in its improv departure from the script.
On this Music Friday in which we shift to holiday music...this is Pearl Bailey and Hot Lips Page from the Ed Sullivan Show.
My new favorite. Yours?
One of my favorite Jerry Lee stories is that of a time when a biographer asked, “Is it true that…”
“Yeah,” he interjected, without waiting to hear the particulars.
That was Jerry Lee Lewis, who departed terra firma today at the age of 87. A man who lived by his own rules, his wife said "he is ready," just a few days ago.
As Rick Bragg shared in his obituary, "somewhere in the world, in a mean little honky-tonk or big music hall or church basement rec room, someone is playing a Jerry Lee Lewis song. Wherever there is a piano, someone is shouting…
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane…"
The song that, more than "Danger Zone," will always be the Top Gun song." The song that inspired countless pianists to view their piano as a percussion instrument.
Despite such a massive catalogue of hits, we gotta go with the Killer's most killer on this Music Friday that marks the end of an era.
And the Original + "Breathless.*"
I'd say rest in peace...but that's just not how it's gonna go down in his next life.
* and since we're talking movies...there's always the (spoiler) ending of Richard Gere's Breathless.
I've been pondering this quote almost every day since I heard it this summer at the Annual Convention of Destinations International. And, we included it in our DMOU podcast episode in which we asked DMO pros about new positions and titles they were considering that they never would have in 2017.
Well, we decided to go deeper. And, on the just dropped 100th episode of DMOU, we talk with Ottawa Tourism's Catherine Callary about how Canada's indigenous story is being told through an increasingly authentic lens...and learn about the Ottawa Indigenous Tourism Entrepreneur Training program.
Good Stuff.
As the tributes roll in for "The Coal Miner's Daughter," those that didn't grow up during her breakout years may not know how much of a trouble-maker Loretta Lynn was. A number of the songs for which she is now known were banned by some radio stations and stores. Among those songs that ultimately went Number One despite being banned: "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)," "Fist City" and "Rated X."
On this Music Friday, we say a fond farewell with this duet with Willie Nelson, "Lay Me Down."
And, thanks to our friend George Tzougros of the Wisconsin Arts Board for the suggestion.
While uncredited sampling of original works is generally seen as stealing, collaborative and credited sampling can produce art that takes the original work and builds something magnificent around and through it. Such is the case with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise.
If you knew Stevie Wonder's classic 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life, you likely knew the deep track entitled "Pastime Paradise." And, if you did, you may have said to yourself, "hey," almost two decades later, when Coolio released "Gangsta's Paradise." But, Stevie had given him his blessing (and took a big chunk of the royalties) to make this a true collaboration that was put on display at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards for the world to see.
We sadly lost Coolio earlier this week and, on this Music Friday, want to go past the mega-hit he said was both a blessing and a course. We'll miss the lyricism of tracks like "The Winner" and "Too Hot (sampling Kool and the Gang) And, especially "C U When U Get There."
Coolio helped rap crossover to an audience that had tried to resist. They couldn't when they heard "Gangsta's Paradise."
RIP.
When one looks at who is heading the Russian experience today versus the man at the top in the early '90s, you gotta simply shake your head. Though his term in office was short, Mikhail Gorbachev was one of the most important figures in decades in bringing the world to a more collaborative culture. We lost him at the age of 91 this week and, not surprisingly, the sitting President of Russia refused to attend the funeral.
When word of his passing reached us, Terri suggested we find a way to honor him through our Music Friday post. Unlike other political leaders, I was pretty sure Mikhail didn't have any music videos out there (but, feel free to look). But, there's another Mikhail out there that does have a video...from his film with the sensational Gregory Hines, called White Nights.
It is possibly (with the exception of videos of my daughters dancing in competitions and recitals) my favorite dance video of all time. This is Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines with "Prove Me Wrong."
Every once in a while, I stumble upon post on Social Media that elicits a "hell yeah."
That happened earlier this week when I was blessed with a 2nd level contact on LinkedIn named Stephen Eastridge, the Executive Director of the Jasper County IN Economic Development Organization:
"Economic development in rural communities is tricky. It often means focusing on 100 other things that have nothing to do with the metrics our board members or elected officials measure success by. Last week success looked like this. 6 artists from all over the country breathing vibrancy into our community. I’m grateful to be a part of this each year and excited to work with Cameron Moberg to continue to spread art throughout Jasper County."
And ain't that the truth for all of us in community development? Prove it, they say. Prove that you're moving the needle.
And you can't...but you know you have.
My friend Lee Tasseff (CEO of Destination Mansfield-Richland County) is a regular follower of our Music Friday posts (thank you)...and reached out to suggest this sensational piece that recently ran on CBS Sunday Morning about A.J. Croce...the son of Jim Croce.
So cool that the son has come back to honor his father...while still making his own sensational music.
Thanks for the nudge, Lee :)
And sorry to send you down the rabbit hole again with the Jim Croce link.
Not.
I never knew the backstory of the classic Led Zeppelin track "When the Levee Breaks." But, as I searched for inspiration for this Music Friday, I found it...in a Playing for Change video.
The basic tune traces back to 1929 when blues artists Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie wrote a song about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. While the original lyrics are mostly intact, Jimmy Page inserted a new guitar riff and, of course, John Bonham added a ferocious drum beat...today, one of the most sampled beats in the world.
Here's the original. Here's Zeppelin. And, here's when Plant and Page reunited for a time.
And, here is John Paul Jones, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and over 20 musicians from seven countries with a riveting performance of a song written over 90 years ago.
Enjoy....
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