R.I.P Bill Buckner

Bill Buckner passed away at the age of 69. Sadly he is probably remembered for a botched play in the 1986 World Series.

It is sad because he had a successful Major League career collecting 2715 career hits. He was the National League Batting Champion in 1980. In 1981 he ended up on an All-Star Team. He had a long career spanning 22 seasons and he played for five different teams.

He will be missed by baseball fans and his family. May he rest in peace.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs about Heaven or Hell

Save the last dance for me! Monday's Music Moves Me theme is songs about Heaven or Hell.  If I am going to Heaven then I don't mind being early if I am going to Hell well the devil can wait.

                                                       "Hell in a Bucket"  Grateful Dead

The Cure "Just Like Heaven"

AC/DC "Highway to Hell"

Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven"

Bob Dylan "Knockin'  on Heaven's Door"

Pink Floyd "Run like Hell"

I hope you enjoyed!

Memorial Day

Go a head and hug a veteran or thank an active duty service member for there service. Today isn't about them. It is about the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

They are somebody's son or daughter. They could be our neighbors. They are somebody's friend. To the Service Members they are Brothers and Sisters in arms.

I know several veterans and service members. I am proud and grateful for what they have done. Luckily I haven't known anyone who died in service. Pretty amazing if you think about it. Since for most of my life we have been involved in conflicts.

It is a different story for my parents. I remember going to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington with my parents. I remember them searching the wall for people they new. I would visit the Memorial from time to time. There always same to be Veterans there. The names on the wall is a great reminder of the human cost of war. It was neat to see what others had left for their fallen loved ones. You would see folks looking for names of people they knew just like my parents did.

An Air Force friend of mine also asked his friends to remember those who lost their life through their own hands. Sometimes war and returning home is too much.i certainly will add them to my prayers on this day.

Battle of the Bands Results: Luther Vandross Wins

Luther Vandross against The Supremes and Four Tops sounds like an interesting competition. However, I don't think I would have thought of any of them singing a Stephen Stills song. Oh well that is the fun of the Battles of the Bands.

Luther Vandross won a close one 4 to 3.


                                                    "Here and Now" we celebrate winners...

                                                   "Buy Me A Rose"

Endless Love with Mariah Carey..

"Never Too Much"

Tune in on the first for who knows what?

                                                 

More than a Good Deed

A guy I knew had a bad day at work. He ended up being stranded at a job site which would have been an 11 hour walk back to his car. If he was able to walk back to his car by the time he got there the car would have been locked u on the property. Sure there is Lyft and Uber but like lots of people he was living from paycheck to paycheck and didn't have the means to pay for that. 

 I had just turned my phone off airplane mode just moments before he called me. I told him he got lucky reaching me that I had just turned my phone on.  He said that was God!

I drove out to where he was and  picked him up, drove him to his car and drove back to my place. It was somewhere between 60-80 miles of driving. However, I didn't have any plans and really wasn't that big of a deal. He said he didn't know a lot of people around here and it was God that lead him to call me. He was in this area for work. Where his home is the jobs are scarce and the pay very low. 

He shared his gratitude to me. Declaring if I ever needed anything to call him first! He gave the credit to God. After all God was the one who had me turn my phone on when I did. Even before that maybe God had something with us exchanging contact numbers. Maybe God had something to do with me being available and having a car. Sometimes being a friend, doing a good deed is so much more. 

Monday's Music Moves Me: Elton John

Well I did see the new Elton John movie this weekend and since today's theme is a freebie why not Elton John songs!

                                                  "Rocketman"

"Your Song"

"Tiny Dancer "

"Crocodile Rock"

"I'm Still Standing"

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight"

There is a good six pack of songs for Monday's Music Moves Me!

R.I.P Herman Wouk

Author Herman Wouk passed away two days ago at the age of 103. He wrote the Pulitzer Award winning novel The Caine Mutiny. He also wrote Don't Stop the Carnival which Jimmy Buffett turned into a musical. He wrote several other books as well.  His career has been garnered with awards. Highlighted by awards from Columbia University, Yeshiva University, Bar-Ilan University, The United States Navy Memorial Foundation, Jewish Book Council, the Alexander Hamilton Medal, and topped off with Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing Fiction.


                                              News of his passing...

He fell short of reaching his 104th birthday by 10 days. He certainly lived a long life.

Here he speaks of his faith...

Here is the first part of Jimmy Buffett paying tribute to Herman a few years back..

He will be missed. However, he did leave us with some great reads.

Thoughts on Rocketman

I watched an early screening of Rocketman the new Elton John movie tonight. Many people have compared this movie to the Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody. It's easy to see why but don't! Elton John and Freddie Mercury are two different musicians with two different stories.

I don't think Rocketman will be as successful as the Queen movie. They are both good movies. I think the Elton John movie could be converted into a musical fairly easy.

Rocketman does share a look at Elton's upbringing, his relationship with Bernie Taupin, his struggles with relationships, family, and addiction. as you would expect the movies features a great selection of sounds and Taron Egerton does a splendid job of portraying Elton John.

The movie gets heavy at times. I recommend the movie. If you like Elton John then you don't want to miss this film. 

Battle of the Bands: Love The One You're With

It's the 15th of the month which means it is time for another Battle of the Bands. Think it's time to "Love The One You're With."  

Here is Stephen Stills performing his song to refresh your memory...

You know the drill by now I will have two contenders and you vote for the one you like the best in the comments. I tally the votes and announce a winner.

Contender One: Luther Vandross

Contender Two: The Supremes and The Four Tops

Who's gonna win? We will find out in a week or so. 

R.I.P Tim Conway

Tim Conway who won six Emmy Awards has passed away at the age of 85. He is best known for his work on McHale's Navy  and The Carol Burnett Show.


                                                   The Elephant Story

A clip from a McHale's Navy episode..

An interview with Johnny Carson..

His comedy, his acting career will never be replaced. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

R.I.P Doris Day

Doris Day passed away yesterday at the age of 97.  During her long career as an actress and singer she has earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

                                           "Que Sera, Sera"

Here is one from early in her career "Sentimental Journey"

A look back at some of her celebrated roles..

"Secret Love" from Calamity Jane

She will live on in her recordings. She leaves behind quite a legacy on film and in song. She will be missed.

Monday's Music Moves Me: The Body Part Edition

It's time for Monday's Music Moves Me blog hope post. This one should be interesting since it is about Body Parts in the song title. 

                                               "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"

A little band from Texas had a song about "Legs"

A little ZZ Top.

Eyes count, "Behind Blue Eyes" The Who

Shakira "Hips Don't Lie"

Page and Plant "Heart in Your Hand"

ELO "Can't Get You Out of My Head"

Hey I kept it clean! I was able yo get a lot of body parts, head, heart, hand, hips, eyes, legs, shoulder, knees and toes! I hope you had fun and I will be back with a new post soon!

Battle of the Bands Results: Who won Yesterday?

A great Beatles song, an up and coming singer Connie Talbot and the legendary Marvin Gaye was my recipe for my latest Battle of the Bands.

Marvin Gaye won the Battle 4 to 2, in a Battle that didn't feel that close. The song was "Yesterday" and now you know who won.

"Let's Get it On"

"What's Going On?"

"Mercy, Mercy Me"

Thanks for visiting! Stay tuned I will have a new Battle of the Bands on the 15th.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Jacksonvillle Rock

It's Monday and time for a Monday's Music Moves Me post. Today is a freebie.

My theme is bands from Jacksonville, Florida.

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man"

The Allman Brothers Band "One Way Out"

Shinedown  "Get Up"

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Everybody's Talkin'"

Molly Hatchet "Gator Country"

Limp Bizkit 

"Take a Look Around"

Well there is a six pack for your Monday! Enjoy and see you soon.

R.I.P Phil McCormak

My memories of Phil McCormack go back past the last 24 years where he has been the lead singer for the iconic Southern Rock band Molly Hatchett. I remember him from fronting perhaps the best Southern Rock group in the Washington D.C. area "The Roadducks."


Here he is with The Roadducks "Laughing Eyes"...  

The video was probably a good five years before I would see the band. I heckled the guitarist in the band at one of his solo gigs and the band owned a club where I would see a bunch of bands through the years.

"Sad Situation"

Phil passed away last week. It wouldn't be right not to pay tribute without some Molly Hatchet tunes as well.

here is an original from his time in the band "Son of the South"

Guess he was "Flirtin' with Disaster"

May he rest in peace!

R.I.P Peter Mayhew

The man behind Chewbacca has passed away at 74 just shy of 75 years of age. Peter Mayhew was the actor who portrayed the furry creature in the first three Star Wars movie. He returned to the role in Episode Three and the Force Awakens.

The 7'3" tall actor died of a heart attack. Star War fans will miss him. His wife and family will miss him as well.

Battle of the Bands: Yesterday

Welcome back to my blog for the regularly scheduled programing that happens when it is not April. Today is May 1, 2019 which means it's time for another Battle of the Bands. This song kind of fits my mood today. It's the Beatles "Yesterday."

                                             Contender One: Connie Talbot

Contender Two: Marvin Gaye

As Elton John says "Sad Songs Say So Much." You know the drill vote for the one you like the best in the comments. I will count up the votes and announce a winner around the 8th.

Thanks for visiting