This blog spot is the home to my ramblings. I am a free lance writer. Most of my work goes on Associated Content. Sometimes I write what is on my mind, sometimes I plug some of my writing, and sometimes a combination of the two. So, sit back read, enjoy, and we will see where it goes.
The Captain of the Love Boat passed away today at the age of 90. Captain Stubing was perhaps Gavin MacLeod's biggest role. The show ran 10 years and 250 episodes. It also spun out a television movie.
The show's opening...
I'm sure a seven year run on the Mary Tyler Moore show helped his career. Plus some spots on TV history from 1957 to 2011.
He will live on in re-runs on the expected shows and the unexpected! May he rest in peace.
Eric Carle wrote the above story. He passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. The beloved children's book author best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Grouchy Ladybug, and more. More than 145 million of his books have been sold worldwide according to Wikipedia.
Fortunately his legacy will live on for generations to come through his wonderful books. He will be missed by his fans, friends and family/
The recordings were done arguably at Buddy Guy's and Stevie Ray Vaughan's prime. A lot of people around my age have Stevie Ray among their top guitarists. Buddy Guy is a blues legend and one of the best blues guitarists of all time. I'm not surprised Stevie won but I thought it would be closer.
Welcome to another Battle of the Bands. I started the year with some rock anthem battles, then I settled into a jazz grove. In April I went with 50's rock and modern millennial pop before returning to jazz. What in the wide world of music am I going to select this time around? Let's do a famous nursery rhyme. Wait let's have two great guitarists perform said nursery rhyme.
Just in case you need a refresher on "Mary Had a Little Lamb" here is an example of the tune...
As you know I will present two contenders giving us their interpretation of this classic nursery rhyme. You my awesome readers and listeners tell me which one you like the best in the comments. My job is pretty easy I count up the votes like I am counting sheep and announce a winner in a week or so in a new post.
Contender One: Buddy Guy
Contender Two: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Which one did you like the best Buddy or Stevie? Let me know in the comments and I will see you soon!
Colt Brennon had a college career that showed glimpses to bright future. The pass happy quarterback set all kinds of records as a University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior. He lead them to a big Bowl, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Highlights from his college days..
He was drafted in the 6th round by the
Washington Redskins. He stayed on the roster for a couple of seasons, bounced to another team, bounced to other leagues never catching on. Soon the former quarterback was out of football. In the real world he suffered from injuries from a car accident and battled a healthy dose of demons.
Sadly his life ended during mental health awareness month.
Gregory Edwards Jacobs better known by his hip hop professional name Shock G passed away last month. His rise to fame was being the lead vocalist for the Digital Underground. (music disclaimer some music might work in the club but not at work)
"The Humpty Dance"
"Same Song" featuring Tupac
He became more a sideman, a producer working with the likes of Tupac. He also worked with KRS-One, Bobby Brown and Prince to name a few. He will be missed in the Hip Hop world.
Great news this time around I picked up a new voter Nashvillecats2! Six votes with three going to Les Paul and three going to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. I like both so I don't mind the tie. You all know I don't vote on mine.
I don't want to tip my hat, so no Les Paul or Original Dixieland Jazz Band to celebrate a musical tie.
Maybe the 2015 All State Illinois Jazz Ensemble instead...
Well my topic was on reptiles, I tried to mix up a bit.
The posts ended up breaking down like this:
One was in general
One crocodile
Two on a Tortoise
Five on Turtles
Seven lizards
Ten snakes (only three venomous and one of them was semi-venomous)
I wanted to visit 300 pages (which means leaving comments). I fell short I came up with 250. I am planning to do the roadtrip so that number could grow.
This bearded dragon thought my lap was comfy unfortunately I had already posted about Bearded Dragons.
Reflections on the A to Z the best part is interaction with others. Sad is the bloggers who have come on gone for various reasons.
I didn't have a huge A to Z "hit" post. Yes my page views were up for the month of April but with 32 posts for the month that would be expected. Past years posts also get some love during this time.
Personally I as a blogger wanted to blog about something different. Sure, I have blogged about reptiles before but not to this extent. Plus certain topics can get your blog a label. This on just balances out the blogosphere.
Back to my regular scheduled programing. In case you missed my Battles in April I did 50's rock and then rock covers of Lady Gaga. I think maybe I should take a time out from the Battle of the Bands in April if I am doing the A to Z Challenge. I don't know. The Battle of the Bands is past it's peak.
Don't get me wrong it is still fun! I didn't think the second Battle in April would be a big one so I chose something I thought would be fun for me. On April's first battle I don't think I voted on anyone's Battles. To those who had Battles I apologize. I'm still finding Battles, I am still doing them mostly in the traditional format and it is still fun! I get to mix up the genres. Obvious I have some favorites. However, I get to explore deeper. Maybe I get to explore a genre I don't know well, or an era, or I know so and so did this song but where did it come from. So, to all of you who have stuck around thank you! To any newcomers thank you I hope you come back. Also this a bloghop feel free to jump in!
Well there is a reason this blog is called Mike's Ramblings just look at the first two paragraphs as example one. Anyone I started the year with Stairway, some Skynyrd, and a Jackson Browne tune. Then I jumped through a guitar heavy, jazz standard funk. The jazz I found was received as well as the others. So today I am going back to jazz.
The way it works I choose a song. I play an original version or a well known version. Then I have two more contenders. The covers if you will. My readers tell me in the comments which ones they liked best. I count them up and announce a winner usually a week later or so. Songs are shorter than my ramblings this time!
Today's song "Jazz Me Blues" by first recorded by Lucille Hegamin composed by Tom Delaney She is described as a blues singer.
Bonus question: Is this blues or jazz? It is considered a jazz standard but it was sung by someone considered a blues singer. Is it both? Is it a blurred line kind of thing?
Contender One: Original Dixieland Jazz Band
(I believe the first instrumental version of the tune)
Contender Two: Les Paul
Two very different covers. 30 years difference in time 1921 to 1951. Both very good at what they do. Time to vote!
