The Forgotten Pioneers of Rock 'n Roll

"BIG JOE TURNER"

Big Joe Turner was a veteran of the Kansas City Music Scene for many years.
He started clear back in 1938 when Kansas City was the wildest and most corrupt
city in the United States.Because of the "anything goes" attitude of those years
Kansas City had more Nightclubs with Live Music than probably any city in the
world.The music that came out of Kansas City was as wild as the city itself-
many great artists spent time honing thier skills in Kansas City from Charlie
Parker to John Coltrane for it was also mecca for jazz players as well.The
music that Big Joe Turner specialized in was upbeat R&B that was a bit
on the wild side-in that respect Big Joe fit right into the Kansas City music
scene-for the music that he was performing was essentially Rock 'n Roll-
but Joe was just about 16 years ahead of his time-but not in Kansas City !
In 1954 Big Joe released "Shake,Rattle and Roll".The song crossed over
into Billboard's Pop Charts climbing clear up to #22 and making it one the
very first Rock 'n Roll songs by a black man to reach white audiences.
In this sense Joe Turner was a pioneer of the highest order as it was nearly
impossible in those day's for a Black artist to crossover into the pop charts.
Joe's version of the song was so great,so powerful that even Elvis
couldn't top Joe's version.Now that's what i call a true pioneer and a
visionary.

note:Joe Turner had quite a few hits on the R&B charts and "Shake,Rattle and Roll"
went to #1.



Written by Pete Holly-Copyright-2009-All rights reserved

The Quest Goes On

Being a voting member of the Grammy's is a great Honour,but it is also a
a great responsability.Just like political elections,one vote could make a tremendous
differance in more than just a few peoples lives.The procedure is alot more complex
than most people realize.There are many steps along the way and the rules must be
strickly adhered too.Occasionally some of rules change so one has to keep up with
any of these changes and one also one needs to keep up with what is happening in
in the music business.
Thankfully,the Grammy's can afford to help you keep up with the happenings in
the music business thru deals that members are a allowed with music publications
and other entities.Some publications even give members free subscriptions.Thanks
to this i know more about stage and recording equipment than i ever have.I also
am informed as to which tours are the most successful each month and who's recording
where and with what equipment and producer.
Some things change as you grow older but i'm still as curious as ever to learn new
things about the world of music and how it gets made.The quest goes on.

Written by Pete Holly-2009-copyright-all rights reserved

THE NIGHT SKY-WED. SEPT. 16-1 HOUR BEFORE DAWN

IN THE NIGHT SKY THIS MORNING THERE IS A VERY BRIGHT
CRESENT MOON DUE EAST ABOUT 10 TO 20 DEGREE'S ABOVE THE HORIZEN.
IT APPEARS TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE EARTH AND JUST TO THE LEFT
ABOUT ABOUT 2 AND A HALF FULL MOON LENGTHS IS A VERY BRIGHT
VENUS THAT ALSO APPEARS TO TO BE SO CLOSE TO THE EARTH THAT
YOU COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT.THEY ARE BOTH JUST ABOVE THE
HORIZEN AND YOU CAN SEE THEM BOTH SHINING VERY BRIGHTLY WITH
YOUR UNAIDED EYES.
JUST TO THE RIGHT AND MORE DIRECTLY STRAIGHT UP IS A CLUSTER
VERY BRIGHT STARS-ONE WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE LITTLE DIPPER.
BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER STARS AS WELL ALL SHINING VERY BRIGHTLY.
IT'S QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT AND DEFINATLY WORTH CHECKING OUT.

BY PETE HOLLY-2009-COPYRIGHT-all rights reserved

Forgotten Pioneers of Rock 'n Roll

Louis Jordan

by Pete Holly

There are many artists who pre-date the first rock 'n roll era of the 1950's that can be sited
as being the forerunners of rock 'n roll.For my money one of the most significant is Louis
Jordan.He had a long sussessful career with numerous hit's-Caldonia-Saturday Night Fish Fry-
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'-Beware !-just to name a few.His band The Typhony Five
were topnotch and they toured for nearly two decades-so why isn't Louis
Jordan more well known?Probably because for later generations he was so far ahead of
his time. His music is nearly %100 rock 'n roll but the peak years of his popularity were
between big band swing and R&B bands and the first rock 'n roll era-and he tends to get left out
of both catagory's.
One thing for sure,there was no shortage of greatness in Louis and his bands music.It's as
rocking as can be.The songs are all top notch-Inventive-Cool-Hip-Funny and occasionally
Sad-sounds like rock 'n roll doesn't it? Your damn right.

notes:Louis Jordan was the lead singer of his band and played saxaphone{and several other
instruments}.Chuck Berry has said Louis and his Band were one of his main inspirations
and he is also noted to be an early rap stylist,with many of his song's being spoken in classic and
extremly entertaining jive talk,telling story's that give insight to the culture of the time and that are still relevant today.
Written by Pete Holly-Copyright-2009-all rights reserved

MOVIE FLASHBACKS-FORIEGN FILMS

Inmar Bergman's

"Wild Stawberries"

Directed by Ingmar Bergman

For american audience's,'Wild Strawberries" is probably the most assessable foriegn
film ever made.It's stricktly a coincedence that it also happens to be one of the great-
ist-if not the greatist foriegn film ever made.
The theme's in the film are universal.Missunderstandings that are present in a
family that have been years in the making aren't brought out into the light until it's old-
est member,a Doctor,is called in his old age to recieve an honer from his University for
all his years of service.His daughter in-law,who's having some difficulty's which involve
her husband,the Doctors son,ends up accompanying the doctor to the ceramony.
During the the long car trip many of the doctors and his daughter-in-laws perceptions
of the family are brought to light.By the films end they know and like each other in a way
that would not have been possible before.So it explains family issue's and the tendancy of
family's not to talk about them in a way that any family member can relate to.Bergman
is a genuis at explaining complex issue's which every human being must confront in thier
live's.Here he just happen's to do it in away that is easy for anyone to understand.The film
is not dark in an overall sense,nor is it strange.It's an easy film for anyone to understand
because we all have a family and family issue's are universal with no borders.
The foriegn stylings of the film,dreams brought to life,which are one of Bergmans
favorite tools,in this film are easy to understand-It doesn't take an intellectual mind to
get thier meaning.

In Swedish-with English Subtitles

Written by Pete Holly-2009-Copyright-All rights reserved

HOW BOB DYLAN CHANGED JOHN FOGARTY'S MIND

"Creedence Clearwater Revival" is probably the closest thing America ever had
of equal artistic strength to "The Beatle's".So it should come of no surprise that John
Lennon once stated that they were his favorite American Band.After CCR broke
up in 1971;John Fogarty,the groups lead singer and songwriter released several solo
Projects,One an album of covers with John playing all the instruments and going
by the name of "The Blue Ridge Rangers" and the other a proper solo album.Then
Fogarty,for a number of reasons,went on hiatus for nine years.In 1984 he released
"Centerfield" as John Fogarty and had a great success as he seemed to return
at full strength to the music world and fans and the press welcomed him with open
arms and a multitude of well deserved praise and recognition of being one of America's
finest songwriter's and performer's.His next album release didn't fare quite as well
and Fogarty went on hiatus again-this time for 11 years.
All this time Fogarty was living with the results of a terrible contract that CCR had
Signed with Fantasy Records.The bulk of the profits from John Fogarty's many hit songs
went to Fantasy-and he didn't have control of his own music.It was a bad situation.
Eventually Fogarty would get his music back but it was along,long time in coming.
In the mean time Fogarty refrained from playing any of the CCR material at his concerts.
Bob Dylan noticed this as he watched one of John's Show's.He made a decision to talk
to John Fogarty.He said to John that he must start playing "Proud Mary" or people
would "start thinking that Ike and Tina Turner wrote it".Fogarty knew Dylan was
right.He stopped boycotting his own music and began to play the CCR songs again
including "Proud Mary" and his fans went wild.John Fogarty of CCR and John Fogarty
The solo artist were rejoined and when Fantasy Records was sold to new owners-
Fogarty ended up back onthe label,only this time with a fair and decent contract.
It took along time-but finally things were righted,with just a little help from Bob Dylan.

Written by Pete Holly-2009-Copyright-All Rights Reserved

The Kennedy Years-In Honer of Teddy Kennedy

My lifetime has co-incided with the Kennedy years.John Kennedy
was the first president i was aware of.It seemed like one day we were saying the
pledge of alligence looking at the American flag and a Photograph of John Kennedy-
in first grade,in San Fransisco and the next day school was canceled because
our president had been assasinated.I remember sitting in front of a Black and
white TV watching the funeral procession-I was 5 years old-but i'll never forget
that feeling of tradegy and darkness.But the Kennedy's carried on.
Next in line was Bobby Kennedy.An elagant speaker with a strong moral
compass for the value's we hold highest in American Society.Equality,Freedom,
and a willingness to give your life to try and help those less fortunate than himself.
Then Bobby was taken away in the same senseless way his brother had been.
That left only Teddy.Teddy gave maybe the best speach ever givin' by any
of the Kennedy brothers on the occasion of his brother Bobby's funeral.In his eulogy-
One of the most moving speach's in american history.I started to think maybe
Teddy had greatness too.I was 11 years old.
Yesterday Teddy Kennedy died.Thou he lost his bid for the presidency-as
a senator for 5 decades his impact on american politics-in the long run-turned out
to be bigger than either of his brothers John and Bobby.I,nor did many other people
see that coming.Teddy Kennedy by the fortune of his longevity and the courage and
wisdom of his character-has left an impact on american politics and policy that only
a few other americans have achieved in the entire lifespan of our nations existance.
Through triumph and tradedy Teddy never stopped working to make america the
best country on earth.We have much to thank him for and show graditude to him for.
Teddy made the long haul.He wasn't a shooting star.But his wisdom is a beacon of
light that will endure the age's.

Sincerely,
Pete Holly

Written by Pete Holly-2009-copyright-all rights reserved