Turning 100

The anniversary snuck up on me - I've just passed the 100th (?) blog post mark and I didn't even know it. So before I blow out the candles on the cake, I just wanted to share a few thoughts on passing the century mark.


I started doing BSRR because James Brown died. It's too bad that JB will be remembered by some as a prime contender for Worst Mugshot Contest, as well as an alleged wife beater, as opposed to "The Godfather of Soul " or "Soul Brother Number One" or "The Man With The Crown" or any one of the other hip titles the Famous Flames would run through just before JB took the stage. I am not condoning his behavior toward women, but time has taught me to judge a musician by their output-their art - a rationale that was applied to Michael Jackson repeatedly. Artists are not necessarily pleasant people; Picasso in particular was supposedly a real sob in relationships, and Hemingway - whom I admired as a teen - a nasty macho drunk. I forgive the Godfather for ignoring public relations. Hopefully, his musical career will be remembered as opposed to the domestic violence charges.


James Brown is indicative of the kind of artist I respect - performers who are true originals, faithful to their "roots". I rank George Jones right up there with Peter Tosh, Chuck Berry and Tony Bennett - they are all "originals" with a definitive style and an unmistakable sound. Music to me has to have integrity and - hopefully - originality. The only tunes I really detest are the orchestral versions you hear on the supermarket loudspeakers or in an elevator or wafting through an office, the bland, innocuous blend of strings and horns that reduces all musical forms to easily digestible pap.

The most original blogs so far have involved friends like Bruce Burnside, Joe Auger, "Shade" Melton, the Cutlass Three, Led Balloon Jug Band and L'Esperance. It's always a privilege to give friends a boost as well as educate the audience. The blogs causing the most response were about Robert Johnson and Craig Roche. I've learned that it is a big mistake to write about Robert Johnson because the only thing people agree on is that nobody really knows where he was born, or exactly how he died or exactly where he is buried. Craig Roche was a lifelong friend who died suddenly - way too soon. He was a versatile musician with an infectious sense of humor and a big heart to boot. I'm glad I could pay him homage.

I've gotten a lot of comments - most of which seem to be promoting something else online - but the most significant and surprising entry appeared after I wrote a review of the film "Crazy" , about the life of guitarist Hank Garland. The movie was perfect - the soundtrack is authentic, the character portrayals are flawless, the plot is straight out of Billboard and Garland's story takes so many twists and turns that it holds your attention. A few days after I wrote the blog, a comment appeared which turned out to be a thank you from the Garland family. I always think I'm writing in obscurity, a tiny speck in the big celebrity/business/government blogosphere, so to have this validation arrive out of nowhere was a bit of a shock. The bottom line is that Hank Garland is a true original, the movie is excellent and you should go see it.

I've questioned whether or not to continue this blog many times, but somehow I always come back to it. I guess that means it's time to start the second 100 posts because apparently I'm not finished just yet.