Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Today is our 30th Anniversary

It is hard to believe that Karen and I have been married for 30 years.  Where did all these years go?  It was a sunny and mild day on October 16, 1983 when we wlked down the aisle at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation as Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner officiated.  It is just sad to look at our wedding album and see how many people passed away over the 30 years.

Happy Anniversary Karen and many many more.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Happy Birthday Roy

My good old friend Roy is 63 years young today.  We have been friends since our Forest Hills High School Days as our parents were friends.  I remember meeting Roy on Saunders Street and walking to school while we talked about the WMCA and WABC surveys.

Roy retired after working for many years in the New York City Office of City Planning.  He can best be described as a "culture vulture" as he spends 9 days a week going to movies, operas, ballets, and Broadway shows.

Happy Birthday Roy.

By the way today is the 8th anniversary of Bruce's Journal.  There have been almost 2400 journal entries over those 8 years.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Happy Birthday Cousin Brucie

The Cuz is 78 years young today.  Happy birthday and many many more.  You are the #1 Radio Mensch. Here is an obvious dedication to you - Birthday by the Beatles.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

A Night With Janis Joplin - For Broadway or Concert Hall?


This afternoon Karen and I went to see A Night with Janis Joplin at the Lyceum Theater.  Whenever a "jukebox musical" opens I like to see it shortly after its release since many of them fail.  Twyla Tharp's The Times They are a Changin' was the biggest flop while the Jersey Boys has succeeded on the Great White Way for years.

I enjoyed the show as Alison Cusano (the understudy) did an excellent job of belting out the Janis Joplin song book.Mary Bridget Davies the advertised Janis had the afternoon off.  The Janis character gave some biographical information to the audience, but there was absolutely no story line.  There were appearances by actresses portraying Chantel, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Odetta, Aretha Franklin, and Etta James.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear a version of Dylan's I Shall Be Released.

My question is should Broadway theaters be concert halls? There are many tribute bands out there who play in concert venues rather the Broadway stage.

Review in the New York Times.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Good News and Bad News for Bob Dylan Today

The good news is that after break for about two months the Never Ending Tour resumed today in Oslo, Norway. He will be played in several European Countries during this leg of the tour.  The bad news is that Bob did not win the Nobel Prize for literature.  The honor went to Canada's Alice Munro described as the master of the contemporary short story.

Below is the set list for tonight's concerts from Bill Pagel's Boblinks page

Oslo, Norway
Spektrum
October 10, 2013

1.Things Have Changed
2.She Belongs To Me
3.Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
4.What Good Am I?
5.Pay In Blood
6.Tangled Up In Blue
7.It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
(Intermission)
8.Early Roman Kings
9.Simple Twist Of Fate
10.Summer Days
11.Forgetful Heart
12.Spirit On The Water
13.Scarlet Town
14.Soon After Midnight
15.Long And Wasted Years
  
 (encore)
16.All Along The Watchtower
17.Blowin' In The Wind
  

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Happy Birthday John Lennon


Today would have been John Lennon's 73rd birthday.  Although he was tragically killed in 1980 his music with the Beatles and as a solo artist lives on.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Congratulations to Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein for 10 years on Q-104.3

Jim Kerr and Bruce at the November 2012
Oldies Meet and Greet

From what I have observed radio personalities come and go quickly at radio stations.  But Jim and sidekick Shelli Sonstein have been together at Q-104.3.  Jim and Shelli were also the morning team at WPLJ.  Jim is originally from Detroit, but has worked for almost 40 years in New York radio.  In additon to working at Q104.3 Jim is heard on SiriusXM.  In the past he has worked at:
  • WPLJ
  • WYNY (NYC country music station at 103.5 FM)
  • WYNY (a Westchester country music station known as Y107)
  • WPIX-FM
  • Mix 105
  • Fill-in host on WOR
My best wishes to Jim and Shelli for continued success in New York radio.
 
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