Bobby "Blue" Bland the great blues and RnB singer died June 23rd, 2103 in Germantown, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis. He was 83. Originally from Rosemark, Tennessee, Bland moved to Memphis and was one of the original Beale Streeters.
A mixture of southern traditional music and big-band arrangements mixed with the emotional power of the blues gave him his pioneer status.
Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 1997.
Buddy, BB and Blue. Guy, King and Bland. Photographer unknown.
First recorded in 1957 Bland's song Farther Up the Road was covered by Eric Clapton as well as the likes of Lonnie Mack, Roy Buchanan, Mike Bloomfield, Lucky Peterson among others. Here is Bobby "Blue" Bland's Farther Up the Road.
People die. We cannot do anything to stop death. Medical science has enabled us to prolong life. I am not talking of eating better. I'm speaking in more general terms. I have tried to approach the topic of death more than once since I started my blog. I wrote about my uncle and aunt but beyond this was not able to put my thoughts together.
We do not dwell on death but, your own mortal existence comes into focus with shocking speed when someone your own ago dies. In senior year high school a classmate was killed in a car accident. Two years following graduation, a former classmate was shot by a police officer. A few years back my cousin, an Israeli army veteran, died on the operating table during what was supposed to be minor surgery. Two colleagues and friends died from cancer, Joel in 2002, Patrick, who was also a mentor, in 2006.
These events, when they happen, are eye opening and can shake you from an otherwise peaceful existence that we, for the most part take for granted.
An old friend, Ian, died last week. he was 43 years old. He died suddenly, leaving behind two children, a wife, a brother, parents and a lot of friends wondering why and how. As I write this I do not know the cause of death. the obituary reads "suddenly".
We all leave legacies and imprints. And as I ponder his loss I say, he left behind children as part of his legacy. At least that.
I've seen more, done more than most people I know. But those are the things you take with you to the grave. What do you leave behind? Family, children, teachings and memories. And then I think again to my own life and consider what my legacy will be. I am not done yet. Too many things to do. A wife, and a child are priorities. In small part, let this be added to your legacy... Derrick, Joel, Patrick, Ian.
Ted Tevan passed away on Friday August 12, 2011. As the tributes to the late and great Ted Tevan pour in over the web I will weigh in on this iconic radio announcer. My two years working with Ted were barely a footnote in his legendary career. Better known names such as McGarrity, Graeme Mitchell, Earl "the Pearl" De la Perralle, and Eddie “The Brain” Creachman come to mind when speaking of Sports Rap or The Ted Tevan Show. It is unlikely that my own name will ever be listed alongside Ted's.
AM 600 CIQC Montreal
For year upon year, just like many Montrealers, my brother and I would stay up past our bedtimes listening to Ted's broadcasts. I would try to convince my brother to call in and we would listen for anyone we knew or, for someone to get shot by the machine gun sound effects. As a kid, staying up listening to Ted on late night radio was the number one reason I was always tired.
Anyone in Montreal, of a certain age, has a Ted Tevan story. Slightly jaded as I was, meeting Ted for the first time as an adult was an experience. Going before Ted was the equivalent of going before the President, the Prime Minister, an audience with the Queen or meeting Marlon Brando. This was a celebrity. Larger than life, with the deep gravelly voice, and shock of white hair that added three or four inches to a shorter frame. I looked up to Ted while I looked down from my 4 or 5 inch height advantage.
Ted gave me my nickname. The first time I walked into the studio to train on the board, the producer introduced me to Ted.
"Shawn", Tevan said, "Like Shawn O'Grady the boxer. "
On night number two, Ted said, "Hey Look what the cat dragged in. It's O'hara. Did you learn anything last night O'hara?"
From that moment on, I was Shawn O'hara.
I had the luck of running into Graeme Mitchell a year ago. Mitchell was the weekly co-host of Ted's Thursday night horse racing show. After leaving the Montreal Hippodrome as handicapper and marketing expert, Graeme was associated with the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
A Thank You to Ted Tevan
My name won't be listed next to Ted's. The experience and memories are enough. Mitch Melnick once pointed out that of all Ted's producers over the years, of all the Gang of Eleven that ran his show, I was the first producer Ted put on the air as a sidekick. Earlier today I sat listening to some airchecks of Ted and I bantering, or Ted interrupting my weather or sports update.
Ted was an actor on the air. Still, the character he portrayed was the same guy he was in person, albeit exaggerated immensely. Ted always had a plan, whether ranting about the Big O, politics or life, or his 25 minute live ads for Dad's Bagels. One night, in the middle of one rant, a pigeon landed on the window sill outside the studio.
"O'hara," Ted yelled. "What kind of bird is that?"
As deadpan as possible I replied, "Ted, it's a chicken."
For some 10 seconds - an eternity in radio - Ted could not say a word. He was shaking, trying his hardest to not crack up. When he regained his composure, he railed into me, telling me to go home, telling me he would demote me and have one of the other Gang of Eleven take over. All the time with a big smile on his face.
Mitch Garber's eulogy at Ted Tevan's funeral by StubbornFool.com
Mitch Melnick will be airing a tribute to Ted Tevan on his show Melnick in the Afternoon on Tuesday August 16th between 3-7PM on The Team 990 AM in Montreal. You can also stream it from your computer here.
My aunt was laid to rest the other day. She lived a full and long life of 86 years. She now lies next to my uncle, her husband, whose death preceded hers by two years. My aunt and uncle are buried at the Field of Honour, a cemetery dedicated to Canadian military personnel who served in the 1st and 2nd World Wars.
Following my uncle's discharge from the Canadian Army after the Second World War, the two of them married and lived inMontrealfor 25 years before moving toFlorida. My uncle Mac was a tough guy. Not a big guy, just real tough. As a teen he was a lifeguard and took up boxing. Boxing came in handy once he joined the military, both in the ring and in the barracks. After the war my uncle drove a cab and worked as a bodyguard. In the early 70s the two of them settled inFloridaand took on perhaps an easier life working in retail, managing a number of stores. They spent the rest of their working years in theUnited States, having worked in every state. They moved back toMontrealto enjoy their last few years closer to family. I've been told that in many ways I take after Mac. I've also been told that I take after my late Uncle Lyle, Mac's best friend who was killed in action in the 2nd world war. Lyle was the writer, Mac the fighter.
Lawrence Tierney as Joe Cabot
Funerals are just like reunions. I have never been close with that side of my family as all my cousins are much older than I, 10 to 25 years my senior. I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time. My other uncle, Harry was there too. I don't know Harry as well since he married into the family in more recent years. I know enough to recognize him as another tough guy. A WWII vet, Harry fought overseas with the U.S. Military. Harry was telling a story in his deep gravel voice and it suddenly struck me. Harry looks and sounds just like Lawrence Tierney. You probably remember Tierney from Seinfeld, he played Elaine's dad. If not, I am sure you remember him as Joe Cabot from Reservoir Dogs.
I saw one cousin for the first time in 20 years. The last time I saw her was when my grandfather died. She is my 2nd cousin. Her mother is a psychotic bitch. And that's not just my opinion. It is a well known fact. The Britannica Encyclopaedia has an article about her. The newspapers all know. It is a fact.
Anyway, sitting in the family room at the funeral home, my aunt re-introduced us. We chatted, we reminisced. She asked, "How are we connected again?" We aren't first cousins are we?" "No", I replied, "we are second cousins; your mom is my 1st cousin".
Pause. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1.
"So, Shawn", she said, "You should give me your number. We should meet for coffee sometime."
Did my cousin just ask me out? At our aunt's funeral? She just hit on me!
She is a very pretty lady and about ten years younger than me. She is my cousin. What the hell?! I mean that's just creepy. Wherever I go, someone wants to set me up with their friends, their daughters, their cousins. I have two rules though; Don't try to set me up at a funeral. And two, I don't date family.
Various news sites are reporting that U.K. singer Amy Winehouse died in London today at the age of 27. So far her death is being described as "unexplained". Police had cordoned off the street around Winehouse's residence as journalists, fans and the curious gathered around outside.
Winehouse joins the infamous 27 Club, the long list of rock musicians who died unexpectedly at the age of 27. Others include Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.
Talented singer and versatile musician and songwriter Andrew Gold died on Friday at his home in Encino California at the age of 59. Gold was undergoing cancer treatment but died suddenly from a heart attack.
Gold was perhaps best known song for the Golden Girls TV show theme "Thank you For Being a Friend". Gold got his start playing with Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. He later recorded with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, John Lennon and Paul McCartney backing them on their solo projects.
Gold had success on his own starting with his debut 1975 self titled album. He went on to release nine albums. His biggest hit came with the storytelling song "Lonely Boy" which climbed to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
Joseph Williams "Pinetop" Perkins, the man who became the oldest Grammy award winner died today in his Texas home. He was 97. Pinetop Perkins was born in Mississippi in 1913 and started his career in the late 1920s. His 2010 work called, Joined at the Hip won him a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues CD.
Original known as a sideman, Perkins spent years playing in the Muddy Waters Band and with Sonny Boy Williamson before going solo. Perkins was also nominated in 2005 for a Grammy and recognized with a lifetime achievement award for his 80 year career.
Bass player and original member of the band Alice in Chains, Mike Starr was found dead earlier today at the age of 44. Starr's death comes nine years after the passing of lead singer Layne Staley. Recently Starr appeared on the 2009 season of Celebrity Rehab.
As a founding member of Alice in Chains, Starr appeared on the bands first four studio albums including their 2003 breakthrough LP Dirt. He left the band soon after the album's release.
Guitarist, singer, rocker and bluesman Gary Moore died suddenly today in Spain. He was 59 years old. Originally from Belfast, Moore, was best known as a solo guitarist and singer. His ability to switch from a Peter Green styled intensity to a slashing Stevie Ray Vaughan lick came across effortlessly in his music.
Moore played with Thin Lizzy in the early 70s and performed with some of the greatest Blues acts of the last thirty years. He released twenty solo albums and toured off and on with Thin Lizzy starting in the 1970s, and later in 2006.
In 2001 Moore released Back to the Blues. The disc featured a cover of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday", and the Yardbirds' gem "I Ain't Got You". A couple Moore originals, the atmspheric "Pictures Of The Moon" and the instrumental song "The Prophet".
From Back to the Blues, this is "Looking Back".
The Scottish singer and songwriter Gerry Rafferty died earlier today following a long illness. Perhaps most famously known for his song Stuck in the Middle With You he recorded as a member of Stealers Wheel, Rafferty also had an extensive solo career releasing 14 albums. His 1978 LP City to City hit number 1 on the U.S. charts and number 6 on the U.K. charts producing the top 12 hit Right Down the Line and the number 2 song Baker Street. Bars with the name Baker Street popped up world wide in the late 70s.
Jerry Rafferty - Baker Street
