Little Richard
Little Richard 1932-2020 The “Little” was for his youth when he first heard the call Good Golly Miss Molly sure like to ball What did we just hear? Completely absurd But the Bible is clear, In the Beginning was the Word Whop bop b-luma b-lop bam bom What on earth? A guy with makeup and […]
My Mother Told Me
Click on above to play. Lyrics below. First song I’ve recorded using Garageband. My mama told me, “Son, ya gotta understand, you’re getting’ older, won’t be too long till you’re a man. Soon you’ll be goin’ and leave behind your family and I want you to know son just what it is you mean […]
Sondheim at 90
Sondheim at 90 His nature – not long in modestyAt eighteen he felt Broadway boundNo question he was a prodigyBut not all did he astound Oscar gave him a nuanced review:“Stephen, it’s terrible!”To Sondheim these words were newBut here’s what made it bearable: Line by line, the sword of Hammerstein The score bled red inkCould there […]
2019 RIP Part 5 – Others
Press here for audio/visual Leavelle was cuffed to the killer of JFKLive television a grey matineeRuby rushed forward with his 38Conspiracy believers lying in wait All fathers are flawed, that’s a givenHe drank and he pawed and by ego was drivenBut what can we do, they’ve all we’ve gotJulia’s dad was the Sultan of Swat […]
2019 RIP – Part 4 – Writers
Press here for audio/visual The previous narrator demanded changes to his contract and has walked off the set. We have brought in his understudy, former public radio personality, Keith Henty. The operative word there is “former” so that’s why he was available to fill in today. Thank you and enjoy the show. Writers A poet, […]
2019 RIP – Part 3 – Actors
Press here for audio/visual Character actors say there’s a way you Leave the audience wanting more No one better than Peter Mayhew Among the Stars he went to War Tim Conway went to Chagrin Falls High (for real) With Carol Burnett he hit his stride So many scenes he broke or would steal But everyone […]
2019 – RIP – Musicians
Press here for audio/visual He’s dead but let us be grateful for Robert Hunter’s lyrical spin A life spent abetting the faithful What a long strange trip it’s been Daniel Johnston embodied outsider art A modern day Willam Blake Fearlessly wrote of a mind breaking apart Seems despair never cut him a break La Nave […]
2019 – Sinners and Saints
Press here for audio/visual The year – not an eventful oneIt brought no sense of urgencyClimate fear overdoneBut there were all these birds, you see Sweet swallow songs unsung at dawnOne third gone – no one would saveThree billion trills grown stillBuried deep in David Koch’s grave Do we mourn all who have passedHe funded […]