More on Millard
Feb/05/2009 07:35 AM
The entry below is
reposted
from the Fuller Center website, and has more
information about Millard Fuller's death. Pay special
attention to the description of how Millard, one of
our most influential leaders, was buried: in a simple
box, with no grave marker.
Totally consistent with his own spiritual values.
(Read the rest. Click here)
Totally consistent with his own spiritual values.
(Read the rest. Click here)
Millard Fuller
Feb/03/2009 11:20 PM
I was visiting the hospital around lunchtime today,
when I got a Twitter that Habitat for Humanity
cofounder, Millard Fuller, had died. This news makes
me terribly sad, as I consider Millard a personal
hero and inspiration.
Like all of us, Millard had feet of clay. But his dreams and visions, his zest for helping the poor and less fortunate, are virtually unrivaled in our time. He is perhaps the most inspirational figure I have ever known, and I am driven to write about him today.
(Read the rest. Click here)
Like all of us, Millard had feet of clay. But his dreams and visions, his zest for helping the poor and less fortunate, are virtually unrivaled in our time. He is perhaps the most inspirational figure I have ever known, and I am driven to write about him today.
(Read the rest. Click here)
Other Seas
Dec/07/2008 07:34 AM
It's the morning after Kathleen Baskin-Ball's
memorial service, and I just wanted to dash of a
quick word of gratitude...
(Read the rest. Click here)
(Read the rest. Click here)
As If We're S'posed to Know (A Tribute to Kathleen Baskin-Ball)
Dec/03/2008 04:09 PM
I was at a memorial service for a church member's
mother yesterday morning, and had my phone off most
of the time. But when I got out of that service,
within seconds of turning it on, there was a call
from Bill that Kathleen Baskin-Ball had died a short
time before. I just happened to be about 10 minutes
away, and so yesterday I spent the better part of the
afternoon at their home with family and friends. It
was a tough day, to say the least.
No blog, no memorial, can ever be eloquent enough to honor the life of such an incredible woman. Others will offer their own thoughts at various times, I am sure. And I sense that her service Saturday will be a marvelous celebration of the various parts of her life and ministry.
All this is to say that, as with much of the writing I do here, this entry is as much as part of my own catharsis and healing as anything else. If others find it meaningful, all the better...EF
(Read the rest. Click here)
No blog, no memorial, can ever be eloquent enough to honor the life of such an incredible woman. Others will offer their own thoughts at various times, I am sure. And I sense that her service Saturday will be a marvelous celebration of the various parts of her life and ministry.
All this is to say that, as with much of the writing I do here, this entry is as much as part of my own catharsis and healing as anything else. If others find it meaningful, all the better...EF
(Read the rest. Click here)
A Sadness Beyond Words
Nov/22/2008 03:45 PM
Many of you will have already heard the news posted
below from Bill Ball, about Kathleen. But I got two
Facebook messages today from folks who were "out of
the loop," and so I thought I'd post this to my blog.
Anybody who is a Methodist in North Texas will be heartbroken by this news. For those of us who love Kathleen and Bill like family, it's beyond words. I hope some of the old Pursuits Class friends will also perhaps see this, and I invite you to support Bill and Skyler in this time too.
More to say in a few days. But Bill's email is below the jump...and there's not much more to say now... (Read the rest. Click here)
Anybody who is a Methodist in North Texas will be heartbroken by this news. For those of us who love Kathleen and Bill like family, it's beyond words. I hope some of the old Pursuits Class friends will also perhaps see this, and I invite you to support Bill and Skyler in this time too.
More to say in a few days. But Bill's email is below the jump...and there's not much more to say now... (Read the rest. Click here)
Judge Barefoot Sanders Memorial Service
Oct/01/2008 12:00 AM
Sometimes soon, when time permits, I'll blog more
fully on the life of Judge Barefoot Sanders, our
friend and church member who died this past week.
His memorial service was at our church a week ago today, and sometime this week we'll be adding a video page to the church's website, so that folks can enjoy the videos there.
But those of you who read my blog (and, by extension, my Facebook) get this advanced look: (Read the rest. Click here)
His memorial service was at our church a week ago today, and sometime this week we'll be adding a video page to the church's website, so that folks can enjoy the videos there.
But those of you who read my blog (and, by extension, my Facebook) get this advanced look: (Read the rest. Click here)
Goodbye, Stratopastor
Aug/20/2008 08:42 AM
Last Saturday, Rusty King and I were honored to sit
in on a little "family time" at First United
Methodist Church of Sachse. It was a time of prayer
and grieving that the church had shaped, as people
began to deal with their shock and grief over the
death of Russ Noland two days before.
Those who had gathered had set up a beautiful make-shift altar to Russ at the front of the chancel area. It had all sorts of momentoes of Russ' life. There were religious object, as you might expect. But there were also things like a vinyl copy of the Blue Brother's album, an Elmo puppet, and some Ray Bans. And, of course, Russ' stratocaster.
Brady Waters spoke (btw: he's another in a long line of fine ministry products to come out of fumcr. I'm just sayin') and did a nice job balancing the sense of grief people were feeling with the message that those left in life will continue on in their work. The most amazing thing of all is that Stephanie Noland, Russ' wife, spoke for about 15-20 minutes. She talked about Russ. She joked about Russ. She tenderly and beautifully addressed the Sachse Church, and even some individuals there, telling them how much they meant to Russ and to her. Frankly, I don't know how she did it, but it was beautiful.
Russ was a blogger. Somedays I think, "Isn't everyone?" But Russ had blog-fans scattered out around the country....folks who've been going to his Facebook page to leave their condolences this week. They talk about how, even though they never met him, they felt like they knew him through his blogs. The name of his blog was "Stratopastor."
IMHO, this is one of the best blog names ever. Not only is it catchy, it really describes Russ.
Russ WAS the Stratopastor. (Read the rest. Click here)
Those who had gathered had set up a beautiful make-shift altar to Russ at the front of the chancel area. It had all sorts of momentoes of Russ' life. There were religious object, as you might expect. But there were also things like a vinyl copy of the Blue Brother's album, an Elmo puppet, and some Ray Bans. And, of course, Russ' stratocaster.
Brady Waters spoke (btw: he's another in a long line of fine ministry products to come out of fumcr. I'm just sayin') and did a nice job balancing the sense of grief people were feeling with the message that those left in life will continue on in their work. The most amazing thing of all is that Stephanie Noland, Russ' wife, spoke for about 15-20 minutes. She talked about Russ. She joked about Russ. She tenderly and beautifully addressed the Sachse Church, and even some individuals there, telling them how much they meant to Russ and to her. Frankly, I don't know how she did it, but it was beautiful.
Russ was a blogger. Somedays I think, "Isn't everyone?" But Russ had blog-fans scattered out around the country....folks who've been going to his Facebook page to leave their condolences this week. They talk about how, even though they never met him, they felt like they knew him through his blogs. The name of his blog was "Stratopastor."
IMHO, this is one of the best blog names ever. Not only is it catchy, it really describes Russ.
Russ WAS the Stratopastor. (Read the rest. Click here)
The Reach
Aug/18/2008 08:10 AM
It's been a strange couple of days filled with life
and death. My Treo says that today I'm having lunch
with Russ Noland. I plan to be there. I'm having a
hard time believing he won't.
In the midst of that sadness, a beautiful story of the beginning of new life and hope. August 13 was Dan Fogelberg's birthday, and the story below comes from his wife Jean. Since his death, she's written several moving emails to his fans about Dan's legacy, music, and the honest struggles she's going through coping with his death.
I will note that this email was written on the day Russ died. Which she could not have known, of course. Everyone who loves Connections cannot not help but note it. "The Reach" has become one of our favorite Dan Fogelberg songs in our live tribute to him. It's the next-to-last song before the obligatory "Gambler." It features just about the whole band, and you can hear our version below, as you read this beautiful story from Jean Fogelberg. (Read the rest. Click here)
In the midst of that sadness, a beautiful story of the beginning of new life and hope. August 13 was Dan Fogelberg's birthday, and the story below comes from his wife Jean. Since his death, she's written several moving emails to his fans about Dan's legacy, music, and the honest struggles she's going through coping with his death.
I will note that this email was written on the day Russ died. Which she could not have known, of course. Everyone who loves Connections cannot not help but note it. "The Reach" has become one of our favorite Dan Fogelberg songs in our live tribute to him. It's the next-to-last song before the obligatory "Gambler." It features just about the whole band, and you can hear our version below, as you read this beautiful story from Jean Fogelberg. (Read the rest. Click here)
Russ Noland
Aug/15/2008 10:00 AM
I've just returned from San Antonio, and several days
there, to some shocking news: Russ Noland died of a
massive heart attack last night. Russ, as many will
remember, was one of our guitarists in Connections.
He was also my colleague, serving as minister of FUMC Sachse for many years now. The unfolding news is that Russ died even before reaching the hospital, after suffering the attack at about 11 pm. (Read the rest. Click here)
He was also my colleague, serving as minister of FUMC Sachse for many years now. The unfolding news is that Russ died even before reaching the hospital, after suffering the attack at about 11 pm. (Read the rest. Click here)
Homestretch
Aug/05/2008 02:55 PM
My longtime friend, Sheri Bylander has produced and
directed a marvelous documentary that I hope you'll
check out. It's called "Homestrech" and it tells the
story of two groups --prisoners and outcast horses--
and the hopeful things that happen when they get
together.
Here's what the website says about it: (Read the rest. Click here)
Here's what the website says about it: (Read the rest. Click here)
Goodbye, Randy Pausch. Thanks for playing all your cards.
Jul/26/2008 09:07 AM
Randy Pausch died yesterday.
It was totally an expected event, as he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was 47-years-old, and leaves two small children and a loving wife. And it was his gift to them that ended up inspiring the world.
If you have not heard Randy's gift to us all, you must --you absolutely must-- give yourself the gift of watching. The gift was something college professors often called "The Last Lecture," an old tradition of giving one final speech before retirement. That name took on an entirely new meaning when Randy delivered his on September 19, 2007.
You can watch it right here... (Read the rest. Click here)
It was totally an expected event, as he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was 47-years-old, and leaves two small children and a loving wife. And it was his gift to them that ended up inspiring the world.
If you have not heard Randy's gift to us all, you must --you absolutely must-- give yourself the gift of watching. The gift was something college professors often called "The Last Lecture," an old tradition of giving one final speech before retirement. That name took on an entirely new meaning when Randy delivered his on September 19, 2007.
You can watch it right here... (Read the rest. Click here)
Bill McElvaney
Jun/04/2008 12:04 AM
(Note:
Today is William K. McElvaney's 80th Birthday. This
June also marks his 50th year in ordained ministry in
the United Methodist Church. At Northaven this
weekend, we celebrate both those milestones. Bill was
the pastor of Northaven in the late 1960s, and is one
of two emeritus pastors that call the church home,
even to this day. He was, later in his career, also
my seminary preaching professor; a point I allude to
in the blog below...which is taken from the sermon of
this past Sunday. You can hear an audio
version
here. It's a great honor,
and a continuing blessing, to call Bill a mentor and
friend; and a no brainer to add him to my balcony
people...because he's already been there so long.
EF) (Read the rest. Click
here)
Follow Up on Fogelberg
Dec/19/2007 11:18 PM
"Death is there to keep us honest,
and contantly remind us we are free."
--Dan Fogelberg
I'm feeling a mixture of sadness and embarrassment. It all has to do with what I blogged about Sunday night: the death of Dan Fogelberg. (Read the rest. Click here)
and contantly remind us we are free."
--Dan Fogelberg
I'm feeling a mixture of sadness and embarrassment. It all has to do with what I blogged about Sunday night: the death of Dan Fogelberg. (Read the rest. Click here)
Goodbye to Dan Fogelberg
Dec/16/2007 09:02 PM
I have just heard the news about Dan's death earlier
today, and am still very much at a loss for words. I
wrote
this entry
about Dan about two years ago. I probably don't have
a lot more to say today about Dan beyond than this
tribute to him, and I hope you'll consider giving it
a read tonight. (Read the rest. Click
here)
Glory Be Update...
Oct/30/2007 08:15 PM
An update on
this.
I am pleased to tell you that my friend, Kathleen Baskin-Ball has received good news from her doctors. The cancer they described as so grave and life-threatening is now in complete remission.
It's one of those recoveries that everyone uses the word "miraculous" to describe. I'm just so pleased to hear the news.
Couldn't happen to a nicer person. And I'm now saying prayers of thanks. (Read the rest. Click here)
I am pleased to tell you that my friend, Kathleen Baskin-Ball has received good news from her doctors. The cancer they described as so grave and life-threatening is now in complete remission.
It's one of those recoveries that everyone uses the word "miraculous" to describe. I'm just so pleased to hear the news.
Couldn't happen to a nicer person. And I'm now saying prayers of thanks. (Read the rest. Click here)
James Taylor
Sep/22/2007 10:23 PM
It's probably
the epitome of cliche for me to tell you I'm a
James Taylor fan. Even more than
other musicians I've written about before, just
about every guy my age who ever picked up an
acoustic guitar has publicly pledged
his troth to the music of James Taylor. So, yeah,
it's probably not hip to say this. And, yeah, it's
probably cliche.
Know what? I could care less. (Read the rest. Click here)
Know what? I could care less. (Read the rest. Click here)
High School Heroes
Jun/26/2007 07:16 AM
There is virtually no higher honor for a high school
student than meeting the President of the United
States. Only a select few kids ever get the chance.
And, usually, it's a high school hero of some
distinction: National Spelling Bee Winner, High
School Football Champions, Boy Scout Troops.
Yesterday afternoon, it was a group of Presidential Scholars. The President had invited them to the White House to congratulate them on their award, and to use the occasion to reauthorize the "No Child Left Behind" act. (Read the rest. Click here)
Yesterday afternoon, it was a group of Presidential Scholars. The President had invited them to the White House to congratulate them on their award, and to use the occasion to reauthorize the "No Child Left Behind" act. (Read the rest. Click here)
Connor's Army
Jun/23/2007 10:28 AM
Gene Conner is another of my great old friends. I met
him at SMU, in the residence halls. He was part of my
all-star-RA-staff the last year I was in seminary. In
college, Gene was a dance major. He was
great
dancer. I still remember the afternoon Gene was part
of a brownbag series over at the Meadows School. Many
of us from that tight RA staff went over to watch him
dance to the Indigo Girl's "Blood and Fire." That
that CD was something of a soundtrack for that last
year of our lives in school. (for many of
us...) (Read the rest. Click
here)
Sheron Patterson
May/08/2007 10:52 PM
Incredibly,
another clergy friend has cancer. This time,
it's my old friend, Sheron Patterson. Sheron is
probably known to some of you. She occasionally
writes op-eds for the Morning News, and appears
in other media settings. So, if you think you
recognize her, you probably do.
Sometime after my friend Kathleen Baskin announced her cancer, Sheron also went public with her breast cancer diagnosis too. I was watching the news just night to discover that she had surgery just today. I knew she had cancer. What I didn't know until I watched the news just a couple of minutes ago was that her surgery was today.
(Read the rest. Click here)
Kathleen Baskin-Ball
Apr/12/2007 07:17 AM
Kathleen Baskin-Ball has cancer. She's been fighting
cancer for several months, and I have a good idea
she's going to beat it.
There is a benefit concert for her coming up on April 22, and I wanted you all to know about it. (Read the rest. Click here)
There is a benefit concert for her coming up on April 22, and I wanted you all to know about it. (Read the rest. Click here)
Annie Benjamin
Mar/28/2007 07:39 AM
Annie Benjamin is probably my oldest musician
friend.* I met Annie years ago, when she had just
moved back to Dallas from New York, and when I had
just begun having the courage to play songs in front
of anyone. (Read
the rest. Click here)
Lisa Markley CD Release
Jan/25/2007 07:58 AM
This is last minute notice, but a very old friend of
mine is having her CD Release party this evening.
List Markley's new CD "The Sky is Blue and Sometimes
Cries" will be featured at a great show tonight at
Sons of Hermann Hall:
(Read the rest. Click here)
(Read the rest. Click here)
Ed Upton
Aug/10/2006 10:53 PM
I meant
to post this in early July. But, due to the blog
problems I detailed for you late in the month, I am
just getting around to it now. Ed Upton was, most
assuredly, one of my Balcony People. And I miss him a
lot. But I'm always grateful for the high and tender
honor of eulogizing a friend.
And so, that is what follows... (Read the rest. Click here)
And so, that is what follows... (Read the rest. Click here)
Dan Fogelberg
Feb/15/2006 07:47 AM
Dan Fogelberg
(Note: I've done a little reorganization of the blog today, and created a new category called "Balcony People." Joyce Landgraff created the term some years back, to describe folks living, dead, fictional, and non, who were her support system....her cheerleaders....her inspiration. It seems to me that part of this blog should be to recognize those kinds of folks, and thus the new category. So, I've moved some old entries into this category, and will try to write new ones as life allows...EF)
---------------------------------
(Note: this entry utilizes external links to the iTunes Music Store. If you have iTunes installed, you'll be taken right to sound clips you can hear while reading. If you don't have iTunes installed, why not?)
When I was in college, I used to sit up late nights in Moore-Hill dorm playing Dan Fogelberg songs. It's been said that every guy starts out playing music because he imagines it will "attract the chicks." I certainly would have never admitted as much at the time, but I definitely had a fantasy back then.
My fantasy was that I'd be sitting in my room, playing a Dan Fogelberg song --perhaps something like "These Days"-- and some really gorgeous young coed would walk by, hear the music, come it to listen for a while, fall madly in love with me, and we'd live happily....well, you know... (Read the rest. Click here)
(Note: I've done a little reorganization of the blog today, and created a new category called "Balcony People." Joyce Landgraff created the term some years back, to describe folks living, dead, fictional, and non, who were her support system....her cheerleaders....her inspiration. It seems to me that part of this blog should be to recognize those kinds of folks, and thus the new category. So, I've moved some old entries into this category, and will try to write new ones as life allows...EF)
---------------------------------
(Note: this entry utilizes external links to the iTunes Music Store. If you have iTunes installed, you'll be taken right to sound clips you can hear while reading. If you don't have iTunes installed, why not?)
When I was in college, I used to sit up late nights in Moore-Hill dorm playing Dan Fogelberg songs. It's been said that every guy starts out playing music because he imagines it will "attract the chicks." I certainly would have never admitted as much at the time, but I definitely had a fantasy back then.
My fantasy was that I'd be sitting in my room, playing a Dan Fogelberg song --perhaps something like "These Days"-- and some really gorgeous young coed would walk by, hear the music, come it to listen for a while, fall madly in love with me, and we'd live happily....well, you know... (Read the rest. Click here)
Tommy Emmanuel: You Gotto Go See This Guy
Jan/27/2006 05:06 PM
There are so
many musicians out there. So many shows you can go
and see. But, I've got one for you, and I need to
tell you that I rarely, rarely pass along an artist
to say "You need to go see this guy." But in this
case, everyone who loves the guitar needs to go see
this guy. It's Tommy Emmanuel, and he's coming to the
McNair Studio of Bass Hall in Fort Worth, on Friday,
February 10th. (Read
the rest. Click here)
Uncle Tom Mays
Jan/20/2006 05:07 PM
In the
weeks leading up to Christmas, the insanity of my
schedule was compounded by sad family news: the death
of my Great Uncle, Tom Mays. Tom was my grandfather's
younger brother; my mother's youngest uncle. He died
late in the evening on the Wednesday before
Christmas. The family's wish was to have me come out
to be a part of the service, and they also wanted to
do it before Christmas. So, with about a day's
notice, I drove out to East Texas, to
Atlanta,
to eulogize my great uncle, Tom.
What's worth noting about this is that Tom was the last of an entire generation. The youngest of eleven children, he outlived all his siblings by over a decade. For Mom, his passing means the last of her biological Aunts and Uncles (on both sides) are now gone. (Something that's still a little hard to fathom...) Trips to Atlanta always meant many trips around town, to pay homage to all these aunts and uncles in their homes. But, over the years, there's been fewer and fewer of them, and fewer and fewer trips back to East Texas.
So, from this generational view alone, it would be worth remembering the life of Tom Mays. But the truth is, Tom was a fascinating man, who lived a fascinating life. And the eulogy that follows, I hope, will interest even the most distant of friends of mine. It was an honor to be asked to be a part of this important family time. What follows is the gist of my remarks from the day... (Read the rest. Click here)
What's worth noting about this is that Tom was the last of an entire generation. The youngest of eleven children, he outlived all his siblings by over a decade. For Mom, his passing means the last of her biological Aunts and Uncles (on both sides) are now gone. (Something that's still a little hard to fathom...) Trips to Atlanta always meant many trips around town, to pay homage to all these aunts and uncles in their homes. But, over the years, there's been fewer and fewer of them, and fewer and fewer trips back to East Texas.
So, from this generational view alone, it would be worth remembering the life of Tom Mays. But the truth is, Tom was a fascinating man, who lived a fascinating life. And the eulogy that follows, I hope, will interest even the most distant of friends of mine. It was an honor to be asked to be a part of this important family time. What follows is the gist of my remarks from the day... (Read the rest. Click here)
Movin' Out: I reminisce about Billy Joel and his music
Jul/15/2005 06:30 PM
Dennise and I
went to see Movin'
Out last night down at
the Fair Park
Music Hall. I know the show's been
out for years in New York, but this was our first
chance to see it here locally.
It was awesome. Of course, I should say that I'm INCREDIBLY biased. Because Billy Joel is one of my all-time favorite artists. Which leads me to today's blog...
I know all of Billy Joel's songs. I mean ALL of them. I didn't just listen to the show last night, I SANG it. Each and every song. There were over 25 Billy Joel songs in the show, some of them quite obscure and old, but I can report to you I knew each and every one; each and every word. I am sure the person in front of us thought I was crazy. But I didn't care.
Movin' Out basically takes the music of Joel, the dance choreography of Twila Tharpe, and combines them together. There is no spoken dialogue, but simply the story of five lifetime friends who go through the 50s, the tumult of Vietnam, the excesses of the 70s, and end up in the present day reunited.
Now, as I just said, I am not impartial about all this. I LOVE Billy's music. And I love a good musical. So, the combination of the two was just amazing to me. It was real high to see the show last night. I am NOT giving you an impartial review.
--------------------------------
When I was growing up, Billy Joel was monster-popular. He was huge. He had a string of pop hits in the 70s and 80s that caused some folks to love him, and others to despise him as a sell out. I was always in the first group, because, to me I always saw him first as a songwriter, and not as a hitmaker.
As you all know, my current love is folk music. What strikes me about Joel's music --as I listen back over much of it these past few days-- is how much LIKE folk music his songs are. Especially his lyrics and storytelling.
Many of his songs use the same kind of third-person narrative position folk music often does, songs such as:
-- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
-- The Ballad of Billy the Kid
-- Movin' Out
-- Miami 2017
-- Allentown
-- Goodnight Saigon
-- Captain Jack
He tells stories with his music. And that's what folk musicians do. As I think about it this morning, I am pretty sure that's what always drew me to his music. In fact, to me it's always been remarkable that he's had as much commercial success as he has given the centrality of his lyrics and ballad-y nature of so many of his songs. If you scratch beneath the hits, what you find with Billy Joel is an amazing storyteller.
I was a junior high kid when the "Stranger" came out, and like almost everyone else, that was my first introduction to Billy Joel. However, I soon found myself out buying his earlier stuff....Piano Man, Streetlight Serenader...I even eventually bought a reissue of his band, "The Haggles" LP. (Something I have to believe is some kind of collectors item today).
I was pleased to read in this interview with NBC, that Joel still loves much of his old music. As you might imagine, he's a little tired of playing "Just the Way You Are." And, frankly, I could die without ever hearing it again myself.
What's very cool to me is that Movin' Out has reintroduced this stuff to a whole new audience. I mean, before this show, how many other folks besides me knew "Summer Highland Falls," or even "Angry Young Man?" It's VERY cool, and a little surreal, to find these songs that have always been a part of the private soundtrack of my own life's history, up on the stage and part of a contemporary musical.
My love for Joel continued through college. I had a cardboard cut out of him up in my dorm room, and we'd listen to each and every album in my room...me and my friends, Ed, Jon, Mike, and many more in our Moore-Hill dorm. In fact, I remember Jon was in a band one year in college, and put a couple of Joel songs in their set list. Just before finals, we'd put on "Nylon Curtain," and sing "PRESSURE!" at the top of our lungs.
My favorite song then, my favorite song now --and quite possibly my favorite song of all time-- was "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." It's just such an amazing song. It goes through three distinct musical movements. It tells three different stories simultaneously: the story of two old friends, meeting for wine...the story of how they are doing now...and the story of "Brenda and Eddie" from their high school days...then back to the present moment again.
Like any good storytelling, it leaves a lot to the imagination...is this Brenda and Eddie, meeting in the restaurant? Is it their friends? Who?
For some reason, I was really attracted to this song in high school and college. I guess it's the idea that you could have such long a history with folks that you'd be able to catch up with them years down the road. Now, in my forties, that actually does happen to me now and then. And it adds another layer to the song for me.
But I can remembering listening to this song in college --with my friends, Ed, Jon, and others-- and realizing AT THE TIME that we'd probably be each other's "Eddie's." (Makes me wonder what they're up to right now, actually...)
It's also, if I'm not mistaken, an almost eight minute song!!! Can you imagine any major artist being allowed to release an eight minute song today! The record labels wouldn't hear of it!
Dennise and I made a bet, going in, that that song would play a key part in telling the story. And, sure enough, it did. It's the first song in the show, and the last reprise of the story too...the song bookends the shows, just as the song itself bookends the story of Brenda and Eddie.
The ONLY question I have about the whole show is so minor, that all yall are going to really see what a Billy Joel geek I really am. I just don't understand why one of the characters gets the name "Judy." I mean, it IS cool that Twila Tharpe picked a character from Cold Spring Harbor....THAT'S seriously digging back into Joel's past. But what about "Diane" from "Sleeping with the Television On?" Or, what about "Virginia" from "Only the Good....?" Judy, as a charcter name, just threw me a little. Still, I guess it's cool. And it's really the only question I have about the whole show. See, I am that much of a geek.
So, I aced my prediction about "Scene from an Italian Restaurant" having a prominent role. But I did get another wrong. I guessed that "Where's the Orchestra?" would be in the show. After all, it's a show about being IN a theater. Every since the song came out, I've actually always imagined that it would be perfect for a musical. Again, this is the question that only a true Billy Joel geek would ask.
Long before iTunes, people used to make cassette mix tapes for themselves. Long before Billy Joel put out his "Greatest Hits," I put together a cassette of my own favorite Joel songs. We used to play THAT in my dorm room. I used to listen to it in the drive from Dallas to Austin in my '65 Mustang. My friends borrowed it and made their own copies.
The tape has long since vanished. But this morning, inspired by the musical, and with the help of iTunes, I made a new copy on CD.
Here's some of my own personal favorite Billy Joel songs:
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Stilleto
James
Movin' Out
You're My Home
Closer to the Borderline
52nd Street
Allentown
Pressure
The Ballad of Billy the Kid
Miami 2017
The Great Suburban Showdown
Summer Highland Falls
Where's the Orchestra?
There are a few others that I may add later as I think of them. But these are fine, fine songs....great, great American storytelling.
To close these kind of entries, I often quote a person's lyrics. I guess I thought I'd quote something from "Scenes," but that seems too obvious. For some reason, I'm thinking of something from "Innocent Man," which was an album that he got a lot of grief for, because folks said he was nostalgically ripping off the fifties. But perhaps nostalgia has little to do with it. Perhaps it has more to do with honoring a part of his own musical DNA, much in the same way that I'm trying to honor him by writing this.
Joel was writing about the fifties when he wrote "Keeping the Faith." But as I hear the words today, they remind me of him. After all the fifties were to him what he was to me.
And so, as I look back, and as you read all this sentimentalism on my part, here's what I'm thinking:
"If it seems like I've been lost in let's remember
If you think I'm feeling older and missing my younger days
Oh, then you should have known me much better
'Cause my past is something that never got in my way, oh no
Still I would not be here now if I never had the hunger
And I'm not ashamed to say the wild boys were my friends, oh
'Cause I never felt the desire 'til their music set me on fire
And then I was saved, yeah
That's why I'm keeping the faith, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith....
You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
'Cause the good old days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems....
Now I told you my reasons for the whole revival
Now I'm going outside to have an ice cold beer in the shade, oh
I'm going to listen to my 45's, ain't it wonderful to be alive
When the rock 'n' roll plays, yeah
When the memory stays, yeah
I'm keeping the faith, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith"
(Words and Music by Billy Joel)
It was awesome. Of course, I should say that I'm INCREDIBLY biased. Because Billy Joel is one of my all-time favorite artists. Which leads me to today's blog...
I know all of Billy Joel's songs. I mean ALL of them. I didn't just listen to the show last night, I SANG it. Each and every song. There were over 25 Billy Joel songs in the show, some of them quite obscure and old, but I can report to you I knew each and every one; each and every word. I am sure the person in front of us thought I was crazy. But I didn't care.
Movin' Out basically takes the music of Joel, the dance choreography of Twila Tharpe, and combines them together. There is no spoken dialogue, but simply the story of five lifetime friends who go through the 50s, the tumult of Vietnam, the excesses of the 70s, and end up in the present day reunited.
Now, as I just said, I am not impartial about all this. I LOVE Billy's music. And I love a good musical. So, the combination of the two was just amazing to me. It was real high to see the show last night. I am NOT giving you an impartial review.
--------------------------------
When I was growing up, Billy Joel was monster-popular. He was huge. He had a string of pop hits in the 70s and 80s that caused some folks to love him, and others to despise him as a sell out. I was always in the first group, because, to me I always saw him first as a songwriter, and not as a hitmaker.
As you all know, my current love is folk music. What strikes me about Joel's music --as I listen back over much of it these past few days-- is how much LIKE folk music his songs are. Especially his lyrics and storytelling.
Many of his songs use the same kind of third-person narrative position folk music often does, songs such as:
-- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
-- The Ballad of Billy the Kid
-- Movin' Out
-- Miami 2017
-- Allentown
-- Goodnight Saigon
-- Captain Jack
He tells stories with his music. And that's what folk musicians do. As I think about it this morning, I am pretty sure that's what always drew me to his music. In fact, to me it's always been remarkable that he's had as much commercial success as he has given the centrality of his lyrics and ballad-y nature of so many of his songs. If you scratch beneath the hits, what you find with Billy Joel is an amazing storyteller.
I was a junior high kid when the "Stranger" came out, and like almost everyone else, that was my first introduction to Billy Joel. However, I soon found myself out buying his earlier stuff....Piano Man, Streetlight Serenader...I even eventually bought a reissue of his band, "The Haggles" LP. (Something I have to believe is some kind of collectors item today).
I was pleased to read in this interview with NBC, that Joel still loves much of his old music. As you might imagine, he's a little tired of playing "Just the Way You Are." And, frankly, I could die without ever hearing it again myself.
What's very cool to me is that Movin' Out has reintroduced this stuff to a whole new audience. I mean, before this show, how many other folks besides me knew "Summer Highland Falls," or even "Angry Young Man?" It's VERY cool, and a little surreal, to find these songs that have always been a part of the private soundtrack of my own life's history, up on the stage and part of a contemporary musical.
My love for Joel continued through college. I had a cardboard cut out of him up in my dorm room, and we'd listen to each and every album in my room...me and my friends, Ed, Jon, Mike, and many more in our Moore-Hill dorm. In fact, I remember Jon was in a band one year in college, and put a couple of Joel songs in their set list. Just before finals, we'd put on "Nylon Curtain," and sing "PRESSURE!" at the top of our lungs.
My favorite song then, my favorite song now --and quite possibly my favorite song of all time-- was "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." It's just such an amazing song. It goes through three distinct musical movements. It tells three different stories simultaneously: the story of two old friends, meeting for wine...the story of how they are doing now...and the story of "Brenda and Eddie" from their high school days...then back to the present moment again.
Like any good storytelling, it leaves a lot to the imagination...is this Brenda and Eddie, meeting in the restaurant? Is it their friends? Who?
For some reason, I was really attracted to this song in high school and college. I guess it's the idea that you could have such long a history with folks that you'd be able to catch up with them years down the road. Now, in my forties, that actually does happen to me now and then. And it adds another layer to the song for me.
But I can remembering listening to this song in college --with my friends, Ed, Jon, and others-- and realizing AT THE TIME that we'd probably be each other's "Eddie's." (Makes me wonder what they're up to right now, actually...)
It's also, if I'm not mistaken, an almost eight minute song!!! Can you imagine any major artist being allowed to release an eight minute song today! The record labels wouldn't hear of it!
Dennise and I made a bet, going in, that that song would play a key part in telling the story. And, sure enough, it did. It's the first song in the show, and the last reprise of the story too...the song bookends the shows, just as the song itself bookends the story of Brenda and Eddie.
The ONLY question I have about the whole show is so minor, that all yall are going to really see what a Billy Joel geek I really am. I just don't understand why one of the characters gets the name "Judy." I mean, it IS cool that Twila Tharpe picked a character from Cold Spring Harbor....THAT'S seriously digging back into Joel's past. But what about "Diane" from "Sleeping with the Television On?" Or, what about "Virginia" from "Only the Good....?" Judy, as a charcter name, just threw me a little. Still, I guess it's cool. And it's really the only question I have about the whole show. See, I am that much of a geek.
So, I aced my prediction about "Scene from an Italian Restaurant" having a prominent role. But I did get another wrong. I guessed that "Where's the Orchestra?" would be in the show. After all, it's a show about being IN a theater. Every since the song came out, I've actually always imagined that it would be perfect for a musical. Again, this is the question that only a true Billy Joel geek would ask.
Long before iTunes, people used to make cassette mix tapes for themselves. Long before Billy Joel put out his "Greatest Hits," I put together a cassette of my own favorite Joel songs. We used to play THAT in my dorm room. I used to listen to it in the drive from Dallas to Austin in my '65 Mustang. My friends borrowed it and made their own copies.
The tape has long since vanished. But this morning, inspired by the musical, and with the help of iTunes, I made a new copy on CD.
Here's some of my own personal favorite Billy Joel songs:
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Stilleto
James
Movin' Out
You're My Home
Closer to the Borderline
52nd Street
Allentown
Pressure
The Ballad of Billy the Kid
Miami 2017
The Great Suburban Showdown
Summer Highland Falls
Where's the Orchestra?
There are a few others that I may add later as I think of them. But these are fine, fine songs....great, great American storytelling.
To close these kind of entries, I often quote a person's lyrics. I guess I thought I'd quote something from "Scenes," but that seems too obvious. For some reason, I'm thinking of something from "Innocent Man," which was an album that he got a lot of grief for, because folks said he was nostalgically ripping off the fifties. But perhaps nostalgia has little to do with it. Perhaps it has more to do with honoring a part of his own musical DNA, much in the same way that I'm trying to honor him by writing this.
Joel was writing about the fifties when he wrote "Keeping the Faith." But as I hear the words today, they remind me of him. After all the fifties were to him what he was to me.
And so, as I look back, and as you read all this sentimentalism on my part, here's what I'm thinking:
"If it seems like I've been lost in let's remember
If you think I'm feeling older and missing my younger days
Oh, then you should have known me much better
'Cause my past is something that never got in my way, oh no
Still I would not be here now if I never had the hunger
And I'm not ashamed to say the wild boys were my friends, oh
'Cause I never felt the desire 'til their music set me on fire
And then I was saved, yeah
That's why I'm keeping the faith, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith....
You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
'Cause the good old days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems....
Now I told you my reasons for the whole revival
Now I'm going outside to have an ice cold beer in the shade, oh
I'm going to listen to my 45's, ain't it wonderful to be alive
When the rock 'n' roll plays, yeah
When the memory stays, yeah
I'm keeping the faith, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith"
(Words and Music by Billy Joel)
--30--
Bruce Rouse
Mar/03/2005 06:28 PM
Back from
Austin, and two days with the Rouse family and all
his friends. As I mentioned at the end of last month's
blog, Bruce's family asked
me to be a part of the leadership for his memorial
service, something I considered a great, if
unwanted, honor...
Logistically, it was a little bit difficult to get it all together, since there were three folk singers, and four speakers that had been asked to participate. The singers were three of folk's greatest: Cate Campbell, Allan Shamblin, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Everyone was incredibly accomodatingwith their time, to make it all come together.
One speaker was a coworker of Bruce's of 30 years, who talked about his worklife. Two more were house concert folks who have started their own series' because of Bruce's support and mentoring.
The last speaker was Nancy Hafner. Many folks probably don't realize that the Hafer's and the Rouse's have known each other since their kids were born....they pretty much grew up theirfamilies together.
Several of you have asked about the two poems that I shared at the funeral. So, here they are. The first is by a woman named Joyce Grenfell. I don't know anything about her, nor do I remember where I first found this poem:
"Life Goes On
If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower
Nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I am gone
Speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves
That I have known
Weep if you must
Parting is hell
But life goes on
So .... sing as well
Joyce Grenfell 1910-1979"
The second poem was from Henry Scott Holland, who at one time was the Canon of St. Paul's Catheral, over a hundred years ago now. Interestingly, Meg Hoke told me she has this poem up on the wall in her office.
"All Is Well
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland"
After the service, everyone adjourned to Live Oak Unitarian Church, home of the Live Oak series. There dozens and dozens of songwriters performed through the evening. Bruce's son-in-law, Lindsey Lee, mceed for the night. There was a documentary film that had been made about the Rouses' last year which got shown. It was actually a little shocking to see Bruce's face...but after the initial shock, it was nice to hear him talking about house concerts.
But most of all, the evening was filled with music. Musican after musicians got up to do a song. The gathering went on for hours, but no one really paid notice of the time. As Lindsey said, it was like one big, extended "Songwriter Breakfast." I did my song "The Natural Thing," and I was really pleased to have all 200 folks singing along with the chorus.
What EVERYONE kept remembering about Bruce, besides the fact that he was a world-class wonderful guy, was what great hugs he gave. And, as if on cue, about halfway through the night, Todd Hoke showed up with these buttons.
During the memorial service in the afternoon, I shared some of my memories of Bruce.
Here's a summary of my what I said:
To say that Bruce was a fan of folk music doesn't do it justice. Bruce was a lover, friend, and servant to the folk music community. By email this week, TR Richie called Bruce and Liz "a sparkplug in the funky old folk music engine." The "Rouse House" concert series he and Liz created was one of the most successful series in the country. They did not INVENT house concerts, but it could be argued that POPULARIZED them. They did ten shows a year for fourteen years. Liz estimates they lost about $100 bucks a show. You do the math.
But, of course, it never mattered. Because they were doing it for the love of the music, and the love of the musicians and fans who became their friends. Bruce and Liz held the "Songwriter Breakfasts" at their camp at Kerrville. (Where I first met them, and where they always graciously invited me to play&hellip
They organized an area there for
the New Folk Finalists. They were inseparable
partners….they were two parts of a whole.
They loved to travel in their camper.
And if you had been to a folk festival that they hadn't heard of, they would make you sit down, tell them all about it, because that might be a place that they'd like to visit one day.
Bruce and Liz met while dancing, and they danced their whole lives. It's hard to find a man who was as admired and loved by so many.
One of the most important things we take from the death of the friend like Bruce is a question. The question is: "What it is about their life we want to immulate, and that we want to become?"
For me, the answer is: a kind, loving, and welcoming spirit….
In a Austin Stateman story this week, Christine Albert talked about the Rouse House series, and said: "They had not just rearranged their living room, they'd rearrainged their lives to do something they absolutely loved."
Rearainge your life to do something you love….
Isn't that a goal we can all take from Bruce's life?
Bruce was only a find parent to his two daughters, but Bruce was a surrogate parent and mentor to hundreds of musicians and friends. He rearrainged his life for people.
I remember Bruce best from those Kerrville songwriter breakfasts he and Liz threw.
As a songwriter myself, Bruce and Liz would always graciously insist that I come and play a song. And what I remember about Bruce from those groggy and very hazy
mornings, where nobody had slept more than about three or four hours (at best) is that Bruce was always chipper and happy. He listened to ALL the songwriters..the good, the bad, and the ugly. (And, as you know, there IS sometimes, the ugly&hellip He'd be standing at the back,
offering you a fresh cup of coffee, or a
butter-up bagel. And he'd give you a big hug
too.
Although I've been to Kerrville for several years, my wife was a first timer last May. Neither Dennise nor I was real sure whether she was going to like Kerrvile or not. I was a little afraid that, with all my raving about it, the reality would seem far less to her than what I'd built it up to be. Turns out, she loved it. That first weekend we were there, we stumbled into the Songwriter Breakfast, and I introduced Dennise to Bruce. And Bruce immediately threw his arms around her, and gave her a HUGE hug, as if Dennise was some long-lost friend that had been found. I thought a lot about that this week, after I heard Bruce had died.
You may not, but I happen to believe in life that never ends. I happen to believe in a resurrection, although I can't tell you what it's like, really. But I know that just as the bluebonnets will soon be blooming again, here in the Hill Country, life somehow always comes back around and never really ends. And if there IS a kingdom of heaven out there somewhere, I like to imagine that it's a LOT like a Rouse House gathering….
….there's music
….there's smiles
….there's love and support…
And when we get there someday, Bruce will be there, waiting with buttered bagels, fresh coffee, and the big bear hug to welcome us home.
Logistically, it was a little bit difficult to get it all together, since there were three folk singers, and four speakers that had been asked to participate. The singers were three of folk's greatest: Cate Campbell, Allan Shamblin, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Everyone was incredibly accomodatingwith their time, to make it all come together.
One speaker was a coworker of Bruce's of 30 years, who talked about his worklife. Two more were house concert folks who have started their own series' because of Bruce's support and mentoring.
The last speaker was Nancy Hafner. Many folks probably don't realize that the Hafer's and the Rouse's have known each other since their kids were born....they pretty much grew up theirfamilies together.
Several of you have asked about the two poems that I shared at the funeral. So, here they are. The first is by a woman named Joyce Grenfell. I don't know anything about her, nor do I remember where I first found this poem:
"Life Goes On
If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower
Nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I am gone
Speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves
That I have known
Weep if you must
Parting is hell
But life goes on
So .... sing as well
Joyce Grenfell 1910-1979"
The second poem was from Henry Scott Holland, who at one time was the Canon of St. Paul's Catheral, over a hundred years ago now. Interestingly, Meg Hoke told me she has this poem up on the wall in her office.
"All Is Well
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland"
After the service, everyone adjourned to Live Oak Unitarian Church, home of the Live Oak series. There dozens and dozens of songwriters performed through the evening. Bruce's son-in-law, Lindsey Lee, mceed for the night. There was a documentary film that had been made about the Rouses' last year which got shown. It was actually a little shocking to see Bruce's face...but after the initial shock, it was nice to hear him talking about house concerts.
But most of all, the evening was filled with music. Musican after musicians got up to do a song. The gathering went on for hours, but no one really paid notice of the time. As Lindsey said, it was like one big, extended "Songwriter Breakfast." I did my song "The Natural Thing," and I was really pleased to have all 200 folks singing along with the chorus.
What EVERYONE kept remembering about Bruce, besides the fact that he was a world-class wonderful guy, was what great hugs he gave. And, as if on cue, about halfway through the night, Todd Hoke showed up with these buttons.
During the memorial service in the afternoon, I shared some of my memories of Bruce.
Here's a summary of my what I said:
To say that Bruce was a fan of folk music doesn't do it justice. Bruce was a lover, friend, and servant to the folk music community. By email this week, TR Richie called Bruce and Liz "a sparkplug in the funky old folk music engine." The "Rouse House" concert series he and Liz created was one of the most successful series in the country. They did not INVENT house concerts, but it could be argued that POPULARIZED them. They did ten shows a year for fourteen years. Liz estimates they lost about $100 bucks a show. You do the math.
But, of course, it never mattered. Because they were doing it for the love of the music, and the love of the musicians and fans who became their friends. Bruce and Liz held the "Songwriter Breakfasts" at their camp at Kerrville. (Where I first met them, and where they always graciously invited me to play&hellip
They organized an area there for
the New Folk Finalists. They were inseparable
partners….they were two parts of a whole.
They loved to travel in their camper.
And if you had been to a folk festival that they hadn't heard of, they would make you sit down, tell them all about it, because that might be a place that they'd like to visit one day.
Bruce and Liz met while dancing, and they danced their whole lives. It's hard to find a man who was as admired and loved by so many.
One of the most important things we take from the death of the friend like Bruce is a question. The question is: "What it is about their life we want to immulate, and that we want to become?"
For me, the answer is: a kind, loving, and welcoming spirit….
In a Austin Stateman story this week, Christine Albert talked about the Rouse House series, and said: "They had not just rearranged their living room, they'd rearrainged their lives to do something they absolutely loved."
Rearainge your life to do something you love….
Isn't that a goal we can all take from Bruce's life?
Bruce was only a find parent to his two daughters, but Bruce was a surrogate parent and mentor to hundreds of musicians and friends. He rearrainged his life for people.
I remember Bruce best from those Kerrville songwriter breakfasts he and Liz threw.
As a songwriter myself, Bruce and Liz would always graciously insist that I come and play a song. And what I remember about Bruce from those groggy and very hazy
mornings, where nobody had slept more than about three or four hours (at best) is that Bruce was always chipper and happy. He listened to ALL the songwriters..the good, the bad, and the ugly. (And, as you know, there IS sometimes, the ugly&hellip
He'd be standing at the back,
offering you a fresh cup of coffee, or a
butter-up bagel. And he'd give you a big hug
too.
Although I've been to Kerrville for several years, my wife was a first timer last May. Neither Dennise nor I was real sure whether she was going to like Kerrvile or not. I was a little afraid that, with all my raving about it, the reality would seem far less to her than what I'd built it up to be. Turns out, she loved it. That first weekend we were there, we stumbled into the Songwriter Breakfast, and I introduced Dennise to Bruce. And Bruce immediately threw his arms around her, and gave her a HUGE hug, as if Dennise was some long-lost friend that had been found. I thought a lot about that this week, after I heard Bruce had died.
You may not, but I happen to believe in life that never ends. I happen to believe in a resurrection, although I can't tell you what it's like, really. But I know that just as the bluebonnets will soon be blooming again, here in the Hill Country, life somehow always comes back around and never really ends. And if there IS a kingdom of heaven out there somewhere, I like to imagine that it's a LOT like a Rouse House gathering….
….there's music
….there's smiles
….there's love and support…
And when we get there someday, Bruce will be there, waiting with buttered bagels, fresh coffee, and the big bear hug to welcome us home.
Bruce Rouse Dies
Feb/25/2005 07:08 AM
Bruce Rouse Dies
Unbelievable. Another folk music friend has died. The email came in yesterday that Bruce Rouse died over the weekend. I talked with his family some in the past few hours, and they have asked me to help lead the funeral on Wednesday. It's an honor, but one I'd rather not have. What a shock. Apparently, he had a heart attack while driving around the Austin area on Sunday. From what I can tell, he never had a heart problem before...
Bruce and his wife Liz are two of the kindest people I know in the folk music world. They hosted a very successful and celebrated house concert series in Austin for 15 years. And they hosted a breakfast at a Kerrville during the weekends. That's the place I remember Bruce the best...always hovering around, making sure everyone had fresh coffee and a new bagel.
Hosting all sorts of songwriters, to play an early morning song, and share a story. In many ways, Bruce and Liz were like surrogate parents to a whole lot of folks.
I'll be heading down there tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon, and help with the service on Wednesday.
That night, there'll be a song gathering at Live Oak UU Church (home of the Live Oak Coffeehouse) where folks will be invited to play and share stories.
Still, quite an unbelievable shock. I can't say that I've ever had a several-week period where so many people I know have died. (see below). It's been very strange and surreal, and this is yet another piece of the strangeness of it.
Bruce will be sorely missed by many. I'll write more once I'm back.
Unbelievable. Another folk music friend has died. The email came in yesterday that Bruce Rouse died over the weekend. I talked with his family some in the past few hours, and they have asked me to help lead the funeral on Wednesday. It's an honor, but one I'd rather not have. What a shock. Apparently, he had a heart attack while driving around the Austin area on Sunday. From what I can tell, he never had a heart problem before...
Bruce and his wife Liz are two of the kindest people I know in the folk music world. They hosted a very successful and celebrated house concert series in Austin for 15 years. And they hosted a breakfast at a Kerrville during the weekends. That's the place I remember Bruce the best...always hovering around, making sure everyone had fresh coffee and a new bagel.
Hosting all sorts of songwriters, to play an early morning song, and share a story. In many ways, Bruce and Liz were like surrogate parents to a whole lot of folks.
I'll be heading down there tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon, and help with the service on Wednesday.
That night, there'll be a song gathering at Live Oak UU Church (home of the Live Oak Coffeehouse) where folks will be invited to play and share stories.
Still, quite an unbelievable shock. I can't say that I've ever had a several-week period where so many people I know have died. (see below). It's been very strange and surreal, and this is yet another piece of the strangeness of it.
Bruce will be sorely missed by many. I'll write more once I'm back.
--30--
Rachel Bissex
Feb/24/2005 06:27 PM
Rachel's funeral was yesterday,
up in Vermont. As I moved through the day
yesterday, I
thought more and more about her. I swapped emails with Annie Wenz this week. Annie was a very good friend of Rachel's, and in addition to being a fine singer-songwriter, she was a psych nurse for many years. I told Annie I could think of no one better to help Rachel and her family through those last days than her. I think she'll probably post some of her own thoughts about Rachel's life and death as the days pass.
For my part, I found myself listening to a lot of Rachel's music yesterday. It was sort of a way to be in spiritual solidarity with all those who were gathered, during those same moments, in Vermont to say goodbye. The first song that leapt immediately to mind is Rachel's song, "Royal Blue," which features the great chorus, "Do not be afraid."
But the song that grabbed me, and brought tears to my eyes as I drove around yesterday, was "In White Light." (click on the song title for a clip of it...) I thought about all those folks gathered to say goodbye to her. I don't believe Rachel was saying goodbye to everyone through this song. But now, in retrospect, it's easy, and hard, to hear it that way. Had to pull the car over when the last verse came on.
Any song about the moon is also going to remind me of song circles at Kerrville. I can remembersome of the circles, last year I think, at SingKerrnicity, which was a favorite camp of Rachel's. The moon was so bright, that the SingKerrnicity folks moved their circle out into the meadow, and just let the light of the moon shine down on everyone. Out at the Ranch, it really does bathe everyone with an incredible white light....and on the fields and meadows...the tops of your heads. And you can see everyone, but not their faces...just the glowing outlines. So, as you sit around the circles, it's as if the
music comes out of nowhere, out of these shapes across the circle from you. And the moon bathes and graces it all. I have a memory of Rachel there, singing in the moonlight.
I hope many of you will visit her website, and buy her music. I know that that is a way that her legacy can continue, and that you can help her help her children in the future.
In White Light
Words and music by Rachel Bissex
"The sun goes down
the moon comes up
lighting the earth
just enough
to see my face looking up
at her full size on the horizon.
Mama did her best, it's true.
Papa too.
Now they're gone
i'm on my own
the moon will see me safely home
as I drive this road alone
she will bathe me in white light.
In white light....
The sun come up
the moon dissapears
but she'll be back later on my dear
tonight she'll shine
with a little less light
with all her might.
I pushed a boy into the world
now he wears a uniform
I bore a son
my only one
the moon will see him safely home
as he walks his path alone
she will bathe him in white light
In white light....
It's time to go
i hope you know
the moon will see you safely home
as you live your life alone
she will bathe you in white light
In white light...."
thought more and more about her. I swapped emails with Annie Wenz this week. Annie was a very good friend of Rachel's, and in addition to being a fine singer-songwriter, she was a psych nurse for many years. I told Annie I could think of no one better to help Rachel and her family through those last days than her. I think she'll probably post some of her own thoughts about Rachel's life and death as the days pass.
For my part, I found myself listening to a lot of Rachel's music yesterday. It was sort of a way to be in spiritual solidarity with all those who were gathered, during those same moments, in Vermont to say goodbye. The first song that leapt immediately to mind is Rachel's song, "Royal Blue," which features the great chorus, "Do not be afraid."
But the song that grabbed me, and brought tears to my eyes as I drove around yesterday, was "In White Light." (click on the song title for a clip of it...) I thought about all those folks gathered to say goodbye to her. I don't believe Rachel was saying goodbye to everyone through this song. But now, in retrospect, it's easy, and hard, to hear it that way. Had to pull the car over when the last verse came on.
Any song about the moon is also going to remind me of song circles at Kerrville. I can remembersome of the circles, last year I think, at SingKerrnicity, which was a favorite camp of Rachel's. The moon was so bright, that the SingKerrnicity folks moved their circle out into the meadow, and just let the light of the moon shine down on everyone. Out at the Ranch, it really does bathe everyone with an incredible white light....and on the fields and meadows...the tops of your heads. And you can see everyone, but not their faces...just the glowing outlines. So, as you sit around the circles, it's as if the
music comes out of nowhere, out of these shapes across the circle from you. And the moon bathes and graces it all. I have a memory of Rachel there, singing in the moonlight.
I hope many of you will visit her website, and buy her music. I know that that is a way that her legacy can continue, and that you can help her help her children in the future.
In White Light
Words and music by Rachel Bissex
"The sun goes down
the moon comes up
lighting the earth
just enough
to see my face looking up
at her full size on the horizon.
Mama did her best, it's true.
Papa too.
Now they're gone
i'm on my own
the moon will see me safely home
as I drive this road alone
she will bathe me in white light.
In white light....
The sun come up
the moon dissapears
but she'll be back later on my dear
tonight she'll shine
with a little less light
with all her might.
I pushed a boy into the world
now he wears a uniform
I bore a son
my only one
the moon will see him safely home
as he walks his path alone
she will bathe him in white light
In white light....
It's time to go
i hope you know
the moon will see you safely home
as you live your life alone
she will bathe you in white light
In white light...."
--30--
Too Much Death (Rachel Bissex has died. So has my next-door neighbor)
Feb/21/2005 06:21 PM
I was
planning to blog a little about my quick trip to
Austin last week. But other stuff has been happening
that has sort of pushed that aside. I find that,
during the past few weeks, a lot of folks I know, one
way or another, have died. More than usual.
A couple of weeks ago, the Mom of a very old friend. Last Thursday, our next-door-neighbor, Mr. Cooper. He had cancer, but he died of pnuemonia. I saw him a the hospital a couple of days before he died, and he actually looked like a guy on the road to recovery...at least temporarily... certainly not like someone who'd be dead two days later.
Friday, after I got back from my trip to Austin, I went back by his room to see if he was there, and he wasn't. And I just assumed that meant he was able to go home and rest. I saw Mrs. Cooper the next morning, and she told me the news. Just shocking.
Then I was leaving the hospital last Friday, on that same trip to see Mr. Cooper, I just
happened to bump into the director of the preschool at our church, and her husband. He's also been suffering from cancer. They were in for a routine pain management treatment, that was so non-invasive that it's sometimes done in an "outpatient" setting. I shook his hand, and his grip was firm and strong. I thought, yes, he may have cancer, but he's got some time left too.
Yesterday morning, Sunday, I got the word that he had died just a few hours after that. Cardiac arrest, coming out of the "minor" proceedure.
Both those deaths were shocking enough. But this morning, I woke to an email that says Rachel Bissex has died. Rachel was a wonderful human being, and a great, great musician. She had a fantastically giving personal spirit. She had cancer a few years back, and had had to take a lot of time off the road. I remember seeing her at the South Florida Folk Festival last January. It was one of the first gigs she was playing since returning from beating the cancer. (In fact, we shared the mainstage Friday night, at the pre-festival concert...) Her hair was growing back in grey and wirey. But I thought to myself that she looked like she'd beat it.
It was shortlived. Sometime last Fall, it came back again, with a vengeance.
Most of the folk music folks I know can tell you a lot of stories about Rachel, and about what a great person she is. I remember times in song circles with her at Kerrville, and at SWRFA.... sometimes circles that would go until very late at night, with just a few of us sitting around trading songs. She seemed to never tire of trading songs. When she gave you her attention, she gave her FULL attention and care and you felt like she was listening to you and you alone.
The time I remember most was when she came through town back in 2002, and did some recording for my CD, and I was her roadie for a gig in Fort Worth. She was in and around town for about a week, and so I asked her if she'd do some recording. She was incredibly grascious with her time, and drove with me over to the studio where I was recording. She did a harmony vocal on "Free My Hands," and "Love Song That's True." Both songs are still waiting to be released on my CD whenever it gets done...you can listen to the clips here.
She was an especially good trouper since, when we got to the studio, one of the secretaries had a cold that no one had told us about. Sure enough, Rachel caught it!! But she never once complained, even though, if I had been her, I would have been pissed.
I lent her my sound system and drove her to a gig she had in Fort Worth later that week. (At the Flying Saucer, I think...). After the gig, we caught a beer at at Fort Worth Stockyard place that had some guy playing old country songs. Rachel seemed fascinated by the whole cowtown thing.
We had a good time, just driving and talking the 60 mile round trip. She was very proud of her kids. But I know she also worried about them a lot. She was really honored to finally be getting some major recognition for her music (she'd won Wildflower and Kerrville the year before...) I remember she said she might do some theater down the road, because her husband was into that. (I noticed her obit said she'd directed a play in 2004). Most of all, she had a great way of putting people at ease, and of not taking herself too seriously.
I feel honored to have known her, and I'm terribly sad and shocked that she's gone.
A couple of weeks ago, the Mom of a very old friend. Last Thursday, our next-door-neighbor, Mr. Cooper. He had cancer, but he died of pnuemonia. I saw him a the hospital a couple of days before he died, and he actually looked like a guy on the road to recovery...at least temporarily... certainly not like someone who'd be dead two days later.
Friday, after I got back from my trip to Austin, I went back by his room to see if he was there, and he wasn't. And I just assumed that meant he was able to go home and rest. I saw Mrs. Cooper the next morning, and she told me the news. Just shocking.
Then I was leaving the hospital last Friday, on that same trip to see Mr. Cooper, I just
happened to bump into the director of the preschool at our church, and her husband. He's also been suffering from cancer. They were in for a routine pain management treatment, that was so non-invasive that it's sometimes done in an "outpatient" setting. I shook his hand, and his grip was firm and strong. I thought, yes, he may have cancer, but he's got some time left too.
Yesterday morning, Sunday, I got the word that he had died just a few hours after that. Cardiac arrest, coming out of the "minor" proceedure.
Both those deaths were shocking enough. But this morning, I woke to an email that says Rachel Bissex has died. Rachel was a wonderful human being, and a great, great musician. She had a fantastically giving personal spirit. She had cancer a few years back, and had had to take a lot of time off the road. I remember seeing her at the South Florida Folk Festival last January. It was one of the first gigs she was playing since returning from beating the cancer. (In fact, we shared the mainstage Friday night, at the pre-festival concert...) Her hair was growing back in grey and wirey. But I thought to myself that she looked like she'd beat it.
It was shortlived. Sometime last Fall, it came back again, with a vengeance.
Most of the folk music folks I know can tell you a lot of stories about Rachel, and about what a great person she is. I remember times in song circles with her at Kerrville, and at SWRFA.... sometimes circles that would go until very late at night, with just a few of us sitting around trading songs. She seemed to never tire of trading songs. When she gave you her attention, she gave her FULL attention and care and you felt like she was listening to you and you alone.
The time I remember most was when she came through town back in 2002, and did some recording for my CD, and I was her roadie for a gig in Fort Worth. She was in and around town for about a week, and so I asked her if she'd do some recording. She was incredibly grascious with her time, and drove with me over to the studio where I was recording. She did a harmony vocal on "Free My Hands," and "Love Song That's True." Both songs are still waiting to be released on my CD whenever it gets done...you can listen to the clips here.
She was an especially good trouper since, when we got to the studio, one of the secretaries had a cold that no one had told us about. Sure enough, Rachel caught it!! But she never once complained, even though, if I had been her, I would have been pissed.
I lent her my sound system and drove her to a gig she had in Fort Worth later that week. (At the Flying Saucer, I think...). After the gig, we caught a beer at at Fort Worth Stockyard place that had some guy playing old country songs. Rachel seemed fascinated by the whole cowtown thing.
We had a good time, just driving and talking the 60 mile round trip. She was very proud of her kids. But I know she also worried about them a lot. She was really honored to finally be getting some major recognition for her music (she'd won Wildflower and Kerrville the year before...) I remember she said she might do some theater down the road, because her husband was into that. (I noticed her obit said she'd directed a play in 2004). Most of all, she had a great way of putting people at ease, and of not taking herself too seriously.
I feel honored to have known her, and I'm terribly sad and shocked that she's gone.
--30--
Only the Beginning: I confess my undying love for the band, Chicago.
Feb/03/2005 06:25 PM
Bought two
CDs the other day: "Chicago: The Very Best of: Only
the Beginning."
Man! I love this disk!! If you have been looking for just ONE Chicago CD to own, this should be it.
Some of you who know my music may be surprised to find that for many years of my life, I was a HUGE Chicago fan. I still am. They're not making as much music as they once did, of course, but I'm still a fan...
This two-CD anthology traces their career all the way back to "the beginning." It's got every hit that ever made it on to the charts for them. This is important, because their "Greatest Hit" collections usually center on the MONSTER hits. This one includes everything that ever charted for them...which is most of the songs in this collection. The CD has a great synopsis of their career, and really intricate liner notes about each song, and where it finished on the charts.
Here are some of Chicago's stats:
-- Five consecutive number one albums
-- 20 Top Ten Singles
-- Fifteen platinum albums
-- Thirty -seven songs that charted at some level over the years.
I was always a HUGE fan. I am the proud owner of every single one of Chicago's studio releases... That's 21 LPs.
Significant for me, is the inclusion of songs like "Happy Man," and "Another Rainy Day in New York City." Those were always favorites of mine, but I didn't know anyone else liked them. The collection also has some early songs like "Questions 67 and 68, "I'm a Man," and "Free."
One of my very favorite pieces of music is the "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon," from Chicago II. Many folks don't realize that "Make Me Smile" and "Color My World" were both lifted from this longer work. I love to listen to the whole thing. (It's NOT on this hits collection, btw...) Can you imagine ANY band putting out a fifteen minute song today?!
I know, I know...a lot of folks will slam them for going for the cheap ballads during the later years. And those ballads certainly aren't my own personal favorites. But, it seems to me you have to admire a group that can just last that long....a group that can have top ten smash hits in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. The set of folks who did that is very, very small.
I, for one, never begrudge artists for changing with the times, and doing what they can to get their stuff out there. The music business is pretty tough, and that kind of longevity really IS rare.
So anyway, I've been really digging this compilation, and really enjoying going down memory lane.
Those who don't know their earlier as well may be surprised to find that they had a lot of
politically edgy stuff back in the day. A song called "Song for Richard and His Friends," was a scathing anti-war anthem during the Vietnaam era.
There was a great interview of Robert Lamm and James Pankow a couple of years back in Performing Songwriter Magazine. Here's a transcript of the entire interview.
Another song that is bitingly political, but most folks don't get, is "Dialogue (Parts I and II)" from Chicago V. For some reason, the song didn't make it on the first "Greatest Hits" compilation, despite the fact that it climbed to #24 on the charts at the time. The positive-feeling music masks some really biting lyrics. And I thought I'd post them for you today. Because, it strikes me that in a lot of ways, we're right back in the same place again. There are so many folks out there today who think the world is "just fine." There are many more of us who think we've never been in a bigger mess.
So, take a look at the lyrics. In the original song, Terry Kath asks all the questions, and Peter Cetera gives the answers. I like to imagine that George W Bush is giving the answers today:
Dialogue, by Chicago
"Part I
Are you optimistic 'bout the way things are going?
No, I never ever think of it at all
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
No, I try to mind my business, that is, no business at all
When it's time to function as a feeling human being
Will your Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
I hope to study further, a few more years or so
I also hope to keep a steady high
Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine
Don't you feel repression just closing in around?
No, the campus here is very, very free
Don't it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
Well, I hope the President knows what he's into, I don't know
Don't you ever see the starvation in the city where you live
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
I haven't been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause they haven't got the time
Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb
You'd always think that everything was fine"
Part two is still true, despite how many naive people there are out there:
Part II
"We can make it happen
We can change the world now
We can save the children
We can make it better
We can make it happen
We can save the children
We can make it happen"
Man! I love this disk!! If you have been looking for just ONE Chicago CD to own, this should be it.
Some of you who know my music may be surprised to find that for many years of my life, I was a HUGE Chicago fan. I still am. They're not making as much music as they once did, of course, but I'm still a fan...
This two-CD anthology traces their career all the way back to "the beginning." It's got every hit that ever made it on to the charts for them. This is important, because their "Greatest Hit" collections usually center on the MONSTER hits. This one includes everything that ever charted for them...which is most of the songs in this collection. The CD has a great synopsis of their career, and really intricate liner notes about each song, and where it finished on the charts.
Here are some of Chicago's stats:
-- Five consecutive number one albums
-- 20 Top Ten Singles
-- Fifteen platinum albums
-- Thirty -seven songs that charted at some level over the years.
I was always a HUGE fan. I am the proud owner of every single one of Chicago's studio releases... That's 21 LPs.
Significant for me, is the inclusion of songs like "Happy Man," and "Another Rainy Day in New York City." Those were always favorites of mine, but I didn't know anyone else liked them. The collection also has some early songs like "Questions 67 and 68, "I'm a Man," and "Free."
One of my very favorite pieces of music is the "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon," from Chicago II. Many folks don't realize that "Make Me Smile" and "Color My World" were both lifted from this longer work. I love to listen to the whole thing. (It's NOT on this hits collection, btw...) Can you imagine ANY band putting out a fifteen minute song today?!
I know, I know...a lot of folks will slam them for going for the cheap ballads during the later years. And those ballads certainly aren't my own personal favorites. But, it seems to me you have to admire a group that can just last that long....a group that can have top ten smash hits in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. The set of folks who did that is very, very small.
I, for one, never begrudge artists for changing with the times, and doing what they can to get their stuff out there. The music business is pretty tough, and that kind of longevity really IS rare.
So anyway, I've been really digging this compilation, and really enjoying going down memory lane.
Those who don't know their earlier as well may be surprised to find that they had a lot of
politically edgy stuff back in the day. A song called "Song for Richard and His Friends," was a scathing anti-war anthem during the Vietnaam era.
There was a great interview of Robert Lamm and James Pankow a couple of years back in Performing Songwriter Magazine. Here's a transcript of the entire interview.
Another song that is bitingly political, but most folks don't get, is "Dialogue (Parts I and II)" from Chicago V. For some reason, the song didn't make it on the first "Greatest Hits" compilation, despite the fact that it climbed to #24 on the charts at the time. The positive-feeling music masks some really biting lyrics. And I thought I'd post them for you today. Because, it strikes me that in a lot of ways, we're right back in the same place again. There are so many folks out there today who think the world is "just fine." There are many more of us who think we've never been in a bigger mess.
So, take a look at the lyrics. In the original song, Terry Kath asks all the questions, and Peter Cetera gives the answers. I like to imagine that George W Bush is giving the answers today:
Dialogue, by Chicago
"Part I
Are you optimistic 'bout the way things are going?
No, I never ever think of it at all
Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
No, I try to mind my business, that is, no business at all
When it's time to function as a feeling human being
Will your Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
I hope to study further, a few more years or so
I also hope to keep a steady high
Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine
Don't you feel repression just closing in around?
No, the campus here is very, very free
Don't it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
Well, I hope the President knows what he's into, I don't know
Don't you ever see the starvation in the city where you live
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
I haven't been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors don't seem hungry 'cause they haven't got the time
Thank you for the talk, you know you really eased my mind
I was troubled by the shapes of things to come
Well, if you had my outlook your feelings would be numb
You'd always think that everything was fine"
Part two is still true, despite how many naive people there are out there:
Part II
"We can make it happen
We can change the world now
We can save the children
We can make it better
We can make it happen
We can save the children
We can make it happen"
--30--
Erik Balkey
Jan/13/2005 06:25 PM
Got to hang
with Erik Balkey a little bit on
Friday. Great to see him and catch up. He came
over and we caught lunch at Cindy's, and then came
back home and traded a few songs here. He's
playing in and around Dallas several times during
this next week, so be sure and go catch him if you
can...
Erik's a hardworking, hard-travelling songwriter, whose become a good friend these last couple of years. I first met him on the internet, when we both had pages on the old "mp3.com." I think I met him in the real world a couple of years ago, when he was a Wildflower and Kerrville finalist.
Since then, we catch up at Kerrville about once a year. So, it was nice to get the chance to see him inbetween those times. He's writing a lot of great new songs that he shared with me.
Erik's a hardworking, hard-travelling songwriter, whose become a good friend these last couple of years. I first met him on the internet, when we both had pages on the old "mp3.com." I think I met him in the real world a couple of years ago, when he was a Wildflower and Kerrville finalist.
Since then, we catch up at Kerrville about once a year. So, it was nice to get the chance to see him inbetween those times. He's writing a lot of great new songs that he shared with me.
--30--