If it weren't for the Jewish Holidays, I might have gotten free tickets.

 

Does anyone recognize who this performer is?  I'll give you a clue - he could have been on the plane with Buddy Holley, but (as I understand it) he didn't have the money to afford to fly to the tour's next stop.  For this, I think the world is very lucky, as this man, in his 80's, is still making great music.  No, he's not making hits anymore.  But he is performing with some of the best musicians in the business.

Dion DiMucci is best known for his work in the 50's, 60's and 70's.  Yet, I think some of his later work is even better than the music he is best known for.  I love one of the songs he did with Paul Simon (Written on the Subway Wall / Little Star), where Simon sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the middle of Dion's song.  It's a wonderful piece, and his later tunes such as Dancing Girl (w. Mark Knopfler) are as good or better than much of his early work.

I told my friend about Dion's scheduled performance in September, and it fell on the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah.  As a result, RQS and will not be able to scarf up a pair of free tickets.  Instead, we will likely buy a pair of tickets to a performance closer to home.  This is just as well, as I have the excuse to ask RQS to come here a day earlier than usual.

This might be one of the last chances to see Dion perform live.  So I'm going, whether or not RQS decided to come with me.  Now, if only John Fogerty would be performing at a venue and on a date convenient to us.  I'm still hoping for one last chance to see Chubby Checker perform, but given his age, we can only have pleasant memories of doing the twist like we did last summer....

It was 66 years ago today. (a short post)

 

A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

(From "American Pie" by Don McLean.)

It's hard to believe that "The Music" died 66 years ago.  Much of Holley's music sounds as fresh today as when it was written - especially with modern arrangements.  Sadly, like musicians such as Glenn Miller, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline and Jim Croce, their careers were all cut short by airplane disasters.  Does this mean that I am afraid to fly?  No.  But I advocate for all musicians who want to be great to use surface travel whenever possible.

There are many great performers who have died way too soon.  Some by accidents, some by diseases, some by violent crimes, some by drug overdoses, and even (if it seems rare) of old age.  I can oly imagine the music that would have been made if Sam Cooke and John Lennon had not gotten shot.  I can only imagine what would have been created if Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse had not abused drugs.  And, don't get me started thinking about all the artists we have lost in plane and car crashes.  When one lives his/her life in the public spotlight, one has a much higher chance of dying way too young.

Lately, the large conglomerates have been finding that it is cheaper to buy old media (old video and audio libraries) and repackage them for current consumption.  Today's musicians get almost nothing from recording contracts, as the payment per streamed song, movie, or TV show is so low.  TV Residuals are horrible for many. They get most of their money from performances and the sale of Merch. This is a shame, as new performers are having a much harder time breaking into the big leagues than they did when I was young.  In fact, my uncle (a 2-time award winner) could never have been a success today, as there are very few variety and comedy shows being made - everything seems to be a "reality" show these days.

 

So, if you like to see/hear certain performers, go out to see them and buy their Merch.  (Please note that I don't wear T-Shirts or buy that many CD's anymore.  But I will buy a book if one is displayed.  Blame that on being an old geezette who is trying to eliminate clutter from my apartment.)