passings
Syl Johnson, singer, songwriter, musician, producer, July 1, 1936–February 6, 2022
“Different Strokes,” 1967
*****
“Is It Because I’m Black” (S. Johnson, et al.), 1969
*****
“Take Me to the River” (A. Green, M. Hodges), 1975
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
passings
Jimmy Johnson, singer, guitarist, November 25, 1928–January 31, 2022
“Cold, Cold Feeling” (J. M. Robinson), live, San Francisco, 2015
*****
Sam Lay, drummer, March 20, 1935–January 29, 2022
Sam Lay in Bluesland (trailer), 2014
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
passings
Stephen Sondheim, composer, March 22, 1930–November 26, 2021
Terry Teachout, critic (among other things), February 6, 1956–January 13, 2022 (this was his “favorite Sondheim,” according to Scott Simon on this morning’s Weekend Edition Saturday [NPR])
Bernadette Peters, “Not a Day Goes By” (Merrily We Roll Along), live, London, 1998
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lagniappe
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
passings
Don Everly, singer, guitarist, songwriter, February 1, 1937-August 21, 2021
When I was a little boy, my brother and I played this record, over and over, on our basement jukebox. Music comes and goes; the earliest songs remain.
Everly Brothers, “Wake Up Little Susie” (F. Bryant, B. Bryant), 1957
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
another take
Rev. Paul Jones, “I Won’t Complain” (P. Jones), live, Texas (Texas City), 1989
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
passings
Lawrence Ferlinghetti (March 24, 1919–February 22, 2021), poet, publisher, bookstore owner
“The World Is a Beautiful Place,” City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
sounds of Chicago
Garden of Souls (Nick Mazzarella, alto saxophone; Geof Bradfield, tenor saxophone; Joshua Abrams, bass; Mike Reed, drums), live, Chicago (Constellation), last night
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
passings
How should I not be glad to contemplate
the clouds clearing beyond the dormer window
and a high tide reflected on the ceiling?
There will be dying, there will be dying,
but there is no need to go into that.
The poems flow from the hand unbidden
and the hidden source is the watchful heart.
The sun rises in spite of everything
and the far cities are beautiful and bright.
I lie here in a riot of sunlight
watching the day break and the clouds flying.
Everything is going to be all right.—Derek Mahon (November 23, 1941-October 1, 2020), “Everything Is Going to Be All Right”
passings
Peter Green, guitarist, singer, songwriter, October 29, 1946–July 25, 2020
Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green, vocals, guitar), “Black Magic Woman” (P. Green), live, Boston, 1970
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
only rock ‘n’ roll
Little Richard, 1932-2020
“Tutti Frutti,” 1956 (screen test, The Girl Can’t Help It)
*****
“Long Tall Sally,” 1956 (Don’t Knock the Rock)
*****
“Good Golly, Miss Molly,” 1958
*****
“Rip It Up,” early 1960s
*****
“Lucille,” 1973
*****
When you look at today’s Grammy winners – God bless them – half of them were discovered when they were 10 years old, were groomed, and had managers and publicists. Little Richard just clawed his way to the top at a very early age with nothing except a tremendous amount of talent and gumption.
—David Kirby, author of Little Richard: The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll (2009)
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
passings
Little Richard (aka Richard Penniman), singer, pianist, songwriter, December 5, 1932–May 9, 2020
“Didn’t It Rain” (trad.), live, New York (Apollo Theater), 1985
*****
“Yes, God Is Real” (K. Morris), 1960
*****
“Peace in the Valley” (T. Dorsey), 1961
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
The hope that is left after all your hopes are gone—that is pure hope, rooted in the heart.
—Br. David Steindl-Rast (1926-), Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer (1984)
what’s new
Susan Alcorn (1953-, pedal steel guitar), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), 4/29/20
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lagniappe
random sights
a while ago, Maine (Monhegan Island)
*****
reading table
LET THERE BE PHYSICAL SUDDENNESS!
—Michael McClure, poet, playwright, songwriter, etc., October 20, 1932–May 4, 2020, from “PLUME ODE”
music clip of the day 