George Duke changed my life.

Firstly, I have to send my condolences to the Duke family and the friends of George for their loss.
Up until 1985 I had absolutely no clue about jazz and/or the influence it's flavor and musicians contributed to "pop" music. At that time i was 15. Running amok with my pals and ducking in and out of the back doors of night clubs on Friday and Saturday nights.
Not drinking!!
Trying to breakdance! :D (before getting kicked out) ;)
And express the energy that was hiding on the dance floors of those underground clubs.
One night in 1986, I snuck into such a club.
"The HotSpot".
Smokey, dark, but awesome!!!
Wearing a white Kangol hat and fly suede Adidas (gazelles), I was on the floor up-rocking my best "peewee herman".
My future roommate was the DJ and he was gettin' busy.
And then it happened....
He "scratched" in the sound of "Broken Glass" (the very first sound effect on the record.)
And dropped a Bomb!!
George Duke had produced, entirely on a synclavier keyboard (minus the guitar), a masterpiece in my ears....and bones!!
Broken Glass "broke" the mold (and floors) of late night underground dance clubs.
It was so HARD!
Mind you, not forgetting the ingenious Herbie Hancock's journey into uprocking sound with the legendary "Rockit".
But there was something heavier with this song.
"The Art of Noise" must've wet themselves when they heard it.
I woke up early the next morning and immediately acquired a 12" copy from the downtown record shop (yes I said "record"!)
George, I know now years later that your talents, influence and contribution went far beyond the pounding of Broken Glass. Whether jamming on MJ's Off The Wall or with greats like Miles Davis but in the span of 5mins your composition blew my brain wide open.
As I'm sure it did for many others like me at the time.
My (your) record was played like there were no other records left on the planet, ....loud!
Unfortunately it was in a crate of records that was stolen one night while I was DJing a few years later but it will always be "that record" ...that changed everything.
Thank you George...RIP
George Duke - Broken Glass
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buckingham.... genius

That's all for everyone 
That's all for me 
Last call for everyone 
Must be just exactly what I need 
I call for everyone 
I cry for more 
That's all for everyone 
Must be just exactly what I need 
That's all


I need somewhere to go 
That's all
Must be what I need 
That's all
I need someone to know 
Last call
Exactly what I need


I can't stay 
I can't deceive 
That's all for everyone
Must be just exactly what I need 
So that's all for everyone 
That's all for me 
Last call for everyone 
Must be just exactly what I need 
That's all


I need somewhere to go 
That's all
Must be what I need 
That's all
I need someone to know 
Last call
Exactly what I need 
That's all for everyone 
That's all, that's all, that's all, that's all.

THE separator...

It's like I've fallen out of bed from a long, vivid dream  
The sweetest flower, fruits are hanging from the trees  
Falling off a giant bird that's been carrying me 
It's like I've fallen out of bed from a long and vivid dream
 
Just exactly as I remember, every word, every gesture  
Have my heart in my mouth
 
Like I've fallen out of bed from a long, vivid dream
  
Finally I'm free of all the weight I've been carrying
 
And as that woman blows her cover  

In the eye of the beholder 

I'm a fish now, out of water

 
Falling off a giant bird that's been carrying me
 
I fell open, I lay under at the tip I lost your number
 
I wanna slip over and get back under  

And if you think this is over, then you're wrong  
If you think this is over, then you're wrong
If you think this is over, then you're wrong  
If you think this is over, then you're wrong
 
Like I've fallen out of bed from a long, vivid dream
  
Finally I'm free of all the weight I've been carrying
 
When at last you'll give in 
When at last you'll give in

 
Wake me up, wake me up...

To my mother...

     


        I'd like to introduce you to my mother. Little Betty Thorburn.
Kinda young lookin' eh? Lol, ...no but seriously that's when she was just a baby :) Look at her bottom lip, awwww.

        I don't know how they even had time for photographs back in those days.
At the time this picture was taken WWII was in full swing and in the tiny, ship building town of Barrow-in-Furness (Northern England) the locals were too busy hanging black curtains in their windows and running to air raid shelters.
        You see, the reason "they" were a target was that their little push-pin on the tiny little island's map was responsible for building submarines and ships for England's forces.
         "Take'em out at the source" was the strategy.

         She owes her life to another woman I am thankful to have known, "Nana Sally". It was in her arms that my mother was rushed to safety everytime the sirens resounded through the town.
         Anyone who remembers the old black & white episodes of Coronation Street in the 50's will get an idea of just what these cobblestone back streets of the north looked like. :)

         As luck would have it, she made it and grew up to be a wonderful young lady. With a suitcase full of stories to boot. She met my father and emmigrated to Canada where they started a new life and,....oh yah,.....I came along!! :D
         Three years after, my dear sister was born and our mother became "SuperMOM"!
       
         She is the best mother anyone could hope for. Nuturing my sister and I into adulthood with that never ending compassion for our well being.
         We are both parents now and she continues to bring the same bright light, love and dedication to us and our children.

I love you mom!
Happy Mother's Day <3

xoxoxoxo

Not just a sales pitch....

I've just signed up with Gumroad.com and I like what I see.

    A few ....decades ago (yes, decades...) myself and a good friend were in a deep discussion (over a bottle of Scotch) about The Beatles and their creativity. Their music....the process they went through etc...
A recollection of how they used to argue and bicker about when to stop ADDING to a song brought to mind that old phrase: "Keep it simple, stupid."

Well, simple IS better and such is the case at Gumroad.com.
We are living in the age of "Connectivity" and are nearing if not far exceeding the point of "social network" saturation, as far as how many aspects of our "offline" life we can incorporate into our "online" existance.

How many of us has bought something, if not just 1 thingy or widget, from eBay or Kijiji?? I would think that I would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't.

Now how many of you have had success as being the seller??  hmmmm, different answers I'm sure on that front...

How about selling DIRECTLY to your friends, followers, ...fans??
...who knows, those "Like" buttons might turn into Dollar signs $$ ;)

Simple and easy, join Gumroad.com., create, connect, sell   ...be happy


Here, ...watch this, ...my glass is empty ;)

Mood of the moment...

That there, that's not me
I go where I please
I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey

I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here, I'm not here

In a little while
I'll be gone
The moment's already passed
Yeah, it's gone

I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here, I'm not here

Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes

I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here, I'm not here....







- BlogPress'd from my iPad.

On The Cover...

M.D. plays L.Z. with a cheshire cat grin,
while a Tribe runs away with my bevy,
and the angels of a certain public's enemy watch over me.

But it's ok... I got my mask to protect me & don't worry mom,
I got my 40 & my mule,...so it's all good