Here’s some exciting news to share …
Hi Kent,
Writing to you and your Forgotten Hits readers to share exciting news about what our nonprofit organization, RockGodz Hall of Fame, is bringing to Chicago next month. I am pleased to announce that the 2025 Class of RockGodz, unsung heroes among individuals and musicians who deserve recognition and appreciation, includes The Buckinghams, The Ides of March, Ron Onesti, Bill “The Buddha” Dickens, Dean Zelinsky, Brad Elvis, Todd Sucherman, and Dan Donegan.
We are excited to honor these Chicagoans because, as you know, so many artists make music their careers, yet few are able to sustain those careers beyond a certain fixed period of time. Our inductees are all in the first category — working lifetime musicians or entrepreneurs who make live music possible.
Nominees for these awards are their peers, so it is even more meaningful.
This year’s awards ceremony is in Rosemont at Joe’s Live with an opportunity to include fans that night. Imagine the chance to buy a (reasonably priced) ticket to share the opportunity of a lifetime to be present as your favorites are receiving an honor that you’ve been partially responsible for (as a longtime, lifetime fan, vinyl purchaser, radio listener, TV watcher, concert goer) of them receiving. It’s not like we can all get a ticket to the GRAMMYs, the Oscars, or the Tonys, right? But we CAN offer this to Chicago-area music fans to come and be a part of history.
It has been five years since Dennis Tufano has joined Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna on stage, and they are looking forward to this night, especially since we are honoring, in memoriam, John Poulos and Marty Grebb, as both will have family on hand to accept their awards. Scott May has been helping get the word out and The Ides will be there in full force, so the night is going to be a must-see.
Ticket prices are set to accommodate all budgets, from general admission only ($45) to general admission with dinner ($85) to enjoy a premier meal from Bub City. We also offer an early meet & greet option for $40. Free parking is available at Parkway Bank Park, so we have made this night affordable.
Our board of directors recently lost Freddie Salem (Outlaws guitarist), who was really our biggest proponent of all the artists in the Chicago area and he will be recognized and missed at our event. It is unfortunate to have to say goodbye to so many we hold dear in our hearts these days, but for as long as we can, we will continue to be here and thank those who are still a key part of what we enjoy in music.
Thank you for all that you do to keep the music alive.
Cindy (Landeen) Kleven
Founder, RockGodz Hall of Fame
(651) 343-4747
This sounds like a GREAT night of entertainment … and of course ALL of these guys are especially near and dear to our hearts …
The Bucks … The Ides … Ron Onesti … some of my favorite people getting honored in the way the deserve for their long-lasting contribution to the Chicago music scene.
Thanks, Cindy … happy to help spread the word.
(Visit the website for more ticket information!) kk
Strawberry Alarm Clock are appearing at this fire relief benefit??? They are STILL a band??? Not sure if Incense burning should be at a concert for fire victims, but would be cool to see/hear the best psychedelic song ever.
Clark Besch
There’s apparently much more to the lengthy Eric Carmen article we ran a link to last weekend …
All fascinating nonetheless …
'Dirty Dancing' Tour, One Very Bad Album Cover, and
More Things We Learned About Eric Carmen
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-carmen-dirty-dancing-hungry-eyes-things-we-learned-1235244779/?utm_campaign=syndication
The Sly Stone documentary put together by Questlove that we have been waiting for YEARS to see will have it’s US television premier on Hulu on February 13th.
You can watch the two minute trailer here:
More Arizona press for Micky Dolenz’s appearances there
There’s a new Kobe Bryant documentary running on cable that we still need to check out.
Meanwhile, our resident FH Photograph Jim Roup sent in this photo to share …
Kobe and a young lady came by the "Mask of Zorro" movie after party. He did not walk the celeb line and when I saw him in the shadows of the Wilshire Ebell Theater, I asked to get a photo. After a little bantering with him, he most graciously posed for me. He was 20 years old at the time.
Jim also told us …
Heard on an oldies radio station I listen to that it was Etta James’ birthday.
Here she is leaving The House of Blues after a gig.
And …
Belated Happy 84th birthday 🎈 🎂 to Aaron Neville on January 24th!
Caught him at an all star event at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
And here’s our January 23rd
Birthday 🎉🎂 club salute to Tiffani Amber Thiessen, crossing busy Sunset Blvd. …
and Robin Zander after a late night gig at House of Blues.
Wayne Gretsky's birthday was January 26th
Happy Birthday 🎈 🎂 to Sarah McLachlan!
Here are two sides of Sarah!
Jim
kk …
I Found Shelley's Review Of Bowzer's Last Show To Be Very Interesting.
I Did Find One Mistake.
She Said Bowzer Showed A Clip Of Tony Williams / Herb Reed Reunion.
I Think She Meant To Say Sonny Turner / Herb Reed Reunion.
Ask Her About It.
FB
You just did …
Yes, the correction is accurate.
Tony died in 1992, so he could not possibly have been in the video. The quote that I deleted before I sent the review was that Frank Pizzaro is the singer thought to be most like Tony. In deleting words, I stuck the wrong name in the video description. It was indeed Sonny and Herb.
Shelley
Kent,
I am a little surprised you let January 24th pass without wishing a happy birthday to Neil Diamond, who turned 84.
Of course, Neil had hits as both a songwriter and a performer, with 20 songs reaching the Top 10 (including songs recorded by others.) So, crack open either some Red, Red Wine or Cracklin' Rosie and Play Me a Song Sung Blue; as we celebrate Yesterday's Songs — unless of course, (your) Love Is On The Rocks.
Cherry, Cherry,
Joe Cantello
Marietta, Ga
It certainly wasn’t an intentional slight.
Neil Diamond built quite a career for himself, both as a songwriter and as a recording artist.
He actually placed FIFTY SIX songs on The National Charts as a recording artist between 1966 and 1986. 40 of those records made The National Top 40 … and 17 of those made The Top Ten. Three of those hits went all the way to #1: “Cracklin’ Rosie” in 1970, “Song Sung Blue” in 1972 and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” his duet with Barbra Streisand, in 1978.
We recently saw “Beautiful Noise,” the Neil Diamond musical celebrating his life. Honestly, I was quite disappointed by what we saw (and I was very much looking forward to this show.) The story itself just didn’t have the “oomph” to it that it needed to sustain momentum and hold your interest. The music itself was great … and former American Idol winner Nick Fradiani was outstanding in the role of “Young Neil” – his vocals were spot on … he just never got the support of an interesting story to tell … but every time he stepped up to sing, it was magic. (For those of you not familiar with the premise, we watch the career of Young Neil … while “Old Neil” is there looking back over his career and lifetime, most often in conversation with his psychiatrist … that in itself not so interesting and intriguing a premise!)
The very first concert I ever took a date to was Neil Diamond in late 1970 at Chicago’s Civic Opera House. It was quite impressive, to say the least, and a memorable experience. Neil would go on to expand his stage presence (in almost a Wayne Newton, Mr. Vegas sort of way) to the point it was over the top … and no longer entertaining to watch. (A bit too self-absorbed in my opinion … he clearly thought VERY highly of himself … and felt the need to remind the audience of just how great he was throughout the show.) He was also by then TALKING his songs … you very rarely heard him SING anymore … or even carry the tune that he had so well crafted. It was a disappointment to me.
Still, I have the utmost respect for all that he achieved in his career … and for many years campaigned for his spot in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where I adamantly felt he belonged and deserved to be. Then, when he FINALLY got elected, he blew the experience by having too much to drink! Oh well … there’s that red, red wine toast you were looking for! (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us this interview to share …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vidi4COXqxU
There is SO much to learn about the under-rated and under-appreciated Charlie Calello (kk)
Tom Cuddy also sent us clips to share of Chicago’s recent appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” …
(I think they sound GREAT, by the way!!!)
https://youtu.be/aePGRI1XgRU?si=bzppc4iASUAk0PlC
https://youtu.be/J-znXZ0qkCA?si=xs3juzIUERE0KBdE
Now here’s one worth waiting for …
Peter Guralnick, acknowledged as one of the best Elvis biographers to ever tell his story (Guralnick did it spread over two volumes, “Last Train To Memphis” and “Careless Love”), has a brand new book coming out this summer titled “The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World” and it promises to show The Colonel in a whole new light.
(Let’s face it, Colonel Tom Parker has built a pretty despicable reputation for himself over the years … but this book, utilizing actual documents from Parker’s career, show just how hard he worked The Elvis Machine, trying to make his boy a star. The general feeling is that readers will come away with a whole new perspective of just how much The Colonel contributed to Elvis’ success.)
From the publisher’s announcement:
In
early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker — the manager of the number-one country musician
of the day — heard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd
of more than 800 people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to
investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to
promoters and booking agents: “We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be
one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is
ELVIS PRESLEY.” Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a
telegram of his own: “Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I
appreciate what you did for me ... I love you like a father.”
The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel proved impossible for
outside observers to understand — not during their lifetimes, and not in the
decades since. It was a long-standing, deeply committed relationship, founded
on mutual admiration and support. As the Colonel wrote to Elvis in July, 1973,
several years before the star’s tragic death: “Without a doubt you are by far
the greatest artist I have ever known, and can be even greater if you just
believe in yourself half as much as I believe in you.” From the outset, the
Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives,
Elvis’ own booking agents, and movie moguls. But in their final years
together, the story grew darker, and the relationship strained, as the Colonel
found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself — or to control growing
problems of his own.
Featuring troves of never-before-seen correspondence from the Colonel’s own
archives, revelatory both for their insights and — particularly with
respect to Elvis — their emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides
a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth
of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making)
by the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two
misunderstood icons as they’ve never been seen before: with all of their
brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display.
Read more about it here:
Here’s a fun bit sent in by Chuck Buell …
What If Silent Letters in Words Weren't?!
I've shared with you from time that "Words Are My Life" and that they have allowed me a most wonderful, personally-rewarding Career.
Michael Mcintyre has a uniquely fabulous view about those words that contain "silent letters" and how they might sound if we took full advantage of using every one of those letters in the words in which they are found.
For instance, as I have often wondered throughout my life, why have I had to carry around and write so many unnecessary "C" letters and "L" letters every time I have written my name?!
Why couldn't my name just be "Chuk?!" And "Buel?!"
His presentation is attached. I hope you find him as entertaining as I do!
Chuk Buel!
