Tag Archives: Sam Cooke

“Voices ought not be measured by how pretty they are. Instead they matter only if they convince you that they are telling the truth.” — Sam Cooke

It’s his birthday today. I highly recommend Peter Guralnick’s thoughtful and informative biography of Sam Cooke, Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke, which gives a good sense of the revolution of his career. Moving from gospel, where he made … Continue reading

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After a long break: Let’s iTunes Shuffle

I work from home. It’s a busy job, lots of meetings and Zoom calls, and then there’s my writing work, as well as family stuff and having a personal life, and in the last 3 months I have been – … Continue reading

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Recommended: Biographies

For starters: My recommended Fiction books My recommended Non-Fiction books BIOGRAPHIES: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph Ellis I’ve written a lot about Joseph Ellis’ work here. While I love David McCullough’s work so much, Ellis is … Continue reading

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Autumnal iPod Shuffle

“Family Tradition” – Hank Williams, Jr. Bitter! It’s such a great “fuck you” to Nashville country-music prudes and a great wielding of his autobiography as a weapon: “If I get stoned and sing all night long, it’s a family tradition.” … Continue reading

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Autumnal iPod Shuffle

Been a while since I’ve done one of these. I am working 3, 4 jobs and my writing career has morphed into a semi-regular schedule of work – expected and unexpected – but I will NEVER give up this blog. … Continue reading

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Year in Review: Shooting My Mouth Off in 2016

I look at this and I wonder why I always feel like I haven’t done jack-squat. Or, at the very least, I could do more. Well, I always can do more. Regardless, here are links to some of the things … Continue reading

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Summer Shuffle

… over a two-week period where I never stopped running around. Still no sign of things slowing down. Out to LA on Thursday for only three days. A whirlwind. Here’s the music that’s been in my ears over the last … Continue reading

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Sick-Bed iPod Shuffle

I had surgery on Saturday. My mother’s been here helping me. Hopefully my health problem is now solved. Fingers crossed, y’all, I’ve been living with this horrible situation since 2013. And I already had surgery for it in 2010. It … Continue reading

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Spring iPod Shuffle

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these iPod Shuffle lists. I find them fun and strangely relaxing to put together. It’s therapeutic to submit to the random-ness of the Shuffle. I’ve been on the move the last … Continue reading

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December iPod Shuffle

I’ve been very sick. Nursing myself back to health and it’s slow-going. Thursday was a three-movie day: went to Hobbit screening in the a.m., then went to Birdman matinee, and then met up with Charlie for The Passionate Thief. Went … Continue reading

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