blog

Music...my first love

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:20:47 +0100

I recall, when, at 5 years old, (me, not my mom), mother would always have the radio on in the house. I would sit and listen to it for hours. It was always “big band” music. I liked it, but, I kept waiting to hear someone sing. When the announcer would say, “so and so and the orchestra”, I would think to myself, “so and so”, would be a singer, and I would listen, (anxiously awaiting a voice). To my disappointment, it was always just the orchestra with no singer. I knew mom would be singing to herself.

Mom was a real good singer. She sang commercials and tap danced on live radio shows when she was a teenager.

(….memories….)

New electric bass added to my instrument repertoire

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:53:04 +0100

Thanks to Terry Jones,the lead guitarist on the Oceanside Vineyard worship team, for his coaching and patience for making it possible for me to learn and play my new bass for last Sunday's worship service.I got to fill n for Phil Heroshige while he takes a few weeks off....maybe if he takes a few months off, I may get good at the bass... :-)
It was very basic as I have never played bass before. iI turned out ok although I missed playing the hrmonica.
A rehearsal I was absolutely sureI was losing my hearing at the low end because I couldn't hear what I was playing on the bass. I knew it was working because I could hear it allttle through the main speaker between songs . I was really worried about losing my hearing until Terry told me to turn on the amp........ :-) (I never had to use an amp before to hear an acoustic instrument). Boy did I feel dumb.

More Canadian Folk Music

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:55:02 +0100

Probably one of the most well known Canadian folk singers is poet/songwriter,Gordon Lightfoot.
I first heard this song in the very early 60s, again, recorded by the Kingston Trio. (I think that's all I ever listened to back then). The Kingston Trio were quite often the first to record alot of songs (after the writers of course.)
I sang Early Morning Rain alot as I worked at airports in the Navy while stationed in Georgia and longed to fly back home to the West, so the lyrics had very special meaning for me.

Early Morning Rain
Gordon Lightfoot

In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an achin' in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home
And I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go

Out on runway number nine
Big seven-o-seven set to go
And I'm stuck here in the grass
Where the cold wind blows
Now the liquor tasted good
And the women all were fast
Well there she goes my friend
She'll be rollin' down at last
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/gordon+lightfoot/early+mornin+rain_20061596.html ]
Hear the mighty engines roar
See the silver wing on high
She's away and westward bound
Far above the clouds she'll fly
Where the mornin' rain don't fall
And the sun always shines
She'll be flyin' o'er my home
In about three hours time

This old airport's got me down
It's no earthly good to me
'Cause I'm stuck here on the ground
As cold and drunk as I can be
You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain

You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain

Canadian Folk Music

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:23:01 +0100

This passed weekend was the Canadian Thanksgiving. There have been many contributions to folk music by some great Canadian ledgends that I truely love.Ian Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot to name a couple. I will add some of their lyrics in the next few days. Yesterday was Ian Tyson's Someday Soon. Today is another of Ian Tyson's best, Four Strong Winds. I enjoyed playing all these songs in my shows while I could still sing. Someday soon I hope to be able to sing them again :-)

FOUR STRONG WINDS

IAN TYSON

Four strong winds that blow lonely, seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change, come what may.
But our good times, all are gone, and I'm bound for movin' on, I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.

Think I'll go down to Alberta, weather's good there in the fall, Got some friends that I can go to workin' for. Still I wish you'd change your mind, if I asked you one more time, But we've been through that a hundred times or more.

If I get there 'fore the snow flies, and if things are goin' good, You could meet me if I sent you down the fare. But by then it would be winter, not much for you to do, And those winds sure blow cold, way out there.

Someday Soon

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:21:25 +0100

This is one of my favorite songs. I first learned it from a Kingston Trio album. It has been recorded by many artist but the most popular version was probably done by Judy Collins. The goup I was in (The Travellers) sang it in the 60s. I did a solo version in my performances in the 80s and 90s.

thank you Peggy for reminding me.

Someday Soon

Ian Tyson

I am a young man, so you'll know, my age is twenty-one. I come from out in southern Colorado.
Just home from the service and I'm looking for my fun. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Her daddy, he can't stand me 'cause I'm with the rodeo. Her mother says that I would leave her cryin',
She would follow me right down the toughest row to hoe. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Hey, when I visit her pa ain't got one good word to say, but I can't help thinkin' he was just as wild in his day.
So blow you old blue Northern, come on, blow me back to her. I'm drivin' in tonight from California,
And I love that damned old rodeo just as much as I love her. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Hey, when I visit her pa ain't got one good word to say, but I can't help thinkin' he was just as wild in his day.
So blow you old blue Northern, come on, blow me back to her. I'm drivin' in tonight from California,
And I love that damned old rodeo as much as I love her. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

The Flight Attendent

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:28:03 +0100

I ran out of music stories for now, but since I recently made a flight on Southwest Air Lines, thought this would generate a few laughs.

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDENT

August 10, 2010

Seattle to San Diego

Flt. SW 240

3:45 pm departure

While boarding the Southwest Flt 240 in Seattle, we discovered we had a very talented comedienne as our flight attendant.

Her first announcement (and clue to her secret identity) was the following statement, as we boarded:

“There are plenty of open seats in the rear, besides, the beautiful flight attendant, Beverly, is back there with cold beer”. The rush was on! Next came the formal announcements.

“Pretend you are listening to the following safety procedures:”

Find the colorful, fold out safety card with the cartoon pictures of this Boeing 737 aircraft.

Seat belts, ………..there will be a test!

Oxygen masks, In the event the cabin looses pressure, Designer masks will drop from the overhead. Put YOUR mask on first, then, assist your child. If you have more than one, choose the one with the most potential.

Stowing carry-on bags, anything not stowed in the overhead bins, must be placed under the seat in front of you during takeoff and landing. Yes ladies, that includes your expensive purses, handbags or personal items. Squeeze, jam or push those items all the way under the seat in front of you, leaving the foot area clear.

Smoking, the only Smoking area on this air craft is on the wing, If you can light it, you can smoke it.

Payment for alcoholic beverages, S/W has no cash. Therefore, we accept no cash, credit cards only.

Peanuts and pretzels were announced as, “protein and carbs”.

Water landing, In the event we become an ocean cruise, inflatable life vest are located under each seat. (After a demonstration) do not inflate your vest until AFTER you exit the aircraft.

Emergency exits,

Exit the sinking aircraft……….

Now that we are safely on the ground, all you cell phone deprived folks can now turn on your cell phones. (My thought was, I wonder if the cell networks can withstand the sudden surge of call volume.)

Please remain in your seats with the seat belt fastened until the plane has come to a screeching halt at the gate as the pilots are great flyers, but, they are not great drivers,

Thank you for choosing Southwest Air Lines. We know you have many choices when you fly, (well , no

not really anymore).

If you are making a connecting flight with another air lines, good luck.

Be careful, when opening the overhead bins as the contents may shift in flight, shift happens!

Welcome to San Diego! Whew, we made it!

Mikey

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:33:51 +0100

I wouldn't normally post a story like this because it is only remotely related to my music (since when has that stopped me before? ). But Mike did have me bring my guitar over to his house one afternoon after school. It was a setup for me to meet his neighbor, Sheila. Thanks Mikey.

Mike died in the Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut Lebanon on 23 October 1983.

http://www.beirut-memorial.org/history/

· ETC Michael W. Gorchinski - A Navy electrical technician, was killed in the bombing.

That tragic even was one of the first terrorist attacks to American Military on a Peace keeping mission.

Miss you Mike

Dogs?

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:59:56 +0100

WHAT PUPPY?

A true story by Steve Andersen

Yes, it’s true. There was a time that I really didn’t like dogs. I guess I inherited it from my dad. I say this because, when we lived in base housing, he used to say “ There’s only one good place for a dog, and that place ain’t been dug yet!”. I don’t think he ever really meant it, after all, he had a Saint Bernard while growing up in Redfield. We learned to walk in the yards at base housing always looking down so we wouldn’t step in anything unpleasant. It did pay off once, though, as I found a twenty dollar bill on the ground.

Not too many years ago, when Stephanie was about 3 or 4, she would always ask me,

“Daddy, When can we get a puppy?” I would always answer with, “ When I die, you can get a puppy”. After hearing this enough times, Steph finally went to her mom and asked this simple but logical question. “Mom, when is dad going to die so we can get a puppy?”

Karen relayed this request back to me.

I learned to sleep with one eye open after that enlightenment!!!!!!!!

Just a note

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:48:47 +0100

I am unable to edit blog entries after they are posted. I did notice some spelling and grammar errors in the last entry (Flying to Redfield). My appologies. Hopefully I will be more carefull before i push the "go" button. :-)

Flight to Redfield

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:44:27 +0100

DRIVING AROUND THE STREETS OF REDFIELD

The other night I took a little trip.

I flew to my hometown of Redfield South Dakota. I hadn’t been there since I left in 1964.

Lots of changes sense I left. No one greeted me when I arrived because no one I knew still lived there.

I drove around the streets for several hours looking for some familiar spots.

My tour started on 7^th Avenue where we lived with my grandfather, only to find a Ford Dealership where grandfather’s home once stood. The only familiar Place that remained, west of Main street, was the old bank building on the corner of 7^th & Main.

Continuing on, I managed to find my Uncle John’s house located across the street from St. Bernerd’s Catholic Church (it burned down and was replaced by another building), the drive-in movie (remember the “buck-a-car load nights”). I finally fund my way to Redfield High School which I only got to attend most of my junior year of ’63-’64. I would have liked to roam the halls of that old school. I flew back this morning and drove past the house down by Turtle Creek and the National Guard Armory where we lived when my brother, sister and I were born around 1946 through 1950. Also drove past my Aunt Alice’s house and Fran Day’s house. I couldn’t find Cindy’s house though. I was surprised to see Hansen’s Motors still there. Milt Hansen’s son, Don, founded one of the most popular surfboard companies in California. Hansen’s Surfboard Company is celebrating their 50^th anniversary this year (2011) in Encinitas, California. Still family owned and operated. I visit there quite often.

There have been lots of changes in Redfield since 1964.

This travel experience was provided by Google Earth, the only way to fly.