Music: ♫ Amy Winehouse: Her Signature Song: “Back to Black”

I grew up during the 60s and the 70s. Amy Winehouse recreated that throwback vibe. It’s a pity she departed so soon.

Amy Winehouse passed away July 2011. But her music endures.

“Back to Black” is the signature song by Amy Winehouse that she left for us to remember her by. 

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Enter Amy Winehouse. 14 September 1983

Exit Amy Winehouse. 23 July 2011

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Music is my weakness. So many songs have left an imprint on my life and as life passes those songs still move me. No doubt, it’s that way with everyone.

But in my generation, so many talented souls departed this life way too early than they should have — like Janis Joplin (1943–1970), Jim Morrison (James Douglas “Jim” Morrison, 1943–1971), etc.

I grew up during the 60s and the 70s and always tell my kids that the music of my generation was the best! That’s why the artists and musicians of their generation “sample” it. But every now and then there are singers from my kids' generation that hearken back to that old-school sound I remember.

Amy Winehouse recreated that throwback vibe.

It’s a pity she departed so soon.

You would think the artists in later generations might learn from the tragic stories of others and not repeat history. But they don’t learn and they do repeat the tragic history.

Yet when another bright one finally gets to shine their light, and no sooner than they are in the spotlight, their candle is blown out.

I was just starting to enjoy her raspy soulful sounds when it was announced that she was gone.

Glad she did a duet with Tony Bennett to leave as part of her legacy.

Video link: Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse — Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

“Back to Black”

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Books: American Literature: Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)

In Memory Of Louisa May Alcott (Nov 29, 1832 – Mar 6, 1888).

Image credit: Amazon.com

This blog post is in celebration of her birthday. Most people know her as the author of "Little Women", which was adapted for film several times. The film adaptation I remember starred Elizabeth Taylor, released in 1949. There was a much later remake with Winona Rider, { Little Women (Collector's Series) }.  Of course, Ms. Alcott wrote many more novels and poetry; and she also did other interesting things in her life during a time when the movements, actions, and decisions of women were restricted or limited.  She is worthy of double honor.

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and she had three sisters. Her father made sure that they were all educated. Louisa began her writing career publising poetry and short stories. She used a pen name, Flora Fairfield. Before she became famous she also published Gothic thrillers under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard. At the age of 35, in 1868, she published “Little Women”, an autobiography, which was an overnight success and has become a classic. Her company of friends included successful authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

Her life was far from glamorous and sophisticated, but she lived a life worthy of admiration. She volunteered as a nurse to serve during the Civil War; however contracted typhoid fever and was sent home. She was a suffragette and in 1879 when the laws were passed allowing women to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, she was the first woman who registered to vote. She never married and her health was very poor. Nevertheless she took care of her parents when they were ill until their deaths, and adopted and cared for her niece when her sister died. Louis May Alcott died of a stroke, two days after her father's death. She was 55 years old.

• LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150+ Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, ... The Abbot's Ghost, A Garland for Girls...

• A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories (Penguin Christmas Classics)  A treasury of treasured holiday tales written by Louisa May Alcott, painting a vivid picture of Christmas in America during the 19th century.

glitter-graphics.com

Vintage Sci-Fi TV Series: The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) ~ Most Memorable Episode

“The Twilight Zone” was a popular TV series that aired from 1959 to 1964. It was hosted/narrated by its creator Rod Serling. The man was a genius!! Sadly, he lived a very short life: 50 years. Rodman Edward Serling (1924 – 1975). Even though this TV program only lasted for 5 years, it left an indelible mark in the history of science fiction entertainment.

Anybody who has watched this classic TV series probably has one particular episode they remember. Some people say that the most popular episode was the one titled “To Serve Man”. I don't know if it was popular because of the content OR because of that creepy looking guy with the funny-shaped head.

🤗If you would, contrary to heart recommendations against too much salt, pour baby pour! The Kanamits are partial to salty delicacies!🎨"To Serve Man" aired on March 5, 1959😳#RodSerling #TheTwilightZone #ToServeMan #Scifi pic.twitter.com/hE0EVdo2PH

— Author🦑John DeLaughter🦑 (@HPL_JDeLaughter) March 10, 2022

But to me the most memorable episode was “The Rip Van Winkle Caper”. The moral of the story was twofold:

(1) One can plan for the future but one can not predict the future; and

(2) Avarice and greed are probably timeless human characteristics.

Here's the plot. These guys get together to steal gold. One of the guys is a scientist. He tells his friends that they can steal the gold, and evade the law enforcement authorities by getting into this time capsule. They will go to sleep for several years, like Rip Van Winkle, and when they wake up in the future, they won't have to worry about going to jail for committing the crime. They reason that, in the future, law enforcement won't be looking for them because it will be assumed that they died many years ago. When they arrive in the future, they reason that they are now free from being fugitives from justice, and THEY'RE RICH! They can go to the secret place where they hid the gold, divide up the gold amongst themselves, and start living the good life! Right?

Uuuummm ... not quite. Because even in the future, there is no honor among thieves. They are still avaricious and greedy. They try to kill each other, and only one of them survives the double-crossing and the betrayal. That one who survived found himself with a lot of gold and in a hot desert. No humans around for miles. And also … no water. By the time he does see human beings, he tries to get help for himself, offering to pay them in gold, however … he drops dead! The humans who had stopped for him were confused by my his words and behavior.

April 21, 1961: Twilight Zone's "The Rip Van Winkle Caper" airs. You steal a shipment of gold, but how do you spend it? Hey, it's the fifth dimension: Hibernate for 100 years. Sounds like a fool-proof plan, right?

Written by Rod Serling. Stars Oscar Beregi and Simon Oakland. pic.twitter.com/EYNtIURUlN

— The Twilight Zone (@TheNightGallery) April 21, 2022

The humans remark to themselves: “He seemed to think that gold was valuable.”

It turns out that in the future, gold was worthless!! Humanity had changed to the point where there was no need for gold. That was a fact that the thieves had not even considered.

This episode aired in April 1961. Out of all of the Twilight Zone episodes I watched, that one made an impression on me and the life lessons learned have stayed with me to this day.

Rod Serling (1924–1975), the creator of the #TwilightZone, was born on #Christmas Day.

He lived for just 50 years, but his gift to all of us is timeless. pic.twitter.com/XsS4h7uyDK

— Sony Movies (@SonyMoviesTV) December 25, 2018

In Memory Of: Music Icon and Legend: American Entertainer: Tony Bennett (1926 - 2023)

My tribute to the iconic and legendary Tony Bennett.  From Frank Sinatra and Sean Martin to Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga?  Yes!  Speaking of the man who left his heart in San Francisco but made his way into the hearts of generations of Americans beginning in 1949.  Now that's hip! \

In Memory Of:  Anthony Dominick Benedetto aka Tony Bennett (August 3, 1926 - July 21, 2023)

People who know him would describe him as a genuinely warm, humble, and kind-hearted human being.  He was not just an entertainer but a civil rights activist who lent his celebrity status to support the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

• Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96 | AP News

 

The late Frank Sinatra or Old Blue Eyes as we liked to call him is considered an American Master, a standard, for all other American entertainers to measure up to. But one of his contemporaries is equally worthy of praise: Tony Bennett, a crooner like no other.

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (1926 - ) is an American singer; also an actor, artist, and activist. 

He is a humble yet great Italian-American, born in Astoria, Queens, New York who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and has been a tireless fighter for equal rights. Sinatra and Bennett had mutual respect and admiration for one another. Sinatra once said: “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me.” Bennett complimented Sinatra by founding a high school in his hometown that offers diplomas in fine art, dance, vocal and instrumental music, drama, and film. Whereas he could have named the school after himself, instead the institution is named Frank Sinatra School of Arts.

Bennett began singing at an early but his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", was released in 1962. He has won numerous awards and sold millions of records and still continues to perform. Several young artists such as Lady Gaga, and the late Amy Winehouse, were honored to be chosen to collaborate with him on his “Duets” album. You can find several YouTube music videos, but for my listening pleasure, I start with this one wonderful collaboration between Bennett and the late Amy Winehouse. * 

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse - Body and Soul (from Duets II: The GreatPerformances)

Tony Bennett on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s

Official Website: tonybennett.com

Harry Belafonte and Tony Bennett Honored at 30th JFA Gala at Apollo Theater https://t.co/FaipfRAhHF via @billboard #icons #legends
Both departed in 2023 at the age of 96.#celebrities #history #memories #priceless pic.twitter.com/TKVyCM1ukI

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) July 21, 2023

In Memory of: Tina Turner (1939 - 2023) | Queen of Rock'n'Roll

We've lost a legendary soul sista! TINA TURNER (1939 – 2023)

Anna Mae Bullock was born in Nutbush, TN.  She is known and loved by many as Tina Turner.  The first time I saw Tina Turner perform was on the Ed Sullivan Show, on Jan 11, 1970. She was electric!  She became famous for her cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic song “Proud Mary”.  I followed her career from that time forward.

Image credit

I liked most of her songs but I narrowed down her 60-year career and picked these four:

River Deep – Mountain High

On Silent Wings

Simply the Best

One of the Living (from OST for Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome)

She was chosen to sing the theme song for the James Bond film “Golden Eye”. Here's a little trivia about that. Bono wrote that song especially for her to perform.

She sold her music catalog ~ 60 years of music ~ for $50 million.


Whereas Aretha Franklin was called the “Queen of Soul”, Tina Turner was the “Queen of Rock and Roll”.

In her personal life, she did something that made me proud.
~ She's a survivor. SHE WALKED AWAY FROM HER ABUSIVE HUSBAND, IKE TURNER. She left everything behind and walked off with nothing her stage name “Tina Turner”; and with that name, she reinvented herself and become even more successful than when she was Ike.

She performed her last live concert in Austin, Texas USA. I live in this city but sadly I did not get to attend the show.

When I think of Tina Turner, I think:
STRONG WOMAN.
REMARKABLE.
A FIGHTER.
ICONIC.
EXEMPLARY and LEGENDARY.
A BEAST!! (And I mean that in a good way.)

Tina Turner described how she wanted to be remembered in an interview just six weeks before her death | Daily Mail Online

Goodbye my sweet soul sista!

Original source

In Memory Of: Jim Brown (1936 - 2023) | Sports Legend, Civil Rights Activist, and Actor

James Nathaniel Brown aka "Jim Brown" was a legendary American football player, civil rights activist, and actor.  Jim Brown Dead: Football Champion and 'Dirty Dozen' Actor Was 87 - Variety.

Image credit:  Wikimedia Commons

This is a very short tribute.

He was very popular but since I did not like football, I can't say much about his sports career. Nevertheless, I knew his name because everybody in my neighborhood knew who Jim Brown was.

I am proud that he used his celebrity status to work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote civil rights.

Also, I enjoyed his movies. I will always remember him for these 2 movies: The Dirty Dozen AND 100 Rifles.

• In the movie The Dirty Dozen (1967), he had a support role. He was part of a team of 12 men (a dozen) who had to sneak behind enemy lines during World War II and blow up the Germans.

• In 100 Rifles (1969), he and Raquel Welch had a steamy interracial love scene. Forget what the movie was about. The only thing people remember is that scene with Jim Brown and Raquel Welch making out. It wasn't even X-rated but it caused quite a stir.

Sadly, the iconic Raquel Welch (1940 - 2023) is also no longer with us. Raquel Welch, Actress and ’60s Sex Symbol, Is Dead at 82 - The New York Times

Original source

* * *

Other Blog Posts in the "In Memory Of" Series:

Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959)

Prince (1958 – 2016)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) 

Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020)

Nichelle Nichols (1932 - 2022)

Harry Belafonte (1927 - 2023)

War Movie Classics: The Dirty Dozen

If you are making a list of greatest war movies, The Dirty Dozen (1967) has to go on that list.  All-star cast. All-star action!  “The Dirty Dozen” is a war movie classic. 

Image credit.

This is my movie review.

Traditionally, in the United States, around Independence Day (4th of July), Memorial Day (celebrated the last Monday in May), Veterans Day (November 11), etc. television stations air military movies that are supposed to foster American patriotism. At one time FoxNews.com published a list of “The 30 Greatest War Movies of All Time”. Some of the movies I picked were on their list. Some were not. But they're still on my list for great war movies.

The Dirty Dozen (1967) is one of them. 

This is a great movie about 12 convicts being given a second chance to start life over if they serve their country on a military mission and of course if they survive. I still enjoy it every time I watch it. These two lines are the ones I still remember. 

*** (Background for the scene: There was an obvious commotion coming from the room; the definite sound of men fighting, or rather … settling their differences in the only way men know how.)

- Sergeant Clyde Bowren: [as Major Reisman exits the room ] : Whats going on, sir?

- Major John Reisman: Oh, the gentleman from the South had a question about the dining arrangements. He and his comrades are discussing place settings now.

***
Cracked up (laughed) when the major said that. Some say the movie Inglorious Basterds was inspired by this movie. Well it may have been inspired but it was nowhere near as good as this classic starring some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few. They tried to do sequels but they are not as good as the original. 

No argument that it's a classic.  But some say the movie “Inglourious Basterds ” was inspired by this movie. Inspired?  Perhaps.  Better than?  Not even close!!  Have no doubt Quentin Tarantino, the Director of "Inglorious Basterds", would say "Amen!" to my comparison.  This classic film starred some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few.

Original source

 * * * * * * * * IN MEMORY OF * * * * * * * * 

Remembering the stars who are no longer with us. 

* Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) 

* Charles Bronson (November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) 

* Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) 

* Jim Brown  (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023)

***

In Memory Of Harry Belafonte (1927 - 2023)

Harry Belafonte passed away, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96. He left an indelible mark in the history and the heart of America. 

• If you were preparing a list of iconic and legendary American entertainers, then Harry Belafonte would be on that list.
• If you were making a list of notable civil rights activists in America, then Harry Belafonte would be on that list.
• If you were making a list of humanitarians worthy of double honor for their good works, then Harry Belafonte would be on that list.

Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. known to the world as Harry Belafonte is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, actor, activist, and humanitarian. Date of Birth March 1, 1927 — Date of Death April 25, 2023. Cause of death: Congestive heart failure.

Americans from my generation (50s, 60s, and 70s) know Harry Belafonte. We know the lyrics to the Banana Boat and Matilda songs, backward and forward. Several years back (1997) there was a special program on television — “An Evening With Harry Belafonte & Friends” — where he sang many songs accompanied by fabulous singers and musicians. He performed Banana Boat and Matilda. I’m sure he knew that if he had not sung those songs, the audience would have been very disappointed.

Mr. Belafonte is known for his singing, and also for the memorable roles he has played in several films like “Carmen Jones” (1954), and “Island in the Sun” (1957). He has won numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors.

In addition to knowing him as an extremely talented triple threat, i.e. he can sing, dance and act — we also know him to be a civil rights activist and a humanitarian, involved in many good works.

Giving honor where honor is due, one person referred to Mr. Belafonte as “living history”. While he was alive, you did not have to read historical events in a book because you could just talk to him since he was alive during the time and actively participated in history-making.

Mr. Belafonte has passed from living to legend now. He was almost a centenarian; age 96.

“If I’ve impacted on one heart, one mind, one soul, and brought to that individual a greater truth than that individual came into a relationship with me having, then I would say that I have been successful.” ~ Harry Belafonte

IN MEMORY OF: Harry Belafonte (1927–2023)

♦

I hope that his amazing talent, his fight for human rights, and his selfless charitable acts will be appreciated and remembered by Americans for generations to come.

Original Source

How to watch and stream Harry Belafonte movies

Salute to Music Legend and Icon David Bowie (1947 - 2016) (includes My 5 Favorite Music Videos)

In 2016, we lost music legend and icon, David Bowie (David Robert Jones (Jan 8, 1947 ~ Jan 10, 2016).  Before he departed he left us with timeless music.

Image Credit:  David Bowie Music on Amazon Music (350 Albums).

* * *

David Bowie’s Blue-Eyed Soul


Looking to celebrate the life of David Bowie?

Follow this link to 700+ articles by my fellow freelance writers, ardent admirers who are passionate about the man, the music, the legend, the icon. Pages loaded with facts, trivia, etc. He has been referred to by some as the “master of reinvention”. He must have been the inspiration or role model or example for artists who seem to have been successful at reinventing themselves as well, and maintaining their long-standing position in the fickle mob world of entertainment, which is no easy feat!

• We Heart David Bowie

David Bowie's Blue-Eyed Soul

"David Bowie might be one of the most unlikely blue-eyed (or more accurately, one blue eye and one green eye) soul singers in music history. Born in the bombed-out London neighborhood of Brixton in 1947, the pale, skinny, sometimes emaciated singer became known for his elegant, continental image and eclectic, artsy lyrics on his songs beginning in the late 1960s."

Related articles

• David Bowie releases new song "Lazarus" (listen)(brooklynvegan.com)

  ---

• Bing Crosby and David Bowie Sing 'The Little Drummer Boy'... Together(leeduigon.com) ~ 2 music legends and icons that made music history.

My Five (5) Favorite David Bowie Music Videos:

In Memory of: Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) | Music Legend, Icon and the Queen of Soul

The incomparable "Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin, crossed over on August 16, 2018.  Another music legend has succumbed to cancer.

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists. Wikipedia

Born: March 25, 1942, Memphis, TN

Died: August 16, 2018, Detroit, MI

Ms. Franklin set the standard for all the soul sisters who would come after her and influenced many female singers and musicians such as sweet little soul sister Esperanza Spalding. Ms. Spalding was once asked to name the 5 songs by Aretha Franklin that she considered “Essential”. These were her picks:

“Day Dreaming”
“Spanish Harlem”
“Respect”
“Spirit in the Dark”
“All the King’s Horses”

* * *

These are the 5 songs that embody my memory of “The Queen Of Soul”.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Natural Woman
Chain of Fools
Spanish Harlem
I Knew You Were Waiting for Me (collaboration with the late George Michael)

Do you have a fave 5?

Original source

The Pink Panther (1963) ~ Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

The Pink Panther is a 1963 British comedy film.

Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

Peter Sellers was the perfect person to play the clumsy French detective Jacques Clouseau.  His job is to prevent a notorious thief from stealing a world famous jewel known as "The Pink Panther" which belongs to a princess.

Image credit: Amazon

The Pink Panther Theme Music ~ youtu.be/lp6z3s1Gig0 

The Pink Panther | Soundtrack Suite (Henry Mancini) ~ youtu.be/ilull9eS3mQ 

I like the original music from the original Pink Panther movie. Henry Mancini won an award for it and he said he can't believe he received an award for making up such fun music. 

They remade the Pink Panther movie in 2006 ("The Pink Panther 2") and it starred Beyoncé and Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. Beyoncé also contributed to the soundtrack. I didn't care too much for the remake or the music from the remake. Even though I enjoy the comedic genius of Steve Martin, he could not top Peter Sellers.  I'm sure even Mr. Martin would agree with me.

Nope!  My mind was not changed, The original movie released in the 1960s and the soundtrack to the movie are both vintage classic memorable entertainment!

I would not recommend the 2006 remake; however I would recommend:  "The Return of the Pink Panther" (1975); "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (1976); or any of the many other sequels to the original Pink Panther movie which starred Peter Sellers.  I would also recommend the hilarious animated TV series "The Pink Panther Show" (1969).


The Pink Panther | film by Edwards [1963] | Britannica

** In Memory Of:

Peter Sellers CBE (1925-1980)

David Niven (James David Graham Niven) (1910-1983)

Remembering Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

On June 7, 2015, acting legend Christopher Lee bid us farewell. He departed this life. Henceforth, he will be spoken of as the late great Christopher Lee.

A polished actor, a distinguished gentleman, and a man with an immediately recognizable voice. You didn't even need to to see his face, When you heard that voice, you knew it was Sir Christopher Lee.

It is said that he was an Intelligence Officer in the British Royal Air Force. But it's hard to find information about what he did because apparently, even though he's dead, his work for God and country is still “a secret”.

People from my generation might remember him as Count Dracula. People from the younger generation might remember him as Saruman, the wicked wizard in “The Lord of the Rings”. Either or, he was a very memorable guy.

• Considered a cinematic giant by many, Lee towered in real life as well - standing at 6'5", he was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the tallest leading actors in the world. (SOURCE)

• He holds the world record for oldest video game voice actor. (SOURCE)

He entered the film industry in 1947 and his acting career spanned several decades. At his death, he was preparing to start his latest film 'The 11th' about the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America.

Despite his advanced age (he was 93), his death was unexpected. He died of natural causes. Sir Christopher Lee: Screen legend dies aged 93 - BBC News

• In Memory of Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

Goodfellas: REMASTERED - Ending Scene | My Tribute to Ray Liotta (1954-2022)

I am in the habit of checking my Twitter account every day. It is usually the first online in the morning. I don't use Twitter as my reliable news source. But every once in a while they will tweet a bona fide fact about a current event that blows me away like the death of Ray Liotta (pronounced "Lee-oh-ta"). Only 67 years old. 

I once heard him say in an interview that he was adopted. ("Due to extreme poverty, the biological parents abandoned Ray immediately after his birth. ..." ~  Source)  That me think: So? Is he really Italian or was he just raised Italian? I know.  It's a stupid thought. But hey! Don't we all think stupid thoughts? No matter his biological heritage, it looks like his parents, Mary and Alfred Liotta, raised him to be a real good guy; not a fictional "Goodfella". Although ... I must say that he played the part of a gangster quite well. He was cast as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's movie "GoodFellas" (1990). In my humble opinion, it's his most memorable role.  It's a cult classic and won 6 Academy Awards.

Image credit

 

In Memory of: Raymond Allen Liotta (1954-2022)

American actor and producer

RELATED LINKS:

• Ray Liotta Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements | The Famous People
• Ray Liotta - Early Life, Movies & 'Goodfellas' | Biography
• Ray Liotta Biography, Life, Interesting Facts | Sun Signs

In Memory of: Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959) | Jazz and Blues Lovers Will Always Love Lady Day

My late mother loved gardening. She had a way of arranging flowers in the front yard of our home, based on the season of the year. Do you remember back in the day when neighbors used to visit each other and sit outside and talk?  Well, I have a memory of one evening when my mom and some of her friends were sitting outside talking.  I don't know what season of the year it was, but when I came outside there was a wonderful scent in the air. I had to interrupt the adult conversation and ask my mom what was that delightful odor I was smelling. She told me it was the gardenias she had planted and that in the evening was the best time to smell their fragrance.

Image credit:  Amazon.com

Later on in life (in my teens), I learned about a jazz singer named Billie Holiday and she loved using gardenias to adorn her hair. I must say that she looked quite stylish. I wanted to copy her style so I bought fake flower hair ornaments. Sharing an image of the late Billie Holiday.  She was a great jazz vocalist but she had a really sad life. They did a movie about her life and Diana Ross played her part.  The movie was called “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972).  Some say a lot of the bio details are not accurate.  But don't most movies about famous people change details in the name of “artistic license”?  The film was adapted from a book, her autobiography by the same name, published by Doubleday in 1956.  Anyway!  Entertainment-wise, it was a really good film.  It's listed at TCM (Turner Classic Movies).  Even if you don't watch the movie, you should listen to music.  The soundtrack is pretty awesome!

• In Memory Of:  Eleanora Fagan Gough (1915-1959).  She chose the stage name “Billie Holiday” and was nicknamed “Lady Day” by Lester Young, a saxophonist in the Count Basie Orchestra.  The two worked together in nightclubs on New York's 52nd St.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Billie Holiday: the highs and lows of Lady Day | Jazzwise

Lady Sings the Blues (1972) - Turner Classic Movies

‘Lady Sings The Blues’: Diana Ross Plays Billie Holiday | uDiscover

100 facts about Billie Holiday's life and legacy | USAToday

Why Do Gardenias Smell More at Night? | Home Guides | SF Gate

* * *

In Memory of Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) 

TV Miniseries Based on a Book by Anne Rice: The Feast of All Saints (2001)

When you hear the name Anne Rice, if you’re like most people you think of vampires. So I was rather surprised several years back when a miniseries was aired on television called the “The Feast of All Saints”.  This miniseries is an adaptation of a book with the same title by Ms. Rice, published in 1979. It is historical fiction about people of color, not slaves but free, who lived in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 19th century.  The series included many celebrated African-American actors whose work in the entertainment industry is well-known, such as Eartha Kitt, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Ben Vereen.  The series also introduced other not so well-known actors of color like Gloria Reuben, Robert Ri’chard, and Nicole Lynn.

I have yet to read the book, but the televised series was excellent from start to finish and very educational. It shed light on a part of American history that is practically unknown.

♦

Books by Anne Rice ~ https://t.co/abqbln0axq ~ Ms. Rice has written 30+ #books, Her 1st novel, "Interview with the Vampire", published 1976 and another novel “Feast of All Saints” about the free people of color of ante-bellum New Orleans, published 1979, were adapted to film. pic.twitter.com/VL15YFGfYV

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) September 4, 2018

In Memory of Anne Rice (1941 - 2021)

Original source

Throwback Thursday: Music: I Just Dropped In ...

"I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in." * In Memory Of: Kenny Rogers ... Kenneth Ray Rogers (1938 – 2020)

Image credit: Very Best of Kenny Rogers & the First Edition

Fun Info Links:

• Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) by The First Edition - Songfacts

• Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

• Cover versions of Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) by Mickey Newbury | SecondHandSongs

In Memory Of: Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020)

Today is August 29, 2020, and I was not expecting this shocking news.  A brilliant talent has departed this life far too soon. Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020). He chose his acting roles carefully. No doubt he will be remembered for being the first black superhero portrayed in American films. He was Black Panther.

Other roles he played he chose likely because they were people he admired and praised: 

• Thurgood Marshall (first African-American Supreme Court justice), 
• James Brown (known as the hardest working man in show business and the godfather of soul), and 
• Jackie Robinson (first African American to play in Major League Baseball).  

Mr. Boseman suffered quietly for 4 years but in the end, lost his life to colon cancer. "Deaths from colorectal cancer. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined. It's expected to cause about 53,200 deaths during 2020." (Source: Colorectal Cancer Statistics | How Common Is Colorectal Cancer?)  

As expected tributes to this young man are pouring in via Twitter.

Chadwick Boseman quote worth remembering:  "press on with pride and press on with purpose.”

pic.twitter.com/aZ2JzDf5ai

— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020

During his commencement speech at our beloved Howard, my friend Chadwick Boseman said, "press on with pride and press on with purpose.”

In his name, let’s keep fighting. pic.twitter.com/HU8Q6yQaJ4

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020