Van Cliburn — A Passing

Harvey Lavan Cliburn, an oilman from Shreveport, La. and his wife, Rildia Bee, had a son on July 12, 1934, whom they named for the father.

The son would grow to become one of history’s greatest classical pianist. He died today at his home in Fort Worth, Tx.

He, of course, made his fame as Van Cliburn.

 

Valerie West A Little Girl From Broomall, Pa

Ten-year-old Valerie West of Broomall, Pa preformed today, Nov. 10, for the pre-game crowd at the Temple-Cincinnati game at the Linc.

Remember that you heard her name here first.
Hopefully, all those attending got an Honor Flight military duck.

American Centennial March –Philadelphia Music Of The Day

Mario Lanza might pop into one ones head when one considers Philadelphia music or the Orlons, or the Delfonics, or Frankie Avalon or the Hooters but certainly not Richard Wagner, the European composer  famous for his contributions to Bugs Bunny cartoons and Apocalypse Now.

Well here is American Centennial March that the City of Philadelphia commissioned in 1876 for $5,000 which is about $102,000 in today’s money.


 

American Centennial March --Philadelphia Music Of The Day

American Centennial March –Philadelphia Music Of The Day

Mustaine Endorses Rick Santorum

Mustaine Endorses Rick Santorum  — Rick Santorum got a big boost in his battle to be the GOP presidential nominee when Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine gave him the thumbs up.

“You know, I think Santorum has some presidential qualities, and I’m
hoping that if it does come down to it, we’ll see a Republican in the
White House… and that it’s Rick Santorum,” Mustaine told MusicRadar.com.

Megadeth is known for such works as Rust in Peace, Symphony of Destruction, and, of course, Holy Wars.

Mustaine Endorses Rick Santorum

Mustaine Endorses Rick Santorum  -- Rick Santorum got a big boost in his battle to be the GOP presidential nominee when Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine gave him

 

Gibson Guitar Raided By Feds

Gibson Guitar Raided By Feds — Heroic federal agents, Wednesday, Aug. 24, swooped down on the offices and factories of Gibson Guitar, an infamous maker of musical instruments based in Tennessee. They were looking for wood, the substance that is the cadavers of innocent trees and used by drug-addled “rock and roll” musicians to corrupt innocent minds.

Apparently, Gibson had imported some of this dead tree substance from India and failed to properly fill out the necessary paperwork.

The use of innocent dead trees to create paper for the federal government is acceptable.

Tennessee is what is known as a “red state” which means the people there don’t accept every word published in the New York Times as unassailable truth, nor do they vote properly. One can wonder at the fairness of the residents of such a place having jobs while those in right-thinking states such as New York and Massachusetts suffer from unemployment.

Our federal law enforcement deserves special praise for attempting to rectify this injustice.

Gibson Guitar Raided By Feds

 

Gibson Guitar Raided By Feds

Have You Forgotten?


Darryl Worley’s perceptive song was released in 2003. Click here or on the pix for it. The lyrics are below. Yes, America misses you President Bush.

I hear people sayin’. We Don’t need this war.
I say there’s some things worth fightin’ for.
What about our freedom, and this piece of ground?
We didn’t get to keep ’em by backin’ down.
They say we don’t realize the mess we’re gettin’ in
Before you start preachin’ let me ask you this my friend.

Chorus
Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten, when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

You took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it’s too disturbin for you and me
It’ll just breed anger is what the experts say
If it was up to me I’d show it everyday
Some say this country just out lookin’ for a fight
Well after 9/11 man I’d have to say right.

Chorus
Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin’ through a livin’ hell
And we vow to get the ones behind Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I’ve been there with the soldiers
Who’ve gone away to war
you can bet they remember just what they’re fightin’ for

Have you forgotten
All the people killed
Yes some went down like heroes
In that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten
About our Pentagon
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don’t you tell me not to worry ’bout Bin Laden

Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?

Cultural Heart Of USA Is Delco

Cultural Heart Of USA Is DelcoCultural Heart Of USA Is Delco — The cultural heart of America in the last century was not New York or LA but little old Delaware County, Pa. which is to Philadelphia almost as Staten Island is to the Bronx.

Feel free to laugh, who after all would call Staten Island a cultural center and the typical resident of Delco is more often perceived as what is described in this link rather than one wearing whatever it isthat happens to be in fashion on Rodeo Drive.

But the facts are what the facts are.

What brings this up is that Forbes Magazine just ranked Swarthmore and Haverford colleges as 7th and 14th best in the nation. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Villanova as the top school for its category. All are in Delaware County.  Granted all of them are vastly overrated and if one should want an education that would be actually useful in the real world, Widener — also in Delaware County — would be a much better choice. Recognition is recognition, though, and for BSing and brown-nosing ones way to power, influence and an easy workload a degree from Swarthmore can’t be beat.

None of which, however, has anything to do with the overwhelming effect Delaware County has had on American society since the end of World War II.

Arguably, the  most influential American book of the second half of the 20th century — not necessarily a good thing —  is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.  Where does it start? In Delaware County. A fictional location, yes, but a fictional location in Delaware County, nonetheless, since Pencey Prep is based on Valley Forge Military Academy in Radnor Township, the expulsion from which was the inspiration for Salinger.

Arguably, the most influential American artist of the second half of the 20th century  was Andrew Wyeth. His home was Chadds Ford  and much of his paintings were set in the area.

Indisputably, the most influential form of music on the entire world of the second half of the 20th century  is rock and roll. Credit for starting it most often  goes to Bill Haley & His Comets, who were from and worked from Chester.

The county has made a bit of a mark in music, actually. One of the two best female blues singers of the last century, Ethel Waters, was born in Chester. The other, Bessie Smith, is buried in Sharon Hill. Jim Croce and Todd Rundgren both come from Upper Darby, while Tom Keifer, leader of hair band Cinderella, and the late Robert Hazard came from Springfield.

So, Delaware Countians as you sip your Wawa frozen cappuccinos ponder the influence you’ve had on the world at large.

Cultural Heart Of USA Is Delco 

Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco’s Maestro

Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco's Maestro
With premier accordionist Desiderio is premier journalist William Lawrence Sr.

Long-time Springfield, Pa. resident Daniel J. Desiderio, now of Middletown Township with a Media address, was feted for five hours this afternoon, June 26, in honor of his 80th birthday at Sam’s Restaurant & Saloon on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.


The event featured fine food, heartfelt testimonials and superb music.

Desiderio, one of Delaware County’s hidden jewels, is among the premier accordionists in the world. He conducts the Accordion Pops Orchestra  but is known for compositions and has performed throughout the world including Carnegie Hall and the Academy of Music.

He was the Air Force Band’s first accordionist and was a featured soloist during his military service.

He was trained by Pietro Deiro Sr. 

 Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco’s Maestro

Joe “Soundwaves” Szczechowski

Joe “Soundwaves” Szczechowski who has been covering music for almost 30 years — much of with the Press papers of Delaware County– wrote of his rare miscues in the July 8 edition of Press Focus, one of which was using Wikipedia to get the real name of guitar legend Carlos Santana.

Joe said that Wiki still lists Santana’s full name as Carlos Augusto Santana Alves when it should be Carlos Humberto Santana de Barragan.

Check Wiki again Joe. It looks like somebody brought your concern up.

Joe’s website is http://sound-waves-column.blogspot.com.

Joe “Soundwaves” Szczechowski