Spoonful’s John Sebastian Turns 79

by Kevin Burton     Happy 79th birthday to the personable multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter John Sebastian.    Both his music and his personality seem accessible, based on how he comes off in interviews on You Tube. I mean, here’s a rock and roller who plays the auto harp of all things. He said he learned the instrument …

A New Take On Taxis And Guide Dogs

   If you are blind and use a guide dog for travel, this story is all too familiar to you.   This comes from Calgary, Alberta, courtesy CBC News.        “A Calgary cab company has fined and temporarily suspended one of its drivers for refusing to give a ride this week to a blind woman …

Nostalgia For Sale: Zellers Returns To Canada

by Kevin Burton    On memory lane the strolling is peaceful and mighty fine.    On memory lane there is never a cold wind blowing to turn your head around, the cold wind that James Taylor sings about in a song.    So could it be that Canadian retailer Zellers is making the right decision, …

“Free Man In Paris” Peaked At Number 22

by Kevin Burton    Oh my goodness how did I ever miss this one?    Earlier this year to mark the year 2022 I did a series of posts about songs that peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.    It turns out one of my all-time favorite songs, “Free Man in Paris,” …

Mining For Radio Gold In Canada

by Kevin Burton    The things we don’t say, can’t say, the things we won’t see and refuse to feel, these are the ghosts that inhabit a great 1971 song.    I speak of “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot.  The orchestration is good but it never gets in the way of …

Songs And Seasons In The Canadian Sun

by Kevin Burton    Friday was Canada Day, which got me thinking about my favorite songs by Canadian musicians.    The discussion started Saturday on Page 7 (“A Salute To Canada’s Greatest Hits,” July 2.) I have learned a few things just looking into it.     For instance, Rush, a group I never listened to …

A Salute To Canada’s Greatest Hits

by Kevin Burton    What in the world was “The Safety Dance” all about anyway?     That’s just one avenue I walked down during my look into the best Canadian music in honor of Canada Day, which was yesterday, July 1.    I set out to create a top ten list of favorite songs by …

Blind Rock Climber Has Life In Focus

by Kevin Burton    After seeing one too many stories about blindness that was full of stereotypes and stupidity, I started a conversation.      I wrote about how my time as a newsman who happens to be legally blind made me sensitive to misconceptions about blindness that seep into society through the pages of …