by Kevin Burton When you bite the hand that feeds you, chances are you won’t get fed anymore. Or you could say it this way: “no more fun and games.” That’s the story of the Houston-based, late 60s sunshine pop band The Fun And Games, according to published accounts. Not very …
Category Archives: music
Happy 80th Birthday To The Great Bob Seger
by Kevin Burton Bob Seger’s highest charting song is not the song closest to his heart, nor, I’m guessing, is it foremost in the esteem of his true-blue fans. The beloved singer-songwriter from Ann Arbor, Michigan turns 80 today. So I looked up his chart history to see if he had ever had …
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“Killing Me Softly” Singer Roberta Flack Dies
by Kevin Burton Roberta Flack had an ear for music as good as her legendary voice, and she knew she was on to something. The vocalist-composer-arranger was on a cross-country flight when she first heard “Killing Me Softly With His Song” over headphones on the plane’s sound system. Flack would re-shape the song …
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Of Sir Elton John And Seeing Things Clearly
by Kevin Burton What would you say to Sir Elton John if you could have a moment’s conversation with him today? Now that question may be absurd, or at least rhetorical. If you’re like me and grew up with Elton John in his prime all over the radio, as part of the fabric …
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One Last Try, For the Love Of The Music
by Kevin Burton It is very much like me that I saved a fortune cookie message which reads: “share your musical talents generously, for they are a gift to others.” Saved it even though I know sayings in cookies from my favorite Chinese restaurant can be amusing, but they are not messages. …
Catsongs: Music And Cats, Memories And Love
by Kevin Burton Had I had the mind to write this while she was still alive, my late sister Pat would have loved this series. It has been more than five months since she died, and reading that “late sister Pat” line above is still jarring and surreal. This is visceral. Nothing …
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Be Thankful To God, Stop Complaining
by Kevin Burton I caught myself in a lie last week. Christmas music, in a manner of speaking, revealed it to me. Stay with me here. I have heard people talk about when it was OK to begin playing Christmas music each year, after Thanksgiving, end of November, whatever. But I haven’t …
Blind Cincinnati Woman’s Love Of Music
by John Johnston United Way of Greater Cincinnati (The Cincinnati Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 38th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. After wishes are granted, remaining funds assist people with similar needs throughout the year.) Barbara Liszniewski, who is 79, harbors a …
The Origins Of Six Classic Christmas Songs
by Tim Ott interestingfacts.com The ubiquity of holiday songs on television, radio, and social media from Thanksgiving through Christmas ensures that we’ll be able to sing these anthems in our sleep. But lesser known are the backstories behind these famous tunes, which share common themes but draw from vastly different sources. From centuries-old …
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Blind Lawyer Pioneer Fought For The Disabled
by Kevin Burton Here’s the story of a woman I had never heard of before, who could and should be put on a US postage stamp. As a woman and a disabled person, she was way ahead of her time in effectively fighting the good fight for marginalized people. May God bless any …
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