Can You Imagine Elton John As A Banker?

by Kevin Burton    Elton John turns 76 today.  So when I was nine years old listening to Crocodile Rock, he was all of 26.    He wasn’t called Sir Elton back then, not hardly.  He was a sight to behold.    His wild costumes and antics on stage. His huge international hit songs, these …

The Case For George Harrison, Best Beatle

by Kevin Burton     I asked a co-worker, a big Beatles fan who has played guitar since high school, for his opinion on The Big Question: Who was the most essential Beatle?    I suppose I was spoiling for a McCartney/Lennon fight. That discussion goes to Paul McCartney and John Lennon and stops there, right? …

Forlorn, Frostbitten, Forgettable, February

by Kevin Burton    Most people, hate, February.    My research is not exhaustive, but I have looked into this a little bit. If your research finds otherwise, I will stand corrected.   But I found this:   “February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.”- Dr. J. R. …

Here’s One Rockin’ And Rollin’ Birthday Party

by Kevin Burton   The idea of a birthday party – you know, with the cake and the funny hats – has always seemed lame to me.  Today I’m changing my tune.     There is one such party I would put together and attend if I could.  Wait till you hear the musicians who share …

Younger McCartney Travels His Own Path

by Kevin Burton    The English singer known professionally as Mike McGear has a birthday today. He turns 79.    Among the greetings and well wishes, he may get a birthday call, or maybe a musical card that plays the Beatles song “Birthday,” from his brother – Paul McCartney.    Peter Michael McCartney created the …

Still Singing, Petula Clark Turns 90

by Kevin Burton    Did you know Petula Clark has a new single?  Well, it’s her birthday today so let’s help her celebrate.    That’s 90 candles on the cake today for Petula, if you’re counting. She was born on this day in 1932 in Ewell, England. That’s 68 million records sold, if you’re doing …

Songwriter Cynthia Weil Turns 82

by Kevin Burton    Happy 82nd birthday to a great American songwriter you may not know much about, Cynthia Weil.     If her name doesn’t ring a bell, her music sure will.  She and her husband Barry Mann formed one of the most important songwriting teams of the 60s. They were contemporaries of writers you …

“Lido Shuffle” Singer Boz Scaggs Turns 78

by Kevin Burton    My friend Todd once called “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits a “perfect” song.    I don’t know what calculations you use to measure a perfect song, but leaving that all undefined, I will play along and nominate “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs as perfect.    The song is way up …

Singer Gladys Knight Turns 78

by Kevin Burton    Happy 78th birthday to gospel singer Gladys Knight, and all aboard that midnight train!    I think we’ve all taken that midnight train. It’s the one you ride when you are forced to leave cherished dreams behind and build a new life.    The song “Midnight Train To Georgia” hit number …

Power To The Burtons, Thank God

  Are you thankful for the little things? Can you tell the little things from the big things?     I was forced on Friday to answer these questions, to stop and think about something I almost never think about.  Five syllables, starts with an E, made my breakfast, brought us together as writer and reader.     …