Mele Kalikimaka!!

Merry Christmas to all. It has been a tough year for many and the rest of us have much to be thankful for. Don't forget the hurricane victims... all of them... in your thoughts. There is still a long way to go for many but with everyone's help time will heal.

There are some very nice concerts coming soon to this area. I will be discussing them here on my web log as they happen. Stay tuned. And remember, the best way to listen to music is to see it live...get out there and support your favorite artist!

If you haven't picked up your copy of "Merry Christmas to the Family" you really should! It is a very cool book. I posted the cover for your viewing pleasure. I just watched the dvd from Robert Earl's Ryman Auditorium performance that I recorded from the Direct TV Freeview this year. What a great show. I have my tickets to see Robert Earl again this Spring and I can't wait to see him again. You can never go see REK too many times. He is just that good. 2006 is shaping up to be a great year!.....Finally, Happy Birthday Jimmy Buffett who is 59 years old today!!

Gregg Allman March 12, 1984

Greg on guitar. This was a very cool up-close performance listening to several acoustic versions of his songs. After the show I ventured backstage for a chat with the band. Unfortunately I was completely out of film at that point! Those guys are some very nice people. Dan Toler asked me if I wanted some more pictures and I said yeah man...back stage pictures would be very cool if I had some more unexposed film!

Greg Allman. I guess I have seen most all of the iterations of the Allman Brothers Band except the early band with Duane. I was just too young when Duane was alive but I was already a fan at a very young age. I have many more pictures of the band that I need to share.

Dan Toler on Guitar.

Dan Toler playing with the Greg Allman Band at Guilford College in 1984. Someone e-mail me and remind me who this bass player is.

Dave Mason!

Dave Mason at Ole Miss in 1977. A great show after a road trip to Oxford, Mississippi. I took this picture from the side of the stage as there were few restrictions on cameras at concerts in those days.

George Benson Breezin' in 1978

George Benson in 1978 at Mississippi State University. I was sitting on the front row taking pictures during the show. This concert was a couple of years after "Breezing" was recorded and he was very popular. Quite a talent, he has literally a ton of recordings from his career

Johnny Cash Rules!

Walk the Line...The Johnny Cash Story. I went on Sunday, the weekend it opened. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash on Sunday mornings real early...not by choice. In my house, my Dad would fire up the "stereo" and put on the lps real early on Sunday morning. We had this big Cherry cabinet with a tv, fm tuner, and a 'Garrard" turntable. This "record player" had enough weight on the tone arm to almost penetrate the wax before the first play of the album was complete. Anyway, I would wake to "I Fell into a Burning Ring of Fire" on Sunday mornings in the Mississippi Delta, Greenwood, that is, many mornings in the 1960's. It is funny what I have heard from many sources, as you age you listen to your parent's music. OK... true in this case. I went to see this movie with my Mother... Not expecting too much as most of these types of movies are usually a letdown. Well...I have to say three thumbs up. I was very impressed with the actors, the story, and the real singing in this movie. I had tears in my eyes at one point. A great movie, not to be missed. Great job by all. Awards will be forthcoming. You can bet on it. Back to my "Live from Folsom Prison" cd.... go do yourself a favor. Go see the movie. Get Rhythm...