All kinds of good stuff today ...
And, if everything goes according to plan, we'll have postings all weekend, too, so stay tuned!
re: Cory Wells:
I'd seen them a couple of times over the years and they were always a fantastic live act. After one show we were behind the theater hoping to score some autographs as the band went past. Michael Allsup stopped to sign just a few autographs, but Cory and Danny rushed right by everyone without even making eye contact. Regardless, they are definitely in my top 10 all time favorite concert acts.
-- Tom Diehl
By the way, the death of Cory Wells pushed Three Dog Night's "The Complete Hit Singles" CD back into The Top Ten overnight. (kk)
Kent ...
Scott Shannon was an MC for Three Dog Night as a young DJ.
Frank B.
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2015/10/21/scott-shannon-cory-wells-three-dog-night-rip/
I think Scott used to warm up the crowd for Rudolph Valentino back in the day, too. I swear, this guy has been EVERYWHERE and met EVERYBODY ... man, the stories he could tell ... if anybody should write a book, THIS is the guy who should do it ... so many great adventures over the years with every rock star imaginable. (I'm telling you, Scott, we can make a few bucks with this!!!) kk
Hi Kent -
So sorry to hear of Cory Wells' passing. I wasn't a big fan of Three Dog Night for some reason, but my favorite song of theirs was "Mama Told Me Not To Come" ... and Cory sang lead on that one! He is in Rock and Roll Heaven now!!! Carolyn
Yes, but NOT in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ... where he and his compadres Danny Hutton and Chuck Negron most certainly belong.
I'm still adjusting to the idea that Cory Wells is gone ... he was in SUCH fine voice the last couple of times we saw him. And I still can't believe he was 74!!! That puts him a year older than McCartney, whose career started a good five or six years sooner.
And once again I'm extremely bitter about The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ignoring Three Dog Night ... what other rock group had THREE exceptional lead vocalists and helped introduce the world to great songwriters like Randy Newman, Elton John and Laura Nyro ... all of whom are IN The ROck And Roll Hall Of Fame ... as well as Harry Nilsson, Russ Ballard, Hoyt Axton, Paul Williams, Dave Loggins, Leo Sayer, John Hiatt and Allen Toussaint, each of whom made a fortune when Three Dog Night covered one of their tunes.
And once again The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has let another member of rock royalty pass away, rather than honor and acknowledge them during their lifetime. FAR too many were not considered until just after they'd left us, despite STELLAR careers in music ... and, on more than one occasion, passed away just prior to the induction ceremony after they'd FINALLY been recognized.
Stop worrying about the NEW acts ... most of whom have not sustained a career deserving of induction and recognition ... and start honoring some of those who came before ... many of whom most likely influenced some of these "newbies" to get into the music business in the first place. (kk)
And, speaking of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ...
re: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
>>>I have been trying to vote for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees since you first posted the information. I have used the links provided. I have made my choices and upon submitting them I get this ... FORBIDDEN (403) ... CSRF Verification Failed ... Request Aborted. I don't know what I am doing wrong. (Stacee)
>>>I had some difficulties, too ... I can only attribute this to the volume of people on the site at the same time. Think about it ... the nominees were announced on Friday Morning ... and by 8:00 Sunday Night over 117 Million Votes had already been cast. (Now THAT'S some heavy traffic!) kk
UPDATE: Try this link ... it seems to be much more user-friendly:
http://rockhall.com/voting/2016-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-nominees-vote/
If the fans had their way, they would still induct Chicago, the Cars, Yes,Steve Miller and Deep Purple to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but what used to be less than 1% separating the five front runners is now a flat out runaway for Chicago.
-- Vintage Vinyl News
Hi Kent,
I don't understand the criticism of the inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I have been to the Hall three times. The Hall of Fame is a Profit organization, so the inductees are based on who will pay to go there Most of these people are young and they never heard of the groups and artists that belong there. They go to see the newer artists that they are familiar with. The Hall of Fame exists only because of the young people that go there. The owners could care less about who belongs in the Hall of Fame .., they just want the younger people to go see the artists that they remember ... and the Hall just wants to make money. Hell, it's a miracle that Elvis made it.
Sorry, but that's the way it is.
Arnold Kirkbride
Well, I can honestly say that that's a perspective never heard before!
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was founded under the notion of honoring those who made the greatest contributions and longest-lasting influences in the development and growth of rock and roll. It was the first time rock and roll was ever truly recognized as an art form.
The inaugural class included Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Elvis Presley ... the Founding Fathers of Rock And Roll. (If they built a Rock And Roll Mount Rushmore, all of these guys would be there!) Over the next few years, The Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, Bill Haley, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jackie Wilson, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Drifters, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, Dion, The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon and Garfunkel, The Who and Stevie Wonder all joined the ranks ... and this was all within the first five years!!!
I guess one could argue that once all these folks got in, who else could possibly measure up and be deemed worthy.
By comparison, in the last five years we've seen Donna Summer, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, Dr. John and Tom Waits inducted. Not that ANY of these artists didn't make their mark on the music scene ... but how can any of them POSSIBLY be compared to the original cast, if you will, for whom this foundation was started?
It has NOTHING to do with drawing young folks out to the museum. If anything, the museum caters to us "vintage rockers" by housing displays and tributes to all KINDS of great artists dating back to the '50's and '60's, many of whom have never been blessed with induction much less a nomination. Simply put, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has lost its way ... and, in the process, all sense of perspective, importance and relevance. This year (after a MAJOR shake-up on the nominating committee), we are FINALLY seeing long-overdue artists like Chicago, Yes, Steve Miller, The Spinners and Deep Purple enjoying their moment in the spotlight.
Who'll get in? We'll have to wait until December to find out ... but the very notion that "it's a miracle that Elvis made it" just speaks VOLUMES of how fucked up this entire process has become! (kk)
Speaking of Halls Of Fame, FH Reader Bob Merlis sent us this report from the recent Memphis Music Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony ...
STARS SHINE AT MEMPHIS MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
This past weekend’s fourth annual Memphis Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony drew a sell-out crowd at the Cannon Center in downtown Memphis. Inductees included blues and jazz singer Alberta Hunter, original Elvis Presley band leader Scotty Moore, drummer Al Jackson, Jr., rock ’n’ roll/country/jazz icon Charlie Rich, soul greats Sam & Dave and contemporary pop giant Justin Timberlake. Notables present included Keith Richards who accepted on behalf of Scotty Moore who was unable to attend. He actually dropped the award which appeared to be undamaged; he apologized and quipped, “..but I dropped it classically, tastefully,” Jimmy Fallon presented the award to Justin Timberlake who noted, “This is the f**king coolest thing that has ever happened to me.” He was joined by Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Computer and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, Jr. Timberlake’s wife, actress Jessica Biel was also in attendance.
Tracy Nelson who founded the band Mother Earth sang Memphis Slim’s composition “Mother Earth” in honor of his induction while Reba Russell performed Alberta Hunter’s signature song “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out.” Al Jackson, Jr. was honored by a performance that featured drummer Steve Jordan and Jackson'sBooker T & The M.G.’s bandmate Steve Cropper. The late Charlie Rich was inducted by Knox and Jerry Phillips, the sons of Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and accepted by Rich’s son Charlie Rich, Jr. who performed his father’s classic hit “Behind Closed Doors.” The evening concluded with a rousing performance by Sam Moore of Sam & Dave who was joined by Timberlake, Stax great William Bell, Cropper and others. Also on hand in speaking or performance roles were Jim Keltner, Preston Shannon, Amy LaVere, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton.
We’ve assembled a few photos shot backstage by Steve Roberts for the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
Bob also sent us some great photos of the event ...
Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Mike Conley, DJ Paul
Keith Richards and Sam Moore
Justin Timberlake, William Bell, Steve Cropper, David Porter
Jimmy Fallon and Keith Richards
re: This And That:
From Vintage Vinyl News:
David Cassidy has entered a not guilty plea in his recent arrest for leaving the scene of an accident.
Cassidy was in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday to answer charges in a September 9 incident where he allegedly was was weaving in and out of traffic at a high speed before sideswiping a truck and the median. It is reported that he initially stopped at the scene but soon got back in his car and raced off. Police found his car a couple of hours later at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL where Cassidy claimed he had a preexisting appointment. He also told police that he did stop at the scene and exchange information with the truck driver.The eventual charges in the incident included leaving the scene of an accident, making an improper lane change, operating a vehicle with a suspended license and operating a vehicle with an expired registration. He was not tested for alcohol or drugs.Cassidy returns to court on November 11.Meanwhile, Britain's Daily Mail talked with truck driver Pedro Vargas about the incident. He said "I was driving at 60 maybe 65 miles per hour. For him to hit me like this he was coming at 80 maybe 90 miles per hour."Vargas injured his elbow trying to control the truck from rolling over after being hit. He also had trouble breathing after the incident, laying down on the pavement. The driver said Cassidy tried to tell him that the smashed light from his own car belonged to the truck, returning to his car which had a flat tire and fleeing the scene. "'His car was destroyed at the front on the left side and the right side tire had exploded. I remember how badly damaged it was and he ran like that."
A witness chased Cassidy for about a mile before he pulled over only to try and cover his license plate with a piece of clothing.
Yep ... sounds "not guilty" to me! (kk)
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