Christmas is a wonderful time when we celebrate a very special birth. Nativity scenes are everywhere, and I love the ones that represent all of us. Religious music is such a huge part of our celebrations. When I think of the secular side of this holiday with its decorations, parties, holiday food, presents, and Santa Claus, I know it wouldn’t be as special without the music. … [Read more...] about A Blue Christmas with Elvis
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The Southern Green Poke (Polk)
I was weed eating a much-neglected fence row this past weekend when I spied something from my childhood. Now tall and spindly from the heat of the summer, pokeweed (also called polk and poke) was staring at me from the barbed wire in the partial shade of the afternoon. It brought back memories. I first encountered this green plant in the late 1950s on an early spring walk … [Read more...] about The Southern Green Poke (Polk)
The Beatles Took Atlanta By Storm, and I Was There
In August of 1965, two months after my high school graduation, the most extraordinary thing happened. A band called the Beatles held one concert in Atlanta, and I was there! Atlanta Stadium was demolished years ago, two of the band members have gone on to their rewards, and age has taken away my ability to sing and dance. But that memory lives on. This new band from across … [Read more...] about The Beatles Took Atlanta By Storm, and I Was There
Clothier to the King, Elvis Presley
Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant said of clothier Bernard Lansky and his work with Elvis, "He threw fabric, style, and color onto the shoulders of the whirlwind-together they saved us from the grey." There is no doubt that Elvis Presley was, and still is, an icon. He's sold more records, over one billion, than anyone, ever. He had 140 songs reach the Billboard charts. In … [Read more...] about Clothier to the King, Elvis Presley
The Joanna Moore Story-A Life Wrought With Tragedy
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more beloved and enduring TV show than the Andy Griffith Show. Over six decades after the show debuted, it is still prevalent in syndication. Dialogue lines and characters from the show have become part of the fabric of popular culture. One of the most fondly remembered roles is Peggy McMillan, a girlfriend of Andy's, played by actress Joanna … [Read more...] about The Joanna Moore Story-A Life Wrought With Tragedy