A Tribute to Otis Redding, Soul Star

On this big night of New Year's Eve and the start of a brand new decade I went back to my soul, my Georgia man's deep feeling. In other words I listened tonight once again to the huge awe-inspiring wonderful sounds of the magnificent Georgia man, the fantastic Otis Redding. When he belts out a fine song like 'Dock of the Bay' or 'Try A Little Tenderness' it is so much soul the man serves up. I feel so energized now having my music from the man of soul and blues--Mr. Otis Redding. So many grand music men have come out of Georgia like James Brown, Ray Charles and Little Richard but Otis Redding stands way up there on the great musical pedestal. The man symbolizes wowee soul!

Mr. Intensity: The Superstar Buddy Guy!

Buddy Guy can hit hard with some of the best rockin' and sockin' potent blues music one can possibly imagine. Tonight I listened to a superb rendition of 'Hound Dog' sung by the magnificent blues woman, Big Mama Thornton and the main backup guy was again I let you have it once more, the incomparable Buddy Guy. Big Mama Thornton has a tremendous blues shouter voice that makes your whole body want to get up and dance just as hard as you can. Oh...I also heard the good fella Buddy Guy doing a so-fine performance of a super tune, 'Sweet Home Chicago.' The man can bring the huge sound of Chicago to us all and really stir us up. What a fantastic guitar player and singer is Buddy Guy. Yeah, the man has lit up my evening just right!

'The Asphalt Jungle' Is Strong Film-Noir

When I see a significant classic of the Film-Noir genre it just blows me away. Last night I watched 'The Asphalt Jungle,' a fascinating film directed by the great one, John Huston. This sterling work (released in 1950) is a good primer on what good caper cinematic material should be all about. A giant heist goes off kilter and the people of the story go more and more intensely psychological on us. The skill of the writers is sensational because this is not just another simple cops and tough guys movie. The cynics might not like some aspects because in a bizarre way the mean ones seem strongly full of soul. There is a lilting kind of profound Joycean stream-of-consciousness about 'Asphalt.' The performances of Sam Jaffe, Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen and a very young Marilyn Monroe are vividly accomplished. Marilyn Monroe is a shiny, gorgeous woman in this story. Perhaps one of the more interesting guys in the film is the elegant and sophisticated Louis Calhern, who is a brittle, many levels kind of personality in his role as a money man, a banker sort of overpowering the screen when he comes into the action. The work of the visceral Sterling Hayden has always fascinated me. And the wily Sam Jaffe is so genuine in his conniving and arresting mannerisms. Of course when one adds the supremely sophisticated Louis Calhern to this grand mix of souls then it is easy to see why the director, Mr. John Huston gets his film to work so beautifully. But the most interesting person in this classic is Sterling Hayden (who did grand work in Kubrick's 'Strangelove' later on). Sterling Hayden has a high level of dramatic intensity that is overpowering. Great film art like 'The Asphalt Jungle' is a marvelous experience for it brings more meaning and true 'real' definition into our creative lives.

Merry Christmas from a man of Georgia

Merry Christmas to everyone from here in the beautiful state of Georgia. The rains have gone and the weather is good. We are so blessed. The plan is to spend good times with our son and granddaughters today in Midtown Atlants. Good Christmas food and happy times. The Georgia and Southern tradition of Christmas is packed with strong religious feeling and family-oriented traditionalism. And that is good. The older I get the more I realize how important and vital is the meaning of family--one's blood. I remember reading the works of two favorite writers of mine, Charles Dickens and William Faulkner. The meaning of one's people is so deeply imbedded in the literary works of these two men. I remember my grandmother on my father's side and my grandmother on my mother's side. Both women taught me when I was very young to get strongly into having faith and having prayer and realizing what a beautiful and meaningful thing it is to be a man of the South. Now at this time in my life my religion fills up my soul and totally energizes me. My music and my art and films and jazz and culture delight me so much. The people in my life have given me so much meaning and definition and that is wonderful. So enjoy today everyone out there. As the song says, 'We Need a Little Christmas.' Please realize there is a man in Stone Mountain, Georgia who is trying to bring you emotional pure depth and soul in your lives. Enjoy the beautiful songs today: 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,' 'Deck the Halls,' and 'Joy to the World.' And also I remember the marvelous song that symbolizes today and my mother used to play it on the piano. Of course I am referring to the grand song, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.' That dear song seems to symbolize for me the beauty and the joy and the magnificent culture that is today--Christmas. Bless you all!

My oldest son is my pride and joy!

My oldest son is a person I have the utmost pride in. He has always had a wonderful work ethic. Ever since he was eleven years old he has been working so hard, doing all kinds of jobs. It makes a Georgia man proud to see his son doing a great job of learning how to be a man. The great thing is the way that my oldest son has the ability to get along beautifully with other people. I remember when he was seven, I saw a teacher of his in a grocery store and she told me my son Ernie was such a wonderful student and she said many marvelous things. That made me swell up with pride as a father. Also later on at so many sporting events (especially soccer and swimming) I saw him put so much fantastic effort into what he was doing. He became a fine student in all his school work and also when he entered the business world he developed a tremendously articulate way of handling all things which I found absolutely great. Also now he and his wife have two marvelous daughters who are so delighted with the huge religious and cultural event that is Christmas. Indeed this represents a truly great time of the year and I give thanks with all my heart and soul for the powerfully great man who is my oldest son.

Christmas memories here in Georgia

Christmas is an exciting time for all of us. It has impact on each man, woman and child. I have so many memories of my two sons and seeing them grow up here in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia. I especially recall the times when both sons were small and so thrilled with the Yuletide spirit and the wonderful trips to shopping malls and toy stores. My oldest son loved the toy department in a large Penney's store near us and my younger son loved all the sports things, especially the great memorable sports collectors items. And of course it was great to see the sons taking part in the church events like all the pageants and the singing sessions. The culture of those of us here in Georgia is enriched by so many interesting variables. It is good also that our culture has become more diverse with many more ethnic groups than was the case when I was a small child. Sports united me with my sons a lot for both of the guys loved soccer, basketball, football and softball. Also the younger son and I had so many marvelous trips to go see movies. I loved the way my sons both the older and the younger son truly enjoyed the huge magic that is the world of films. Most of all I have tried to inject lots of passion, meaning and human emotionalism into my boys. Now at this beautiful time of Christmas I confess that all the memories are overwhelming. But Christmas memories are such wonderful looks into the fascinating eyes of the human soul. The Lord bless us all during this exciting, pulsing cultural time that is LIFE here in the beautiful land of Georgia here in the U.S.A.

Hank Mobley kicks 'Soul' into Gear

Jazz artists on the Blue Note label have always been among the tops in the business. One of my favorites in this coterie of jazz fellas is the superb Tenor Saxophonist, Hank Mobley. I feel one of the best albums Hank Mobley made was the strong one called, 'Soul Station.' Listened to it again this wintry Monday and was blown away by its delightful, smokin' bluesy approach. Also the backup piano guy on this set is the man of gigantic jazz finesse, the one and only Wynton Kelly. The man knows how to make those "ivories" really sing. Also on this shiny set is the power drums soulful man, the percussion star, Art Blakey. In the stylin' of Art Blakey, the drums come resoundingly alive. My favorite bass player, Paul Chambers, does fine work in this set, too. I read somewhere that the sophisticated bassist Charlie Haden was so impressed with the work of Paul Chambers. I, too, am a person who much appreciates the sensitive and mysterious bass work Of Paul Chambers. This Hank Mobley and guys workout on 'Soul Station' is still fresh and true dynamic jazz. Very satisfying!