smays.com

Sikeston insurance salesman belts out opera on AGT

It's always fun to showcase talent from "down home." Neal E. Boyd is from Sikeston which is just up the road (from Kennett, MO) in Sikeston, where he's an insurance salesman.

He's also a competitor on American's Got Talent, the show I've (never watched) but always thought of as the poor man's American Idol. Neal sings opera.

And from our Small World File, Neal attended choir camp at Arkansas State University under the direction of my old friend Viretta and he sang at the Christmas Eve service of the Presbyterian Church in Kennett a couple of years back. A gig made famous by frequent appearances by Sheryl Crow. [Thanks, Nancy]

Mike Spooner: Creator of Worlds

Remember that kid that sat behind you grade school that was always drawing? Ever wonder what happened to him? Well, if he (or she) was as talented as Michael Spooner, he did okay.

Michael (we knew him as Mike back then) and I were classmates 45 years ago in Kennett, MO. Michael and I ran in different crowds but Kennett was a small place and everybody knew everybody.

In a previous post I mentioned that Michael stumbled across smays.com a few days ago and pinged me. He included some old snapshots and his resume, to let me know what he's been up to.

He got into animation as a  Layout Artist with Ralph Bakshi’s feature production of Tolkien’s, Lord of the Rings. He spent some years at Disney where he worked on --just to name a few-- Goof Troop, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Emperor's New Groove, Treasure Planet and Lilo and Stitch. He also assisted on early development design of Dreamworks' Shrek. And he Co-Art Directed Warner Brothers first full-length animated feature, Quest for Camelot. If you have kids or an appreciation for animation, check out his bio. He was also kind enough to share a dozen or so examples of his work.

I called Michael up this morning and asked him to share some of his adventures and we wound up talking for an hour. I've cut the interview into three segments about about 20 minutes each.

Download Interview-part1.mp3

Download Interview-part2.mp3

Download Interview-part3.mp3

Today, Michael owns Spoonerville Animation Design, an independent visual development studio, providing both traditional and CGI design concepts and lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his writer-wife Beverly, and son Philip. Michael is a visiting artist and lecturer, presenting in universities, art schools and animation studios throughout the United States.

Download Interview-part1.mp3

Download Interview-part2.mp3

Download Interview-part3.mp3

Today, Michael owns Spoonerville Animation Design, an independent visual development studio, providing both traditional and CGI design concepts and lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his writer-wife Beverly, and son Philip. Michael is a visiting artist and lecturer, presenting in universities, art schools and animation studios throughout the United States.

Download Interview-part2.mp3

Download Interview-part3.mp3

Today, Michael owns Spoonerville Animation Design, an independent visual development studio, providing both traditional and CGI design concepts and lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his writer-wife Beverly, and son Philip. Michael is a visiting artist and lecturer, presenting in universities, art schools and animation studios throughout the United States.

Download Interview-part3.mp3

Today, Michael owns Spoonerville Animation Design, an independent visual development studio, providing both traditional and CGI design concepts and lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his writer-wife Beverly, and son Philip. Michael is a visiting artist and lecturer, presenting in universities, art schools and animation studios throughout the United States.

Bill and Sheryl

Friend and photog Bill Greenblatt is kind enough to share a few of the photos he took of Sheryl Crow this week at an event in Kennett, MO (her hometown and mine). Bill and Sheryl are pals which helps him get nice a close for the great shots he always provides.

SC fan and smays.com pen pall, Ann, points out how happy and relaxed Ms. Crow appears in these latest photos. Hey, she's just a former twirler from KHS.

Sheryl Crow back in Kennett for ribbon cutting

The old Ely & Walker shirt factory, just off the downtown square in Kennett, Missouri, has been converted to nice new apartments and today was the ribbon cutting. On hand for the dedication was Kennett's favorite daughter, Sheryl Crow. And smays.com's Kennett Bureau Chief, Charles Jolliff was there as well and shares his photos.

"I missed the money shot, going to the top of the roof and looking down while the ribbon cutting was going on... but, I can only be in one place at one time for the moment." [Note to self: send Charles latest draft of Bilocation and You. And You.]

Charles says he didn't spot anyone that looked like Ms. Crow's new Friend, so he moved in for this quick shot. Well done, CJ.

The Trump Tower of Kennett, MO

Our Man in Kennett, Charles Jolliff forward this digital clip for the Kennett, MO newspaper:

"Jan McElwrath, executive director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce, announced there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 19, 2008, at the new Ely Walker Apartments. "Although I'm sad to say that Gov. Matt Blunt will be unable to attend, I'm very pleased to say that Ms. Sheryl Crow will make an appearance," McElwrath said. "So we are expecting a wonderful turnout for this event."

So, Sheryl Crow is second-choice after the governor? Uh huh.

Before being converted to posh loft apartments, the old Ely Walker building was a shirt factory. I remember walking by on a hot summer day and peering in to watch row upon row of women making shirts. No air conditioning back then and the work looked damned hot. But these were probably pretty good jobs that --like so many others-- have moved off-shore. I'm sure my old hometown would like to have them back.

Let's hope Charles is feeling fit enough to get some pix of SC holding those big scissors.

The Senath Lions Quartet

One of the best parts of having a blog is connecting with people. You could argue it's the only part. One of the first sites I created was a tribute to KBOA, the radio station where my father worked for many years and where I spent a dozen years. The site is packed with great photos, most of which were taken by the late Johnny "Mack" Reeder.

I captioned one of those photos [larger photo] "Unknown Hillbilly Band" because I had no idea who they were. Now I do, thanks to an email from one of the men in the photo, Charley Crawford:

"The name of the group is "The Senath Lions Quartet" and this was in1951. We started the quarter in Senath High School. The members are left to right front, Charley Crawford, Jimmy Milligan, behind Jim, right to left are Charles "Tod" Horner, James Allan and David Adams at the piano.  We were on the radio every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m., sponsored by the Senath Merchants."

Charlie was also a member of The Foggy Mountain Boys Hillbilly Band in 1948.

CORRECTION: I assumed --incorrectly-- Charlie was referring to The Foggy Mountain Boys featuring Flatt and Scruggs. Charlie and friends were in a local band of the same name.

The Foggy Mountain Boys was an influential bluegrass band that performed and recorded during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

Nice sound from Kennett boy and friends

Pal Nancy links us to the MySpace page for a new group (band doesn't feel right for this sound) called Irie Groves. Brian Corbett, Danielle Aslanian and Noll Billings got together earlier this year in St. Louis. All I can tell you is they sound pretty good to me.

I mention it here because Noll is a Kennett boy. Let's hope he goes on to do as well as some of the other Kennett kids.

$300K grant for "Dream City" Kennett

According to the news release that just hit my in-box, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has selected my home town as one of his DREAM (Downtown Revitalization and Economic Enhancement for Missouri) which comes with a $300,000 grant to make structural improvements to its downtown area. The money will be used for things like awning and façade improvements to buildings in downtown Kennett to make them more attractive to potential employers and job creators.

When I was growing up in Kennett, the downtown area was thriving. When the big discounters came to down, "downtown" dried up and the last time I was home it was a pretty sad sight. I don't know if new awnings will turn the tide. In memory of brighter days for Kennett... and hopes for brighter days to come, "Kennett, My Home Town." [Photo by Charles Jolliff]

Download KENNETT_MY_HOMETOWN.mp3

If I didn't have bad luck...

Kennett (Missouri) police recently assisted a U. S. Marshal in apprehending 66-year-old Pearl Elizabeth Martin, who escaped from a Georgia prison. In 1969. How did they track Ms. Martin down? Last Wednesday afternoon, she backed into a parked Kennett police car that was parked in the Kennett City Hall parking lot. A computer check eventually revealed that she was wanted for the escape 40 years ago.

Avenging Bobby Riggs

I'm not sure I've got all of the details of this story exactly right but someone will let me know if I don't.

Through her charity work, Sheryl Crow arranged for her daddy, Wendell, to play tennis with Billie Jean King. I believe this took place the day after the U. S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium ("when we finally were successful in getting that Roger Federer guy off the court.").

While chatting with Wendell last weekend on our visit to Kennett, I said I'd heard about the event and hoped there were photos. Thanks to Wendell's daughter Kathy, there are. And Wendell gave me permission to share them here.

A nice one of Sheryl, Ms. King and her pop; a very nice family shot; and --my favorite-- Wendell preparing to serve a ball to the back of Billie Jean King's head (not really).

Dunklin County Library Hall of Honor

Barb's pop --Dr. Paul C. Miltenberger-- is one of eleven residents (and former residents) that will be inducted into the Hall of Honor at the county library.

To have been considered for induction, individuals "must have distinguished themselves within their occupation, trade, or field of endeavor, through intellectual, creative, humanitarian and professional accomplishments."

Great opportunity to visit with some old friends and spend quality time with family. Took a drive around the old home town but didn't take any pix. Just too much plywood.

Kennett bound

Barb and I headed down to Kennett this weekend. I honestly can't remember the last time I was there. We used to joke, "Nobody goes to Kennett... you have to be born there." I'm looking forward to seeing old friends.

I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I think the Dunklin County Library is dedicating a room to some of Kennett's former citizens, including Barb's father, Dr. Paul Miltenberger. So the family heading home to show the colors. Won't be much blogging this weekend.

Now Buddy can go steady again

I received the following email last week:

"My name is Mike McGuire. While camping at Lake Wapapello a few years ago, I came across a class ring from Kennett HS lying in the rocks. The year is dated 1966 and the initials on the inside of the ring are BDS. I looked up the students on classmates.com and found a Buddy Shivley. I sent an email through classmates.com and received no response. I then did a google search on “Buddy Shivley”, “Kennett” and “MO” and came up with your site.

Do you have any way to contact Buddy or his family? I would like to get in contact with him to determine if the ring is his and return it. I know this is “out there”, but it is a true story. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide."

I grew up with Buddy and went to high school with him. If you know how to get in touch with him, let him know he can stop searching for his senior ring.

Update: 9/25/07 -- One ring to rule them all. Thanks to Mike McGuire, Google, and a lot of luck, Buddy Shively will soon be reunited with his Kennett High School senior ring. Email from Buddy:

"Did you go on a trip to Lake Wappappello around the time we graduated HS? (not to be confused with the (in)famous float trip) I remember about 15 or 20 of us went. I remember riding in a boat with Ronnie Carnett pulling in toward shore in water over my head. All of a sudden Pat Brooks was in the water in front of the boat and Ronnie was setting there with his foot pumping an imaginary brake pedal with the boat going on toward Pat. (I think it was Pat and Ronnie – it may have been someone else – but I was still a hero!) I dove into the water (rather heroically, I might add) and pushed the boat away from Pat.  When I came up my ring was gone and I really hadn’t thought about it much in what  41 years."

And today, out of the blue, a Mike McGuire called and said he had found the ring and traced me down.  He is sending it to me.  What a deal."

Yes, what a deal. And no, I wasn't on that trip. But I love the Lord of the Rings flavor of this story. The story of my high school ring was one of the early posts here at smays.com.

Update: 10/11/07 -- Bud Shively has his high school ring back. "Who said it wouldn't fit?  It is as good as new. It sure hasn't been worn much.  I cannot believe it. Mike McGuire, of near St Louis, found my Kennett High School Class ring that I lost about 41 1/2 years ago and graciously had it cleaned at Randy's Jewelry (you did a great job, Randy's) in O'Fallon MO and kindly returned it to me."

1953 (reprise post)

I first posted these images in April, 2005. I finally got around to adding them to my iPhoto library and decided to clean the photos. They were among the treasure trove of negatives given to me by John Reeder. All appear to be taken in the old Kennett High School Gym/armory. I find these images haunting.

Would be fun to ID all the players.

Rhubarb at Dunklin County Courthouse

This just in from Kennett: "Helluva rhubarb up at the courthouse last Friday. One of the prisoners tried to take his attorney hostage, stabbed her two or three times -- not real serious -- then took off running down the hall.  One of the deputies and the investigator for the Prosecutor's office tackled him and subdued him. In the process the investigator was stabbed in the face. Everybody says the prisoner was lucky that Raymond Scott was not (still) the sheriff, because Raymond would have killed him right on the spot."

Anyone who has trod the marble steps of the Dunklin County Courthouse has great dificulty imagining this kind of drama.

Fox News: Ten Best Pet Health Blogs

Dr. Manny Alvarez writes/reports for FoxNews.com. I'll forgive this sin because he had the good judgement to include Dr. T. Everett Mobley's blog ("Your Pet's Best Friend") in his list of favorite pet-related blogs.

If you detect a note of pride it's because a) Everett is friend and Kennett boy and b) I helped him (a little bit) get started blogging. Everett has always been creative and the blog just provided a new outlet. He's a funny guy, a good writer and "your pet's best friend."

Gobler Mercantile Company

My make-over of "KBOA: The Early Years" is far from complete. But I had to share a snippet from one of the pages. A Tribute to a Country Store was written (and self-published) by Virginia B. Branch. It's probably the only history of this small country store that got big. Not Wal-Mart big but something of a phenomenon where I grew up. Here's the paragraph that caught my eye:

"About 1952 television had come to Gobler and each night, out back on the porch of the furniture department, one of these new inventions was displayed for benefit of the general public. It was here that most of Gobler's citizens saw their first TV. A good-sized crowd was on hand every night. There was only one channel at the time so no disagreements could arise as to program choices."

And now it's Tivo, iPods, AppleTV and all the rest. From one channel... to thousands.

More images from early years of KBOA

I scanned another 70 prints this weekend and added them to the KBOA flickr set. Most of the scanning work is done but I got a bunch of pages that need to to be copied and pasted to the new site. The Canon scanner and iPhoto are making the work image work so much easier.

And I never tire of looking at these images from a by-gone era of radio. I'd love to ID the announcer in the photo below but every year that goes by makes it less likely. And the guy in Studio B, performing live... priceless.

I have more than 700 images on flickr now and think I'm on track to hit 1,000 by the end of the year. I'm trying not to upload crap, just to hit the number.

There is something strangely satisfying about getting images out of the closet and out on the net. I remember worrying that someone might "steal" my photos. Now I see that the only way to "save" these images is to put them out here.

Cueing records

I love this photograph of my father. It was taken in the control room (Studio A) of KBOA in Kennett, Missouri, probably around 1950.

Anyone that has ever "cued" a record recognizes that sense of touch and the delicate balance of the heavy tone-arm on the oh-so-easy-to-scratch record.

A skill (if you could call it that) that hasn't been needed for many years. I'm glad I didn't miss those final years of high-touch, hands-on radio.

We had one of the early automation systems (for our FM station) but it felt like telling someone how to make love to your girl friend.

And the thrill of having the program director walk into the studio while you were on the air and put the hot new single into "current" box. Is it as much fun to see the new single come into the rotation on a computer monitor?

Before I get carried away, allow me to say --for the record-- I don't miss using a grease pencil and splicing blog to edit tape. If I had to choose, I'd be th digital boy I have become.

The Basement Diaries. Deleted.

"The Basement Summer was 1968. Some of us had been off to college for a year or two but gravitated back to Kennett, Missouri, as young people from small towns often do. This web site is about those people and that time.

This would have been a lot easier if I had actually kept a diary or journal thirty years ago. But I didn't, so the only record I have is a few thousand photographs and a lot of fuzzy memories. The time frame is roughly 1966 -1976. If you were there, no further explanation is necessary... if you were not, none is possible."

That was the intro to one of the first websites I created (March, 1998). I say was because this morning I deleted the entire site. How I managed to do this is of no consequence. I believe I have a back-up in our safe deposit box, but can't find a copy among the countless CD's and external hard-drives that clutter my home office.

Given the sentimental importance of this site, I'm surprised by how calmly I'm dealing with this. I spent hundreds of hours creating the site but I didn't know what I was doing in those early days and the tools weren't very good. And the resulting site looked like what it was, an early effort by an amateur.

And I have all of the images. Digital and prints. I can do a much better job the second time around.

I don't think I could/would recreate the copy. So I'm hoping I have that back-up. And I feel bad for anyone that might have linked to the original site. Those links are dead. If you were among those immortalized in The Basement Diaries, watch this space for updates.

Update: Seems I did have the foresight to tuck a copy away at the bank. I'll start rebuilding immediately.

Donkey Basketball

"This 12 to 10 score is amazingly high when you consider that you have to be mounted to shoot and the donkey is usually moving, so you're hanging on with one hand and both catching and shooting with the other. That's not to mention that the gym in the old armory is so loud that you can't hear yourself think. If you'd like a simulation, stick your head and a boombox (turned up loud) into a 55-gallon drum.  Have two friends beat upon it savagely with baseball bats. To add essence of Donkeyball, add a scoop of horse-manure to the drum. (And they say there's nothing to do in this town.)"

Read the rest of Dr. Mobley's hilarious account. Makes a boy homesick.

That's gonna need stitches

From the Daily Dunklin Democrat (Kennett, MO): A Dunklin County man remains in critical but stable condition at a Memphis hospital as the result of a January 1st pit bull dog attack. Keith Allen Sawyers, 50, was attacked by his own dog, a 95-pound animal named Thumper who, according to the DDD, never displayed aggression toward anyone prior to the New Years Day mauling.

This is a horrific story but laced with can't-look-away images like:

"The dog chewed of the lower part of his face and part of his neck. All the muscles on the lower part of his face. It didn't take off the jawbone. The dog bit through his right eye, and he'll most likely be blind in that eye."

"What the dog done, it chewed off the lower part of his face, took off both ears, bit his eye and it pulled out all his hair."

"The only thing we can figure is maybe [Sawyers] got up and went outside to go to the bathroom and the dog seen him, thought he was an intruder, and might have attacked him that way."

Not only is Mr. Sawyers alive... "He got saved right after all this happened. A friend come in, prayed with him and he got changed that day."

There was, however, no saving Thumper. Officers shot him at the scene, at the family's request.

I sat for a few moments, with my fingers curled over the keys, but couldn't think of anything to add.

Kennett expats in environmental face-off

Rock star Sheryl Crow and movie producer Laurie David, who helped work on Al Gore's Oscar nominated documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," are teaming up for a two-week bus tour across North Texas and the Gulf states. The tour is designed to fight global warming and save the environment.

The tour hopes to stop TXU's controversial plan to build 11 coal-fired power plants across the state of Texas. Governor Rick Perry's plan to fast-track the coal plants has been attacked by environmentalists and a coalition of cities.

C. John Wilder, 48, is chairman of the board and CEO of TXU Corp., one of the nation's largest electric energy companies.

Brother-in-law Lew connects the Kennett dots in this story. Not only are Ms. Crow and Mr. Wilder from Kennett, they lived in the same house (on Emerson Street), although not at the same time.

Sounds like the beginning of a pretty good screenplay, doesn't it?

Christmas in Kennett

Barb and her brothers and sisters grew up attending the First Presbyterian Church in Kennett. When she and I started dating (1972) I attended a few services with her. The Big Event is the Christmas Eve service. Dr. Everett Mobley (Your Pet's Best Friend) blogs this update:

Seated in the choir, we noticed what appeared to be an outlaw biker in the back of the balcony. It proved to be Trent Tomlinson, seated in an unobtrusive spot, but wearing black leather and a do-rag on his head. My guess is that this is an image thing, just like never seeing Roy Rogers without a cowboy hat, or the Lone Ranger without his mask and silver bullets.

Since Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong split, Sheryl is back in Kennett for Christmas. She helped anchor the soprano section with her sister and her mother. Despite being a glamorous rock star, she pulled out the reading glasses to see the music. One of the middle-aged (my age) ladies in the choir commented that it showed Sheryl was just like the rest of us. What she was really thinking (as she looked out over her own bifocals) was, "I look like a rock-star." Maybe she does. I look more like Barney Fife, myself.

It remains one of Kennett's endearing charms that such well-known musicians can sing in the church choir (or sit in the balcony) and not be bothered.

Ole Camp Meetin' Time

Nostalgia Alert: We're going back to 1947 in this post.

When KBOA went on the air (July 19, 1947), one of their first --and most popular-- programs was "Ole Camp Meetin' Time." It was the creation of Ray Van (Hooser), the station's first program director. The program featured hymns and gospel music but was far more than a "record show." And it was immediately and immensly popular.

Sometime in the early '50's, Rudy Pylant ("Mr. Rudy") took over Ole Camp Meetin' Time and gave it his own special flavor (think Will Rogers-meets-Jerry Clower). The program continued to be hugely popular.

I was reminded of Ole Camp Meetin' Time this week when my (life-long Kennett) friend Joann sent me one of the original Ole Camp Meetin' Time Song Books. Published in late 1947, the radio staiton gave away thousands of these. Seems hopelessly quaint now but in 1947, these were like iPods.

If you grew up anywhere within a hundred miles or so of Kennett, Missouri, in the late 40's or '50s... you probably have memories of sitting at the breakfast table listening to Ole Camp Meetin' Time. As I write this, I realize I don't have the skill (or perhaps it is not possible) to convey how important this radio program was to the people that listened to it every monring. But, fortunately, I have some oral history that might come close.

• Ray Van talks about putting KBOA on the air and the creation of Ole Camp Meetin' Time
• Joe Bankhead remembers the programs biggest and best known sponsor, Gobler Mercantile
• Mr. Rudy on his tenure as the host of Ole Camp Meetin' Time

You can read the introduction to the song book by station manager Paul C. Jones, after the jump.

So here we are sixty years later (gulp!) and it ain't your father's radio anymore. I have no illusions about returning to those days. But as I listen to the men that built KBOA talk about their love of radio (I'm not sure they would have said "the business" of radio)... I wonder if that same passion still exists today. I'm not in many stations these days so the flame might be burning brightly and I would not know. I've turned the comments on for this post for those than might.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Kennett Boy

Back in May, I posted on Jeff McVey and his wife (Deborah) who I live in a martial arts academy in a small village in the mountains outside of Yantai, China... studying Kung Fu from the Shaolin Monks who teach there. (I shit you not)

Jeff's momma points us to a brief video of Jeff performing something called the "3rd fist form." I jumped back to Jeff's My Space page where I found this update:

I had my first kickboxing match this week. I think I did pretty well. They weren't actually keeping points, but I controlled the fight and got in some good hits. It's a little nerve racking to just put on a pair of gloves and go at someone. I know we practice this stuff daily, but it's a different story when someone is trying to knock you out. However, I really liked it. It's the best practice you can do for that sort of thing. I think I'll be a bit more confident the next time we do this.

If I can figure out how to capture or download the video, I'll give it the Bruce Lee soundtrack it deserves.

Delta Fair

Charles Jolliff describes this year's Delta Fair as the "cleanest" he can remember. [Flickr set]

Delta Fair Parade

Charles Jolliff shares his flickr set of the 2006 Delta Fair Parade. Brings back lots of memories. My first radio interview (1972) was with Bill Walsh and Jack McDaniel, the Kennett businessmen who have been organizing the parade for about 50 years. My end of the interview was so bad, I spliced (magnetic tape, grease pencil, splicing block) in new questions. Took hours.

For years, Jeff Wheeler, Tom Colvin and I broadcast the parade live (You had to be there).

Back in the fifties, my father rode in the the parade in a wheelbarrow, as part of a radio station promotion. God bless America!

Your Pet's Best Friend

Kennett pal Everett Mobley started blogging recently. He's still finding his rhythm but is off to a great start. The blog is primarily a companion to the website for his veterinary practice and I predict it will be very popular if he keeps posting useful and interesting information like today's on dental care for dogs. If you have pets, you'll want to visit and subscribe to Your Pet's Best Friend.

Holly Farris and the Senath Light

I recently received an email from Ben Brogdon, a long-time radio guy (KLCN, Blytheville, AR) who stumbled across one of my websites:

"I Googled my old hometown radio station, KLCN, Blytheville, AR, and found a link to your Early Days At KBOA site. I sat and read every word of it, looked at every picture, and finally went to bed at 6am."

Ben is a musician at Dollywood and played in a jazz band in college with Wendell Crow (Sheryl's daddy). We bounced emails back and forth for a few days before he brought up "the Senath Light." This is (was) a well-known paranormal phenomenon (that I never witnessed).

"Actually, I never saw the light. Oh, we’d drive up from Jonesboro when I was living there playing in bands, working at radio stations, and attending class on occasion, and we’d sit patiently, not making a sound, those who smoked wanting a cigarette REALLY bad, and wait, but it never came out while I was there.

Others told me they had seen it, though. One of my jazzmates at school, Holly Farris, a trumpet player who has the distinction of being the only white musician James Brown has ever had, and who QUIT a gig with Steve Winwood to go back with JB after he got out of prison, DID stand under that tree in the middle of the road and supposedly got KNOCKED CLEAN OUT COLD by the light hitting him in the head, which most assuredly changed his life and his thinking process from that moment on.

I also worked with a piano player from Caruthersville who could talk to spirits, and was told that he had actually TALKED to the light, which surprised me, since we all knew if you made a sound, it would disappear. BUT, having him sit in my house and tell me it was inhabited by spirits, which I had suspected, and then say once when we were watching a storm that it would kill 35 people, and it DID kill 34, I somehow believe he may have talked to the light."

Why do I blog? So I can "meet" people that played with Holly Farris, the only white musician to play with James Brown.

Reminder: Kennett's Trent Tomlinson on Stern Show

A reminder for Kennett readers that hometown boy Trent Tomlinson will be on Howard Stern's show on Monday monring. I think I'm all set to record the segment and will post it here until the Sirius lawyers make me take it down.

I wanted to play the Drunker Than Me video for some neighbors last night and did a google search (drunker than me video). It still amazes me that smays.com is number five in the search results. Power to the bloggers!

Kennett's Tomlinson a Stern fav

J-Dub (a foam-at-the-mouth Howard Stern fan) reports that Kennett singer/songwriter Trent Tomlinson gets some mega-exposure on on Stern's show:

Howard Stern plays one of his tunes frequently. Mrs. Howard Stern, a little drunk vixen, chose Drunker than Me as the tune to sing along to for Howard. They love it so much, that they play it all the time on the show. Good exposure for Trent.

I love the thought of Trent and Sheryl Crow co-writing and performing a song. I gotta believe somebody is already working on that.

Bill Page dead at 39

Bill Page was discovered dead Tuesday in the bedroom of his home in Kennett, Missouri. Bill was 39 years old. According to a brief story on the Daily Dunklin Democrat website, Bill died of natural causes.

I never met Bill but he emailed frequently and I referred to him in a number of posts. Our connection was KBOA. He was passionate about local radio. I am sorry to hear of his passing. He started a blog in early May but hadn't posted recently. I can't help but wonder how long it will remain up. When you think about it, every post might be your last.

Trent Tomlinson performs for the hometown crowd

Charles Jolliff shares some pix from last night's concert by Kennett hometown boy Trent Tomlinson. I'm not a country music fan but like Trent's stuff and he doesn't seem to be your typical CW artist (if there is such a thing anymore). Charles reports Tomlinson performed Purple Rain. I dare say that is the first time the song has been performed at the Kennett Fairgrounds.

Update: This might be old news but sources in Kennett tell us Mr. Tomlinson recently did a deal with ESPN to allow them to use his song, "Hey batter, batter."

Bootheel Tornado

Thanks (once again) to Charles Jolliff for the local 411 on the tornadoe(s) that hit the Bootheel (and western Tennessee). Some really good images on the blog of a local TV weather guy. Not sure who took the photo above (Stephens Gin off Hwy 412). It was sent to me by several people.

I'm a little fuzzy on this but I think these pix were taken by Charles, who provided the following descriptions:

One of the images is from the theatre downtown (Kennett), looking southward down Slicer street. It's a very dark shot. Tornado was on the ground behind the neighborhood that is beside McDaniel funeral home. One of my moms neighbors (she has house in that neighborhood) told me they watched the tornado on the ground for a long time. It actually was just north of Scobeyville down old 25 highway and then headed east crossing Johnson Island road before hitting Braggadocia (1 woman dead there) then hitting Deering, then Caruthersville before crossing the river into Dyer county Tennessee.

The neighbor of my moms told me that it was two tornados that were dancing back and forth that they saw, till it combined and got bigger. Marmaduke, Arkansas got hit hard. Over half the homes destroyed or badly damaged, according to news reports. I drove through (Highway 49 was closed till noon today to clear the road of debris) late this evening but could not stop, traffic was incredible. I suppose a lot of folks were sight-seeing or looky-looing. I had the camera and just guessed on the shots in my album link. All taken from a rolling/driving truck by a guy not looking.

While all this was going on in this area, another violent storm hit Wynne Ar, and destroyed several homes including 3 that belonged to some of my racing friends. Totalled their race cars as well. All in all, everyone in Kennett is very lucky, if this thing had come up a mile and a half, it would have gone thru this little town like the proverbial hot knife thru butter.

This brings back vivid memories of crouching in a dark, dank "storm cellar," just like the one in Wizard of Oz.

Kennett's Tomlinson to open for Bon Jovi

A source close to the artist reports (it's on his website, too) that Trent Tomlinson will open for Bon Jovi in Nashville on February 14, 2006. I'm not familair with Great American Country TV but you can cast a ballot for Trent's excellent video on their website. If you missed my previous post on Trent, he's the hot young CW artist from Kennett.

Kennett Holiday Lights

Senior Kennett Correspondent Charles Jolliff sends along a link to his flickr set of Holiday Lights in Kennett (Don't miss the BBQ images). My mom loved Christmas. Everything about it. Our little house looked like Hobby Lobby. One of her favorite things was driving around town to look at the lights. Baker Addition was where the rich folks lived and always provided the best show.

Drunker than me

That's the title of a new country song by Kennett native, Trent Tomlinson. Viretta and Nancy were beating this drum back in September and sent us a pre-release CD. I sort of half-way listened to some of the songs but I'm not a country fan so I didn't really give it a shot. I just watched one of the videos on Mr. Tomlinson's website and loved it. The video and the music. Like I said, I don't know shit about country music (possible song title?) but it sounds to me like the boy has some real mojo. I went to school with Trent's daddy (and sat on the bench, watching his pop play basketball) so that might be a factor here. But if Trent's career takes off the way Sheryl Crow's did, we'll need a bigger Welcome to Kennett sign.

'Cause I keep worryin' about who's drivin' home,
Who's got the keys, who's got the 'phone.
Who'll pay the bill, call a cab.
I don't mean to make you mad,
But I don't want that responsibility,
An' I can't be with a woman, baby, who gets drunker than me.

Here are the lyrics but be sure to watch the video. [Thanks, Nancy.]

Get a shot of the water tower

The CBS Early Show producers chose Sheryl Crow to lead off a week-long series on mothers of celebrities (That's My Mom) and I have to say Harry Smith and the crew did a very nice job with the 5 min package (VIDEO: 13.5 meg wmv). Lot of screen time for Bernice who was charming as always. The shots I found most interesting were of Sheryl and her mom in her NY apartment. Sheryl looked like someone you'd see coming out of 7-11. Zero glam and it looked great on her.

Delta Fair and Livestock Show

They dropped the livestock reference many years ago after a fire broke out and cooked up a lot of beef and pork. But "the fair" is a Kennett tradition and OMIK (Our Man in Kennett), Charles Jolliff, shares his excellent flickr set. These bring back memories of Minnie the Mermaid and riding the Scrambler with Melanie Price, high school hot in her Girl Scout uniform, her chest encrusted with merit badges. Sigh. Where was I? Oh yes, Charles' photos.

Kennett music news

Kennett correspondent Viretta got an early listen to the new CD by Trent Tomlinson (son of Bragg City/Kennett basketball star Don Tomlinson) and tags it "incredible." Trent's been in Nashville for about 12 years and recently signed with Lyric Street Records, a division of Disney headed up by another good old Kennett boy, Doug Howard. Viretta reports the CD will be coming out soon and describes Trent's lyrcis as "fantastic." And she would know.

In other music news, we received an email from a nice lady at VH1 asking for permission to use some of the photos of Sheryl Crow at the dedication of the Aquatic Center for a news package they're putting together. I confessed that all of the good pix were shot by professional photog Bill Greenblatt.

Delta Fair Parade

Kennett expats will want to check out Charles Jolliff's photos from last night's Delta Fair Parade. CJ reports entries it this year's parade were waaay down. I have a real soft spot for the Delta Fair Parade. We always provided live radio coverage during my time at KBOA... and it was an even bigger deal in my pop's time. I might have just missed them, but I didn't see any Shriners on the little motorcycles.

We love you, Diane!

Long-time friend and star of The Basement Diaries, Jane Marshall, was in NYC last week for Sheryl Crow's performance in Bryant Park:

"Stayed up all nite making signs with my friends and left the hotel about 5:45 to make the walk to the park. Even though I don't know (Sheryl) personally, we were able to get her attention and at the end of her set she gave "a shout out to Kennett, MO" that was enough for us. The concert was good but, what really blew us away is how beautiful Diane Sawyer is. I mean, TV does her no justice at all. We were in awe, she is just stunning."

You can forget big TV stars and famous recording artists... Jane Marshall in the Big Apple is the show I want to see.

Kennett welcomes Katrina survivors

Charles Jolliff reports that the first group of refugees (survivors?) from the Gulf Coast arrived at Camp McClanahan Sunday night. According to Lance Davis, the Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Dunklin County, they could use canned and frozen foods, feminine hygiene products and vitamins for the children. More in this DDD story.

1953

I was only five but remember some of the big events of that year. The first tests of the Salk polio vaccine; Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House (with Dick Nixon); Edmund Hillary (and his Sherpa guide) were the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest; Patti Page was singing "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?" on the radio; and the best movie of the year was From Here to Eternity. And the median family income was $4,242. (Okay, I looked that shit up)

I thought a little context might help you appreciate these photographs of some high school basketball teams from southeast Missouri. Holcomb Boys; Hornersville Girls; Steele Girls #1 and Steele Girls #2. The photos were taken by Johnny Mack Reeder, the news director at Kennett radio station KBOA. Email me if you can identify any of these folks and I'll update the captions. Makes me want to watch Hoosiers one more time.

If you can ID any of the players (for any of the photos), please use comments link below.

Slick video

9 minutes from Slick Ballinger's opening set at The End Zone, Kennett, Missouri, March 19, 2004. It's a shame to edit any of songs Slick & Co. performed because they were all damned good. And just too long to post here. Even at 160x120, this file is 2.7 meg but well worth the download. The video looks like it was shot in a dark, smokey old bar because it was shot in a dark, smokey old bar. Give me a few more days and I'll post some more.

Updated with Google video on 4/22/07.

500 Walter Street

I sold the family home this week. Not really a home for the last few years, but the place my brother and I grew up. I actually remember some of the places we lived before Evelyn persuaded John it made more sense to own than rent. I think they paid about $5,000 for the house back in the early 50's. Probably paid $50 a month for 30 years. Evelyn had our trash guy plant a couple of little sycamore trees and they grew to 70 foot monsters before John had cut down because he got tired of "having leaves all over the yard." Evelyn was gone by then.

50 years at 500 Walter Street boiled down to set of mis-matched golf clubs; a box of trophies (Blane's); some really heavy high school year books; a set of 78 RPM records from the 40's; a couple of pounds of mold and mildew; and a lifetime of memories. Everyone kept asking me if it was difficult to sell the house in which our family had lived all those years. I said no and that was more true than not. But for two days I kept hearing Peter, Paul and Mary singing The House Song.

This room here once had childish laughter
And I come back to hear it now and again
I can't say that I'm certain what you're after
But in this room, a part of you will remain.

Moon over Kennett

My original idea for a blog was to persuade half a dozen of the more interesting people I know to jot down a few lines every week or so and I'd post them here. It required more organization than I could muster.

Last week I received an email from one of The Six that perfectly captures my original idea. My friend had taken a photograph he had to share. Now, you either get butt-crack humor or you do not. I would have guessed there were lots of websites dedicated to this phenomenon but a Google search didn't reveal much.

For me the best part is the image of my friend coming out of his office, spotting the photo-op, racing back in to find and load his camera, then dashing back to the street to take the picture. That requires a... joie de vivre that's very rare, in my experience.

As I thought about my original concept I became mildly depressed that I could only come up with six interesting friends. After receiving the butt-crack photo, I consider myself fortunate to know that many.