“What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be.”
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The 31st Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal, Canada.
Industry professionals got intimate concerts and opportunities to connect with artists at the 31st Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal, Canada. Artists showcased their music all around the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel.
Conference attendees and folk friends around the world were invited to join a live-streaming a performance of “Give Peace a Chance” from their own beds on February 16th at 9:30 am ET.
“In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged a bed-in at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montréal, Canada where they penned and recorded the iconic pacifist song “Give Peace a Chance.” 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of this historic moment in music history, and our conference is taking place in the same hotel!” Folk Alliance International~
This weekend 78-year-old singer -songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, who had a string of hits in the 60’s and 70’s was honored at the event. She is a peace activist and a very private person who seldom leaves her farm in Hawaii. She recently released a biography.
In what was a folkies paradise, thousands of folk music fans came together to hear music legends in the historic Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. While it was frigid outside, the warmth inside between old friends was palpable. I was sitting next to Tom Paxton as he whooped it up and gave a thumbs up to Livingston Taylor after he performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow. As soon as the set was over, Paxton approached the stage and the two embraced. Both artists have been able to maintain longstanding careers in the folk industry.
The reporter I was working with and I looked for every opportunity to slip into the space where Livingston Taylor was giving his delightful performances. His warm and inviting style was very engaging; his vocals soothing and his guitar playing joyful. But what made Livingston special to me was his performance charisma. Frequently interrupting himself, as to never let a teaching moment pass, he's filled wisdom and humor and eager to share both with his audience. This says a lot, when you think that more than 1,000 singers, songwriters and musicians from around the world were competing for the attention of industry professionals.
There is just something about Livingston that speaks heart to heart.
~~Young artist connected to industry professionals and each other, while showcasing their own music.
Story by award winning reporter Mike Sangiacomo, Cleveland Plain Dealer. https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2019/02/folk-alliance-conference-unites-musicians-from-around-the-world.html
Next years event will be in New Orleans.
VIDEO OF LIVINGSTON TAYLOR SINGING SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW ABOVE WITH APPROVAL OF TOM PAXTON AT THE END.
Marc Gasol Traded to Toronto Raptors
It has been such an honor and a pleasure to photograph Marc Gasol. As a freelance photojournalist in Memphis, I have had the opportunity to cover NBA basketball star Memphis Grizzlies Marc Gasol in a variety of way for a variety of clients. He has meant so much to this community as this photo gallery reflects. It is about much more than basketball. This city loves Marc and Marc has loved Memphis back.
Marc is Memphis.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR NEW JOURNEY MARC!
Memphis Uke-N-Roll Jamboree April 23-26, 2020 (SAVE THE DATE!!)
Each Tuesday the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob meets at Central BBQ on Summer Ave. in Memphis . The weekly sing along is led by Pete McCarty (AKA Petey Mack) About 100 people of all ages show up with ukuleles and kazoos in hand to play and sing together. The all volunteer Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob also plays on occasion for the elderly, for sick children and even at some area Farmers Markets and festivals.
Memphis has a very rich music history and is the perfect place to hold a ukulele festival.
It was recently announced that the Memphis Uke-N-Roll Jamboree, a ukulele festival in Memphis, is being planned for April 23-26 2020. Save the date, more information is coming. YA’LL COME- https://memphisukenroll.com/
You’ve never been to a ukulele festival? Well click the VIDEO ABOVE to get an idea of what goes on. This video is from the Brown County Ukulele Festival in Brown County Indiana.
For more on the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob see
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/stjudemarathon2018
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/memphisukuleleflashmob
FOR MORE ABOUT MEMPHIS SEE:
https://www.memphistravel.com/
Frommer’s recently named Memphis a must see detination https://www.frommers.com/destinations/memphis
National Geographic named Memphis one of the top destinations in the world. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/tennessee/memphis/
Audio Engineering: History, Theory and Practice - Rhodes College, Memphis, Tenn.
Audio Engineering: History, Theory and Practice - Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.
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Remembering the Forgotten
Three veterans were buried with honors; but with no family members present. What could have been a very lonely funeral service was attended by hundreds of community members that packed the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
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