I guess you can tell I'm not a blogging type of person.  Every once and a while I will, and that's usually when our program Director sends out the email to blog more.  In my blogs I usually keep the blog about music, usually of the 60's 70's and 80's, because, that's what the show is about and It's what I love.

 I could tell you about my family, how proud I am of my family, how much I love my wife and kids, and my Stepkids who now have families of their own, and children, yes that makes me a grandfather.  I'm proud of that fact too. 

   I could tell you, that I like my job and the people I work with.  It's all true!  But that's not what people want to read about in Blogs .... Or is it?

   I could tell you how I spent my weekend.  Let's see I was MC-ing the Harriston Skating Clubs annual Skating Carnival, "a Night of Stars"  It is a truly rewarding experience.  My Daughter Sadie-Lyn is an intermediate skater and was honoured by the club, with a trophy for the most enthusiastic, Intermediate Skater.  She also skated well at the carnival, as did all the skaters, a fine show, always so well put together.  I love MC-ing this show!   My wife Angie and son Jacob were in the Audience as well as Angie's Sister Paula, and Sister in-law Krista with her mother and my niece Charlotte,  and my Sister Gwen and Brother in-law Martin came up from Waterloo.   A real family gathering, that's the way I like to spend my weekends.  On top of that, It was Angie's Birthday!

   Although this is important me, is this what you want to read about in a blog?  Maybe it is.   I'm not a real controversial person, so you'll rarely see me lash out at a person or event in a blog.  I tend to look at the positive aspects of this world, everyone should!

I guess I just blogged, I even bragged, maybe blogging isn't that bad at all!

It's been a while since my last blog,  It's a few days before Christmas, my kids are  all excited and yes I am very excited too.  Every Christmas eve we go to KW and celebrate along with my sisters and their families.  It something I look forward too,  this year breaking out the guitars, having the Turkey, and opening gifts.  The Weather looks like it's going to hold up for us.   Christmas Day, of Course very exciting, when the kids get up, Santa has left us a pile full of presents, I still get very emotional on Christmas Day. 
   The day after Boxing day this year the In-laws will be coming over to our house, again a fun time, great meal.  It's very special time of year, and I hope that your day is special too.  I'll let you know what we got!!

Merry Christmas

I believe it or not, have not purchased the Beatles Rockband, or any of the remastered box sets or individual CDs.  Will I......Of course I will.  Not all that long ago the series of Capitol records were released remastered, it followed the releases in America.  The first Box set had the first 4 albums of the Beatles.  On the Cd was both the remastered stereo cuts, followed by the original mono cuts.  It was followed up,  the following year with the next 4 albums, again with both stereo and mono cuts on each CD.  I own both of these.

The marketing genius's this time have released seperate box sets, the remastered and for the die hard Beatle fans the Mono set.

The capitol sets stopped at rubber sole, so I will need to ad a bit further to my collection by adding some Cd's individually, which I will do.

It's amazing that the Beatles can be on the charts again, and gain new fans continuously.

Alright, Forgive me listeners, for I have not Blogged in ages, It's been a busy Summer! 

My wife and I took the Kids to see "Walk with The Dinosaurs" in London's John Labatt Centre,  absolutely an incredible show, I suggest you take it in if it comes back.

I also MC'd a Bluegrass Festival in Princeton, Ontario, Now, I know your wondering why the Rock'n Retro Guy would be MCing a Bluegrass Festival.  I also host a bluegrass show on our Sister Station AM920.  I love all sorts of Music, and love the history behind it.
Bill Monroe, who is the father of Bluegrass Music, penned the Song "Blue Moon of Kentucky"  It was the First song that ELVIS ever recorded and appeared on the flip side of his first hit "that's all right Mama"  You see everything relates somehow

Flipping topics Aerosmith has cancelled the rest of their tour after Steven Tyler fell off the stage, suffered a head injury.
This is not the first time a concert tour from Aerosmith has been cancelled.  I think it's time they hang it up!  Even the rest of the guys, look tired!  Hang it up Aerosmith!

Our General Manager John Weese, went to see Bryan Adams recently.  Bryan has downsized his show, no band.  John said it was absolutley captivating.  Bryan played all his hits, solo.  He did bring out a piano player for a few ballads, including Robin Hoods, "everything I do."   I would love to see this show, you actually get to see Bryan perform the songs, how he wrote them!  And of course the stories behind them.  I'll add this show to my want to see list.

And it's coming 09/09/09  Beatles Rock Band, all the previews are looking mighty fine!  Check out www.beatles.com

Cheers, Talk to you soon

I was very saddened to hear  about the death of Michael Jackson.  Michael was the King of Pop.  I like many others ,shared a joke or two or more about Michaels lifestyle but it was the magic of his music, dance, artistry that made him the King of Pop and the side of him I respected most. 

We often heard of the other side of Michael, The media dwelled on his odd habits, accusations made on his sexuality. We heard about his preference to children, letting them stay overnight and possibly letting them sleep in his bed, with him!  Was there sexual touching involved?  Two families claim so, and were paid handsomly in settlements.  Does this make him guilty or was it so he could get on with his life. 

I would hope that these young boys and their families were truthful in their accusations and it wasn't just a money grab.  If it was a money grab, you don't feel so good lately!

But The media who jumped all over this and anything they could get on MJ, They were tearing him down piece by piece!  What bothers me, this same group of reporters, papparazi, etc. is the same group that are now singing his praises.

We live in a sad world that dwells on Gossip, and it just keeps getting worse, as the information age has helped  feed this trash to us .   Does it really matter to you, who Brittany is seeing, If Brad and Angelina are together, who's partying, who's not.  It's really none of our business!  Yet we seem to dwell on this.  We are just as guilty for tearing apart these people by buying the Magazines, listening to the gossip and passing it around.

Yes Michael gave these writers, reporters lots to write about, In fact he often stirred the pot to keep himself in the limelight

Michael's death made all think of what a great artist and innovater he was.   Most of us will overlook his oddities, insecurities, and his faults. BUT it's not over by a long shot, their will be a lot of trashy books, movies etc. about the king of pop. More people making money off of him, and of course ...... people will buy it!

I'm personally appalled, at the price of concert tickets!  The whole system needs a reboot! Or just a boot!

First we are forced to purchase through a ticket agency,  that charges you not only for your tickets but a handling charge and other fees.  If  we purchase online, we sometimes have to go to their alternate site and pay double or triple the value of the tickets, and guess what?  It's the same agency selling the tickets.

Dare I say it!  "SCALPERS", there I said it.  It's illegal to resell tickets at higher price, that's considered scalping, but it seems it is OK for a ticket agency to do it.

I think it's time they take a deep look into this problem!

I've been working in radio since 1986, (you do the math) In that time, I've seen many formats, and genres of music.  I've worked top 40 hit radio, I've worked soft and easy, Rock, Country and others.  I've honestly enjoyed, the music, no matter what I was doing.

Take a look at my record / cd collection.  It's made up of everything, Classical, Jazz, Country, Pop, instrumental, Bluegrass, Rockn'Roll, Rock, Metal.  Why?

I was fortunate to grow up in a house that loved many styles of music, My parents loved Big Band, but my Dad also loved Country, and they were never opposed to my sisters playing the Beatles.  Swing, Jazz even came out of that big coffin shaped stereo console, and I loved it all.

I find too many people are very narrow minded, when it comes to their selection of music!
To me it's all in the song, and a good song transends any genre'.  It can be played any style.
and As long as it is done well, it won't be turned off in my house. 

I have downloaded tunes, and I must admit it is nice to download just the song you want usually for around a buck. It does remind me of the days of purchasing 45's or singles at the record store. The problem I have....I can't hold it in my hand. There was something "neat" about going to the record store, and purchasing that record, bringing it home to spin it on a record player. After playing it a ton of times, it had its wounds, clicks,and pops, but it was yours and you got used to listening to it that way. You actually missed those clicks and pops, when you heard a clean version. Of course if you liked the single, there was always the B side that wasn't always a great cut, but it was off the current album. There was always something special about the Album, and the extras you would get with the album. It was a real marketing tool. The Album cover was a unique canvas, for unique artwork or photography. The perfect size, no magnifying glass needed to see the details, or the message the artist was conveying. The sleeve often carried the lyrics, notes, bio's and pictures. The album could be designed to open different ways. I remember Alice Coopers Schools out designed to open like a school desk. ELO would have cut-outs of their logo designed like spaceships that you would put together. Led Zepplin's "Physical Graffiti" had a cut out design on the cover and by putting the sleeve in, it would change the cover 36 different ways! There's so many more examples out there. Often times the packaging was better than the album itself, but you had to have it. When the CD came along, I loved the sound, but the packaging, horrible! Who invented the jewel case anyway? It's always breaking, and that little booklet we get, I'll need my glasses! The only creative packaging now is Box sets. When they speak of the end of the CD, downloads are taking over! I think with better packaging, unique artwork and photographs, those fun little extras, the way albums used to be. People would want to buy the Cd, actually have something collectible that they could hold in their hands.