Frank’s wittiness 💫

 

Joe Pyne was a sort of American Sgarbi who, in his radio broadcasts (in the 50s) and on TV (in the 60s), enjoyed insulting the people he interviewed when they expressed opinions different from his. 

As a good conservative, he took it out on the flower children, pacifists, feminists and so on. 

He was also known for a physical disability: he had a wooden leg, the original one he had lost due to a tumor. 

One day Joe Pyne had the unfortunate idea of ​​inviting Frank Zappa on the show. 

Pyne had a small mind, a slave to prejudices and stereotypes, so for him a man with long hair was necessarily a hippie, or a drug addict, or a gay, or all three. 

Obviously he had no problem expressing his conviction. 

He said to Zappa: 

“I guess that long hair makes you a woman.” 

Old Frank, sarcastic as usual, replied:

“Then I guess that wooden leg makes you a coffee table.”

David Crosby and Christine Gail Hinton

 

A seldom seen picture of David and his girlfriend in 1969 before her untimely death for an accident.

Not much is known about Christine Hinton because she’s not exactly famous. In the eyes of history, she’s a brief footnote in the legendary love lives of two of the 60’s most iconic musicians.

Christine Hinton was the beautiful, bohemian girlfriend of David Crosby, who as the guitarist for folk-rock sensations The Byrds, one of the leading lights of Los Angeles’s so-called Laurel Canyon scene. According to most accounts. Hinton was a bona-vied hippie. Quick to go on naked beach strolls and roll up doobies at a moments notice. 

When Crosby got kicked out of the Byrds in 1967, he took a sabbatical to Florida, where he happened upon the relatively unknown Joni Mitchell performing in a local club. Enamored with her beauty and her talent, Crosby promptly broke up with Hinton to become Mitchell’s boyfriend and de-facto manager, eventually getting her a record deal and launching her to superstardom. 

While dating Mitchell, Crosby formed Crosby, Stills, & Nash and started writing the song “Guinnevere” about Mitchell. But their relationship was tempestuous, and the couple broke up before he could finish it. Crosby reunited with Christine Hinton and finished the last two verses of “Guinnevere” about her. 

On September 30th, 1969, Crosby, Stills, & Nash’s debut album, which including Guinnevere, went gold. On the same day, Christine Hinton borrowed Davis Crosby’s VW bus to take her two cats to the vet. En route, one of the cats jumped into Christine’s lap, startling her and causing her to lose control of the car, which drifted into the next lane and collided head on with a school bus, killing her. It’s unknown how old she was (to me at least).

💫

Arhoolie 💎

 

Dear friends, 

We’re thrilled to announce that the Arhoolie Foundation and Les Blank Films are joining together to purchase our longtime home at 10341 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito. 

The decision to buy the building comes after several months of thoughtful consideration and a strong response from our community. It has become clear to us that continuing our work in the place where Chris Strachwitz originally conceived it is the best way forward for the organization. Staying in our longtime home preserves an important part of Arhoolie’s cultural legacy, prevents the disruption that moving would cause, and—most importantly—opens up possibilities for closer collaboration with Les Blank Films, Down Home Music Store, and our local East Bay community.

Now comes the hard part. While we are under contract to buy the building, we need to raise $2.4 million to meet the purchase price by April 15. Here are two ways you can donate to our cause:

The GoFundMe page for the capital campaign

(donations to this fund are shared by all three of the tenants): https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-secure-el-cerritos-cultural-landmark

Direct tax-deductible donations/securities to either of the two non-profits who are buying the building:

Contact Harrod Blank at Les Blank Films https://lesblank.com/contact/;

or Adam Machado at Arhoolie Foundation, adam@arhoolie.org.

As we begin this capital campaign, we will continue our normal operations in the building while forging a closer institutional bond with Les Blank Films and taking modest, collaborative steps to bring more public programming into Down Home Music. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris’ tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture. 

This Giving Tuesday we’re grateful for your support. We look forward to updating you on our progress in the coming weeks and months.

Photo credits: Arhoolie Foundation, El Cerrito Historical Society

#Arhoolie #DownHomeMusic #LesBlankFilms #ElCerrito #GivingTuesday

Mr. Burns advice 😏😉😏

 

Using credit and debit cards, of course… for maximum bank’s profit 😏

Tools of the trade - Eric Clapton’s “The Fool”

 

**Eric Clapton's Legendary 1964 Gibson SG, "The Fool," Sells at Auction for $1.27 Million** 

Eric Clapton's 1964 Gibson SG, known as **"The Fool"**, has become one of the most iconic and sought-after guitars in rock history. Featuring a unique, vibrant design by the Dutch art collective that bears its name, "The Fool" was Clapton's guitar of choice during the groundbreaking years of **Cream**, cementing his place in music history. 

With its bold and distinctive psychedelic aesthetic, "The Fool" embodied the cultural spirit of the 1967 Summer of Love, becoming a symbol of an era of artistic and social transformation. It was also the key to Clapton's famous **"woman tone"**, a rich, warm and unmistakable sound that immortalized songs such as *Sunshine of Your Love*, *White Room* and *I Feel Free*. 

During the most influential period of Cream, this guitar accompanied Clapton in the creation of groundbreaking albums such as **Disraeli Gears**, helping to define an entire musical era. The direct connection between "The Fool" and the evolution of psychedelic rock has made the instrument a true treasure for musicians and collectors. 

In late 2023, this musical icon set a new record, selling at auction for an extraordinary sum of **$1.27 million**. The winning bidder was renowned collector Jim Irsay, who added this piece of history to his collection. It is the highest price ever paid for a guitar that belonged to Clapton, further confirming the cultural and historical importance of this instrument. 

With its unique legacy and undeniable influence on music and culture, “The Fool” remains one of the most iconic guitars of all time, a timeless symbol of rock history.

Fab Four’s autographs 💫

 

Thanks to my pal Jürg for this 💎

Woof!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends 💫

Going bananas 😳

 

The piano tuner 💫

 

Tapes news - ReVox acquires Horch House 💫

 

The Beatles’ gears…

 

… backstage at Dodger Stadium in 1966.

💫

Jordi Savall in Trieste 💫

 

Eighty-three year old Maestro Savall brought a message of peace and universal brotherhood with his music that for more than fifty years has built a bridge between different cultures. an important message and simply wonderful music: a truly unique concert.

Black Friday 😳

 

Peter Hammill in Padua 💫

 

Peter Hammill

November 21, 2024

Sala Dei Giganti

Padova, Italy

-setlist-

My room

Just good friends

Easy to slip away

A better time

Comfortable

Shingle song

Last frame

Time for a change

Patient

Modern

Time heals

Gone ahead

The descent

Traintime

Stranger still

-encore-

Refugees

The ad is from 1953… the record from 1970

 

Hit Parade 1972 💫

 

Shoshin 💫

 

In Zen Buddhism it is understood as "Beginner's Mind" referring to having an attitude of openness, determination, passion and absence of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would do.

💫💎💫

Anechoic 💫

 

The new Studietto sings 💫

 

First music played in the new Studietto sounds VERY promising 🍾🥂🍾

🍀💫🍀

Scott LaFaro or a way too early death of a genius 💫

 

Scott LaFaro, born on April 3, 1936, in Irvington, New York, is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bass players in the history of jazz. LaFaro’s approach to the double bass revolutionized jazz, pushing the boundaries of the instrument in ways that were unprecedented for the time. His playing was characterized by a unique combination of technical mastery and deep musical expression, setting him apart from his contemporaries. LaFaro was a key member of the Bill Evans Trio, whose groundbreaking 1959 album Sunday at the Village Vanguard is considered one of the most significant jazz recordings ever made. His dynamic, improvisational bass lines created an intense synergy with Evans' piano, reshaping how jazz bass could interact with other instruments.

Tragically, LaFaro's career was cut short when he died in a car accident on July 6, 1961, at just 25 years old. Despite his brief life, his influence on jazz continues to resonate, with many bass players citing him as a foundational figure in the evolution of jazz bass playing. His legacy lives on through recordings and the countless musicians who continue to draw inspiration from his work. LaFaro's contributions to jazz remain a testament to the power of innovation and the profound impact one artist can have on an entire genre.