Our youngest grand daughter is a college sophomore and is on a track scholarship. Originally she only competed as a high jumper and won the conference championship as a freshman. This year she has added the long jump to her competitive events. Last week we made the six-hour drive to see her compete. It is always a special time when we get to see the grand kids that are now away from home.

Aww…some Monday – Still Trackin’

Monday’s Music Moves Me

It’s a free pick ’em week at 4M. Last year I put together a budget stereo system from flea market and FaceBook Market Place finds. I included a turntable in the system to that I could return to listening to the vinyls that I enjoyed as a young adult. I sold my original collection decades ago, so I have set about to build a new library of sound. I have Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Linda Ronstadt, and the Stones in my current collection. I have also rediscovered Rita Coolidge. What a pleasant listening experience.

A Goal Keepers Life

Aww…some Monday – Spring Soccer

I love photographing soccer. It is one of easiest sports to access for photography. I can walk the sidelines and nobody cares. Fall football requires press passes and restricted areas. Some baseball and softball venues have no good locations to set up a cameras while some track and field events pose some difficult lighting situations. Spring soccer is here and the local teams are now in action. Here are a few images from the most recent girls contests.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme at 4M is music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Pick a decade or mix them up. This era is right in my wheel house. I was a pre-teen in the fifties, graduated high school in 1965, and married my best friend in 1974. There was some awesome music during this period, so let’s give a listen to some of my favorites.

I didn’t really have a deep interest in music in the fifties. I was a pre-teen and playing baseball was much more interesting to me than playing records. I do remember watching American Band Stand and one act that always got my attention was the Everly Brothers. Their music was a cross-over from country. I found their harmony much to my liking even in this very early video.

The sixties brought the British Invasion, Surf sounds, Flower children, MoTown, Acid Rock, Folk Rock and so much more. I don’t know that I can pick a favorite genre from this era and it may go down in history as the golden age of rock music.

The seventies may be best known for Disco, but Hard Rock, Soft Rock, and Soul music were all popular, and outlaw country found an audience with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and others.

Boogie on ya’ll!! Have a blessed week.

A Day At The Track

Aww Monday

“I got caught rolling in the grass and now, here I am on this table and dad has a comb and a brush. I just hope he doesn’t find any little mats in my coat.”

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week at 4M is a free choice week. Recently I stumbled on to a new-to-me group. Home Free is a five man a cappella vocal band that has a focus on country music. Every sound you are about to hear is made with a human voice. Enjoy.

Aww…some Monday – Lucy

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The theme at 4M this week is Glenn Miller songs. The Glenn Miller Orchestra was one of many members of the Big Band era that started in the late ’30’s and ran all the way through the early ’50’s when it was replaced by rock ‘n roll. Early on, my dad was a country music fan out of the dust bowl of Oklahoma. My mother, on the other hand was a huge fan of big bands and the ultra smooth sounds of the Glenn Miller Orchestra was her absolute favorite.

I have chosen a couple of songs that may or may not be Glenn Miller signature numbers, but the do represent the sound and style of this great collection of musicians. The first song is a little long because there is a dance routine that should not be missed. These are the sounds of “The Greatest Generation” and it will be a sad day when they are no longer heard. Enjoy.

Aww…some Monday

This past week the high school basketball regular season came to an end. The state tournament begins this week. The state tourney starts in Little Rock and the finals are played in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The sites are four and five hour drives from my home so I will not be traveling to the games.

Before the season started a parent approached me and asked me to capture some images of their daughter’s senior season. By now you know that I love photographing high school sports, so I jumped at the opportunity. Here are a few of my favorite images from the season that are now precious memories for the player and her parents.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week is a freedom of choice week at 4M so I am going to feature my all time favorite female artist. I’ve done this in the past, but I do enjoy this voice above all others. Over the years there have been a multitude of awesome female vocalists, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Celine Dieon, Donna Summer, just to name a few. My all time favorite female vocalist is…the envelope please….Linda Ronstadt! Linda could and did sing everything. She always wanted to be a country singer, she joined the Stone Ponies band and became a rock legend. Linda starred on Broadway and even sang opera. She gathered an excellent group of musicians together and record the songs of her father’s heritage. Her Hispanic mariachi album went double platinum in one day. She joined friends Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris and recorded the album Trio that won a Grammy and an ACM award, also going platinum.

One of country music’s icon voices and song was Patsy Cline’s recording, “Crazy Arms”. Country legend Ray Price also had a hit with the song. I believe Linda covered the song as well, if not better than the original.

Another Patsy Cline hit done by Linda.

Glen Frye and Don Henley both give Linda credit for being the person most responsible for the formation of The Eagles. Here she is singing with the guys and killing it with one of their songs, “Desparado”.

Did I mention that she crushed the Big Band sound by teaming up with legendary composer/arranger Neslon Riddle and releasing an album that featured this song, “I’ve Got a Crush on You”.

Now you know why, in my humble opinion, this lady is the best there has ever been. Let’s wrap this up with one of my favorite Ronstadt rock songs.