The theme this week is international artists and I can think of no one more global than Sir Elton John. His song book is as endless as his talent and he’s been doing for nearly 60 years. Here are a few songs that never made it to the radio, but they are awesome melodies and lyrics none the less.
A happy belated Mother’s day to all of the moms out there. There are three in my family, my wife, our daughter, and our oldest granddaughter. As a result we have one daughter, four grand children, and two great grand children, so far. We gathered Saturday evening for a dinner of smoked pork loin and grilled chicken by your truly. It was a great evening. Sunday, after church we reassembled at our house for a late breakfast before everyone headed home.
There was our 51st wedding anniversary, but it kind of got lost in the shuffle. The wife and I exchanged cards late in the afternoon and just reflected on how God has blessed our lives and the family He has built around us. Life has been very good…very good.
Back at the Track
Thursday was the high school state championship track meet and it was held at a local high school. The meet started around 9:00 am and ran into early evening. I left at 2:30 and the sprints, hurdles, and short relays had not begun. The highlight of my photo adventure was the high jump. I managed to get three very nice images. I will be delivering all of my images to the track coach today. The team won the boys and girls state championships.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
A couple of weeks ago I featured a 90’s country female vocalist that was a great talent but never reached the popularity of a Trish Yearwood or Reba McIntire. Today I thought I would move to the male side of the genre and maybe expand beyond the 90’s. Let’s face it, the 90’s started with Alan Jackson and Randy Travis. Then Garth Brooks came along and nobody could touch him for popularity. One artist I always liked was Neal McCoy. He had a smooth sound and an easy going nature. Here is a song that I selected for our 50th anniversary celebration.
Travis Tritt came on the scene in the early 90’s as a final hurrah for the “Outlaw Country” genre. Long hair, no hat, no glitter suits, and a little southern rock sound made him popular with many but never a superstar.
Ricky Van Shelton came out of the 70’s with a traditional country sound that included the pedal steel guitar. Here, he teams up with Dolly Parton for a blast from the past.
This list wouldn’t be complete with out the late, great Toby Keith. Toby arrived on the scene in the early 2000’s with what is still my favorite Toby Keith. When I was a little boy, we all wanted to be cowboys.
The theme this week at 4M is things that make you think of May. I may be a week early, but May 11, is our wedding anniversary and this year it shares the spotlight with Mother’s Day. So what music was popular in 51 years ago. The most popular song at any wedding, including ours, was Paul Stookey’s, The Wedding Song.
The week prior to Easter I was back at a local high school track meet. There are only two left, conference finals are this week and state championships are next week. Fortunately, both meets will be at local tracks and I am hoping to attend. They will be all-day events and I’m not sure I will last that long. Wish me luck. Okay, here are a few images from the most recent event.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
Every era and genre of music has it’s super stars and those who are very good but become under appreciated. Linda Ronstadt and Janis Joplin were the queens of rock music of the 60’s while superb vocalists like Carley Simon, Bonnie Raitt, and Rita Coolidge never truly reached the upper tier of artists.
90’s country saw Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, and Shania Twain fill large arenas, while vocalists like Mary Chapan Carpenter, and Patty Loveless never attained the same kind of fame and fan base. One of my favorite female entertainer of this era is the lady I am about to feature and the good news is, pure country is making a comeback and she is is getting recognized once more. She never left and she never quit working, the industry has changed. Enjoy
Luke 24:1-6 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Luke 24:50-53 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.