Vaboomer -- Baby Boomer Views & News

Singing for Joy: Celebration #17

A LIfe Renewed

Last summer, a former neighbor called to ask if I would take her mom to UMDNJ in Newark where she was to receive a liver transplant. My friend was too far away at her job to get her Mom to the hospital in the time that she had been given. Of course, was my answer. My friend said , "Mom is afraid and is not sure she wants to go." I was in a focused mode and said, "I can't convince her, if she wants to go, I'm happy to take her. " In a few minutes I called Malvonia and heard the indecision in her voice. I said to her, "Malvonia, I have two questions for you. Do you want to sing? Or do you want to die?" Without hesitation she replied, "I want to sing." I'll be there to get you in five minutes, I told her.

Off we went to the hospital and several days later I heard that she had emerged from anesthesia singing. The nurses and doctors were amazed and she said "I am reborn."

Expunging the Inner Naysayers

In the weeks that followed I visited Malvonia often and heard her childhood story. It is one that many of us have heard. A dad that controlled and criticized and tore her down: You're ugly, no count, can't sing, no talent, never amount to anything. She was in exaulted music circles in Detroit where they lived, in the company of Dizzy Gillispe and Nat King Cole. At one time she sang back up for Natalie Cole, but Dad cut her feet from under her. But she could not bring her own voice out clearly.

Then came financial difficulties /and a bad marriage and children to support alone. And finally in the month before her 59th birthday, a liver transplant. Many health philosophies hold that the liver is the seat of anger and if that is so, Malvionia's anger was killing her. We do certainly know that the liver is one of the body's basic filters and when it is full of toxins, you clean it, replace it or you die.

Malvonia was lucky, that she was able to replace hers; even tho she was cleaning it as well, but not soon enough. In her case, it took cutting out the anger, sorrow, insults, bad feelings for her to reclaim her angel voice and begin anew.

www.BoomerMade.com

Gives singer a second chance

Malvonia is a gifted singer. She can bee bop, scat, croon, doo wop, rock and roll with the best of them. So far we have one of her originals for you to hear on boomermade. Enjoy. And just wait, just wait for more: she is a major talent.

                     Listen to Malvonia sing:

 

Beyonce as Etta James-- Glorious Voices: Celebration #4

Ettagirl!!! Beyonce--You Are Both Fabulous!

What could be better than Beyonce playing the incredible singing master, Etta James? Ever since I saw Beyonce in "Dream Girls" http://www.dreamgirlsmovie.com/I have been a fan. Her voice, style and even her acting. She is major.

I'm going to see "Cadillac Records" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1042877/ tonight, starring Beyonce as Etta James-- raw times and all. I expect it will be a really excellent pop movie. Great for the beginning of the holidays!

Singing Star Woes

James was born Jamesetta Hawkins 1938 in L.A. She was on the road singing as a teenager in the 1950s and has been singing ever since. Four Grammys and 17 Blues Foundation Awards later (plus other awards) James is still singing and thrilling us with her amazing talent. She's had a rocky life finally licking heroin at 50 and a subsequent weight gain.

Etta James on Top Again

At 69 she is more fabulous than ever--a true Juicy Green Goddess. At Last (http://www.ilike.com/artist/Etta+James/track/At+Last) she will be recognized by a younger generation and bring them the wonder and joy she has to us old geezers.

For the Love of Boomer Music Makers in These Troubled Times: Tina, Nash, Creedance Clearwater and Malvinerni

Boomers Make Lasting Music Magic

I was listening to Creedance Clearwater Revival's Creedance Clearwater Revival recent 6 CD re-release of their albums the other night . "Bad Moon Rising" Bad Moon Rising first issued on the Green River album in 1969, sent chills up my spine. John Fogarty's growly, rocker, gospel, New Orleans bluesey voice predicts a desparate future if as the liner notes  suggest "we don't 'stop turning our backs on love  and one another, we really are going to wind up nothing but the shadow of our own headstories." Now in 2008, nearly 40 years later, this POV seems all too relevant. The group disbanded in 1972, but their signature sound and enduring message songs seem as pertinant today as when they were first written and performed.

Call me an unrepentenent beatnik, an unreformed hippie, a woodstocker generation (BTW I didn't go..was too engaged in keeping my hospital dishwashing job and a roof over my head) a whatever.... I do sincerely believe that there are better ways to solve problems than bashing someone over the head. That unrestrained greed is bad for us--DUH! Wall Street and the global economic melt down, that a sustainable environment is the better way for all, and equality matters.

Another 60's hippie with real lasting power,

Graham Nash, formerly of Crosby Stills Nash and Young and then Crosby Stills and Nash opens this fall's re-release of his 1971 album "Songs for Beginners" with "Military Madness." That song was about his father in WWII Britain when "military madness was killing my country." Military Madness. One of final lines is "military madness is killing your country." And since we are engaged in TWO wars--with Bush and Co angling to start a 3rd before they leave office, I think military maddness is killing our country. In a more gentle register, Nash mourned the breakup of his relationship with Joni Mitchell in several songs, most memorably, "Simple Man."

And finally in the re-release category this fall is a CD of Tina Turner's most memorable songs entitled simply "Tina". For a megastar such as she--could you name it anything else?? This release accompanies her big national tour which kicked off a few days ago Tina tickets.

One of my favorite songs is "Proud Mary," a signature Tina song. What I did not know until I reviewed all these CDs together was that John Fogarty of CCR wrote Proud Mary for the group's second album "Bayou Country" released in 1969. Proud Mary lyrics . Ike and Tina Turner's version was slightly different Ike & Tina version  and people are still arguing over its meaning Song Facts

In the live music category is the annual Thelonious Monk "mini-marathon" which is counting down to TM's 100th birthday. Monk was a jazz innovator and bebop herald.  

Among the pianists honoring Monk is Pete Malinverni  -- Bio  who is playing along with other illustrious master pianists--Geri Allen http://www.geriallen.com/, Junior Mance http://music.aol.com/artist/junior-mance/biography/1082309, Ted Rosenthal http://www.tedrosenthal.com/bio.htm and Chuchito Valdes http://music.aol.com/artist/chuchito-valdes-jr/biography/1482554 in this  celebration called "The Monk at 91 Piano Marathon."  

Treat yourself if you are in the NYC area and can get into the city for this FREE concert.

Ticket price: FREE 

WHERE: Winter Garden at the World Financial Center, 220 Vesey St (at West St), New York, NY, (212)-945-0505.

 DATES/TIMES: Friday, October 10th   5pm-9pm     Pete Malinverni performance 7:40pm
 

WHO: Pete Malinverni teaches jazz piano at the Purchase College School
of the Arts Conservatory of Music. He is a highly respected pianist on
the local and national club scene, as well as a concert performer in the
States and abroad. Mr. Malinverni ' s compositions have received
grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Meet the
Composer Foundation. Since 1993 he has served as church musician at the
Devoe Street Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Resultingly, his work bears a
strong influence by the music of the African-American church. In 2006,
he released Joyful!, a CD/DVD live recording of his gospel/jazz
compositions with ArtistShare. Mr. Malinverni received his Master of
Music degree from Purchase College, and his Bachelor' s degree from
the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.