I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. My family and I are sending our biggest love to our mom!
Once again, Christmas has rolled around and I still have a ton of stuff to do. My Christmas cards are spread all over the table, I need to go to the grocery store, and cook dinner. Oh yeah, I even hope to get a Christmas music radio blog done... tonight!
Much love always,
James
Award-winning and platinum-selling music producer, musician and songwriter Narada Michael Walden will present The Spirit of Giving, a concert featuring a number of his friends and colleagues, including Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Bonnie Hayes.
Other musicians performing at The Spirit of Giving include:
- R&B and dance hit singer Jeanie Tracy, who was one of Sylvester’s back-up singers along with Martha Wash and Izora Armstead.
- Canadian singer Naomi Striemer, whose 2006 CD Images was produced by Walden. Carlos Santana plays on the CD’s single, “Cars.”
- Percussionist Karma Moffett, whose music features Tibetan Singing Bowls, Tibetan Longhorns, Hand Bells, Tingsha Cymbals, Conch Shells, Drums, and Bone Horn Trumpets.
- Jazz bassist Troy Lamkpins.
- Pianist and vocalist Tina Malia, who has been compared to such legendary female artists as Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLaughlin, and Loreena McKennitt.
The show will be a tribute to Angela Bofill. Bofill scored several dance hits in the 1970s and 80s, such as "Angel of the Night," and "Too Tough," but has recently suffered significant health setbacks. Walden and Bofill have worked together for more than 25 years – Arista Records’ then-chief Clive Davis teamed Bofill with Walden in 1981 to produce her first commercial jazz-pop-R&B crossover recording, Something About You. Walden produced her next two recordings, 1983’s Teaser and Too Tough. The concert will also remember Joe Zawinul of Weather Report, who died in August.
For event and ticket information, go to the Grace Cathedral website.
Growing up in Chicago, no holiday season was complete without seeing "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe." A couple of years ago, a friend called me to tell me that WGN-TV was showing a special on all their old children's shows which would also include a showing of the cartoon, "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe." I could not leave the house without seeing "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe." I hope that you will enjoy this classic as much I do.
Wikipedia provides the origin of this holiday classic:
Hardrock, Coco and Joe is a short stop motion animated cartoon written by Stuart Hamblen. It's about three of Santa Claus' helpers who ride on Santa's sleigh each Christmas. The short has become an annual "Christmas Classic" on Chicago's WGN-TV since its introduction in the early 1950s.
Its full title is Hardrock, Coco and Joe - The Three Little Dwarfs. It was originally created by a company called Centaur Productions. Its running time is about 2 minutes and 45 seconds. This cartoon is traditionally broadcast with their two other short Christmas cartoons, "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman".
According to the narrative song, Hardrock drives Santa's sleigh, and Coco navigates with maps. Santa "has no need for Joe/ but takes him 'cause he loves him so". Part of the charm of this primitively-made cartoon is that Joe, the smallest of the three and very boyish-looking has a deep bass voice.
Chorus:
Oh-lee-o-lay-dee, o-lay-dee-I-ay
Donner and Blitzen, away, away
Oh-lee-o-lay-dee, o-lay-dee-I-oh
I'm Hardrock!
I'm Coco!
I'm Joe!
December 1, is World Aids Day. This photo is from Clinica Santa Helena. They organise a Walk against Aids. Marcha contra a Aids, 1º de Dezembro.
Keep...
loving
believing in yourself
praying
caring
dreaming
loving yourself
hoping
working
being yourself
fighting
loving
helping
trusting
sharing
being creative
right on living.
