I'm sitting in a Denny's in Catlettsburg, KY, about half way between yesterday's talks at the Jessamine County Public Library in Nicholasville, KY and this evening's program in Charleston, WV. I can't remember the last time I was asked "smoking or non?" upon entering a restaurant. I just ordered their bourbon chicken :-) I didn't realize it ahead of time, but the Jessamine Co Library just opened a brand new building and my presentations were the first events to be held in the new library. Apparently the book collection has been open for a few weeks, but their brand new program room had not been used before yesterday. (On Friday, 15 July 2016, I'll be christening another: The Media-Upper Providence Free Library in Media, PA.) Les, the library's programmer, said she advertised in many different places. I did notice in the library's newsletter this blurb: But I also can't help but notice that it doesn't describe the topics. I had a small (couldn't have been more than 10) but engaged group for the matinee, but only two for the evening. That's the opposite of normal - evening talks are typically MUCH better attended.
In any case, I suspect tonight's speaking engagement will be better attended because Beatles tribute band Rubber Soul will be performing afterward. Unfortunately I cannot attend because I have to drive to Beckley, WV (an hours South of Charleston) to my Airbnb host for the night. Tomorrow I continue South to High Point, NC for another round of "Band of the Sixties" at the High Point Public Library: Thursday, 11 February 2016, 6:00-7:30 p.m. High Point Public Library, 901 N. Main St, High Point, NC The Beatles: Band of the Sixties Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members.
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Yesterday I launched my first lecture tour of 2016 with a round of "Band of the Sixties" at the Kenton County Public Library in Covington, KY. Today that tour continues with two programs in Nicholasville, KY (just South of Lexington), and tomorrow with another in Charleston, WV:
Wednesday, 10 February 2016, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St, Charleston, WV The Beatles: Band of the Sixties Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members. Feb 9: "Band of the Sixties" and "From the Shadow of JFK" at the Jessamine County Public Library2/8/2016 On the 52nd anniversary of the Beatles' first Ed Sullivan broadcast, the Jessamine County Public Library will be hosting two Beatles programs:
Tuesday, 9 February 2016, noon-1:00 p.m. Jessamine County Public Library, 600 South Main St, Nicholasville, KY The Beatles: Band of the Sixties Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members. Tuesday, 9 February 2016, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Jessamine County Public Library, 600 South Main St, Nicholasville, KY From the Shadow of JFK: The Rise of Beatlemania in America Many Beatles authors and scholars have cited John F. Kennedy's assassination on 22 November 1963 as a cause of the Beatles' sudden popularity in the United States in early 1964. Their logic: Kennedy's assassination made America sad, then the Beatles made America happy again. But this commonly accepted answer is overly simplistic. America has suffered numerous tragedies and rebounded each time, but the popularity and staying power of the Beatles remains unmatched in American history. The real answer is that Kennedy's life and death inadvertently primed the nation for the Beatles' arrival and success. This 60-minute program will explain how and why. Having added one more speaking engagement, tomorrow will be #2 of 79 (not 78) from February through May:
Monday, 8 February 2016, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Kenton County Public Library, 502 Scott Blvd, Covington, KY The Beatles: Band of the Sixties Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members. Tomorrow begins a four-month stretch (February 1 through May 31) in which I'll have 78 speaking engagements in 20 states.
Monday, 1 February 2016, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Library, 250 N 5th St, Zionsville, IN The Beatles: Band of the Sixties Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members. I'm told registration is at capacity, but that typically about 15% of registrations are no-shows. So there is still a chance you could attend if you haven't yet registered. January 28 - Let Me Take You Down: The History of "Strawberry Fields Forever" at Butler University1/27/2016 Thursday, 28 January 2016, 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Butler University, Lilly Hall, Room 112, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis IN Let Me Take You Down: The History of "Strawberry Fields Forever" "Strawberry Fields Forever" is one of the the Beatles' greatest musical and artistic accomplishments, establishing the Fab Four as a studio band rather than a concert band. This 60-minute presentation will focus on the history and development of "Strawberry Fields" from Lennon's initial conception in September 1966 through its release in February 1967. The program will be supplemented with audio excerpts of early drafts and discarded takes. I'm always slightly hesitant to blog about my own music. While I have three blogs, they're all dedicated to a specific topic (Beatles, Star Wars, origami) - none of which are my own music. They're much more about analyzing others' music than promoting my own.
But in this case, I have to make an exception. I finally finished my debut album, "Odds 'n' Ends". And it's pretty cool how computer programs can take your files and turn it into a 3D digital proof. Check this out: http://duplication.cdbaby.com/AVLFlashViewer/?p=6xGkZIWhZbvyn4pAv+NevA==#.VqKNZfkrKzc Some weeks back, Ray Compton, reporter for Carmel magazine, visited and interviewed me for an article. That article was published in the periodical's January issue, and may be found below.
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