Ok , this is my comment on American Idol So far this season was the best and better than last year's season. The talent was diversed and so awesome, there was country, R&B, pop and heavy metal and blues rock.I mean talk about great talent now we can focuse on that rather than that loud obnoxious Brit name Simon. I don't miss him , guest what 29 million viewers saw the finale better than 23 million last year when it was time for Simon to leave. Steven Tyler and J-Lo as judges not bad they certainly brought the fun out of the show. Well the finale was interesting everyone seems to be talking about J-lo's voluptuous physique as she was dancing her ass next to her hubby Mark Anthony. I am like Ok so what is this so you think you can dance or something? Weird. The highlight for me was not J-Lo's ass are you kidding me? it was the performances of James Durbin with his idols the legendary British heavy metal group Judas Priest fronted by the greatest rock voice of all time Rob Halford the Metal God performing "Living after Midnight" and "Breaking the Law" James can really do the high octave that Rob pioneered but Rob came on top . You can see the audience digging to the songs they did 31 years back. Guys you rock.
Here is James Durbin who was 4th in the show, singing along with Rob Halford and Judas Priest
Here is another metal god, this is Aerosmith frontman and AI judge Steven Tyler performing a 1973 Aerosmith classic written by the man himself and rocked the crowd and even J-lo and Randy was digging the classic rock anthem and the crowd were on their feet check it out
As for the two finalists I don't like these kids ,Scotty the winner of the show looks like Howdy Doody with a jihnn Cash voice and Lauren , the runner-up who many say sounds like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, she sings better than Ms Underwood but she still has a long ways to go as to her experience.
James Durbin will be the guy to watch on record sales he will outsell the two country cuties. He is my man. Haley is one rocker chic she has that Janis Joplin like voice. Well its those young 12 or 13 year olds who voted constantly. Anyway until next season I am looking forward to So You Think You Can Dance and X Factor that should be interesting.
OK lets talk about the band Chicago and of course the group's founding guitarist, songwriter and singer Terry Kath
Terry Kath has been an unsung hero He was one of the most gifted and underrated guitarist in rock history a pioneering jazz rock guitarist who had influences of heavy rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix who became an big admirer of Kath, and jazz guitarists Joe Smith and Wes Montgomery. He was a true natural genius when it came to his techical abilities. People remember the 1970's pioneering jazz rock act Chicago formerly known as Chicago Transit Authority a band he formed with drummer Danny Seraphine and saxophonist Walt Parazaider in 1967 and score alot of number one hits and album sales of more than 100 million, man they should be in the rock n' roll hall of fame.
Kath learned his guitar techniques by playing the banjo his mom owned and he perfected his skills and was able to use wah wah and other gadgets in his arsenals to his guitar playing you can hear it on songs like "Poem 58", "Free Form Guitar" a precursor to Van Halen's "Eruption" , "Uptown" , "In The Country"and "25 or 6 to 4" which he used his extended guitar solos that had jazz scales it was like having a jazz guitarist pumping steroids on his amplifier.He along with Harvey Mandel and Steve Hackett were pioneers for rock guitar in the finger tapping long before VH or Steve Vai even did this one. Kath rarely did this one in his later performances.
He was also a great songwriter with songs like the time signature Joe Eliis influenced song "Introduction" ,"Mississppi Delta City Blues", "In The Country", the Randy Newman like acoustic number "Alma Mater" and the lists goes on and on.
His talents have been overshadowed by his tragic death which was an unfortunate event. The man was a better player than Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page put together, and he had this Ray Charles quality to his voice , He made the band looked and sounded cool on the classic rock radio stations. We will never forget his bluesy baritone voice of "Make Me Smile" "Dialogue" and "Colour my World" to name a few.I prefer "Tell Me" that was his best vocal performance. Sadly during his lifetime he never got the respect or the recognition of his greatest talents as a great guitarist he was frst and foremost a great guitar player and I rank him in the top ten right above Clapton and Page but even with Stevie Ray Vaughan, technique wise.
He was one of a kind and what a great talent he was during his brief time in this planet. On January 23, 1978 old demons caught up with him when the legendary baritone voice and trail blazing guitar of Chicago was silenced for good as a result of an accidental gunshot wound.Although none of us can never change the tragedy but we will remember his music and the band he was in during those 11 years of gteat jazz rock . I never liked the incarnation of Chicago , it was interesting but it didn't feel like the band especially with Peter leaving abruptly and Danny getting canned by the guys.And I hated those power ballads they made them look wussy songs like "If You Leave Me Now" or "Hard to say I'm sorry" , sorry folks I hated those songs , I prefer "Feeling Stronger Every Day", "Free" or "Liberation" the rocker numbers than the ballads.Sorry if I offended fans of the power ballads i am being honest.The band was never the same after his passing.I saw him with my sister when I was a Child a while back as a nine year old. Man he was the bomb.Chris Pinnick was the closest to a Terry Kath. The other guitarists after Terry were good even Dawayne Biley but no one can be as good as a Terry Kath, there is only one Terry Kath and those are big shoes.
33 years have passed i truely believe that he and his band should be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame, what is wrong with that darn committee. I hope and pray that terry along with Peter, Robert, Lee, Walt, Danny and Jimmy get their long overdue induction to the Rock n; Roll Hall Of Fame. I respect the survving members going out on the road playing their greatest hits but to me and other fans there will be one and that is the original guys that I mentioned. Gone are the large stadium or large arenas shows no longer the million selling records and hits they once did a while back.I prefer to remember them the way they were.
Terry Kath is still my hero and I love him like a mentor and I even play the guitar at Tribeca Bar for fun with a group of friends. I still have my Fender and i can still play "Uptown" or "In The country". Terry Allan Kath was one cool dude and a bigger than life personaility that is never forgotten. Anyway let';s check out Terry and the boys in action and you can see him finger tap during "Free Form" intro through Robert Lamm's "A Song for Richard and his Friends"
Chicago in their greatest concert film footage June 1972 in Budokan Hall , Japan
Terry and the guys playing his tribute to his idol Jimi Hendrix "Oh Thank You Great Spirit"
Terry singing "Tell Me" 1972 written by Jimmy Guercio, we will never forget you dude we miss you and I wish you were here,
well today is Oprah Winfrey's Swan Song I have been watching her show since 1986 and she was second to Phil Donahue as one of the best talk show host in TV history. We was smart and sassy and generous to her viewers out there and she brought alot of joy and creativity to her millions of fans who watched this TV legend.
As we say farewell to this TV legend after 25 years , We alos wish her the best on her new venture whatever it is.
I hated those other shows like Jerry Springer and Maury Povitch for their sleaze TV and has been very exploitive and I am so over those shows of throwing chairs and audience members acting like such immature juveniles or bad drunks, and with the paternity thing come on Maury and Jerry you can do better than that.
Oprah is such a classy lady and I forever will miss her humanity and her warmth to the topics she has given even with celebrities and controversial topics. She did it with style and grace and for all of us who watch this TV Legend, all we can say is may god bless you in all your new endeavors and look forward to your new project in hand and thanks for all the 25 years of joy.
You Go Sister.
Here is a clip to say farewell to this show and what a ride
Today I just finished shopping at whole foods down in Tribeca The place is so organic and very big and very peaceful I have even learned how to cook new recipes while shopping there after all I live alone. Its a beautiful place to visit. Some of the things at whole foods is so organic and very special
I even bought some organic chips and Kashi to take care of myself. They call it the disney land of supermarkets. Very much an organic health foods store.
The people there ars so friendly even one couple from Australia who just moved to our land . I love to shop there sometimes I get addicted to buying whole foods. There is not enough drama queens there.
The culinary is so good there that I would recommend coming to Tribeca and shop there and it is so quiet and peaceful.Well off to make artichoke and beef bourgagnion Ciao
