2/26/12: A Poem for Trayvon Martin
Sean MurphyOn this day in History: On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, an African American teen walking home from a trip to a convenience store, is fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a…
2023: A Final Farewell to Some Irreplaceable Icons
Wow, it's sad to look back and see the sheer number of all-times greats we watched depart our planet this year. Of course, these losses are invariably mitigated by the…
Poetry at the Peter Bullough Foundation
It has been my extreme pleasure to collaborate with (and enthusiastically support) Winchester’s Petter Bullough Foundation. More about their history and mission here, and some previous programming we’ve done together, featuring the…
This Day in History: “Porgy and Bess,” the first great American opera, premieres on Broadway
From History.com On October 10, 1935, George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess premieres on Broadway. Porgy and Bess began its journey to the Broadway stage in 1926, when George Gershwin wrote a letter…
8/15/79: Apocalypse Now
Released in theaters on this date, 44 years ago. Anyone out there who has not seen this movie? Anyone who hasn't seen it several times? Like most masterpieces, nothing can…
Frederic Forrest: RIP, Chef
If you're a fan of Francis Ford Coppola, you are familiar with Frederic Forrest. If you're an ardent fan of Francis Ford Coppola, you appreciate the rare gifts Frederic Forrest…
6/26/87: Full Metal Jacket
Thanks to the remarkable team at All The Right Movies (a crucial Twitter follow if you don't already do so), I am reminded that one of the great, harrowing films…
1993 + 30 = Saturn (or, a Sun Ra Sampler)
Sun Ra's music sounds like it was intercepted from another world. Thirty years ago, today, Herman Poole Blount, aka Sonny Blount, aka Le Sony'r Ra, aka SUN RA, left these…
Tina Tuner: Twilight of the Goddess
Wow. Another irreplaceable icon has departed a planet that could scarcely contain her. Tina Turner: what a goddess, an inspiration, a river deep & mountain high human being and a…
Original Poem: Now’s The Time
I continue to appreciate the team at Jerry Jazz Musician for celebrating America's unique art form, and showcasing not only the sounds, but the words around the sounds. For my…