It Pays to Read Music CD Booklets

While browsing through the booklet enclosed with singer Michael Buble's CD, It's Time (Reprise Records), I came across a familiar name--Ira Nepus. He is one of three trombonists on track 7, "The More I See You," the hit song originally recorded by Chris Montez in the 60s. I'm sure it's the same Ira Nepus whose mother employed my mother to clean her Beverly Hills house every week. I'm also sure it's the same Ira Nepus who bought a Smokey Robinson and the Miracles LP as a Christmas present in 1966 and sent it to me via my mother. I still have the LP although I haven't heard it in years because my turntable no longer works.
If it is the same Ira Nepus--and I'm pretty sure it is--I would love to be in touch with him to discuss his musical career and to find out what other CDs he appears on. Who knew that one day he'd be a professional musician?

Note: His sister Ria was a writer for the sit-com Happy Days. I saw her name in the credits. I wonder if she's still in television.

Happy Birthday, Stephen Sondheim

Yesterday was Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. Sondheim. Keep writing those marvelous songs.

Illiteracy Chic

"yall sum thirsty bitches leavin yo # and email thinkin he gonna see this and dick you down wit all that meat."--a commenter on gay porn site Thugmart re: porn model Rogue.

It looks like being illiterate or appearing to be illiterate has become chic among the young black and Latino followers of hip-hop and thug porn.

RIP Ron Lundy

It was fitting to hear of Ron Lundy's death on New York's WABC where he deejayed from 1965 until 1982, when the station went from a Top 40 format to all-talk. He later became a deejay at WCBS-FM, the oldies station.
Lundy's voice is immortalized in the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy. Jon Voight, as Joe Buck, is on a New York-bound bus and has a portable radio to his ear tuned to Ron Lundy's show. "That's New York talking!" shouts Voight with excitement to his seatmate.
Ron Lundy will be missed.

Elinor Tatum: Future Radio Star?

Elinor Tatum, the publisher/editor-in-chief of the New York Amsterdam News, appears every Thursday on Reverend Al Sharpton"s syndicated radio show in a segment on media coverage of news stories in the black community.
It's a safe bet that before too long Tatum will be doing a radio show of her own, maybe even graduate to television. Sharpton's show is just a stepping stone.

Harlem Bespoke Website Is Worth Checking Out

I urge the readers of this blog who are interested in reading about Harlem history, architecture, and events to check out http://www.harlembespoke.com/. You won't be disappointed.

Harlem Pride

Mark your calendars! Harlem Pride will be celebrating gay liberation June 12-26, in the Mount Morris Park Historic District, on 119th Street, in the center of a thriving "gayborhood." "This historic event," says the press release,"for the first time brings to Harlem, in one location, several LGBT institutions that have been fundamental in fostering tolerance as well as a diverse future." Organizations such as the Audre Lorde Project, SAGE,the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, and the Human Rights Campaign will be participating on Harlem Pride Day (June 26), a block-long party, that wraps up the event, a day before the annual Gay Pride Parade downtown. So get ready to party hardy and proudly wear the rainbow colors. For more info, go to www.casafrela.com.

Harlem Pride 2010

Mark your calendars! Harlem Pride, a celebration of gay liberation, will take place from June 12 to June 26, in the Mount Morris Park Historic District, on 119th Street, the center of a thriving "gayborhood." Organizations such as the Audre Lorde Project, SAGE, the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, and the Human Rights Campaign will be participating on Harlem Pride Day (June 26), a block-long neighborhood party. "This historic event," says the press release, "brings to Harlem, in one location, several LGBT institutions that have been fundamental in fostering tolerance as well as a diverse future."