Claude Purdy Thank you for your Gift Cuz

Rest in Peace My Dear Cuz..He Left here August 3 2009

Hello JazzLovers,

This is a bittersweet day here in Beautiful Bahrain..

Claude Purdy was my 1st Cousin, the only Son of my fathers youngest Brother,I only met 3 of my Fathers Brothers. I knew the oldest Brother ( Who I dearly loved)and Claude's Father, the youngest,( I will leave it at that).Those brothers I truly did not understand, but the oldest was a wonderful person, and I had the chance to spend a couple of great summers with he and his wife.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j6avX7ebkM

I didn't met Claude until I was in Jr.High 1957, the year he graduated high school. I t was at his High School Class Play (Boston High) that I first saw him. Claude was the lead and he was fantastic! I was fascinated by him. Oddly enough the reason I was at the graduation was not because he was graduating but because 2 of my Moms Nieces were graduating! (I Told you those brothers were intriguing) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alglEMdXvxI

But that night I really amazed by his acting in that play( If anyone remembers what the play was please send it to me.)His energy level was fantastic, then after his graduation I have never seen him ever again, ( Yes I have tried to find him and only found information in 1997)Although trying to find my other cousins I found Eve and she had kept all the clipping of his climb to fame.

Claude became a Famous Director/Actor, traveled to New York, Paris and then on to the Penumbra Theatre as co-founder who was also instrumental in the career of August Wilson, who died October 2005. They were most noted for Claude Direction August Wilson's great plays about African American Culture. They are most noted for the following 9 plays set in different time periods.

( Thank you Wikipedia)

1900s - Gem of the Ocean (2003)
1910s - Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1988)
1920s - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1985) - set in Chicago
1930s - The Piano Lesson (1990) - Pulitzer Prize[3]
1940s - Seven Guitars (1995)
1950s - Fences (1987) - Pulitzer Prize[3]
1960s - Two Trains Running (1991)
1970s - Jitney (1982)
1980s - King Hedley II (1999)
1990s - Radio Golf (2005)

I unfortunately Never had the pleasure of seeing any of his work and as I said I have not seen him since 1957. But there is an ache in my heart and I do grieve because I never had the chance to thank him face to face. You see Claude Jr,(As he is known in the family)is who was my inspiration to do better, he was the one that let me know I could, he was the one that let me know there was more out there, I just had to work for it...I did tell him in emails though he never replied I do know he got them and for that I am grateful. I actually sent one the day he died because he was on my mind!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlo8TJYZHqM

So Jazzlovers just know life is short and we really need to listen to the beat, and let people who are important to you, that you care.....Love is the greatest gift. If you want love then give love.

And if you are angry or upset about anything or any one !!Remember that on a highway to San Fransisco 50 years from to day who is going to give a damn?

Love is the answer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8sDz_V1uY

Thank you Cuz..

My Thoughts are with you Jackie( Jacquelyn)...and You Dear Jacqui Shoholm Purdy thank you for the replies...

Lets go out today JazzLovers with a little Louisiana and Katie...It is home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdobY7wBXT4

Keep the beat Jazzlovers

DW Jazzlover...

Love and Woolworths Bargin Bin

A Carpet

Hello Jazz Lovers

A Beautiful Hot Dusty Day In Bahrain..

When I went out on my own for the first time in my late teens, I went to work in Downtown Houston, I lived in Downtown Houston and went to school in Downtown Houston and it was an exciting time to be young...I walked everywhere I went except on weekends to see my Mother...then I took the bus. I was discovering everything, the theater, the symphony, Jazz Clubs, Dance clubs, and shopping!!! And I discovered Della Reese ! and believe me I was hooked.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVF4W2DVzMs I had nothing but I had everything I needed...I was happy......

I have always loved Junk Shops and found an old portable Magnovox record player, took it apart and covered it with contact paper and was in heaven ! I know I drove my next room neighbor crazy with Della Reese on vinyl 33 1/3!!! This is also the time I discovered Woolworth's bargin bin, record albums were 1 dollar and some 3 for a dollar, (some of those albums are worth a fortune now)I bought any cover that looked interesting, and of course the people I knew, even Areatha was there...I found a copy of Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington which had been issued under Columbia Records in 1964. It is still one of my favorites. Here are a couple of cuts from that album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kXW1dIFS8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDTbwLvaA2I

Then Jazz lovers I found this from 1960 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYDFpC8Qpzc&feature=related, did I mention that I was a hopeless Romantic at that time(I still am)so I was truly into love songs as I waited to fall in love....Aretha did some wonderful work at Columbia it is sad it did not get the reconition it should have, but now is what's important. This next song I played over and over and over , I am sure if any of my friends at that time ever here these songs today, especially this one I know they think of me I am sure I drove them crazy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XKisuzJJKQ Cissy Houston is cutting up in the background!Aretha really worked it before going to Atlantic and soaring to current fame and this next song is what really set it off!!!!....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyolMNsN0Ig, but I was in love with the flip side, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAujPhoZyJo. Both sides went to number one!!!

The wonderrful thing about shopping in Woolworth's bargin bin is that I discovered some fantastic singers, This next Lady I bought just because I liked the cover of the album and boy was I surprised!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLC9PnefeEI, We were moving into the 70's and Camille Yarbrough "But It Comes Out Mad" from the album "Iron Pot Cooker" released in 1975 stayed on the player it seems forever...I have just reordered it on CD..This I truly recomend you get this one Jazzlovers>>>It was issued on Vanguard Records.. I must say here that there are some very cutting edge cuts on this album that are not posted here but well worth hearing. Here is another cut from the album...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg1oh45n5iI&feature=related

This whole CD now is very thought provoking, highly recommended...OK Just one more!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ugjXmsOpks

Another Album I discovered in Woolworth's bargain bin was Zulema 1972, "If This World Were Mine" became my new favorite and I listened to this Album for hours and still Love it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HROa75lQ4GE&feature=related The other cut I was was mesmerized by was This one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XX9j9AZ7Og&feature=related If This Child of Mine..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wfxq4FSF0&feature=related A Whiter Shade of Pale 1975

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D990bd8HTEU&feature=related 1973 Giving Up

.

As I said JazzLovers This was a special time in my life, and writing this blog brings all my friends and happy times back into my life! So enjoy!!

P/S I also found and discovered Gill Scott- Heron In that Bin!!!!It was a wonderful time to be young and set my adventure into exploring new music for life! so enjoy this new journey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2F-XX0Ol0&feature=related

Until Next time Jazzlovers

Keep the beat.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3hCQcrfg28&feature=related

Love feels better than hate.

DW JazzLover

P/S An Interview with James Moody,For My Bahrain readers, He will be here in Bahrain 10 August 2009 at The Cultral Center. Check it out Jazzlovers

E.Lynn Harris 20 June 1955 - 23 July 2009 R.I.P

A Day in Bahrain.

Hello Jazzlovers

My Favorite Writer Died Yesterday, Mr E. Lynn Harris, I really admired his writing and his life.

I met him years ago in a Houston After Hours Dance Club, and he was an energetic young man at the time, and judging from the comments on other blogs he never lost that. May he rest in Peace, He will be missed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vf3ZE7CLg0&feature=related

One of his best works was his auto biography " What Becomes of The Broken Hearted"it was truly inspired, it erased all excuses the masses use today to convince themselves they can not make it in life because of their past. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90wUItXn62s He did not let life get him down..

He wrote of real life and self deception, of how society will attempt to make you live a lie, in order to maintain their own comfort zone in their own lies...E. Lynn Expossed the inside of why people need self decption.. Everyone in his books were human, with human frailties that made them act the way they did, non were evil, just misguided by our society...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhUm2fUT6mw&feature=related

No other author except for Brother James Baldwin has been able to expose so much raw emotion and realisim in each of his charaters in every one of his offerings...In E.Lynn"s Offering, just as in Brother Baldwin you had no choice but to see yourself.. And for that I am grateful...Now a way to say goodbye..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBvZOoktQU8

Todays Blog is my tribute to a wonderful Humanist, Mr. E. Lynn Harris R.I.P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSu6UtVImrQ

Well JazzLovers if you have not read any of his books please start with " Invisible Life" and work your way through all eleven books to the last one "Basket Ball Jones"

Until next time Jazzlovers,

Keep the beat .

DW Jazzlover

Man In The Mirror a Way to Say Goodbye

A Canal At Night

Hello Jazz Lovers,

An at Home day in Bahrain

I have been trying to write for a week now, but it just would not come out. Nothing felt right,

now I know why. This blog writes it's self and this is what it wanted to say today..

I have just finished watching the Michael Jackson Memorial and it was well done and very

movingly dignified. While watching it I remembered something I had written in July 1993, while

visiting Amsterdam (Yes My favorite city) I do a lot of thinking when I am there.

But tonight the poem I wrote came back to me and I have no idea of why I wrote it. But today

Seemed like a good time to publish it as a tribute to Michael.

WE Were All Children Once

So many things are done "for the children".

We were all children once .

Look at us today!

Good Believers yet!

Yet a child lays hungry in the streets!

Old Folks dying alone!

We were all children once.

What are you teaching yours?

What you say or what you do?

We were all children once yet,

What is true ?

What we do or what we say we do?

I will never me say a bad thing again about,

Michael Jackson.

Dangerous---Will you be there?

It's a shame,

We Were all children once,

We are all Gods children yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeZYednWtI

I am making my change today, I am going to keep the promise I made July 1993.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0keS8XJchU&feature=related

Thank you for helping me to grow a little more Michael, I am stepping out on faith.

Michael no matter what you think of him was the Greatest Entertainer of All Time.

Well Jazz Lovers I just had to say it.

Until next time Keep The beat.

DW JazzLover.

Memory Lane is a Long and Winding Highway

Moss Bluff





Hello Jazz Lovers,



A very hot and dusty beautiful day in Bahrain.


Today I am taking a slow walk down memory's highway, (Too old for a stroll down memory lane)I am now realizing that none of us have a choice in where we were born or who we were born. But we do have a choice in who we are today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kkJeF14COI

Moss Bluff will always be the place that helped shape my love for music and dancing,(it was not allowed) Sothern living had so many things that were not allowed. Dancing in certain areas of my childhood was definitly not allowed. So we loved to dance!!! There were two known record players in our area,45 rpms,in Moss Bluff while we were in grade school. Eva Lois and Janice, Eva Lois was invited to all grade school parties.....mostly birthdays. At Janice's is where we learned the 6-2-6, which was the precurser to the electric slide (no sugah there is nothing new).


The slop was done to this next cut which was the precurse to the Moon Walk.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7QSMyz5rg


In High School there was the forbidden DANCE!!! The slow drag! Now I know some of you do not know what that is but as Gladys Knight Said " You touched your partner"!" Didn't have to look for them"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjLZtt8ggiI She says it very well here, but at that time music was about falling in love with the idea of love.... The beautiful thing about slow dancing was if you were in love! you could touch in public (but not too close) it was wonderful it was a magic time....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XKisuzJJKQ&feature=related If you wanted to fall in love,or wanted to get close to someone,if you thought you wanted to fall in love!!! Slow dancing was a way to be close,,,,,there will never be a more beautiful time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yLlvywMDEY

On this song you would do The Slow Buggie ! Now how many of you remember that one???

Moss Bluff was a wonderful place to grow up....


Well Jazz lovers I would like to leave you with one of the most beautiful peices of music ever written... Mr. Erroll Garner Playing " Misty"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_tAU3GM9XI


Until the next time Keep the beat and remember Love is the answer.....to all things..

DW Jazzlover..

Michael Joe Jackson August 29 1958--June 25, 2009

Hello Jazz Lovers


It is a Beautiful and Sad Day Here in Bahrain,

We lost a very talented and troubled soul today, Michael was and is very admired and loved here in Bahrain, and will be missed. His music will live on and he is guaranteed his place in Music History.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLME4DUr5ec


Rest in Peace Michael


DW JazzLover

Pinto Beans and Gospel and The Barrett Sisters

Notre Dame Paris

Hello Jazz Lovers,

A beautiful Hot Day In Bahrain.


I know you are wondering what pinto beans and gospel have in common, well they are both feed the soul. On Wednesday I was craving pinto beans and here in Bahrain it is a travel to get the right ingredients, but I found them and put them on to cook. I did not get to eat until after 10 pm and they were truly comfort food.In the mean time an interesting thing happened, I decided to read my home town news paper,( The Lake Charles American Press) and my favorite food columnist(Gin) was doing a column, and you guessed it! Pinto Beans! So With a smile on my face I sent an email because this was beyond coincidence! You can read it in her next column Wednesday 17 June 2009.


Now Jazz Lovers, the connection of pinto beans and gospel kinda goes like this. I was on You Tube looking at comedians for today's blog and somehow found gospel instead, this on the same night as the pinto beans. Now you know I loves me some gospel!And after eating I was up all night I just could not sleep! While listening to the next song, I got a little full and you Southerners know what I am talking about, take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MI7NEwIaJE&feature=channel now this is true gospel and all the people in the room are some of the greatest gospel singers that ever lived! There sitting in the center of the group was the Great Barrett Sisters! They are Rodessa Barrett 80 , Billie Barrett 81 , Delois Barrett 83 I think this month and still going strong. Now here is the same song with the Great James Cleveland on the piano. ( He is Playing on Aretha's Amazing Grace Album) This clip had to be mid to late 80s because he died in early 1991. The First Soloist on this clip is Delois Barrett and the second is her sister Billie Barrett, enjoy because they don't make music like this anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF9QLe-f0Eo&feature=related Of course I can not leave this place until I give a little taste of THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL HARMONETTE'S MILDRED HOWARD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6A7X3t8RVA&feature=related


Now today's blog is not about Religion Jazz Lovers it is about the music and my love of music. Two of my favorite things as a child was pinto beans and Randy's Record Shop Nashville Tennessee, after 8 pm on Sunday nights, ( There were a lot of sleepy Monday mornings at school) and my love of both are still with me today...I was so happy when transistor radios came into being, I would lay with my head hanging out of the window to listen to this music. (Smile) The other thing I knew is when and what day all the different Aunts and neighbours would cook pinto beans and I would find something to do for them that day to insure I got some of them! One thing good about Louisiana is in those days if you were at someones house and it was time to eat they would feed you! They took pride in their cooking, believe you me!!!!! I realize life was very simple and wonderful.


The Barrett sisters have been singing for over 60 years, Delois before starting with her sisters sang with The Roberta Martian singers , then joined her sisters in the 1940s and their journey has taken them around the world. I am grateful to the You Tube community for keeping this music alive. This clip is from the documentary "Say Amen Somebody", This is my favorite song by anyone but the Barrett sisters nailed it. James Cleveland does a wonderful version also.( Check it out)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYhY3Z4QwTo&feature=related
Now on this next clip please check out the Piano Player, His name is Charles Pikes and he is just fantastic.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gg4atEdfgI&feature=related. The Barrett Sisters sing feel good music and Charles Pikes is so good on that piano!! I think he has done a tribute to James Cleveland Cd and I Will try to find it and feature it here folks... just one more Barrett Sisters please! Oh Well OK...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSK2UTeE99Q&feature=related See Why I love Pinto beans and Gospel music it is soul food...

On a serious note Jazz Lovers, with all the things going on in the world, I am so glad I have been able to keep my heart right and I want you to think about something very serious here about Gods love. Lest we forget every man, women and child, no matter what place they live in this world right now are supposed to be here. God does not make mistakes, and when you hate and work at destroying people because of the color of their skin, or where they come from, or what they believe, you are saying you know better than God. And your claim to loving God is voided.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMH8qUDC0Lk I love this song it is so true!


Well Jazz Lovers I will leave you with 2 songs to think about and remember there is a lot of truth in music and as my mother said "as long as you love Pinto beans and God you will never be hungry"Louisiana truth!! Here is Mr. Roy Hamilton 1955,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQze9nTh-qo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJg5Op5W7yw

I think I Will put on another pot of Pinto Beans,

Until then Jazz lovers keep the beat.

DW Jazz Lover