Michael J. Fox celebrates his 61st birthday today. He started acting as a child in the 70’s, but his role as Alex Keaton on Family Ties in the 80’s made him a star.
The role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future was first given to actor Eric Stoltz. His performance didn’t fit what they were looking for and he was replaced by Michael J. Fox.
Fox was the original choice to play Marty. Producers gave the script to the producer of Family Ties and asked him to give the script to Fox. They didn’t. After shooting scenes with Stoltz and deciding he was wrong for the part, they approached the Family Ties producer again. This time he told Fox that he was wanted for a role. They also told him he could take it as long as filming didn’t interfere with his work on Family Ties. Fox accepted the role without even reading the script.
Michael would film Family Ties during the day and Back to the Future at night until production ended on Family Ties. This left him exhausted, but according to him “Worth it.”
Huey Lewis was approached to write a song for the movie. He contributed Back In Time and The Power of Love.
My favorite cut on the soundtrack is the version of Johnny B. Goode that Marty sings at the dance in the film. Producers wanted audiences to think that it was Michael singing the song, so they never gave credit to Mark Campbell who is really singing.
Fox was taught how to look like he was playing guitar, as well as mimicking the moves of Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, and Chuck Berry. Berry originally wrote and had a hit with Johnny B. Goode. He waited until the day before filming to give them permission to use the song in the film.
In the movie, Marty kind of goes crazy at the end of the song, leaving the audience and band members wondering just what he was doing. On the soundtrack, we hear a version with bits of the guitar solo from the film, but not the craziness Marty does in the film.
I was between books recently and the ones I was waiting for were still unavailable. So I searched for something quick to tide me over until my next read. As a radio guy, you know that the cover of this one made me stop and check it out.
I’m not sure how many pages the book is, as I listened to the audio book. It was about and hour or an hour and a half audio book. I had never heard of the author – Otis Adelbert Kline – but apparently he’s written quite a few books and short stories.
Here is the short Goodreads synopsis:
A mysterious inheritance. A haunted mansion. To claim her late uncle’s fortune, Greta Van Loan must survive a year in his eerie Highland Park estate. Skeptical of the supernatural, she turns to two psychic investigators when strange and terrifying events threaten to change everything she believes. Can Greta uncover the truth—or will the house’s secrets claim her first?
To me, this worked like an old radio show. It wasn’t anything that I had to think too hard about. It played out like an episode of Sam Spade or Johnny Dollar. I could see this also working as something on Suspense or Lights Out.
There were simple, likable characters and the mystery of a haunted mansion. For whatever reason, I just pictured Scooby-Doo. Yeah, it could be a Scooby-Doo mystery.
It was a good “pass the time” book that you could probably read in one setting. Was it amazing? No, but as a short story that requires not too much thinking, it was good.
Today is the 108th birthday of Dean Martin! Back when this blog was in its infancy, I wrote a birthday salute. I didn’t have many followers then, so I thought I would share it again. Just keep in mind the numbers are from 7 years ago…
I apologize for not giving an update sooner. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes for our daughter. Ella’s surgery went well and she came home Thursday evening.
They wound up not taking the tonsils out completely. They basically shave them down, which leads to an easier recovery. I’m not sure it’s been easy for her though.
It’s important for her to keep drinking throughout the day. She is allowed to eat popsicles and ice cream and other soft, cold things. The hard part is getting her to drink or eat.
Obviously, it hurts to swallow anything, so she’s being very stubborn about eating and drinking. What makes it even more difficult is that she doesn’t want to take Tylenol or Motrin when she has to. It’s a fight to make that happen.
Over all, she has been resting. She did want to go outside yesterday because it was nice. She wound up sitting on the porch most of the time. She did ride the Big Wheel for a little bit, probably because she doesn’t like to sit still.
They say days 3-5 are the most painful. That’s today, tomorrow and Monday. I’m hoping that it isn’t too bad for her. I hate seeing her hurt.
Sam signed her up for summer dance classes. I know she wants to feel better ASAP because she is excited to dance.
Thank you again for thinking about and praying for her. I will keep you posted on her progress.
Wishing my beautiful wife, Sam a very Happy birthday today!! She continues to be the glue that holds us all together. I have no words to express how much she means to me and our family.
This photo is from when we went to a “Golden Girls” show. It was a play where the girls were played by men and it was quite raunchy.
It was a fun night out together. Because Ella is home recovering from her surgery, we won’t be able to go out this weekend, but I’m working on something for us soon.
My wife and I will be warming seats in the surgical waiting room today. A few months back, our doctor took out my daughter’s adenoids. After the surgery the doc came out to tell us that the tonsils didn’t need to come out. On the way home, I told my wife, “If we end up back here for tonsils, I’m gonna be ticked.”
Well, here we are again – for tonsils. After the first surgery, her snoring became very loud. She was also waking up a lot. A trip back to the doc and ta da – tonsillectomy.
Please keep our girl in your thoughts and prayers today. Thanks!
Years ago, when we started our little church, we had a core group of people who shared our beliefs. I think there were maybe 10-14 people. We were a Bible believing Grace church.
I remember the first time I taught Sunday School and there were new faces in the seats. I was actually a bit nervous. I don’t recall what I was teaching, but I do remember afterward being introduced to Greg. Actually, he introduced himself to me.
It didn’t take but a few minutes to know that he and I would quickly become friends. His wife Wilma and the friends he brought with him to church (Ann, Porsha, and Jay) would also become lifelong friends. I can remember many times he would stop by the house during the day and we’d chat about the Bible or what we studied that week. My oldest son was only about 2 or 3 at the time and he loved to see “Mr. Greg.”
There were coffee dates with the men from church. We would sit at McDonald’s with our Bibles and run verses by each other and pose questions to each other. Those guys quickly became brothers to me. They still are.
At some point, my ex decided that she wasn’t getting anything out of church, so she stopped going. I was still teaching when I was able to, but with my job and a new schedule working Saturday overnight, it became very difficult to stay up and teach Sundays. I did that shift for quite a few years and eventually the conversations with the men slowed. Greg and I would still chat on the phone or via e-mail chatting about Biblical things. He would wind up moving to Texas and those became the only way we got to chat.
As I went through my divorce, it seemed like I was being pulled this way and that way. He was always supportive and understanding as to why it was so long between conversations. He always had a verse or a pep talk to pick me up when I needed it.
I received a call a few months ago from Ann from church. She wanted to me know that Greg had ben diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer. As soon as I hung up with her, I called him. He tried to play it off like it was nothing. I asked him if he needed anything. I told him I was here for him if he needed to talk. He said he was going to be fine.
I emailed him 4 days ago and he answered right away. He was going to check on something for me and he said he’d get back to me.
On Sunday, Jay from church sent me a text with a screen shot that Ann had sent him. It said that Greg was in his final hours and they were keeping him comfortable with morphine. I was completely shocked. I had no idea it had gotten to that point.
I found out that he had been in the hospital recently and had been on oxygen for a while. He taught a Bible study earlier that day and after that he took a turn for the worse. It was Monday night when I got word that he had passed away.
There had been plenty of text messages throughout the day and afterward to keep every one abreast of Greg’s status. Some of those were texts of unbelief, some of them were sharing stories from church, and some of them were messages of support to each other.
This morning I sat out on the side porch. As I sat with a cup of coffee, I looked at the beautiful sky and the bright sunshine. It was the perfect start to the day. I thought of Greg and smiled. I imagined the joy he was currently experiencing. I know that I’m going to miss him here, but I also believe that I will see him again.
I remembered he wanted to start a choir at our church. He gathered all of us together for practice. He had no music, he just sang our parts for us. He sat at his keyboard and would play the melody or the notes and we eventually got to where we all knew the song. It was pretty amazing to start from the top and put everyone together and hear how it magically all came together.
I smiled today because I pictured my brother in Christ walking with the Lord. He is free from pain and probably trying to lead the choir of Heaven. This makes me rejoice for him.
I had texted Wilma before he passed and told her to tell him I loved him and that I would see him on the other side. She said that she would. I’m sure he will be waiting to put me in the tenor or bass section of the choir when I join him up there.
I remember one week at church our pastor was out of town and I preached the message. After we sang hymns, there was always special music. That week we brought in Chris Rice’s Untitled Hymn. Greg loved it. I remember him singing it at his keyboard a few weeks later for us. I thought of the last verse when I heard he passed away:
With your final heartbeat Kiss the world goodbye Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory’s side
And fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus and live
In the Mercy Me song, Homesick, the lyric says, “In Christ there are no goodbyes” and I believe that. It’s not goodbye my friend, it is “see you later.” I love you, my brother. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Dave just wrapped up another chapter of Turntable Talk. This was my contribution:
It is time once again for Turntable Talk hosted by Dave at A Sound Day. For over three years now, he has offered up a musical topic each month for me (and other participants) to write about. This month’s topic is “It’s About Time.”
Dave’s instructions are simple. “Tell us about a song about “time.” It could be one using the word “time” in the title … and there’s no shortage of them… or one that actually somehow explores the passage of, or idea of time.” While this is a topic that is fairly easy, I can’t help but wonder if there will be duplicate submissions.
For example, right off the top of my head I came up with Time in a Bottle from Jim Croce (which I have written about before. Then Time After Time from Cyndi Lauper came to mind. This was followed by Cher’s If I Could Turn Back Time and Huey Lewis’ Back in Time. Before I could shut my mind off Styx Too Much Time on My Hands and Semisonic’s Closing Time entered my mind.
I immediately discarded those, because I am sure that the other participants would choose one of those. So I dug a little deeper and tried to think of a song that might not be someone’s choice. I narrowed it down to No Time by the Guess Who, Just in Time by Dean Martin, Crying Time from Ray Charles, Time is Tight by Booker T and the MG’s, and my choice.
I chose a song written by Herman Hupfeld! Now everyone knows Herman, right? No. Not really, but I am sure you will know the song. It is a song that was written in 1931 for the Broadway show “Everybody’s Welcome.” It was first recorded by Rudy Vallee in July of 1931. It would be covered by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Carly Simon and Bob Dylan (Just to name a few).
While the song was recorded a few times after Vallee’s version, it was 11 years later when it would really get noticed. In 1942, the song was sung by the character “Sam” (portrayed by Dooley Wilson) in the classic film – Casablanca. As Time Goes by is heard throughout the film in short musical breaks.
RCA Victor wanted Dooley to record a version of it to be released to the public. However, a musician’s strike happened between 1942 and 1944, so he was not allowed to do so. Instead, the record label re-released the Rudy Vallee version, which went on to become a number one record (11 years after the original release).
Wiki states: Like many later singers, Wilson in Casablanca starts with “You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss…”, singing only the verses and refrain (“As time goes by”). He entirely omits the intro that put those “fundamental things” into context: “This day and age we’re living in gives cause for apprehension, With speed and new invention and things like third dimension. Yet, we get a trifle weary with Mister Einsten’s theory, So we must get down to earth, at times relax, relieve the tension. No matter what the progress or what may yet be proved, The simple facts of life are such they cannot be removed.”
The song was voted No. 2 on the AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Songs special. The show commemorated the best songs in film.
The version I chose to feature is by a multi-talented comedian, actor, pianist and singer. His voice was instantly recognizable on radio. He was a guest on many television shows and had some success as a singer. He is, however, probably best known for … his nose. His nickname was “the schnozzola.” I am, of course, talking about the great Jimmy Durante.
The song itself is beautiful. Every artist who has covered it brings their own special take on it. There is something that really hits me when I hear Durante’s version. Despite that raspy voice, there is a sincerity that makes it just a bit better than the other versions. I’m not trying to diss the other versions, but none of them give me goosebumps when I hear them. Jimmy’s version does. For some reason, his voice blends so well with the string arrangement.
Before I post the song, you know I have to say it – “Play it again, Sam!”
In a live version, Jimmy adds the intro that many leave out.
Thanks again to Dave for asking me to participate and for hosting this feature. I’m excited to see the choices of the other writers!
Homer “Boots” Randolph was born on this day in 1927. Boots Randolph was a Nashville sax player who performed solos on Roy Orbison’s “Mean Woman Blues” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” He also played on many of Elvis Presley’s songs. He was often called Mr. Sax.
As a solo recording artist he placed four singles in the Top-100 between 1963 and 1967. The most successful of these was “Yakety Sax”, which reached #35 in 1963 and stayed on the charts for nine weeks.
The song had some influence by the Coaster’s hit, Yakety Yak, however, it will forever be connected to a British comedian. The song was popularized on The Benny Hill Show, where it played when Hill was being chased around by policemen and angry women. Because of its use on the show, it has appeared in many comedic skits on other shows over the years.
American composer and conductor Marvin Hamlish was born on this day in 1944. He is one of a handful of people to win the “EGOT” (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards).
Marvin’s first film score was in 1968 for The Swimmer. He also wrote the score for The Way We Were, the theme music to Good Morning America, and the score of the Broadway Musical A Chorus Line. He was also conductor for symphony orchestras in San Diego, Buffalo, Dallas and Pittsburgh. It is obvious to say that he was musically busy.
He may be best known for adapting the music of Scott Joplin for the movie The Sting in 1973.
The Entertainer is a rag that was composed by Scott Joplin, the first classically trained black composer to become a household name in America. The piece was copyrighted December 29, 1902; copies were received by the Copyright Office, January 8, 1903.
Joplin died in April 1917; although his place in the history of contemporary music was already secured, he predicted that he would not receive the recognition he deserved until 25 years after his death. He had no Idea that his music would go on to chart success over 50 years later!
Marvin Hamlisch on adapting Joplin’s tunes for The Sting:
“From the beginning, [director] George Roy Hill’s idea had always been to use the ragtime music of Scott Joplin. I was well aware that there were other musicians who knew the music of Scott Joplin far more intimately than I, men who had popularized Joplin’s famous piano ‘rags.’ But I knew how to write for film, marrying music to the length of each scene, and I could also play the piano ‘rags’ – those Juilliard piano lessons were about to pay off.
The real fun came for me when we started recording the soundtrack. We didn’t have a full-size orchestra, as with The Way We Were, but we had eight or nine great musicians, with yours truly at the keyboard. We spent hours making ragtime; the piano player in me had found a long-lost brother in Scott Joplin.”
Hamlisch’s rendition peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 in May 1974. It hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 