ERIC BERGESON: The Country Scribe —Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement’
Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement.”
Unheralded
Unheralded
ERIC BERGESON: The Country Scribe — Scott Joplin’s ‘Elite Synchopations’
“Elite Synchopations,” a lesser-known ragtime by Scott Joplin, but probably one the most fun to play. Joplin said it is never right to play ragtime fast. Long may he spin in his grave!
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Marilyn, Peggy And John
Shortly after the election in November, a piece of presidential memorabila goes on the auction block. Well, sort of presidential. The skin-tight, highly sequined gown Marilyn Monroe wore on the occasion in 1962 when she breathily and memorably sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. The dress, which has been mostly out of the spotlight, so to speak, since that night is …
MICHAEL BOGERT: Photo Gallery — Blues On The Red, August 27, 2016
Happy Harry’s Blues on the Red wrapped up its 10th season Saturday night as Left Wing Bourbon Soul Band from Eau Claire, Wis., and Chicago’s Studebaker John & the Hawks put on a show before an overflowing crowd in Town Square in downtown Grand Forks. Photographer Michael Bogert took in the fourth and final concert of the summer and offers these …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Gospel Music And Devils Lake
“I never thought I’d sing in Devils Lake,” third-generation gospel singer Mark Blackwood said Monday night, “but here we are.” And a near perfect night it was. The rain held off, the temperature was perfect, and there wasn’t a mosquito in sight at Roosevelt Park. This will certainly date me, but I first heard the Blackwood Quartet at a little county fair …
LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — ♪♫♫♪♫♪ Oh, Beautiful ♪♫♫♪♪♫ ♫♫♪♫ For Spacious Skies ♫♫♪♫
While out walking at La Farm with my husband this morning, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful everything was. Then I noticed the spacious skies and my mind went immediately to the words of “America the Beautiful.” Given it’s the Fourth of July weekend, I’m sharing the words to this very precious song written in 1893 by 33-year-old Katherine …
NANCY EDMONDS HANSON: After Thought — A Little Less Judgment Can’t Hurt
Nothing damns quite as quickly as the words “drug addiction.” Just look at Prince. Hailed as a groundbreaking artist, the Minneapolis musician was near-universally mourned when he died unexpectedly in the Twin Cities last month. But the tributes had barely begun when hints of something darker began to poke through the admiring narrative: hints that a drug overdose, rather than …
ERIC BERGESON: The Country Scribe — The Old Man And The Purple One
Family vacation, Glacier Park, Montana, 1988. Noon. Ham and cheese sandwiches in a jammed restaurant just outside the park. After Dad paid the tab, I put $1 in the juke box, played Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” seven times and headed for the door. Before I got there, Prince started. Loudly. The juke box was set at the previous night’s volume, when …
LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Prince Passing
I’m compelled to confess that I skipped church Sunday. A friend called Saturday evening and wanted to go to First Avenue and Paisley Park to mark Prince’s passing and leave some purple mementoes. It was surprising even to me that both my husband and I said yes to the spontaneous plan. We were curious. We’ve listened to more Prince music …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Matter Of Record
How was your week? Mine was a little stressful. Here’s why. Some time ago, Ginny and I decided to add a fireplace to our home, forgetting the old adage — I just made up now — that when you add something, something else has to be subtracted. In this case, that something else is storage space. That storage space was …
ERIC BERGESON: The Country Scribe — Rachmaninoff’s No. 2
The Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 is one of the chestnuts of classical music, so much so that pop musicians have been stealing melodies from it for decades. Eric Carmen, Celine Dion, on and on. The concerto is so popular that many classical music fans tire of its constant repetition in concert halls across the country. Well, it is tiring to hear mediocre …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — The Man Who Made Album Covers Sing
John Berg has died. You may not know his name, but you know his work. I guarantee it. Berg was Columbia Records’ Grammy-winning art director, the man responsible for some of the most iconic album covers of all time. The New York Times calls him the man who made album covers sing. His work includes the famous backlit image of …
TIM MADIGAN: Anything Mentionable — An Amazing Night Of Music With Luke And Kyle
Last Friday night, my wife and I were treated to amazing music made even more special because the artists were friends. A year after he charmed America on “The Voice,” Luke Wade put on an electric performance before a huge outdoor crowd at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, Texas. For his encore of “Stand By Me,” he did something so typically …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — Blues On The Red, July 25, 2015
A great time was had by all who attended Saturday night’s Blues on the Red Concert in downtown Grand Forks. Sponsored by Grand Forks Downtown Development Association, performers were RB Stone and Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys.
Bev Benda: My Coach Bev — The Eagles Do It Right!
On Friday night, the 1970s rock band The Eagles came to town. I remember a comment someone made on Facebook when the announcement was made: “But they’re so old!” From my seat in Section 213 at the Alerus Center, the age of the Eagles did not show at all. Of course, they aren’t in their 20s, but if I were …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Mad Music
So, “Mad Men” has ended with a something of a whimper rather than a big bang. The series ends with the lives of most of the major characters taking somewhat uncharacteristically positive turns. The one exception was poor January Jones’ character, who continues to die (beautifully) of lung cancer. She also continues to smoke in her final scene, but what …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — ‘Zombie Empire’
Remember the Sony Pictures hacking scandal a few weeks back? Hackers released a ton of confidential data belonging to Sony Pictures Entertainment, including personal information about Sony employees, their salaries and whatnot. It provided a glimpse of who was doing what to whom in Hollywood. It embarrassed countless show business talent and executive-types and provided a lot of fun …
NANCY EDMONDS HANSON: Reforumed — ‘Forever Young’? Not So Much
Rock concerts, once my reason for living, seldom tempt me anymore. But when one comes along that features the entire soundtrack of your life, there’s no excuse not to show up and marinate in music. And when the headliner is also featured on this month’s edition of the grown-up version of Tiger Beat — AARP Magazine — well, the lure …