Word circulated late Friday night that Roky Erickson, founding member of the Austin, Texas-based psychedelic band The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, passed away at the age of 71. Erickson started the band in high school in Austin in 1965. He dropped out a month before graduation in an argument over the school's dress code regarding hair. … Continue reading Rest in peace, Roky Erickson: The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” (1966)
Month: May 2019
New this week in ’69: May 31
May 31, 1969 It's the day after Mario Andretti won the Indianapolis 500. Andretti set a record in doing so, averaging 156.8 miles per hour and finishing the race in 3 hours and 11 minutes. It's the only time he'll ever win the race despite being a perennial fixture at the Brickyard. It's also the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: May 31
Rest in peace, Leon Redbone: “Seduced” (1981)
I guess thing I was most surprised about in hearing about the death of Leon Redbone today was his age. I figured he was 69 a long time ago. I first remember seeing Leon on Saturday Night Live, back in the days when I was told I was too young to be watching it and … Continue reading Rest in peace, Leon Redbone: “Seduced” (1981)
New this week in ’69: May 24
(Apollo 10 is home safely.) May 24, 1969 It's the day after Jimmy McHugh passed away at the age of 74. The name might not be immediately familiar to you, but you know his work: the songwriter composed hundreds of melodies performed in films from the 20s through the 40s. The musical Sugar Babies, released … Continue reading New this week in ’69: May 24
New this week in ’69: May 17
(Fun fact: Carlos May of the Chicago White Sox wore his birth date on his back.) May 17, 1969 Space dominates the headlines: it's the day that the Soviet probe Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus. (It won't survive the planet's acidic rains and sweltering temperatures). The next day, May 18, … Continue reading New this week in ’69: May 17
Rest in peace, Charles Barksdale: The Dells, “There Is” (1968)
Word circulates this morning that Charles Barksdale, the bass voice for R&B group The Dells, passed away at the age of 84. The Dells hailed from Harvey, Illinois, in the south suburbs of Chicago. (If the town of Harvey sounds familiar to you, it's because it was, for many years, the home of the Dixie … Continue reading Rest in peace, Charles Barksdale: The Dells, “There Is” (1968)
Rest in peace, Doris Day: “Everybody Loves a Lover” (1958)
Word circulated through the media this morning that actress and pop star Doris Day passed away at the age of 97. In a bit of irony, I got the news in my Facebook feed just as I was beginning a lecture in a communications class about death and mourning on social media, and how that … Continue reading Rest in peace, Doris Day: “Everybody Loves a Lover” (1958)
A Mother’s Day Jukebox (various)
(Flashback to Mom showing me how the record player worked.) It's Mother's Day in the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India - in other words, most of the places where this blog gets read. I thought it might be fun to craft a playlist for Moms, Moms-to-be, people who … Continue reading A Mother’s Day Jukebox (various)
New this week in ’69: May 10
(Up on the housetop, hits are made.) May 10, 1969 It's the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a Vietnam offensive in which 72 Americans lose their lives and 400 others are wounded. It's also the 50th anniversary of "Zip to Zap." The town of Zap, North Dakota, population 339, is overrun by … Continue reading New this week in ’69: May 10
New this week in ’69: May 3
May 3, 1969 It's the day after the Queen Elizabeth II made its maiden voyage, setting sail from Southampton with something new for navigation: a system that uses Navy satellites called a "global positioning system." It can pinpoint the location of the boat within 100 feet. Several musical birthdays are celebrated this week: Frankie Valli … Continue reading New this week in ’69: May 3
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 