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Jazz Festival Hits New Smyrna Beach

2009-09-24T16:50:06Z

"Jazz isn't dead," the late, great Frank Zappa once said. "It just smells funny."

Well, Frank, you may get some argument on that last part. As for your "jazz isn't dead" comment, you can find proof this weekend in New Smyrna Beach.

The Ninth Annual New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival kicked off Sept. 24 and continues through Sept. 27. More than two dozen bands and artists, most from throughout Central Florida, will be performing in numerous venues, many along Flagler Avenue. Some performances carry a price tag, although most are free. (See a complete schedule in the accompanying story.)

Here are seven things to know about some of the jazz fest's performers, the better to impress the ghost of Zappa if he comes sniffing around:

The sauce is boss with Bill Wharton: Yes, Florida singer-guitarist Bill Wharton earned his "Sauce Boss" nickname the old-fashioned way -- by cooking up a big (12-gallon!) pot of gumbo onstage during his blues gigs, then feeding his audience at no additional charge for the stew.

Perhaps the key ingredient of his gumbo is the three pounds of crawfish tails. See his recipe at sauceboss.com -- especially if you have to feed one hundred folks at your next family reunion.

That's Wharton who's lauded in Jimmy Buffett's song "Will Play for Gumbo."

Nat is king with Cole: Yes, Nat King Cole is a family relation of Daytona Beach jazz singer Linda Cole.

Yanni time for singer: Orlando singer Michelle Amato has performed with New Age superstar Yanni on both the recording and touring sides. Amato sings on his CD "Ethnicity," and she's featured on his DVD "Yanni Live."

Sax-y time: Tampa musician Valerie Gillespie earned a bachelor degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a major in classical saxophone, and her master's in jazz sax from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Elbow-to-elbow with Latin legends: Long island-born trumpet player Frank Vardaros, who now lives in Deltona, toured in the trumpet section with Arturo Sandoval's Hot House Big Band. Vardaros also performed at Carnegie Hall with Sandoval, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.

Atten-hut!: Daytona Beach multi-instrumentalist Richard Young served in the Marines and played in Marine Corps bands. "I ripped a facial muscle reconditioning my lips after boot camp, which caused me to lose my ability to play the trumpet well," Young says. Sax is his main instrument these days.

Pianist digs up "New Earth": After moving to New Smyrna Beach in 1977, pianist Harold Blanchard was contacted by flutist Hubert Laws, a friend he had first met in 1961 while living in the Bahamas. Laws wanted to explore both the classical and jazz arenas, and asked Blanchard to write a composition that combines the two. The result was "New Earth Sonata," recorded and released in 1985 with a lineup featuring Blanchard, Laws, keyboardist Chick Corea, conductor Quincy Jones and others.
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Sept. 25

Blues guitarist Bill Wharton the "Sauce Boss," 6 to 8 p.m., Coronado Civic Center, 223 Flagler Ave. $20.

Blues/roots guitarist Ben Prestage, 4:30-7:30 p.m., PJ's Sea Shack, 491 Third Ave.

Sept. 26

School bands, Coronado Civic Center, 223 Flagler Ave. -- New Smyrna Beach Middle School Stingray Jazz Band, 10:30 a.m.; Spruce Creek 12 O'Clock Jazz Band, 12:15 p.m.; New Smyrna Beach High School Jazz Band, 2 p.m. Admission free but donations will be accepted to support band activities.

Goodtimes Dixieland Band, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Breakers, 518 Flagler Ave.

Ron Teixeira Organ Trio with vocalist Linda Cole, noon-3 p.m., Toni & Joe's, 309 Buenos Aires Ave.

Chris Rottmayer Vibe Quartet with vocalist Michelle Amato, 2-5 p.m., Flagler Tavern, 414 Flagler Ave.

Valerie Gillespie Trio, 3-6 p.m., Traders Beach Club, 317 Flagler Ave.

Vocalist Sybil Gage & Friends, 4-7 p.m., Peanuts Restaurant & Sports Bar, 421 Flagler Ave.

Frank Vardaros Jazz Orchestra, 5-8 p.m., OM Bar & Chill Lounge, 392 Flagler Ave.

Harold Blanchard Trio, 6-9 p.m., Clancy's Cantina, 301 Flagler Ave.

Sax player Thom Chambers, 6:30- 9:30 p.m., That's Amore, 103 S. Pine St.

Sam Rodriguez Trio, 7-9 p.m., Seaside Station, 504 Flagler Ave.

Robert Harris Group, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Grille at Riverview, 101 Flagler Ave.

Sax player Lea Macquarrie and the Other Side, 6-9 p.m., Norwood's, 400 E. Second Ave. (South Causeway).

Sax player Richard Young, 6-9 p.m., Skyline 1949 Restaurant and Bar, 2004 N. Dixie Freeway.

Sept. 27

Sunday brunch with the Sam Rodriguez Duo, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Spanish River Grille, 737 Third Ave.

Molly Wojcik, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Night Swan Bed & Breakfast, 512 S. Riverside Dr. Admission free but donations will be accepted to benefit the New Smyrna Beach High School Band.

Stetson University Big Band with guest vocalist Jacqueline Jones, 2-4 p.m., Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive. $8 advance, available at the center; $10 at the door.

Vocalist Annie Sellick, 5-8 p.m., The Garlic, 556 E. Third Ave.

Music Spotlight: Amy Alysia Hall

2009-09-24T16:26:42Z

Amy Alysia Hall

Vital Stats

Age: 38
Instruments: Vocalist
Band: Soul Operation, with keyboardist Taray White, bassist Ernest Attaberry, guitarist Dave Jones and drummer Phil Reed
Day job: Risk manager/workers' compensation for Acosta Sales & Marketing
Hometown: Jacksonville
Current residence: Daytona Beach
Type of music you perform: Jazz, blues, neo-soul, R&B and rock 'n' roll
Repertoire sampler: "Same Ole Love," Anita Baker; "Addicted to Love," Tina Turner; "It Hurt So Bad," Susan Tedeschi; "Just the Way You Are," Diana Krall arrangement; "Baby Baby Sweet Baby," Aretha Franklin; "Let's Stay Together," Al Green; "Something to Talk About," Bonnie Raitt; "Can't Live Without Your Love," original.
Upcoming area gigs: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Angell & Phelps Café, 156 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach. 386-257-2677.
Web site: amyalysia.net

Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?

Watching performers on television, whether it was rock 'n' roll, gospel, R&B, opera, or my mother in choir rehearsal, music has always intrigued me and it's something that I am passionate about. I've experienced a lot of disappointments that made me considering quitting.

I met the love of my life and soul mate, Phil Reed. He inspired me to run hard after what I enjoy and that is music. He inspired me to pursue what I was born to do.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?

My most memorable gig was in my teenage years in Indianapolis. It was the first time singing for a crowd of over 2,000 people though it seemed like 100,000! As I began to sing, my legs started shaking, but after the initial shock, I pulled myself together and finished the song. I got rave reviews from everyone.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

Without question, Tina Turner. She has influenced me to persevere through all obstacles that life will bring. I celebrate her because through her challenges she remained strong, and performed from her heart even though she was hurting.

She wasn't afraid to pursue her style of music despite Ike and what others thought she should perform. She remained unafraid to evolve musically and become transparent to the world. What an extraordinary woman!

What was the last book you read?

"The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity" by Bishop E. Bernard Jordan. This book promotes me to change the way that I view myself and the things in this life that I have the power to achieve. I am who I say I am. I have the power to possess whatever I tell myself to possess. If I see it and desire it, only then will I possess it.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

I have put all of my show tunes on CD to listen to as I travel to work and back home.

What is your favorite movie?

"Pretty Woman."

What was the best concert you ever attended?

Wow! The Yellow Jackets, Daytona Beach, 2009. They were the height of musical perfection.

"If I didn't play music, I would .. ":

I can't imagine not performing music.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":

I couldn't sell my soul for anything. Music IS my soul!

LOL! Jimmie Walker at the LaPlaya this weekend

2009-09-11T15:55:49Z

If You Go
Jimmie Walker
8 and 10 p.m. today and Saturday
Bonkerz Comedy Club, in the LaPlaya Resort & Suites, 2500 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
TICKETS: $25, available at the resort
INFORMATION: 386-672-0990

RICK de YAMPERT
ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

Dyn-o-mite!
OK, got that out of the way. After all, an article on comedian/actor Jimmie Walker that doesn't mention his catch-phrase, from the 1970s TV show "Good Times," would be like an essay on the pope's religion that doesn't mention he's Roman Catholic.

Of course Walker, who performs today and Saturday at Bonkerz in Daytona Beach, has done far more than portray J.J., the pencil-thin, teenaged painter and jokester in the Norman Lear-produced series.

Walker's many movie and television credits include "Airplane!," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," "The Love Boat," "Hollywood Squares" and, more recently, "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The George Lopez Show."

The 62-year-old Walker got his start in and around his home turf, the projects of New York's South Bronx. He worked as an engineer at small radio stations before landing a gig in the late 1960s as the opening act for the Last Poets -- that group of poets and musicians who were igniting the civil rights and black nationalist movements with their fiery rhetoric.

Given that background, it's not surprising that these days Walker confesses on his Web site (dynomitejj.com) that he would like to "write a full-time political column." What may be surprising is that Walker cites such heroes as conservative pundits George Will and Thomas Sowell. (A beaming Walker also has been photographed bear-hugging uber-conservative pit bull Ann Coulter).

When Walker isn't penning political essays for his Web site, he still tours the country 25 to 30 weeks a year performing stand-up comedy. When he's not touring, he divides his time between homes in Los Angeles and Las Vegas,

In an e-mail interview with The News-Journal via his Blackberry, Walker talked comedy and politics.
rick.deyampert

When you were growing up in the South Bronx, were you exposed to a lot of comedy, whether on TV, radio, sneaking into clubs or on records (maybe some of those Laff Records comedians)? Also, who were some of the first comedians who made you laugh?

Record players in the ghetto??? I grew up and to this day still have tremendous respect for Dick Gregory and Godfrey Cambridge. Two incredibly talented men regardless of race.

You opened for the Last Poets in the late 1960s. I gather not too many comedians have that on their resume. Given that the Last Poets were creating politically charged poetry/raps/lyrics, and civil rights battles were raging, did any politically charged comedy make its way into your routine in those days? What about today? Any Obama jokes?

I was very fortunate to hook up with the Poets and the Panthers and all the other elements of the '60s scene. They were some turbulent times and in retrospect it seems incongruous that "J.J." would be opening for militant groups, but at the time it was natural and very organic.

My act then as now has always been about, to quote Marvin Gaye, "what's going on." If it is in the news, it's in the act! It was true 40 years ago and it is true today. Nixon didn't get a pass from me nor did Carter or Clinton or the Bushes. I take my fair share of shots at our new commander in chief. When it comes to comedy and politics, I am 100% colorblind, Brother!!!

One "Good Times" question: Your co-star Esther Rolle expressed reservations about the nature of your character J.J., saying that J.J. was too irresponsible and wasn't a good role model. What's your take on that? Do you feel she was over-reacting?

Esther was a tremendously gifted dramatic actress. We were fortunate to have her in our cast and it is a testament to Norman Lear's ability to cast his shows correctly. That being said, TV Guide listed us as a "comedy" with an ensemble cast. Not everyone deals with other cast members' popularity with as much grace as, say, Conrad Bain did with Gary Coleman or Reginald VelJohnson did with Jaleel White.

On your Web site, your essay "The State of Comedy" mentions just about every comedian in the history of the universe. If you could invite three comedians, living or deceased, to have dinner with you, who would they be?

Well, I am old enough, and arrived in Los Angeles so long ago, that I have had lunch with many of my heroes! Actually, I have done it on both coasts.

I was lucky enough to have lunch with Groucho and Rowan and Martin. But to answer your question, I would have to say W.C. Fields would be an interesting cat to hang around with. I don't drink but his thoughts on kids and animals parallel mine for sure! Jack Benny would be next -- he was the master of timing and wasn't afraid to share the spotlight with his co-stars.

And the third one? I will tell you at the show.

Music Spotlight Michael Hill of Whiskey Basin

2009-09-04T16:07:31Z

Mike Hill of Whiskey Basin - Athens theater - Deland , Florida - Call Me The Breeze

Vital Stats
Age: 29.

Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bass, piano.

Band: Whiskey Basin.

Day job: Web and database technician.

Hometown: Okeechobee.

Current residence: South Daytona.

Type of music you perform: Rock, country, metal.

Repertoire sampler: "Medicine" (an original song I wrote), a bunch of Whiskey Basin originals --"Blame It on Boston," "Invisible to You," "Plans We Made." Also Brad Paisley's "The World," Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold," Keith Urban's "Better Life."

Upcoming area gigs: 9 p.m. Sept. 12, Boot Hill Saloon, 310 Main St., Daytona Beach.
9 p.m. Sept. 18, Airport Bar, 1120 Flight Line Blvd., Deland.

CDs: Whiskey Basin, "Seven Sundays" -- $11.99 at whiskeybasin.com and at shows.
Web site: Whiskey Basin Official Site www.whiskeybasin.com

]]> Taking Notes
Who or what inspired you to take up music?
Grandma sat me in front of Lawrence Welk's big band TV show when I was 2! Later on I was very, VERY metal when I first started getting into playing (Metallica, Megadeth, Yngwie, etc.). Over time I evolved into several different styles, including country and guys like Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley with the influence of my friends, Dustin and Greg Seymour (our singer and sound man).

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?
One of the funniest moments was at the Rockin' Ranch (in Ormond Beach) when a female fan decided to get a little frisky and grab my, er.. . EQUIPMENT. Never saw it coming. She was right behind me. I had my guitar slide in my hand, and as it was happening, the slide went up the neck of my guitar making this "whoa-wooo" sound. Absolutely hysterical. The video's on our Web site!

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?
I'd like to sit down to supper with Jerry Reed, Jerry Garcia and Joe Satriani.
What was the last book you read?

"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. The "Law of Attraction" works, and forget what you might have heard. It absolutely does NOT go against anyone's religion. It's powerful in a good way.
What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

Ooh, a mixed bag: Whiskey Basin, Steve Vai, Brad Paisley, Slipknot, Disturbed, Keith Urban, Megadeth, a little Zappa, and I'm sure there's an audio book or two in there somewhere.

What is your favorite movie?
Right now it's a tossup between "300" and "The Spirit." I love Frank Miller's Hollywood stuff.

What was the best concert you ever attended?
We play almost every weekend, so the last concert I went to was Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Disturbed a few years ago. Those bands are all amazing in their own right, but on the flip side, I'm looking forward to Brad Paisley or Keith Urban coming to town soon.
"If I didn't play music, I would...":
Be working waaaay too much.
"I'd sell my soul for...":

Ultimate cosmic power. Really, what else is worth your soul?
It's what gives your life, your love and your music character.

Music Spotlight with Shelly London

2009-05-28T14:56:25Z

Shelly London

Vital Stats

Age: 79.

Instruments: Tenor, alto and soprano sax, clarinet ... and for my own amusement, the flugelhorn.

Bands you perform with on a regular basis: Daytona State College Symphonic Band, Daytona Beach Concert Band and I'm now concentrating on an eleven-piece dance band I have formed called The Sound. We are the only local dance band that uses the sax section voicing of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" -- three tenor saxes and a baritone sax.

We play arrangements that utilize the versatility of our sax section who play flute, clarinet and tenor, alto and soprano saxophones. Our brass section consists of two trumpets and two trombones. These guys have vast experience playing dance and jazz charts and are great soloists. And The Sound swings!

Day job: Retired microbiologist. I worked for the U.S. Air Force (as a civilian) my entire career.

Hometown: Born in Highland Park, N.J. Spent five years at the U. of Delaware earning my Ph.D. Lived and worked 30 years in Dayton, Ohio, before retiring.

Current residence: New Smyrna Beach.

Type of music you perform: The Sound plays the music of the "Great American Song Book." These are the songs played by the great dance bands of yesteryear -- like Dorsey, James, Miller, Basie and many others. The tunes we play are great musically and perfect for dancing. Our music includes ballads, swing tempos, Latin, waltzes and even a polka or two.

Repertoire sampler: "April in Paris," "Begin the Beguine," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Shiny Stockings," "Watch What Happens," "Birdland."

Upcoming area gigs: The Sound will be playing on a monthly basis at City Island Recreation Center in Daytona Beach, and at the Ormond Beach Senior Citizens Center.
]]> Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?

As a kid in high school I listened to Martin Block's "Make Believe Ballroom" and Fred Robbins' "Robbins Nest" (both radio shows). They introduced me to the music of the big bands and great jazz players of the '40s and '50s. In college I got hooked on classical music which I enjoy to this day.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?

No one gig stands out. I have enjoyed playing at numerous dances, weddings and community fairs. The attraction is the wonderful connection one has with the audience -- it's a two-way street. Playing locally in the Rick Martorano Concert Jazz Band was also very rewarding.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

That's a really difficult question. I'd like to sit-in with Woody Herman, bicycle with Lance Armstrong and have dinner at the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama. I'd even walk Bo.

What was the last book you read?

"The World Is Flat" and "From Beirut to Jerusalem," both by Thomas Friedman.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

Michael Buble, because of the great arrangements by David Foster played by a superb studio orchestra. The Larry McKenna Quartet, because he is an extraordinary tenor sax player. And Benny Carter's "Over the Rainbow" -- terrific sax section.

What is your favorite movie?

"The Frisco Kid."

What was the best concert you ever attended?

They range from Nigel Kennedy with the Cincinnati Symphony; the National Symphony with Rostropovich in Washington, D.C. on the Fourth of July; a bar in Dayton, Ohio, listening to Chet Baker; a Duke Ellington concert in Dayton and one of the last performances of Paul Desmond playing with Dave Brubeck, also in Dayton.

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":

Drive my wife crazy!

"I'd sell my soul for ...":

Not for sale.

Les is More

2009-05-21T13:49:10Z

DAVID W. WERSINGER
ACCENT EDITOR

Oh, to be a citizen in The Land of Les Claypool.

The quirky bassist -- driving force behind '90s indie darlings Primus, the supergroup Oysterhead, a thriving solo career, and of course, the theme song to "South Park" -- definitely marches to the beat of a different drummer. His latest solo CD, "Of Fungi and Foe," finds Claypool taking a minimalist, if no less weird approach to his music. (Check out the song "Red State Girl" on Youtube.com. It's brilliantly twisted.)

Claypool will be at the House of Blues in Orlando on May 31. We chatted with the Northern California resident about fine wine, "Underdog" and Labrador retrievers.

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The new album is called "Of Fungi and Foe." So, which are you: A shittaki, white button or perhaps a more obscure mushroom species type guy?

Porcini. Yes, we find the big porcini's here in the wild (of Northern California).

We understand the new record started out as a soundtrack for a video game and a horror film. Intriguing. Tell us more.

I was commissioned to do some music for this sci-fi interactive game called "Mushroom Men," and commissioned to do a score for a film called "Pig Hunt," about a 3,000-pound wild boar that terrorizes the pot fields of northern California, and I did all this music and had all this music lying around and I said, 'Wow, I'd like to use it for something else,' so I rearranged some of it and put lyrics to it and it became about two-thirds of this record. And then with some stuff I did with Eugene Hutch of Gogol Bordello in a drunken haze, and some random things I had lying around in the studio ... I (finished) the record.

You have a role in "Pig Hunt," that of a demented preacher. How was that experience?

It went good, besides breaking my pinky on the first day of shooting. Very first scene, very first day, I grabbed this guy by the shirt (in a scene)... and it just twisted wrong. It's called a "Jersey Break."

You're such a unique individual and musician, but everyone has influences. What were your influences when you were growing up?

Many people influenced me. As early as "Underdog," up to Terry Gilliam (who) I saw at a hotel the other day in L.A., and that was very exciting. Musically, you know early on it was the Monkees, moving on to the Beatles and into Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), Geddy Lee (Rush), old Peter Gabriel up to Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart.

You had incredible success with Primus and it was on your terms. Was this surprising?

I'm still surprised to this day. You know, we weren't the guys who were going to be on MTV or the radio. I just never thought it was going to happen. We figured maybe we'd get some college radio, but it went way beyond what we ever thought it would.

Tell us about your experience in the super group Oysterhead, which included yourself, Stuart Copeland of the Police and Trey Anastasio of Phish?

It went fantastic. To be honest with you, I didn't really know that Trey was that big. I knew of Phish and he was my friend ... I just never realized how popular they (Phish) were. It was all very casual on the Oysterhead project. It was spectacular and me and Stewart have become close friends.

Copeland is known as being somewhat prickly personality-wise. Did you find this to be true?

He's actually not prickly, he's very opinionated and he's like the loud guy in the room (laughs). He's actually a big, happy guy ... like a big Labrador retreiver.

How did your involvement with the theme from "South Park" come about. In retrospect, was it a blessing or a curse?

I definitely see it as a blessing, because Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker, creators of "South Park") are such very good friends of mine, and I wouldn't have had that relationship had we not done that project. They were big fans, and at the time they were working on the pilot had bee listening to this record I had just done called "Highball with the Devil," and they asked me to do the theme song ... at the time, we had just gotten a new drummer in Primus, and I said 'Well, let's have Primus do it.' We didn't even think it was going to get on television, let alone become this huge thing.

Tell us about Claypool Cellars. You made some wine?

Bascially, I live in the ... pinot noir capital of California ... and me and some buddies just decided to make some wine and we made a lot of it (laughs), and we're selling some off. It actually came out great, it's really, really good. It'll start going out to restaurants in Northern California in the next couple of weeks.

Your tour will be taking you to Orlando next week. Now, you don't have a guitarist in the band. Why is that?

Yeah, I haven't had a guitarist in my band for about four years. I had a (sitar player) for a while, and last year it was just saxophone, and this year it's the cello. I'm just changing it up. I really love the cello ... I think it's a great contrast between what I'm doing.

Music Spotlight: Pavlina Osta

2009-05-14T21:43:02Z

Vital Stats
Age: 11
Instruments: Steel drums and I sing.
Day job: I am in fifth grade at Sweetwater Elementary School, Port Orange.
Hometown: Port Orange
Current residence: Port Orange
Type of music you perform: My steel drum playing is Caribbean and my singing is kiddie pop.
Repertoire sampler: My steel drums are mostly cover songs: "Red Red Wine," "Don't Worry, Be Happy," "Turn the World Around," "Volcano," " Hot Hot Hot," " Three Little Birds," "Amazing Grace," "Limbo Rock," "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Under the Sea," "Jump in Line," the national anthem and some originals (area steel drum player) Kelvin Hart has taught me.

My singing has the "Chihuahua" song, and I'm working in the recording studio on my first CD being produced by Gold Star Productions at Tower Sound in Orlando. My songs are "Magic Balloon Ride in the Sky"; "Perfectly Pavlina" (about me), which will be the theme song for my new TV pilot being produced by Gold Star Productions; and a song about best friends.

These are all originals written by Tad Jennings of Amsden.

Upcoming area gigs: Steel drum performance, 6 p.m. Friday May 15, May 22 and May 29, part of the Bandshell Live! summer concert series, Bandshell, behind the Ocean Walk Shoppes, 250 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

Steel drum performance, noon Sunday, Daytona Lagoon, 601 Earl St., Daytona Beach.

Steel drum performance, 12:30-1:30 p.m. May 25, part of the Second Annual Missing Children's Benefit, Speed Park Motorsports, 201 Fentress Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Singing the national anthem prior to the Daytona Cubs vs. Sarasota Reds baseball game, 7:05 p.m. June 2, Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E. Orange Ave., Daytona Beach. Information: daytonacubs.com or 386-257-3172.

Web sites: myspace.com/pavlinamusic and sceneinteractive.com/talents/pavlinaosta.

Taking Notes

What or who inspired you to pursue music, especially the steel drums? And how did you learn to play the steel drums?

I've always loved music because I've been dancing for five years, but I love it more in the last year or so because of all my trips to New York City and seeing Broadway shows.

My school has a steel drum band for fifth graders. I wasn't interested in playing a band instrument but the steel drums were different! So my parents asked if I really liked them and then they had Tommy Reynolds, of (the pop group) Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, make me a pair. So when I got back from being in the Macy's Parade, I started playing on my own. Now I take private lessons with Kelvin Hart.

What was the most unusual or memorable steel drum performance you've ever played?

Each performance is different but my first performance was on the beach in front of the Bandshell. People from all over were watching me. There were kids, bikers, tourists and there was this older guy making roses and grasshoppers out of palm fronds. He talked about just being happy and do what you can for the world. How good is that?

So I started getting tips for my playing and wanted to help animals so I donate my money for spaying and neutering, and I go to city council meetings asking for animal help, too.What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

I love all the Broadway stars and to have them all give me some of their energy and a hug would be the best dinner ever. I'd really like to have dinner with (local Olympic gold medalist swimmer) Ryan Lochte because he's done a lot and is very focused.

What was the last book you read?

"The Tale of Despereaux."

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

In my iPod are a lot of songs from "Wicked," "Seasons of Love" from "Rent," Rihanna and Coldplay.

What is your favorite movie?

Disney's "Bedtime Stories."

What was the best concert you ever attended?

I've never been to a concert but I'd like to see Coldplay. I love the song "Viva la Vida" and the instruments they use.

"If I didn't play music, I would ...":
I already go to Orlando Ballet three to four times a week, but if I didn't perform music I would do even more dancing. I love dancing so much I never want to stop.

I also want to be an actress! I would love to be on a Disney show! That would be an ultimate dream. Joy Star of Gold Star says I'm a triple threat which means I can sing/act/dance plus I play the steel drums. So I have a lot of choices.

"I'd sell my soul for...":
There's a lot of things I would like to do but I'm a kid and kids have power and time so I'll just do what I'm doing. I'm good. It's all good.

Rock Royalty

2009-05-04T09:37:31Z

By DAVID W. WERSINGER
ACCENT EDITOR

Blame it on the pills. Or perhaps, give them all the credit.

For the latest disc from the southern rockers/arena monsters Kings on Leon -- "Only By The Night" -- lead vocalist and guitarist Caleb Followill wrote most of the lyrics and music while recovering from shoulder surgery (more on that later).

His brother, Nathan, drummer for the band, said on their Web site, "I think the pain pills inspired him a little more than we realized. He would play us a song and we'd say 'When did you write that?' and he'd say, 'I don't really remember writing it. I just woke up with an empty bottle of wine and my songbook open and these words written down.'"
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Questions? Attitude!

Southern prog rock? Explain, please.

Well, their first release, "Youth & Young Manhood," featured southern-fried, diamond-in-the-rough '70s boogie, and was more of a success in Great Britain than at home. But, tiring of the "Southern Strokes" label, they began to expand their heads and style with subsequent CDs. Allmusic.com wrote of their 2007 release "...if Alan Parsons lent the Allman Brothers his spaceship, 'Because of the Times' would be the resulting space odyssey." Their latest, "Only By The Night," finds them belting out big, anthemic rock, a la U2 circa "Achtung Baby," by way of Nashville, Tenn.

Let's get back to Caleb's shoulder surgery. How'd that come about?

Ah, yes, brotherly love in all it's twisted glory. In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, their cousin and guitar tech Nacho recounts a recent fight between brothers Nathan and Caleb. "I ran into the kitchen, and Nate and Caleb had handfuls of hair, just rolling in the grease in front of the stove." The two were separated, but Nathan continued on, shattering a $7,000 mirror in his brother's bedroom and stabbing Caleb's mattress repeatedly with a kitchen knife.

Of brother Nathan, Jared says "He's like the 'American Psycho' -- he's told me that one day he'll kill Caleb." The fight left Caleb with the separated shoulder that required surgery.

Don't the brothers have some sort of religious background?

Yes, in fact, their father, Ivan, was a United Pentecostal preacher, who would tour the south with the boys in the family's purple Oldsmobile. Caleb compares his father to Robert Duval's character in "The Apostle," and these sermons planted the seeds for the boys future as rock stars. "Most people think the (Pentecostal) music is reserved, but there's organs, pianos, guitars, basses, drums, horns," Nathan told Rolling Stone. "It's the equivalent of black gospel music. It's a full-on Al Green, Aretha Franklin-style service."

There appears to be two sides to the Kings' camp: Those who dig their early, sloppy boogie and newer fans who go for the big, brawny anthems of their latest works. What do the boys have to say about this?

Late last year, Caleb told the Village Voice "... this is the first record (talking about their previous album, "Because of The Times") that we literally rolled up our sleeves and said, 'All right, man, we're not going to come out of here again and have a song that can't get played on the radio because it's so lo-fi that, you know, people can't put it up next to other music. We want it to be bigger.' And I don't mean popularity-wise. I mean, we want it to feel bigger and more professional."

Essential Kings of Leon

"California Waiting," from "Youth & Young Manhood," 2003: The demo of this song was what initially spurred RCA to sign the Kings of Leon. The ready-for-the-arena-tour chorus was the first hint of things to come.

"Fans," from "Because of the Times," 2007: Caleb resisted this acoustic-driven ditty being released as a single because as he said "Now moms are gonna be bopping along to our music." The song has an infectious groove and highlights Caleb's distinct vocal stylings. Give those bopping moms their props; it's a worthy song.

"Sex on Fire," from "Only By The Night," 2008: Caleb's separated shoulder had an upside. With his left arm immobilized, he could only play chords high on his guitar fret. "The first thing I did," he told Rolling Stone, "was come up with that riff and sing the melody for 'Sex On Fire." Thank you, injured arm!

Musical highlights Piano Man Joels hits

2009-05-03T10:33:56Z

By AUDREY PARENTE
STAFF WRITER

Matthew Friedman, formerly a lawyer, whose part time music career included playing at Billy Joels wedding, has the lead spot as Piano Man, in a show based on the music of the legendary Billy Joel.

While, the Hall of Fame singer might be known for his 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations, Joel's career has spanned four decades, and he also won a Tony Award for Best Orchestration for the Broadway hit "Movin' Out."

The shows national tour company will perform at Peabody Auditorium on May 4. The love-interrupted-by-combat story about six characters from Joels songs has a twist. The orchestra on stage, and the tale is told entirely through dancers choreographed by Twyala Tharp, considered dance-world aristocracy. Joel's lyrics are sung by Friedman, 40, and The News-Journal caught him on the phone between shows.
]]> You sang at Billy Joel's wedding in 2004. How'd you get that job, and how intimidating was that?

It was purely blind luck. I played and sang the dinner all by myself. He (Joel) heard me a week before at a showcase. He said play anybody's music except his so not to put that kind of pressure on me. After, he ended up coming up and singing for two hours songs he liked growing up.

Did that help you get the "Movin' Out" gig?

It was the deciding factor, but back in 2002 I met Chuck Burgi, the drummer on "Movin' Out" on Broadway. They were just going to Chicago, and I happened to play some Billy Joel at this wedding (where Burgi also played). He said, "You should get involved in this show. Its perfect for you."

You were a lawyer. Why were you playing at a wedding?

I grew up in a traditional family go to school, get a degree. I was a lawyer on Wall Street in-house insurance accident no-fault, but I was in a band playing bass guitar with three of my brothers. Daniel is a doctor; he played guitar; Evan, a lawyer, was co-lead and played saxophone and harmonica; and Cary, an executive at a financial company, was the drummer. We would perform at various clubs around the city and do weddings.

You did other gigs and just happened to be in the right place at the right time to get this one. What's it like?

"Movin' Out" is a Broadway show, but with no spoken dialog. It's told completely through choreography and the music of Billy Joel. Its about friends growing up in Long Island in the 60s some have just broken up, some just getting together. Then Vietnam breaks out. Some men come back and some don't, and there's the aftermath on their lives; it ends happy. People always leave the show exhausted and exhilarated.

Are you in the orchestra?

One of the special aspects of this show is, the band is featured just as much as the dancers. The band is on stage at the beginning and never leaves. I sing 24 Billy songs. This is our fourth year on tour.

You've been on the road for four years. Aren't you burning out?

As far as the show is concerned, I will never get sick of doing it. I love it, from the second I get on stage to the second I get off. I don't so much enjoy the travel and being away from home, and my 7-month-old son.

WHAT: "Movin' Out" a musical with music by Billy Joel and choreography by Twyla Tharp
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. May 4
WHERE: Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach
TICKETS: $40, $45 and $55 with surcharge of $4; available at ticketmaster.com or 800-745 3000
PARKING: County parking $5 to $9, including valet parking $8

Taylor Made

2009-04-30T10:18:07Z

By DAVID W. WERSINGER
ACCENT EDITOR

"But the little girls understand."

When Jim Morrison of the Doors sang that Willie Dixon lyric back in 1967, it had far darker (and creepier) connotations. But when it comes to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, it's the truth: Millions of teenage girls really do understand.

Swift's ascension to the top of the musical heap has been meteoric to say the least. The 19-year-old Pennsylvania native's latest CD, "Fearless," sold nearly 600,000 copies upon its debut in late 2008, and the record garnered Album of the Year honors at the Academy of Country Music's award ceremonies this month, beating out traditional favorite George Strait and current phenom Carrie Underwood.
]]>
And Swift graced the cover of that venerable aging-hippies-with-money magazine, Rolling Stone, which gave Swift's "Fearless" four out of five stars.

Swift will be in concert Friday at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena -- her only Florida date so far -- and to get you ready, we've got some questions and attitude about Nashville's latest, blazing-hot star:

So, Taylor writes her own songs? Really? Isn't Nashville famous for "ghost writers,"--you know, people behind the star who actually do the work?

Must you be so cynical right off the bat? Swift's bio on her Web site says she wrote her first song at the tender age of 12. But rather than writing in the tried and true country tradition of the endless road and cheap hotel rooms, Swift writes songs about what it's like to be a teenage girl.

"When I was like 14 or 15 and I would hear those things on an album, being alone ... living out of a suitcase...I was always like, 'Ugh, skip!' I'm inspired by boys and love," she writes on her Web site. "Those are my favorite things to write about and I don't think it's limited to high school."

OK, then. But how does writing and singing about the experiences of 14-year-old girls get Rolling Stone to so unabashedly sing Swift's praises with a cover story and a glowing review of her album?

This is what Rolling Stone wrote about Swift in its review of "Fearless" in a February issue: "For 'Fearless' to feel any more like it was literally ripped from a suburban girl's diary, it would have to come with drawings of rainbows and unicorns in the liner notes...And therein lies the peculiar charm of Taylor Swift. Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism -- it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory -- with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true."

Take that, Metallica.

How will the slickly produced, yet earnest music of "Fearless" transfer to a live setting? Does Swift have the "chops?"

Well, if her sparse performance and duet with Miley Cyrus on the song "Fifteen" at last year's Grammys is any indication, perhaps the rawness of a live setting will give her songs a sharper edge. The performance, while clearly not the best for Cyrus, highlighted the simple beauty of Swift's songwriting, and was one of the highlights of the Grammy telecast.

Swift is also known for working friends and ex-boyfriends into her songs' lyrics (Abigail, a friend back home in Nashville, is mentioned in the lyrics of her latest CD as Abigail). Does this go over real well with the songs' subjects?

Maybe not so much with the ex-boyfriends. Swift told the New York Times late last year that "Every single one of the guys that I've written songs about has been tracked down on MySpace by my fans. I had the opportunity to be more general on this record, but I chose not to. I like to have the last word."

Potential suitors, you've been warned.

Speaking of ex-boyfriends, wasn't Swift's name mentioned alongside Joe Jonas as being romantically involved? If they got together, couldn't they be the King and Queen of Tweenland?

Let's be careful about that one. Swift was short and sweet when asked about her relationship with Joe Jonas by the New York Times. "He's not in my life anymore, and I have absolutely nothing to say about or to him."

If You Go

WHAT: Taylor Swift in concert
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Phillip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville
TICKETS: $20-$49.50 available at the box office and Ticketmaster
INFO: 407-839-3900; ticketmaster.com

Musis Spotlight: Jim Troxell

2009-04-23T13:30:30Z

Jim Troxell

Vital Stats

Age: 49.
Instruments: Electric upright bass, electric bass and vocals.
Bands you perform with on a regular basis: L.A. Robinson and Streetlife, Reuben Morgan and Cooljams, Toots Lorraine and the Traffic, Jake Niceley.
Day job: I gave up road gigs in 1994. Since then, I've worked as a carpenter with Augustine Builders in Daytona Beach.
Hometown: Springfield, Ill.
Current residence: Ormond Beach.
Type of music you perform: Jazz, blues, R&B, country.
Repertoire sampler: "Let It Roll" (Little Feat), "Treat Her Right" (Roy Buchanan's version), "Confidence Man" (Jeff Healey), "Crossfire" and "The Sky Is Cryin'" (Stevie Ray Vaughan), "So What" (Miles Davis).
Upcoming area gigs: With the Denny Weaver Trio, Olympic Splashdown 2009, 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 30, Daytona State College, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Web site: geocities.com/troxellbass.
]]> Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?

My dad. He was a successful composer and woodwind player. I remember sitting at the piano with him when I was 6, learning rhythms and notes so I could move up to playing an instrument.

I studied the trumpet for about 11 years until I discovered the bass. Dad insisted that if I played electric bass, I should also study the double bass. I think that gave me a better foundation, from being exposed to more diverse kinds of music. My playing style comes from what I have been able to absorb from the people I've worked with.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?

There was a reunion last April of a band from Springfield, the Tonguesnatcher Revue, that I went on the road with when I was 18. I played with some of them in other bands in the '80s, but that night was the first time in 30-plus years that all of us were together again.

It was such an amazing feeling, picking up exactly where we left off a long time ago. To me, it is a reminder that good music really is timeless.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

Bassist Charlie Haden. Not only a legendary bassist, but very politically active throughout his career. He and my dad were born in the same tiny Iowa town about a year apart. I always saw that as proof that music can take you anywhere you want to go.

What was the last book you read?

"I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny" by Bob Newhart.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

Jeff Beck, Waylon Jennings, Michael Manring, Eric Todd.

What is your favorite movie?

"Ray." Jamie Foxx did an excellent job of telling the story of one of the greatest musicians of our time.

What was the best concert you ever attended?

Herbie Hancock and friends, University of Illinois, 1976. Herbie Hancock started out by introducing a special guest on bass, Jaco Pastorius. In an hour and a half, he changed everything I thought I knew about the bass. The whole group was great, but to see him play up close was a rare treat.

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":

Like to try being a comedian. I have made people laugh on several occasions, sometimes even when I'm not playing. Comedians, like musicians, have to connect with an audience to succeed. Making that connection is one of the most satisfying rewards in music.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":

Definitely not for sale. I need it more and more as I grow older. Besides, a bass player needs all the soul he can get.

Music Spotlight: Anthony Cuchetti

2009-04-16T17:55:49Z

Vital Stats

Age: 34

Instruments: I play guitar, sing and play a little percussion from time to time (congas, djembe, etc.).

Bands you perform with on a regular basis: Minister Theory, plus a duo with my sister Gina, and Casual Folklor.

Day job: Mostly a full-time musician, but I also have a degree in graphic design and work on small projects here and there as well.

Hometown: Detroit

Current residence: New Smyrna Beach

Type of music you perform: All types. I love a wide variety of music and like to experiment with it. There's really no limit. I love to meld all styles and get new sounds. For me it's all about where the music wants to take me. I never try and fight it.

Repertoire sampler: Originals include "Tommy C," "Small Steps," "People," "Running Back," "Magic Poison Clown," "Little York," "Topenga." Cover -- "I Got You." (Gotta have James Brown! I mean come on, doesn't get much better.)

Upcoming area gigs: Minister Theory, 9 p.m. April 22, Ocean Deck, 127 S. Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach. Gina and Tony, 8 p.m. April 23, Flagler Tavern, 414 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Minister Theory, part of the Daytona Beach International Festival Battle of the Bands, noon-4 p.m. April 25, Bandshell, behind the Ocean Walk Shoppes, 250 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

CDs: "Beautiful Life," Minister Theory, $10, available at CDBaby.com, iTunes, Rhapsody and other digital retailers. You can also buy them at shows and through our Web site. "Minister Theory," $10, available only at live shows and through our Web site at the moment. "Little Mary" by Casual Folklor, $10, available through CDBaby.com, itunes, Rhapsody and other digital retailers.

Web site: MinisterTheory.com
]]> Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?

Growing up in a very musical family inspired me to play. My parents especially always encouraged us to explore our musical talents and gave us the means to do so. My older brothers and sisters also inspired me a great deal in that they included me in their listening and playing of music.

Do you consider Minister Theory to be a Christian band?

We are all Christians in the band, but I would not label Minister Theory as a Christian act. We strive to just make the best music we can. Music that makes people feel good and forget about the hum-drum, everyday static that we all encounter. I don't really put music in any category. I think music just finds who it needs to reach.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?

I'd have to say it was with my old band Casual Folklor. We were doing a show at Ghost Riders in Oak Hill. The weather was terrible that night, no one was out of course, and the building got struck by lightning more than one time.

The power kept going out, but we never stopped playing and did one of our most energetic (no pun intended) sets ever. You would have thought we were in Madison Square Garden.

The best part is when we were done, there was one guy at the bar and the bartender, and they were jumping up and down and screaming for us. That was one of the best feelings I've ever had. It was so real!

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

I'd like to eat with Lidia Bastianich, because I watch "Lidia's Italy" and her food looks so good!

What was the last book you read?

"The World According to Garp" by John Irving.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

"Superfly," Curtis Mayfield.

What is your favorite movie?

"Jeremiah Johnson."

What was the best concert you ever attended?

Pearl Jam in West Palm Beach, about 8 years ago. It was just a rock-solid set, and they were right on their game. I was with my niece Natalie and we drove there last minute to see them. It was just the energy in the air that night mixed with great music. It was an awesome experience.

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":

Probably be roaming around aimlessly. Music is it for me.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":

Not a thing. My soul is me. The only thing that can't be taken from me.

Music Spotlight: Brenda McDonald

2009-04-08T17:03:50Z

Brenda McDonald

Vital Stats

Age: I remember the date but not the year!

Instruments: Keyboard, key bass, vocals.

Band: With my husband, Randy, we have a duo called Memphis & Me!!

Day job: I am a certified senior tax preparer at H&R Block in Daytona Beach. I'm also a certified group fitness instructor at the Ormond Beach YMCA.

Hometown: Logan, W. Va.

Current residence: Ormond Beach.

Type of music you perform: Randy and I do a big variety of the most requested songs covering the last 30 years, from pop to rock to country.

Repertoire sampler: "The Way You Love Me" (Faith Hill), "Believe" (Cher), "Pink Cadillac" (Bruce Springsteen), "Redneck Woman" (Gretchen Wilson), "Turn the Beat Around" (Gloria Estefan), "Give Me One Reason" (Tracy Chapman), "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" (K.T. Tunstall), "Erase My Face" (original), "Daytona USA" (original). Randy and I are both published BMI songwriters.

Upcoming area gigs: 5-9 p.m. April 17 and May 22, River Grille, 950 N. U.S. 1,Ormond Beach. Information: 386-615-2004.
]]> Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?

My mom, Mildred (known as Millie), would play her guitar and sing to us kids back home in West Virginia. Great memories! Then my talented husband, Randy, taught me from scratch how to play the keys and bass. Wow! Not an easy task. He is my inspiration!

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?

We played on a cattle ranch in a barn in the middle of January. It was so cold I had to wear gloves while playing the keys. Why? Paid well.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?

Lucille Ball. Just to thank her for her wonderful contribution to the world. I love Lucy!

What was the last book you read?

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. I also like to read American Fitness journals.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?

INXS, "Switch." Whatever the mood I happen to be in, that will be my choice. I love all types of music.

What is your favorite movie?

Tom Hanks, "Forrest Gump."

What was the best concert you ever attended?

The Paul McCartney and Wings World Tour, which promoted Friends of the Earth, April 12, 1990, Tampa Stadium, and McCartney and Wings New World Tour, May 9, 1993, Citrus Bowl, Orlando. Both awesome!

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":

Have more time to spend with the family.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":

Not for sale.

A Conversation with Joe Cocker

2009-04-08T14:49:00Z

By MORRIS SULLIVAN
STAFF WRITER

Joe Cocker's gritty voice and intense performance style brought him to the limelight in 1960s and carried his career through four decades.

After growing up in Sheffield, England, the blues singer formed The Grease Band, whose Woodstock performance of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" made Cocker an icon. A string of hits and classics followed, including covers of "The Letter," "Cry Me a River" and Leon Russell's "Delta Lady."

In the 1970s, '80s and '90s, he produced hits like "You Are So Beautiful," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," and "Unchain My Heart." Today, when he's not touring, Cocker spends his time on a ranch in tiny Crawford, Colo. He kicks off his 2009 tour at the St. Augustine Amphitheater on April 17 and a free concert in Orlando on April 19.

Are you looking forward to going on the road again, or do you dread leaving the ranch?

(Laughs) You got me there. We got snow today, a couple of inches of late spring snow, and it's nice. But I get on with it. It's always good to see the band when you haven't been around them for a while, you know. And we all love to travel and see different faces. So it's like, pulling up the roots is a bit hard, as you say. But once I manage that I'm okay. Only last year I was out touring the U.S. This is a U.S. tour this time, too--we've got about 52 shows in there.

How did you end up living in the middle of nowhere in Colorado?

I did a show in Telluride and met an old friend who'd gone into real estate. And I came up here and suddenly met all these people I'd known in different parts of the world, and we all arrived here at the same time. It was very strange.

What should audiences expect from your current show?

I know they like to hear the hits, you know. So the body of work is like "With a Little Help from My Friends," "You Are So Beautiful" and "Unchain My Heart" -- the favorite songs they like to hear. But I'm going to throw in a handful of others. I had someone send me a list of all the songs I've ever sung. And you sit and look at it in alphabetical order and it's overwhelming. I'm trying to pick two or three from different time periods, just for my own pleasure. But I've got into the fact that folks do like to hear the hits. I'm 65 this year, and you wonder how much longer you've got as a performer, because you never know. I really enjoy the performing part for that reason. You're sort of counting down to some degree.

Do you have a favorite song in your show -- one you look forward to singing every night?

Yeah, "You Are So Beautiful." Billy Preston wrote it -- took it from a gospel song and just changed the lyrics a little bit. It's one of those songs -- I've done it in Italy, and Australia and everywhere, and people always relate to it. I've seen grown men crying. And every time I sing it, it's different.

]]> Are you drawing mostly old fans, or are you seeing a lot of young faces?

It's hard to tell, 'cause I look out and we're all gray. I have a hard core of people who send me stuff in the post, people I've known for maybe 30-40 years who come out of the woodwork when we do a show. In Europe, that's even more, but in the states, I have people from the '60s who just appear for that one show.

You have a gift for finding songs that are perfect for you. How do you do that?

It gets harder. I'm talking about doing a record later this year, and I've been scratching my head about which direction to take. But I kind of felt lucky, did songs for movies that have been used over and over again, like "Feelin' All Right." So there's a bit of luck involved, the time and the vehicle you're using. I've been fortunate in the way they've come through about every five years, from the '60s up to 2000, basically.

I've been talking to Universal in Germany, and they want to make a record with me. I was with EMI for years, and I finally broken off with them. So it's got me wondering -- I don't want to do something that's too off the wall. So it's going to be interesting to see what kind of record they want me to make.

What are you listening to these days?

I don't listen to a lot of radio, but when I'm driving I find myself drawn back to the blues channel. I got to meet a lot of those great guys in Sheffield when I was only about 16, like John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Elmore James. I love those records -- there's no fixed time. I don't really dig too much of the modern stuff.

You've worked with a lot of great performers. Is there anyone that stands out in your mind? Anyone you'd still like to work with?

I recorded with Ray Charles. That will always stick with me very dearly. And worked with a lot of the blues cats, too, and just knowing those guys was a thrill.

I always wanted to sing with Aretha Franklin. I met her one time about 15 years ago and she said, "Give me a call, honey." I found out later with girl singers, you have to have a song. You can't just call up and say, "Let's do a duet" -- you have to nail it down. So I didn't do it right with her.

What do you consider to be the most memorable moments of your career?

Woodstock would obviously be a high point. With the band that day, we were pretty good, you know. We just were lucky -- had a good day and performed well. But it's hard to say. I did a show for the Berlin Wall. It's the 20th anniversary next year, and we have a big following over there, so that should be a high point.

You can have some great shows where you've only played for 1,000 people in some little town, and the sound was perfect that one night. But I really don't look back at my life and say, "That was a great night." It's been pretty consistent.

Do you still have the tie-dye T-shirt from Woodstock?

(Laughs) No, and my wife wishes I wouldn't have thrown away the starry boots. That'd probably be worth a bit more.

What is the Cocker Kids Foundation?

My wife started it when we moved into this part of Colorado, and we realized it was just poor. It's a farming area, and there's not a lot of money around. It we asked teenagers to submit these applications as to what they would do if could be helped financially. And we have schools we provide computers. We've sent people to Europe to study art, and different things. We've been doing it now for 10 years, and everybody around here loves to get involved. I did a show in a little village down the road called Hotchkiss and raised about 150 grand. It was amazing seeing all these farmers come out. That was a special night.

Do you like little shows like that, or big ones?

People always seem to think you'd rather be back doing little shows, but I don't really like it. I like a reasonably intimate place, like the Fox Theater, which holds like 1,500. When you really rock a place and get everybody at it, that's when I like it. But I don't mind playing to a few thousand or a few hundred, if it's a good night.

What do you do when you're not touring?

I'm just enjoying doing what I do. I walk the mountains with my dogs. We just got a goldendoodle, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. He's about 8 months old. And we have another golden retriever--he's getting old, but he's a beauty.

I'm getting a big greenhouse this year for tomatoes. I grow a lot of tomatoes, different heirloom kinds I've found around the world. It's a pretty quiet existence, really.

If You Go

WHAT: Joe Cocker in concert
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 17 in St. Augustine; 4 p.m. April 19 in Orlando
WHERE & TICKETS: April 17: St. Augustine Amphitheater, 1340 A1A South. Tickets are $37.50-$55. Gates open at 6 p.m.
April 19: City Hall Plaza, 400 S. Orange Ave. Free concert, part of the WMMO Downtown Concert series. VIP seating, $49.
MORE INFO: April 17 show: 904-471-1965 or staugamphitheatre.com. April 19 show: visit wmmo.com

Music Spotlight: Jonathon Streeter

2009-04-01T17:16:47Z

Jonathon Streeter

Vital Stats

Age: 21.

Instrument: Drums/percussion.

Band: Amsden.

Day job: Metro PCS.

Hometown: Lake Charles, La.

Current residence: Daytona Beach.

Type of music you perform: Surf Rock/grunge/reggae.

Repertoire sampler: "Tease Me," "You Got It Girl," "In the Sand," "Inside Out," "Lucid Dreamer," "Muse" and many more. They are all originals.

Upcoming area gigs: 8 p.m. April 24, Thrillz Arcade, 4882 Palm Coast Parkway N.W., Palm Coast. 386-446-1885. 7 p.m. April 25, Hot Topic, Volusia Mall, 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. 386-258-1730.

Web site: myspace.com/AmsdenBand.
]]> Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?
My dad who was also a drummer.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?
The Anti-Pop Music Festival with the Supervillains at the Social in Orlando. We got to perform on the Jagermeister stage.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?
Hunter S. Thompson.

What was the last book you read?
"A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey.

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?
A mix CD including Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Sublime and 311.

What is your favorite movie?
I can't pick just one favorite movie but I really like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Memento," the "Ace Ventura" movies, "Fight Club."

What was the best concert you ever attended?
Flogging Molly. Nothing crazier than Irish punk.

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":
Be a full-time student in college going for astrophysics and play a lot of hockey.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":
Neil Peart's drum set.