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The Official Web Site of The Fleetwoods, multi-million-selling
Recording Trio and their founder Gretchen Christopher |
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FLEETWOODS
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PERFORMANCES |
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PERFORMANCES |
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TODAY |
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TRIBUTES |
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SUITE 16 CD |
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OUR GUESTBOOK |
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GRETCHEN'S BIO
HOME |
HEAR
INTERVIEWS |
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BLOG,2008
2007,
2006, 2005,
2004 |
FLEETWOODS SPOTLIGHT
GRETCHEN |
AWARDS &
DISTINCTIONS |
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A Note from Gretchen:
This Calendar reflects some of the fun parts of making my life and living in
the Arts,
as both a Generative Artist and a Performing Artist, and occasionally
nourishing my soul as a member of a family or that larger family, the
Audience.
In a very few instances, I have listed an event to which I have been invited
but may not be present;
yet I want to extend the invitation to you, to support the Arts, the
Entertainers,
and those for whom I am sentimental. This may be as simple as
acknowledging,
and celebrating in our hearts, the birth dates of some very special people.
With love to share,
Gretchen Christopher
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"2007 Blog updates
courtesy of Darrell French"
Send comments and questions to,
webmaster@TheFleetwoods.com
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2007 is the year of completion for Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN!
(SUITE 16),
her premier autobiographical solo CD, years in the making. And
the spectacular
12 Month PHOTO CALENDAR, Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! |
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NEW YEAR'S DAY
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12 |
"Legendary Artist Interview Series"
features Gretchen Christopher and songs from
her new CD, Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN!
(SUITE 16) on Friday Class Reunion
on KRIM FM in Payson, Arizona, Friday
from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Mountain Standard
Time (Gretchen will be on at 2PM Pacific
Standard Time, 3PM MST). Host Kelly
Watts says, "To listen on the web, just
go to
www.mypayson.com
and, on the right, under DAILY DESTINATIONS,
click on Watch Channel 4." (This
show is
the
sound track for the City
of Payson channel 4.)
Click & LISTEN TO INTERVIEW |
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14 |
Songwriter
friend P.
STERLING RADCLIFFE sends Gretchen
Christopher a link to video of LUCIANO
PAVAROTTI & BARRY WHITE singing his song,
"YOU'RE
THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING".
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14 |
Sterling and
Gretchen enjoy an hour's telephone conversation
(Olympia/Las Vegas), comparing web sites, BMI
vs. ASCAP, and the incredible royalties earned
by this hit song
written by Sterling Radcliffe & Barry
White. |
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18 |
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Friend, P. STERLING
RADCLIFFE dies peacefully in his
sleep, at his home in Las Vegas, at age 77
(May 30, 1929 - January 18, 2007),
just
days after catching up via long telephone
conversation, following sending Gretchen and
other friends a link to the video of
which he was
so proud, legendary tenor Luciano
Pavarotti and
Barry White singing Sterling's greatest hit
song, "Your the First, the Last, My
Everything." Sterling had also written,
produced, and recorded
several
versions of
his L.A. Theme Song, "City of The
Angels."
featuring
GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER and other solo artists.
Sterling encouraged Gretchen to produce a
Christmas album, for private issue. Their
mutual friend Thad York helped Sterling to
find his birth mother and family.
For more information
on Sterling
Radcliffe and
to hear
beautiful orchestrations, visit
MySpace.com/MusicSterling (See
TRIBUTES)
Please Click
on photo to enlarge (Photo courtesy Deborah
Page,
www.myspace.com/emagineeringpage)
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25 |
Happy Birthday, to my First
Love, "VOS" from your First Love, Gretchen.
Dinner Party/Jam
with fam (and surprise
guests)! at The Firs on Budd Inlet. Olympia
WA. Musical performances, children dancing,
original art work and songs,
toy soldiers and, played upon Vos's
request: Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE
16), the sound track of our lives.
(Vos's
response, "This was the best birthday party I
ever had.") |
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28 |
Birthday
Greetings to an
amazing sister! "Survivor" Sonja
Christopher! |
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| 1-11 |
Pacific Northwest Ballet Rep
III: Swan Lake, February 1 - 11, 2007,
Marion McCaw Hall, Seatttle, WA.
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Pacific Northwest
Ballet, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle,WA |
| 14 |
Happy Valentine's Day to "Heart
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and "Clever
Bastards"
Co-Founder and Birthday Boy, ROGER FISHER.
www.rogerfisher.com |
| 16 |
Happy Birthday, Broadcaster
JOHN HENDRICKS
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| 19 |
JOSIE
WILSON, Founder of BLUE HORIZON
RECORDS, Original Producer of THE
VENTURES, Mother of Founder/Guitarist
Don Wilson, and Grand Matriarch of the
Wilson Family, has lived and died, at
nearly 92 (April 29, 1915 - February 18,
2007), leaving a worldwide legacy of
Ventures music, her own poetry, many
friends, and an adoring family who
surrounded her as she passed peacefully,
at home, in
Spanaway,
near Tacoma, Washington, February
19.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to Franciscan Hospice P.O. Box
1502, Tacoma, WA 98401. Services will
be held February 26
Please sign the online guest book at
www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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| 20 |
Pisces Birthday of Original
Fleetwood, BARBARA LIANE ELLIS
(I phoned, played
piano and sang "Happy Birthday" to Barbara on
her message machine. She emailed back that they
let it record so all could hear and enjoy it.) |
| 23 |
Pisces Birthday remembrance of
Fleetwood Gretchen's Co-Songwriter, LEE J.
JACKSON, 1936-1999
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| 24 |
Pisces Birthday of Replacement
Fleetwood, GENE HOWARD
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| 25 |
NORM N. NITE (author of the book, ROCK
ON!) phones from the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME to
wish GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER a Happy
Birthday and do a brief, live interview of her,
on the air, for Sirius Radio. |
| 26 |
Pisces Birthday of Fleetwood
Gretchen's Son, CHRISTOPHER MATZEN,
http://wacoly.com
Family
celebration at home of Chris's father Rich
Matzen ("Grandpa") and step-mom Joyce
("Grandma"), with Chris's step-brother Hunter
and his son Evan (4), Chris's step-grandma Jean
Alvord ("GG"), step-grandpa Ernie Alvord and
his wife Ann, hosted by Chris's wife Gina,
attended by her parents, Bud and Gloria Knoke ("PoPo"
and"Granny") and nephew John Henry, all flying
in from Illinois, Gina's brother Tom, sis-in-law
Kathy flying in from Alaska, nephew Eli flying
in from Hawaii, Chris's Olympia family, sister
Kimari, her children Kamiel (4) and Lillian (2,
in 2 days, another Pisces), Chris's children,
Tessa Noel (6 on Christmas), Avery (4), Gray (20
months), uncle Bill, Chris's mother ("Grammy")
Gretchen Christopher Matzen (another Pisces, 16
:o)- and his grandmother ("Nana") the grand
matriarch, Helen Christopher (97). Rich and I
enjoyed recalling the day Chris was born, 40
years before. When the nurse told Rich, "It's a
boy," Rich let out such a rip-roaring, "Wahoooo!"
that nurses and doctors came running! (:o) |
| 26 |
Services
for JOSIE WILSON, Founder
of Blue Horizon Records and The
Ventures,
10AM at the Aspen
Chapel, Mountain View Funeral Home at
4100 Steilacoom Blvd., Tacoma, WA
98499.
I was
greeted by the happy sound of The
Ventures music accompanying a video
collection of still pictures of Josie
Wilson and her family through her
lifetime. The last showed a very
frail but still smiling Josie Wilson,
holding the latest model of The
Ventures guitar. Then, Josie's
granddaughters read very appropriate
poems, very effectively, including one
Josie had written, "Grandmother's
Favorite" whose surprise ending brought
a chuckle
After the minister spoke and invited us
to view the briefly-opened casket, I was
not sure I wanted to. I like my
memories of the vibrant Josie Wilson I
described in her Guest Book, online.
They opened the casket and, sitting in
the second row, I could see her face in
profile, waxen and unfamiliarly gaunt. l
let row after row of others pass before
me, unsure if I wanted to view, but
wondering if the starkness of looking on
her lifeless form would somehow jolt and
spur me to finish that which was so
difficult for me, before I lost other
friends or even my own life. All others
but the family had gone before me, and
the usher gently urged me. I
was fine until I viewed the open casket.
"Josie," I said to her in my mind,
"You're so much more than that lifeless
form!" Now the tears came.
I was surprised; had thought, as I drove
up from Olympia, how unmoved I seemed,
in the face of losing three friends in a
month (two in the last few days).
Now, as I dried my tears, someone spoke
to me. She was a large, friendly
woman I didn't know, but we shared our
feelings, and it comforted me, and I was
able to move on into the Reception. At
the entrance, I visited with Josie's
daughter Sally and thanked her for her
email keeping me in the loop.
"Josie loved and appreciated you so
much," she said. I told Sally I hoped it
had brought Josie piece of mind when I
answered her plea for me to get her the
information about Virginia Boles'
service, as she wanted to send flowers
from herself and the Ventures. Sally
said it did bring her peace of mind, and
we hugged.
I had no appetite for the lavish
buffet but visited with Josie's son Don
Wilson and wife Dory, Venture Bob Bogle,
Secretary of State Brad Owen and wife
Linda, Venture's Manager Fiona Tayor,
Josie's granddaughter Jill and grandson
Tim Wilson (his significant other and
her daughter and mother, 3 lovely
generations) and their mom Karen Wilson
(another Pisces). I was happy to see
friends to whom I'd extended the
invitation, KK. Ryder and Sky Benson. I
missed visiting with you, Buck Ormsby
and Kent Morrill; so my greetings to
you, now, "Hi, Guys." May we all share
more good music, before it's our time to
rest in peace. Gretchen Christopher
The family would like to thank the
Franciscan Hospice team and all the
family and friends who have helped and
shown so much love during these
difficult times. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to:
Franciscan Hospice P.O. Box 1502,
Tacoma, WA 98401.
Please sign the online guest book at
www.mountainviewtacoma.com
(See
TRIBUTES)
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| 26 |
We were
notified this evening about the Passing
of DONNY BROOKS in LA on Thursday
Night of a heart Attack, Donnys hits
included MISSION BELL, DOLL HOUSE MEMPHIS
and was part of the 30 years of Rock and
Roll Anniversary and much more Donny
participated at many benefits for artists
and we will be paying it forward with a
benefit for him in Los Angeles CA in the
near future Donny will be missed by all of
us and our condolences go out to his FAMILY.
Services are pending. Donny recently
attended the Benefit for Huggy Boy and early
last year at Stevens steak house in LA
Donny was also inducted in the ROCKABILLY
HALL OF FAME.
Sincerely
Mike Copley
(scheduled Bob O'Mally's interview of
Gretchen Christopher, 8:05PM, Tuesday, March
8)
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| 27 |
Pisces
Birthday
remembrance of Fleetwood Gretchen's
Dance Partner, DANIEL SCHWARTZ
(Feb 27, 1922
- Feb 23,
2007) Gretchen's
favorite dance partner, Daniel Schwartz,
suffered a stroke on the weekend of 2/17/07,
in his apartment in
North Seattle, was
discovered on 2/20 by his older daughter
Debbie and rushed to hospital. Paralyzed and
unable to speak,
Dan had previously requested no heroic
lifesaving measures. Dan died peacefully in
Northwest Hospital, at 1:25AM, Feb 23, 2007,
with his family at his side, just four days
before his 85th birthday.
A Dixieland Jazz celebration of his life
will be held at 4PM, Friday,
September 21, at the Ballard Elks Lodge,
north Seattle.
(See
TRIBUTES)
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| 28 |
Pisces Birthday of Fellow Singer-Songwriter,
SANDY ST. JOHN - and
-fond
remembrances of her husband, Dick St. John (1940
- 2003), singing partner, hit songwriter and
(with Dee Phelps) co-founding member of Dick 'n'
Dee Dee. |
| 28 |
Happy 2nd Birthday, Little Pisces goddess
LILLIAN,
Grammy Gretchen's 4th "Grammy Award". (:o) |
| 29 |
Pisces Leap Year Birthday of TheFleetwoods.com original web site's Designer,
RAENELL DAWN,
co-founder of the Honor Society of
Leap Year Day Babies (where Gretchen is on the
List of Famous Leapies!)
http://leapyearday.com/FamousLeapies.htm
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| 29 |
Pisces Leap Year Birthday
of JOE GIGLIO, tenor of The Four Aces,
and Gretchen's "twin" (fraternal, of course! o:) |
| 29 |
Pisces Leap Year Birthday of Founder &
Original Fleetwood, GRETCHEN DIANE CHRISTOPHER. |
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FLEETWOODS,
FRIENDS & PISCES!
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| 2 |
Pisces Birthday remembrance of
Fleetwood Barbara's husband PAUL LORANGER,
1943-2000
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| 2 |
Pisces Birthday of Pianist,
ANTONIO CASTILLO DE LA GALA
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| 3 |
Three generations of Pisces: Gretchen
Christopher, Christopher Matzen, and little
Lillian's family celebration! |
| 4 |
Pisces Birthday of former Disc
Jockey, RALPH KOAL.
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| 6 |
BOB MORGAN
interviews GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER at 8:05PM
on the Bob Morgan Show Live from Las Vegas,
broadcast on the web, via Nullsoft
Winamp 5.33. See
www.morganoharalive.com
for
details. |
| 11 |
Pisces Birthday of former
Seattle Times Columnist, DON DUNCAN
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| 11 |
Pisces Birthday remembrance of
Fleetwood Founder's Father,
IAN W.
CHRISTOPHER, 1900-1997
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| 13 |
Pisces Birthday of Replacement
Fleetwood, Cute Cousin KAREN CONE from
Connecticut
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALL YOU FELLOW
PISCES!
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| 5-15 |
PACIFIC
NORTHWEST BALLET details Rep IV:
Wheeldon, Duato & Balanchine, March 15 - 25,
2007
Polyphonia (Gyorgy Ligeti/Christopher
Wheeldon)
Rassemblement (Toto Bissainthe/Nacho Duato)
La Sonnambula (Vittorio Rieti*/George
Balanchine)
*based on themes by Vincenzo Bellini
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| 12 |
Actress, Director, Musician,
Arts Activist HELEN CHRISTOPHER Honored, four
year ago today as Recipient of 2003 Salute to the
Arts Award, "for your numerous and outstanding
contributions to the Arts in the South Sound
Area."
Capital city
official for over a quarter century, former
Olympia City Manager ELDON MARSHALL wrote
on 3/28/03
in a personal note of congratulations to Helen
Christopher (who
had been the only woman appointed to serve on
The Mayor's Committee of the '60's), "I
just want to express my thanks for your
leadership in achieving the 'Performing Arts
Center' for our community. If not for your
efforts and persistence I doubt that we would
have it today."
Helen Christopher
chaired the Auditorium Committee and decades of
volunteer work to make a reality the auditorium
which would be known as The Washington Center
for the Performing Arts, of which Marshall
called Christopher 'Mother of the Auditorium.' |
| 5-15 |
Pacific Northwest Ballet Rep V: Celebrate
Seattle Festival, WEEKS 1 & 2:
April 5–15, 2007, Marion McCaw Hall, Seatttle,
WA.
Featuring Northwest choreographers—Three weeks
of premiere-filled
performances featuring works from choreographers
that have lived and
worked in the Pacific Northwest. |
| 17-22 |
Pacific
Northwest Ballet Subscribers
receive Festival Week 1 or 2 (below) as Rep
V of their
2006-2007 Season.
Carmina Burana (Carl Orff/Kent Stowell)
Pacific (Lou Harrison/Mark Morris)
details Celebrate Seattle Festival — Week 3
Add On To Your Season!
April 17–22, 2007
Subscribers get first choice! Three
different premiere-filled
programs alternate on six consecutive days
including works from
Robert Joffrey, Merce Cunningham, Trisha
Brown, and Val Caniparoli.
Special guest artists to be announced.
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| 25 |
Going Away
Party for EVE & ROGER FISHER,
founding Guitarist of Heart (and Clever
Bastards), moving to the Czech Republic to be
near her family. We're invited to Prague for a
concert in June! Edgewater Hotel, Seattle. |
| 25 |
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GRETCHEN and GOLDY (front row center,
with
KAREN CHOYCE between, just
behind) had been introduced by DAVID
HARRIS (far right) at
EVE &
ROGER FISHER'S GOING AWAY PARTY,
at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle
(above). Though Rog's wife Eva would go
on to the Czech Republic next morning,
Rog was with us for one more celebration
(Goldy's, May 6) before joining Eva and
their little
6 year old Rogie to make their new home
in Prague. We'll miss you, Eva!
(See fun
photo, May 6).
PS If anyone can identify others in the
photo, please email
webmaster@TheFleetwoods.com. Thanks! |
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GRETCHEN
CHRISTOPHER,
KAREN CHOYCE, EVA FISHER
(behind hubbie's Heart
album), and brunette
KK RYDER behind
GABI &
SLAVKA SOBOTKOVA, all give
ROGER FISHER their
full
support and a great send-off, as he
and Eva head for the Czech
Republic.
April 25th, 2007 Going Away
Party, at the Edgewater Hotel,
Seattle.
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| 26 |
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Friend JACK VALENTI, Former
Special Assistant to US President Lyndon
Johnson; Author of books he gifted to
Gretchen Christopher; and long-time
President of the Motion Picture
Association of
America (1966-2004), nicknamed 'Czar of
the Motion Picture Industry',
the Movie
Czar
died April
26, 2007, at age 85, from complications
following a stroke in March. (For Gretchen's
remembrance and TRIBUTES,
CLICK HERE.)
Please Click on photo
to enlarge |
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| 26 |
Happy Birthday, dear brother! JAMES
CHRISTOPHER, Great Grand Master Laser
Sailracing Champion of the United States,
repeatedly since 2001. Congratulations, again
and again! |
| 29 |
92nd
Birthday, remembrance of JOSIE WILSON
(April 29, 1915 - January 18, 2007), Blue
Horizon Records Label Founder, original Producer
of The Ventures' music and Mother of The
Ventures' Co-Founder Don Wilson.
(See
TRIBUTES) |
| 30 |
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ZOLA TAYLOR (of THE PLATTERS,
with four #1 Hits, numerous Gold
Records) passed this morning (4/30/07).
She recently was taken into the hospital
and had to undergo emergency surgery.
After surgery she seemed to have been
recovering. Her nephew, Alfie Robinson,
received a call from the doctor this
morning informing him that her heart had
stopped and that they were not able to
revive her.
(See
TRIBUTES)
Please Click on photo
to enlarge |
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| 1 |
Five days after
his death at 85, friends and family members
honored Jack Valenti at the Cathedral of
Saint Matthew the Apostle, just a few blocks
from the White House where he served as
assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. Later, as
chief of the Motion Picture Association of
America, Valenti was a passionate film industry
lobbyist, deflecting criticism of Hollywood,
creating the rating system now in use for nearly
40 years, and fiercely combating threats to the
industry such as film piracy. |
| 2 |
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BIRTHDAY of GOLDY MCJOHN, former
keyboard player of Sparrow, Steppenwolf,
Humble Pie.
(See May 6.) |
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| 4 |
Happy Birthday,
ELLIE FRONEY
(friends since
before we were born, sculptor & potter, and
ongoing champion and sounding board for
Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN)! |
| 6 |
Happy
Birthday, GOLDY MCJOHN (ex-Steppenwolf
keyboard player)!
Let's party!
SURPRISE! Secretly
arranged
by Goldy's wife, Sonja, and everybody's friend
David Harris
and wife Glenna.
Over a hundred of us turned out
to
make Goldy's
day memorable, filling the Kung Fu
Club of Issaquah, WA, with hot music and cool
duds (we dressed
to evoke the
Sixties and Seventies).
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE |
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Which
blond has more fun?
Both:
Goldy McJohn & Gretchen Christopher!
Goldy's definitely surprised and
touched,
says it's a birthday he'll not
forget! |
|
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Karen
Choyce (in great Sixties drag) asks
Goldie to sign Steppehwolf album as
Gretchen looks on. |
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Hours of earsplitting jamming includes
Shelley & The Curves,
YES drummer Alan White
on drum solo
(above),
Rog Fisher on guitar,
as
crowd
rocks; takes pics with cell phone
cameras. |
|
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CLEVER BASTARDS' Guitarist Roger
Fisher (formerly of HEART),
rocks Issaquah before leaving for Czech
Republic.
Later for a change of pace,
and more
romantic sound, I sang"Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby
(Goldy)"
starting a cappella, a rhythm section
joining in beautifully. |
|
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When, by
popular request, I sang
"Come Softly To Me", inviting the
audience to join in the "dom doms";
Shelley (left) & The Curves jumped
onstage to spontaneously back me. |
|
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David
Harris's YES T-shirt was tie-dyed, and
flower child KK Ryder looked like a
lovely Indian Princess
(yet sang like a blues belter)! |
|
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A
young fan, aspiring musician, waiting
outside, is mesmerized as Goldy
generously meets, greets,
and shares his wisdom. |
|
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Goldy's
Surprise Party was documented
in photographs by
Richard Cooper (right) who also entertained Vos
with
a tour of the Harley Davidson
facility. |
|
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Gretchen Christopher
and Vos,
at
the end of a wonderful party,
before making the 70 mile tripback to Olympia. |
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| 9 |
Internment of
JACK VALENTI, at Arlington National Cemetery,
Washington, D.C.
I realize, in one of life's moments of
perfection, that, as Jack is laid to rest, I am
the same age that he was when we first met (67)
-- even though I was honestly celebrating my
12th Leap Year birthday, then, and am now in the
midst of celebrating only my 16th -- with the
album, Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16).
Though we shared some of my songs, early on, I'm
sorry I didn't get the finished CD to you in
time to amuse and sooth you, in your last months
and days. May you rest In peace, little giant.
You said, when you first saw me, you thought,
"Who is that woman? I must find out!"
And when I first observed you, I was struck by
the thought, "I don't know who that man is, but
he carries himself with such a sense of Self!"
Little did I know you would introduce yourself,
and I would learn what a legacy you'd leave -
both for the world and for me.
(See TRIBUTES) |
| 10 |
Happy
Birthday, VICTORIA MACDONALD (emerging
Screenwriter
and ongoing champion of Gretchen's
SWEET SIXTEEN)!
|
| 10 |
Wedding
Anniversary of Concert Producer DAVID HARRIS &
GLENNA GIBSON. .(I enjoyed writing and singing
special lyrics for your wedding! ) |
| 23 |
Happy Birthday,
adorable ELSA DORIAN, Fleetwoods Replacement,
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| 30 |
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In memory of the
Birthday of
P. STERLING RADCLIFFE,
May 30, 1929 -
January 18, 2007.
CoSongwriter of
Barry White's "You're the
First, the Last, My Everything".
Songwriter
and Producer of "City of the Angels",
recorded by Gretchen Christopher.
Click on photo to enlarge (See
TRIBUTES)
(Photo courtesy
Deborah Page,
www.myspace.com/emagineeringpage) |
|
| 31-10 |
PNB~ Pacific Northwest Ballet, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
details Rep VI: Stravinsky 125, May 31 - June
10, 2007
Celebrating Igor Stravinsky's 125th Birthday
Circus Polka (Igor Stravinsky/Jerome Robbins)
State of Darkness (Igor Stravinsky—The Rite of
Spring/Molissa Fenley)
Rubies (Igor Stravinsky/George Balanchine)
Symphony in Three Movements (Igor
Stravinsky/George Balanchine)
= PNB Premiere. Program Subject to Change. |
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| 16 |
MASTERWORKS
CHORALE ENSEMBLE: The Music of Billy Joel.
Washington Center for the Performing Arts,
Olympia, WA. |
| 31-10 |
PNB~Pacific Northwest Ballet, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
details Rep VI: Stravinsky 125, May 31 - June
10, 2007
Celebrating Igor Stravinsky's 125th Birthday
Circus Polka (Igor Stravinsky/Jerome Robbins)
State of Darkness (Igor Stravinsky—The Rite of
Spring/Molissa Fenley)
Rubies (Igor Stravinsky/George Balanchine)
Symphony in Three Movements (Igor
Stravinsky/George Balanchine)
= PNB Premiere. Program Subject to Change. |
| 23 |
Happy Birthday, dear brother!
WILLIE IAN |
| 24 |
Remembering BOB - ROBERT REISDORF
- The Fleetwoods'
Producer & Dolphin/Dolton Records President born 85 years ago this day,
and who, five years ago, June 15th, passed away.
He may be gone, but the beautiful,
ground-breaking, now-classic music he produced
lives on. We love you Bob!
(See
TRIBUTES) |
| 27 |
In remembrance of
LENORE
O'CONNOR SEVERSON and our final musical
celebration of her life, "Encore for Lenore." |
| 28 |
AMERICA'S FESTIVAL, Tribute to the late
DAN SCHWARTZ by Greater Olympia Dixieland
Jazz Society Chairman Charlotte Dickison, Dan's
dance partner Gretchen Christopher, JEAN
KITTRELL & THE ST. LOUIS RIVERMEN playing
"Didn't He Ramble" at opening festivities of one
of Dan's favorite 3-4 day jazz festivals, at
Worthington
Center, St. Martin's University, Lacey, WA |
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
AMERICA! and Gretchen's "Guardian Angel"
CHUCK DREYER!
|
A visit to
Vos's mother, IRENE VOSBURGH in St.
Peter's Hospital.
She was frail
and thin, the shunt to her heart for
dialysis now abandoned, as infection had set
in. I held her hand,
stroked her white hair, looked into her
eyes and told her, "I
want you to
know, I think you are
a very
smart woman."
|
She tried to
respond but there was only a gurgle in her
throat.
|
|
I said, "I
know that you are near the end of your
life. I just wanted to say that, if there
truly is an after life, I hope you really
make the most of it, for I know you are a
very, very smart person."
And then I added, "And thank you for
giving birth to Vos."
|
Irene's eyes
left mine and
went to Vos, who had visited her the day
before, as
well. He took her other hand, said
again,
"I've
been missing you already. Please remember
the good times
we had;
for there were many of them."
He told her,
"Today's the Fourth of July."
|
We said our
goodbye and spoke with the nurse outside the
room, wondering if his mother had truly
heard what we were saying. The nurse said,
"I don't know, but we're told that hearing
is the last thing to go."
|
I mentioned
that it sounded as if Irene needed her
throat cleared. The nurse said, "At this
point we just try to keep her comfortable.
For us to clear her throat would not be
comfortable for her."
|
I understood
and thanked her for her care of Mrs.
Vosburgh, and tears filled my eyes.
|
From there we
stopped to visit my own mother, almost 98,
still able to walk (though admonished to use
a walker) and speak and read and do
crossword puzzles, play Scrabble, and live
on her own, with hired caregiver 9 to 5
care, my brother on weekends, and myself
Monday/Tuesday. What a blessing to have
her.
|
 |
VOS and his yummy flag
cake. |
That
evening, musician friends ELSA DORIAN
& EVAN DAVIS joined Vos and me at The Firs
on Budd Inlet, for a purposely peaceful
Fourth at The Firs, with good conversation,
our softly singing to Evan's guitar, Vos's
yummy "flag cake", and the beauty of
fireworks displays over the bay.
We walked
down the lighted path to the beach and
watched more from the dock. We said
goodnight before midnight, as Evan would
leave for France, early next morning, and
then Elsa for California. |
|
| 5 |
IRENE VOSBURGH passed away at age 90,
apparently peacefully, just after 10AM , at St
Peter's Hospital, Olympia, WA, the day after Independence Day. She so wanted
to be independent. No more dialysis. Her
pain is over. I'm so glad we communicated with her yesterday (see
July 4th) and before. To Know is to
Understand. And to Understand is to Love. Though,
the last week,
she couldn't speak, I believe she heard and knows that she was sincerely
acknowledged for
something that may not have been apparent or recognized in most of her
lifetime. One of the gifts she gave us: It was she who brought Vos and me
together again, by sending him a newspaper feature about me, after we'd been
apart nearly 40 years. Blessings
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rhythm and
blues singer BILL PINKNEY, the last
surviving member of the original lineup of THE DRIFTERS, was found
dead in his hotel room hours before he was due to perform in a July 4
celebration.
Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said 81-year-old Pinkney was found dead
on Wednesday evening at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort in
Florida. There was no evidence of foul play, he said.
Pinkney was scheduled to perform with The Original Drifters that
night for U.S. Independence Day festivities.
His manager Maxine Porter said Pinkney had been suffering from heart
problems recently but that it was too soon to say if the cause of
death was a heart attack.
She said a funeral would be held next week in Sumter in Pinkney's
home state of South Carolina.
The Drifters were known for such hits as "Money Honey," "Under the
Boardwalk," and the 1954 cover version of "White Christmas."
Pinkney, a World War Two veteran and former pitcher for the New York
Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League, was the only surviving member
of the original lineup of the group that formed in 1953. He left the
group in 1958 in a dispute over money and set up The Original Drifters.
Seven members of The Drifters, including Pinkney, were inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Note: The Fleetwoods, who performed in concert with various
incarnations of The Drifters, send condolences to fans, friends and
family of Bill Pinkney, as well as the surviving members of The
Drifters and The Original Drifters (of whom Bill was the only
original still performing).
|
| 8 |
|
 |
Concert to benefit
ROSIE HAMILIN of ROSIE & THE ORIGINALS Rosie's publicist writes,
"Perhaps you could contribute to the cause by helping us to get the word out
about the benefit concert that we will be holding in Rosie's honor this July
8th at the Pearson Park Amphitheater in Anaheim, California. If you would be
so kind to alert your fans to the following website this would be greatly
appreciated.
http://www.therosieproject.com
Gretchen response:
"Yes, all you Fleetwoods' fans; let's rally for Rosie! Wishing Rosie
great benefit from the concert, improved health, and happiness!"
|
|
Click on photo to enlarge |
|
| 11 |
GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16) CD preview and Sensaria Experience.
The Firs on Budd Inlet. Olympia, WA. |
| 14 |
RECORDING ACADEMY
PICNIC,
Hamlin Park, Shoreline WA. Gretchen's
SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16) CD
preview
for members of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of The Recording Academy's Grammy
consideration was not
allowed; nor was anyone
else's. This was a new ruling handed down from The Recording Academy (NARAS),
said
Northwest Chapter President Ben England, to whom objections were expressed.
How else are we to hear one another's
work and be able to voteknowledgeably? Previewing
was encouraged last year but not allowed this year! On the bright
side were reunions with folkswe met last year: Jazz organist Steve Hall with his
upcoming CD, and Richard Werth of
World Meditation Ensemble, nownumber
one seller in its genre (World Music), through Walmart. Congratulations! |
| 17 |
RECORDING,
"Everything I Wanna Be" with ALAN WHITE (Yes) on drums, Gretchen
Christopher, Keyboards and Vocal.
At the Grammy celebrations, 2 and 3
years ago,
Alan and I had talked about his playing
on my album. I was humbly grateful when he
recently
came to my aid, returning
from L.A. and joining me for a last minute redo of
"Everything I Wanna Be",
my newest song for the CD,
Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16). According to Wikipedia, in 1969,
White received a call from John Lennon (he thought it was a prankster)
asking him to join the Plastic Ono Band for a show that became the hit
album, LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO. He also performed with Lennon on the legendary
IMAGINE album and the single, "Instant Karma". When Lennon introduced White
to fellow Beatle alumnus, George Harrison, he was asked to perform on the
ALL THINGS MUST PASS album, including the single, "My Sweet Lord".
|
 |
Pacific Studios Owner/Engineer Markus Simmons sets up drum kit for
Alan White to record with
Gretchen Christopher. (Photos courtesy KK Ryder
© 2007 Gold Cup Music)
|
|
|
 |
Gretchen dances to check the tempo and the groove. It's gotta have
that good groove for dancing!
Gretchen: "Thank you, Alan!" |
|
 |
Alan White contributed lots of rhythm and a variety of drum licks in
6/8 time, with Gretchen Christopher
playing keyboard and singing. Now Mark and Gretchen (seen through
studio window) will edit, mix; and
overdub her final vocal next week.
|
|
| 20 |
LAKEFAIR ROYALTY LUNCHEON:
personal appearance of first Lakefair Princess, Gretchen Christopher (1958)
and
mother Helen Christopher, seated with past Lakefair Queens, Jan Pantier
(1959); Dorothy Frisch (1970); Anna Alexander
(1984) and her mother Sally Alexander Anacker. Gretchen acknowledged her
mother as the source of whatever poise and
talent equipped her for the role of first Lakefair royalty. Honorary
Capitalarian Bob Barnes lead a standing ovation for Helen Christopher; then
Capitalarian Master of Ceremonies Dale Hume, acknowledge Helen Christopher
as "co-founder
of Olympia
Little Theater," and
Gretchen announced that in 10 days, all would be celebrating her mother's
98th birthday!
Little Creek Casino, Shelton,WA.
|
| 20 |
PRESIDENT'S ROSE PLANTING; Schmidt Mansion, Tumwater, WA. |
| 21 |
|
 |
ELDON MARSHALL, HONORED CAPITALARIAN (& 28 years City Manager
of
Olympia; see his quote on July 30th) and GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER,
CAPITAL LAKEFAIR'S 1ST PRINCESS.
Photo by Richard Vosburgh © 2007
Gold Cup Music |
|
|
From his 28 years experience as City Manager of Olympia, Eldon wrote to
Gretchen's mother, Helen Christopher, 1993 Recipient of the Salute to the
Arts Award, a personal note of congratulations. "I just want to express my
thanks for your leadership in achieving the 'Performing Arts Center' for our
community. If not for your efforts and persistence I doubt that we would have it
today." The Washington Center for The Performing Arts, a lovely monument to
work toward by many, including decades devoted by Helen Christopher, now
celebrating her 98th birthday (see July 30). |
 |
Gretchen Christopher, ready to wave in
the parade.
Sharon and Jess Crain, ready to ride and drive.
Photo by Richard Vosburgh © 2007
Gold Cup Music |
|
|
 |
Despite the rain, crowds cheer and
line Capitol Way for 20 blocks as "1958 Capital Lakefair
Princess Gretchen" waves from
inside the teal1950 Plymouth Convertible provided by The Stitch
Works.
(The top is up, not to protect Gretchen, but the upholstery! :o)
Viewed from Sylvester Park,
|
|
 |
When rain lets up enough to put the top
down, Princess Gretchen Christopher and car
owner/driver
Jess Crain with wife Sharon are all smiles (delighted by
sight of Gretchen's grandchild Kamiel,
almost 5, with Victoria). Ferris wheel in background is at Capital Lake,
where parade ends. |
|
|
 |
Great
friends of Gretchen: Victoria MacDonald (Screenwriter) and Elsa
Dorian (Fleetwoods Replacement) at
Gina & Chris Matzen's 2nd Annual WIMBLEDON WHITES Lakefair Badminton
Championships, Olympia, WA.
Photo by Gretchen Christopher 2007 © Gold Cup Music.
|
|
| 22 |
Gretchen interviewed on HOLLYWOOD STARLIGHT SHOW, Radio WOLT 103.3, noon Sunday,
July 22. |
| 23 |
RECORDING VOCAL, MIXING "Everything I Wanna Be". Pacific Studios, Tacoma, WA. |
 |
"Everything I Wanna Be, is inside of me....." |
|
26-
30 |
A series of FAMILY GATHERINGS to CELEBRATE HELEN CHRISTOPHER, completing her
98TH year and beginning her 99th! Happily, she's
been "kicked out" of hospice. Humor intact, she says, "I've been kicked out of
better places."
(:o) |
| 26 |
PRIVATE PARTY/CALIFORNIANS. The Firs on Budd Inlet.
Arrivals of Sonja Christopher, Gail Sexton, Jim &
Gina Christopher, all from California (and daughter Sharon Christopher Naranjo
from New Mexico, so sorry you couldn't join us,
after all). WELCOME DINNER at The Firs on
Budd Inlet, Olympia, WA. |
| 27 |
Family Brunch
on the beach near Linda Christopher Walker's,
at Boston Harbor.
Helmers host!
50+ ANNIVERSARY of VOS meets Gretchen (Sweet Sixteen!) Boat Ride. Gretchen
interviewed by Dave Wood on
DADDY DAVE'S HOLLYWOOD DINER, XM RADIO 50s on 5, accessed through AOL radio
at 8PM (PDT),
one week's delay (Aug. 3)
DINNER PARTY FOR NANA at Chris & Gina Matzen's, Olympia, WA.
|
| 28 |
50+ ANNIVERSARY of VOS & Gretchen's
(Sweet
Sixteen!) First Date!
GRETCHEN INTERVIEWED
one hour live,
by KELLY WATTS on The Class Reunion
"CELEBRITY INTERVIEW SERIES", K-RIM Radio, 3PM (PDT);
and by Dave
Wood on DADDY DAVE'S HOLLYWOOD DINER, 8PM,
XM RADIO 50s on 5 (one week's
delay, to be broadcast Aug. 4).
|
 |
SOUTH BAY SCHOOL REUNION: Gina & Jim Christopher (sunglasses),
back row, left. Gretchen Christopher, front row, right. |
|
 |
Gina, Jim and Gretchen (Christopher, bro & sis), and Vos
(who photographed South Bay Grade School Reunion, above). |
|
|
THEN, THE BIG ONE: Helmers' CELEBRATION of NANA's 98th! Starts at 3PM, Olympia
WA. |
| 29 |
BRUNCH & PRIVATE PARTY at The Firs.
Introducing Sensaria (www.mysensaria.com/kimari)
and preview Sweet Sixteen CD's
"Everything I Wanna Be".
OLYMPIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (in which
Pere/Ian Christopher had played flute and cello for 33 years)
CONCERT on the C APITOL CAMPUS,
Olympia, WA. (Thanks to Gina and Chris Matzen,
Nana had front row seats, and family appeared in photo on front page of The
Olympian, July 30; nice birthday surprise, next morning!)
"Legendary Artist Interview Series"
features GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER on Friday Class Reunion on KRIM FM in Payson,
Arizona, Friday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (Gretchen will be
on at 2PM Pacific Standard Time, 3PM MST). Host Kelly Watts says, "To listen on
the web, just go to www.mypayson.com and,
on the right, under DAILY DESTINATIONS, click on Watch Channel 4."
(This show is the sound track for the City of Payson channel 4.)
Click & LISTEN TO INTERVIEW
|
| 30 |
98th BIRTHDAY of HELEN CHRISTOPHER,
acknowledged by Eldon Marshall (28 year Manager
of the City of Olympia) as "Mother of the Auditorium" (Washington
Center for The Performing Arts),
among her myriad cultural
contributions over the
decades.
Celebrated with a private party at
Panorama City, Lacey, WA. |
| 30 |
Happy 98th Birthday, HELEN CHRISTOPHER, Recipient of the 2003 Salute to the Arts Award -- and Beautiful Matriarch!
|
RICHARD VOSBURGH wrote to HELEN CHRISTOPHER,
"To say that you deserve all the honor that has come
to you
goes without saying, but I'm happy it's being said.
Success and dignity so seldom accompany each other
that your dignity masked your success for too great a
while.
Your contributions to the arts are eclipsed only
by the raising
of your family. They say an educated woman educates a
family.
Your children are the living messages you have sent
into time.
Passed from generation to generation, that message is
heard
like an echo from an unknown place.
Wherever you sit becomes the head of the table."
|
 |
|
| 31 |
Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary to Gretchen's
nephew (former Special Effects Artist for George
Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic
on Twister;
Star Wars: Episode 1,The Phantom Menace),
DAN SHUMAKER and his bride TONI NAYLOR.
Together,
they've earned their Master of Theology
degrees. Dan now teaches Graphic Arts full time
at the San Francisco Art Institute University in
San Francisco. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DAN & TONI,
WE'LL MISS YOU IN OLYMPIA! |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
FINAL RECORDING SESSION, MIX & MASTER
"Everything I Wanna Be" and Gretchen's SWEET
SIXTEEN!
(SUITE 16),
Pacific Studios, Tacoma, WA. |
 |
Hey, KK, I think we're done. Marcus;
job well done! |
|
 |
Photographer KK Ryder;
Songwriter-Artist-Producer
Gretchen Christopher; Pacific
Studios
Owner-Engineer Mark
Simmons.
Photos courtesy KK Ryder
© 2007 Gold
Cup Music.
Read KK Ryder's
review of
Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16)
on
our
NEWS & REVIEWS, and check out KK
herself
at
http://rebelprincess.com
|
|
| 3-4 |
DADDY DAVE'S HOLLYWOOD DINER broadcasts
interview with GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER and her FlEETWOODS recording of "Man In A Raincoat", 8PM
Friday & 1PM Saturday (PDT) on XM RADIO (50s on
5). May be accessed through AOL Radio, or sign
up for a XM RADIO (free trial) at
http://xmro.xmradio.com/
, also on
Direct TV Channel 805. |
| 4-5 |
Birthday of GINA
(daughter-in-law of The Fleetwoods' Founder) and
fifth wedding anniversary of GINA and CHRISTOPHER
MATZEN, (Gretchen's son), CAMPING
TRIP CELEBRATION, Bayview State Park, Anacortes,
WA. |
| 7 |
Birthday of EVA (Mrs. Roger
Fisher, wife of Heart's Founding Guitarist)
|
| 10 |
SIGN PHOTOS & RECORDS,
donate celebrity-owned items for sale, OHS
Reunion Fundraiser.
Yetts', Tumwater, WA. |
| 11 |
OHS REUNION FUNDRAISER.
Autograph Photos, CDs; donate celebrity-owned
items for sale
Yetts', Tumwater, WA. |
| 16 |
OHS '58 REUNION PICNIC, SILENT AUCTION: co-sign Fleetwoods CDs,
LPs, Photos.
Eklund-Phillips, Olympia, WA. |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
Catch two live broadcast interviews -
Kenny Vance (of the Planotones and Jay and
the Americans) this Saturday
September
1st at 1 PM, and then Philly Cuz at 2 PM on
the Wildwood NJ Bill Culp show. Listen Live
on your PC
at
www.943wilw.com ,
e-mail a question to
bill.culp@comcast.net
, or request a
Kenny Vance or Philly Cuzz song.
Hear from
two recording artists who are awakening the
Neo Doo Wop Giant. Philly Cuzz will be
appearing with
"THE FLEETWOODS starring
GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER" at the 2nd Annual Cool
Bobby B Doo Wop Convention
in Las Vegas,
November 16-18, 2007. Click here for details.
www.doowopstop.com
|
| 5 |
GRAMMY SUBMISSION DEADLINE, 6PM. For
best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, hear sound
clips
http://www.thefleetwoods.com/sweet16CD.html
Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16),
Special thanks to Richard Werth & World
Meditation Ensemble http://www.worldmeditationensemble.com/music.htm
- for your support! |
| 6 |
Luciano Pavarotti dies. Oct.
12, 1935 - Sept. 6, 2007 &n | | |
