Tuesday, June 29, 2021

LGBTQ+ folks across the country — no matter where you are on your journey — know you are loved and accepted just as you are

Bruce Springsteen's First Night Back on Broadway


The marquee of the St. James Theatre was officially relit after 471 days on Saturday, June 26 as Bruce Springsteen returned to Broadway for a summertime residency. Here are clips from the historic night, including his entrance, songs, and curtain call.



Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Song Power Baby!


 

Friday, June 18, 2021

To Celebrate Juneteenth, Listen To A Reading Of The Emancipation Proclamation


Click on the audio link to hear NPR staff members read — in celebration of the June 19th holiday — the Emancipation Proclamation, and follow along below.

More from NPR at link here.


From left: Michel Martin, Noel King, Sam Sanders, Rodney Carmichael, Juana Summers, Dwane Brown, Audie Cornish, Tonya Mosley, Karen Grigsby Bates, Korva Coleman, Gene Demby, Cheryl Corley, Eric Deggans, Ayesha Rascoe and Walter Ray Watson

Photo illustration by Amna Ijaz/NPR

The Emancipation Proclamation

Michel Martin

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

Noel King

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free;

Sam Sanders

and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

Rodney Carmichael

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States;

Juana Summers

and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Dwane Brown

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion,

Audie Cornish

do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Tonya Mosley

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama,

Karen Grigsby Bates

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

Korva Coleman

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free;

Gene Demby

and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

Cheryl Corley

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

Eric Deggans

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

Ayesha Rascoe

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

Walter Ray Watson

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

The Killers - Dustland (Official Music Video) ft. Bruce Springsteen


 


"We gotta do Dustland one day"

Bruce Springsteen's collaboration with The Killers, a revisitation of their "Dustland Fairytale" is out today. 

In addition to the video above, you can find the track on multiple digital services here.

A letter from frontman Brandon Flowers shared by The Killers on social media provides liner notes for the single:

February 29, 2020
JFK terminal 2
Destination: Salt Lake City, Utah

I'm a little more anxious than usual about tonight's flight. Universal just sent out an umbrella email to all artists: "Continue promotion AT YOUR OWN RISK." There's a new virus going around, and it's shutting down the promotional run for our latest and greatest — Imploding the Mirage. We're dead proud of the record and can't wait for the world to get a load of it. But what was meant to be a rocket launch, stadium shaking, saliva-inducing tour run was about to come to a screeching halt. There's plenty of time before boarding, so I get a burger at Wendy's and call Tana. She's excited to get her husband home early. And I have to be honest, I'm a little relieved to be getting home early myself.

Around the time I find my gate, I start getting some texts from a number I don't have marked in my phone. "Watching Glastonbury. You guys have become one hellacious live band my brother! Love the gold suit! We gotta do Dustland one day." Signed off with: "Bruce."

Now I've got 3 options here:
1. Some cold-blooded monster is playing a cruel trick on me.
2. It's Bruce Hornsby. But I haven't talked with him since 2015ish.
Or
3. It really is Bruce Springsteen (I forgot to put both Bruce's numbers in that phone).

So I google the area code. It's from Freehold, New Jersey, and I'm still not convinced. So I text Evan (Bruce and Patti's son who has become a buddy of mine) and get verification that the number really is coming from his old man.

And then, Covid Happened. We were sorry that we didn't get to tour it, but genuinely happy that we were able to release Imploding the Mirage as some sort of consolation. This is what we do, and this is what we have to offer. A joyful record about unity and perseverance. Our interpretation of that promised light that lives just beyond the boundary of sorrow.

I have always sought to find and reflect that elusive light in my songs. It's a trait I inherited from my mother Jean. She died from a brain tumor back in 2010 at the age of 64… Sixty Four! I'm turning 40 next week and I'm starting to realize just how young that is. Too young. She was married to my father Terry for 44 of those years. Dustland was written in the middle of her battle with cancer. It was an attempt to better understand my dad, who is sometimes a mystery to me. To grieve for my mother. To acknowledge their sacrifices and maybe even catch a glimpse of just how strong love needs to be to make it in this world. It was my therapy. It was cathartic.

That's where Bruce comes in. Before I really became a fan of his, I was in the business of stadium-size everything. Larger than life EVERYTHING. Certainly larger than the lives of Jeannie and Terry Flowers. But Bruce has written a lot about people like my parents and found a whole lot of beauty in otherwise invisible people's hopes and dreams. Their struggles, and their losses.

I'm grateful to him for opening this door for me. I'm grateful to my parents for their example to me. Now go find something new out about your dad, give your mom a big hug, and for god's sake listen to Bruce Springsteen.




 

Saturday, June 05, 2021

Tonight- June 5, 2021- The L.A. Zoo's Beastly Ball

 


Gregg Chadwick
Isbjørn
30”x30” oil on linen 2020
On exhibit at Los Angeles Zoo's Beastly Ball


Excited that my painting Isbjørn is up for auction at this year's benefit for the Los Angeles Zoo. Direct link to Isbjørn here - https://one.bidpal.net/beastlyball2021/browse/3(details:item/75)

The L.A. Zoo's Beastly Ball is happening virtually on June 5 at 6 p.m. and features its first-ever art auction, along with musical performances, animal moments, conservation stories, celeb cameos, and more! I'm excited to support L.A.’s biggest fundraiser devoted to saving species, with funds going to help sustain all the great work that happens at the L.A. Zoo! Watch live and participate in the silent art auction at http://beastlyball.lazoo.org


#LAZoo #BeastlyBall #conservation
#artforconservation #artist #artistslife

Great News: 31 million people now have coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

President Biden and President Obama in conversation about love, loss, health, and family.




 

Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Juanes - Dancing in the Dark (Official Video)


Juanes – Dancing in the Dark (Official Video)


Subscribe Juanes' YouTube channel:
https://smarturl.it/JuanesYT Listen to " Dancing in the Dark " on your favorite streaming platform: https://Juanes.lnk.to/Dancing!UMLE Connect with Juanes on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Juanes Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanes TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@Juanes Lyrics Despierto en la noche (I wake up at night) Roto sin nada que decir, (broken with nothing to say) Y luego en la mañana (and then the next morning) Me siento igual no puedo seguir, (I feel the same I can’t keep going anymore) Estoy tan cansado, (I am so tired) Tan cansado y hastiado de mi (so tired and jaded) A mi lado, necesito algo más de ti (by my side, I need something more from you) CORO: No prende el fuego (Can’t start a fire ) No prende el fuego sin voluntad (Can’t start a fire without will) Deja el misterio (stop with the mystery) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) Siempre las mismas señales (always the same signals) La radio suena en mi habitación (the radio plays in my room) Me miro en el espejo (I look at myself in the mirror) Quiero cambiar mi nombre mi corazón (I want to change my name my heart) Voy a ninguna parte (I ain’t going nowhere) Estoy viviendo una miseria aquí (I am living a misery here) Tan solo quiero encontrarte (I just want to find you) Para poder revivir (so that I can revive) CORO: No prende el fuego (Can’t start a fire ) No prende el fuego sin voluntad (Can’t start a fire without will) Deja tu ego (leave your ego) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) El tiempo nunca perdona (time never forgives) Parece broma no puedes huir (seems like a trap you can’t escape) El mundo de desmorona (the world is falling to pieces) Y yo sigo detrás de ti (and I am still chasing you) El ruido de las calles (the noise in the streets) Repite tu nombre sin parar (repeats your name without a break) Dicen que amar quita el hambre (they say love stops hanger) Que esperas si estas a punto de reaccionar (what are you waiting for to react) Sigo sin encontrarme (I still haven’t found myself) Escribiendo este libro que no tiene fin (writing this book which doesn’t have an ending) Necesito buscarte (I need to find you) Dame una mirada que me haga sentir (give me a look that makes me feel) CORO: No prende el fuego (Can’t start a fire ) Si no hay fuerza de voluntad (if there is no will) Ni un hasta luego (not even goodbye) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) CORO: No prende el fuego (Can’t start a fire ) Preocupado y sin claridad (worried without clarity) Olvida el ego (forget the ego) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) Y bailemos en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) Hey hey (hey hey) Y bailemos aquí en la oscuridad (and let’s dance in the dark) #Juanes #DancingInTheDark #Origen Music video by Juanes performing Dancing In The Dark. Universal Music Latino; © 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. http://vevo.ly/hcgC1w