Many thanks to all the photographers who contributed their work to this page: John Stone, Patty Proper, Maria Costanzo, and Dolly Howard.
If you continue to read down the list, you'll find that I'm mainly interested in music, drums, guitars, and other musicians (on the professional side of things); and my family/friends (on the personal side of things!) You'll also get the idea that I ramble on FAR too long about everything...hence, the title of my page.
Some of my "other" interests include: The practicing of my faith, which involves the very rewarding service of teaching Continuing Christian Development to junior high students; The PEACE movement - Activist Tom Hayden says "anti-war movements die as soon as the war is over. Peace movements last forever."; KSU May 4th, 1970; Notre Dame Football; Computers & Technology.
I'd like to meet:
Jesus of Nazareth, JFK, John Lennon, George Harrison, Jeff Porcaro, John Bonham, Keith Moon, and Howard Hughes. Unfortunately, they all live too far away.
Music:
The Beatles, Jack Chesterfield, Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, John Lennon, PaulMcCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Julian Lennon, Jimmy Chesterfield, Jude Cole, STING, Police,Level 42, Guess Who, Jon Anderson, YES, Asia, Circa, UK, Genesis, Stevie Ray Vaughn, AllanHoldsworth, Pink Floyd, ELP, ELO, King Crimson, Loreena McKennitt, Anoushka Shankar, Phil Collins,Aerosmith, Steely Dan, Queen, Journey, Styx, Supertramp, LaFlavour, TOTO, Oasis, Utopia, ToddRundgren, SEAL, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Harry Chapin, Heart, Stevie Wonder, Sly and theFamily Stone, Peter Frampton, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith, Joe Walsh, Eagles, Don Henley, GlenFrey, Big Pat, Elvis Presley, Crosby-Stills-Nash and Young, Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton,Chicago, Chic Corea, Moody Blues, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blood Sweat & Beers, Temptations,Supremes, Otis Redding, The Jacksons, America, Nickelback, John Mayer, Ramsey Lewis, Herb Alpert& TJB, Bread, Carly Simon, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, James Taylor, Keith Urban, George Benson,Gerry Beckley, James Burton, Albert Lee, Chet Atkins, Steve Howe, Benjamin Payne, Phil Keaggy,Elton John, and Steve Hackett.
PLUS....Lots of Jazz, Contemporary Christian (Jars Of Clay, Amy Grant, FFH, Switchfoot, Reliant K, DCTalk), Modern Country, Classical, and New Age Celtic Mambo.
Favorite Drummers:
Tony Scarpitti, Jeff Porcaro, Ringo Starr, JimmyChesterfield, Buddy Rich (of course!) and his illegitimate son "Fast Eddie" Ellis, Mike Henry (thanks,Mike), Phil Gould, John "Breeze" Ladson, Dan "Rolling Riser" Bernard, Carlos Vega, Jim Keltner, RickMarotta, Hal Blaine, Steve Jordan, Tal Bergman, Charlie Watts, Bill Bruford, Nick Ceroli, Nir Z, PatMastelotto, Scott Williamson, Alan White, Carl Palmer, Zakir Hussain, Sheila E, Keith Moon, AlessiaMattalia, Bobby Stocker, Tony Watson, Bryant Watson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Trilok Gurtu, Dave Weckl,Clayton Cameron, Joe Vitale, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Liberty DeVitto, Joe English, Steve Gadd,Gerry Conway, Peter Erskine, Jim Gordon, Bill Roth, Paul Leim, Bernard Purdie, Abe Laboriel Jr., OmarHakim, Manu Katche, Danny Seraphine, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bobby Columby, Jamie Oldaker, MikeBotts, John Siomos, Gary Chester, Rod Morgenstein, John Robinson, Ronnie Tutt, Chester Thompson,Tris Imboden, Gene Krupa, Bill Policy, Tom DiSabitino, Scott Grewell, Louis Bellson, Mickey & TommyEritano, Ginger Baker, Les DeMerle, Jack DeJohnette, Russ Kunkel, Neil Peart, Virgil Donati, OmarHakim, Lonnie Clayton Jr., Jason Edwards, Nick LePar, Stuart Elliott, Mike Portnoy, Tim Alexander, Tre'Cool, Alex Van Halen, Dennis Chambers, Rick Allen, Mike Portnoy, Chad Wackerman, Steve Smith,David Garibaldi, Tony Williams, Joe Morello, Willie Leacox, Max Roach, Dino Danelli...
______________ please add yourself here.
Oh, and here's Jeff....need I say more?
...and, of course, the latest from RINGO....
Two of the biggest influences on my life, my teacher Mike Henry and my good friend "Fast Eddie" Ellis.I'm not sure who won this battle. Ed is one of the world's finest magicians, so he's capable of makingMike disappear, giving Eddie the edge. I'm calling it a TIE! I love you guys....
Movies:
Movies? These are tiny little pictures pieced together in sequence so that when they're run through a special projector, they appear to resemble moving images. Here are two examples. My Uncle Joe was an extremely talented film maker who passed away recently. His tasteful work while documenting our family history inspired these two videos, the first a prelude, the second the music video for my song "Cameraman," which is a heartfelt tribute to Uncle Joe
This is the music video for "Cameraman." Thanks to my brother Mark for his phenomenal editing and creativity.
Here's a MUSIC VIDEO by "CIRCA" which features YES members Alan White, Tony Kaye, and Billy Sherwood, as well as incredible guitarist Jimmy Haun.
Television:
A telecommunication system for broadcasting and receiving moving pictures and sound over a distance. The word is derived from mixed Latin and Greek roots, meaning "far sight". Thanks to the advances in display technology, there are now several kinds of video displays used in modern TV sets: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), Rear projection (Simon Cowell), Flat panel (Paula Abdul), and LED (light emitting diode). Aspects include Normal (Ryan Seacrest) and Wide Screen (Randy Jackson). Television was, for the most part, invented by Philo Taylor Farnsworth, who was robbed blind for his innovative inventions by the conglomerates. He died bitter, penniless, and largely unknown. God Bless America.
Here's a tiny version of classic television featuring Rick Wakeman from the TV special "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, & Howe - An Evening of Yes Music, Plus":
...and, an historical piece of television from 1954 starring THE MAN...Mr. Chet Atkins performing an astounding version of "Mr. Sandman"
Books:
Books, as I recall, were a primitive form of communication used by ancient civilizations to keep a record of things. The information was either printed or written down on paper (a wood product), then bound together by a combination of thread and glue. Often, during the binding process, the glue would be inhaled - hence, the written works of people like Edgar Allen Poe, etc.... Additionally, books (which had already been written, bound, and sniffed) were balanced atop the heads of potential debutantes striving for improved posture. Frequently, the books would fall off and break their toes. I suspect this might be one reason why books no longer exist, and why many cultures during modern times have rendered them "dangerous".
If you happen to be illegally reading a book right now (which would be quite a multitasking trick since you're reading THIS), please put it down and watch this trailer for the new Michael Moore film "SiCKO". Then ask yourself, "Why is the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the world, ranked 37th in health care?"
To close out my little montage of videos, here's a thought-provoking clip from Sir Paul. Apparently, in 1914 there was a Christmas truce between British and German troops fighting in WWI beginning on December 24th. After both sides crossed enemy lines, songs were sung, bottles of wine were passed around, and a friendly soccer game broke out between the two sides. Documentation suggests the Germans won 3-2. Could there be a lesson here?
Heroes:
My heroes are those members of my family, as well as a few very close friends, who have guided me along the way and put up with my nonsense. You know who you are! In the "without whom" department, special recognition goes to: Cathie, Tony, Emily, Mom & Dad ("Being There" was written for them), Mark, Penni, Johnny, Johnny's Younger Brother, Nanna ("When We Were Young" was written for her), Uncle Bill P ("To The Beat Of A Drum" was written for him), Aunt Jennie, Uncle Joe ("Cameraman" was written for him), Aunt Mary, Uncle Bill C, Uncle Frank, Aunt Clara, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Roxy, Uncle Jay, Uncle Steve, Aunts Julie & Anne, Uncle Bill V, Aunt Carmen, Aunt Lola, Cousins Joe, John the Merch, Norma, Angela & Katie, Jeananne, Jennifer & Joseph, Carolyn, Frankie S III, Sandy, Kari & Michael M, Frankie M, Frankie M III & Candace, Tom, Vince C., Amy, Nicky, Jonathan, & Michael K, Steve, Rick, Gina, Nicole, Dave, Jeannie, Tom (Chip), Jan....in-laws Janet, Tom M Sr., Chris, Dave, Tom M Jr., Sean & Megan, Grandpa Ed, Papa & Grammy, "Best Men" & Cousins-in-law George, Jim H, Joe S, Frankie S, Nick K (you guys are all like brothers to Mark & I), and "Best Girls" Maria Solidad, Juju, Aunt Janet, Lucia & Cynthia (spouses & families); 2nd Cousins Joey, & Rocky (plus spouses & families); Godparents Frank & Loretta....plus all THEIR kids, spouses, cousins, inlaws, outlaws, or bylaws I may have forgotten. Lastly but not leastly, my Godchildren Angela & Christina, as well as the guys I've sponsored in Confirmation, brother Mark, Joey M, and Tony L. *Note: if you feel you've been left off this list, it's because there are too many of you to remember and my fingers got sore typing this LONG list! Yes, Cousin Mary, I'm thinking of you, Vince C, Jimmy C, Doc Gary & Family, Monica & Family, and the twins & both your families! See? You got your own section! I love you all very much! To Michelle for making it worth it, and to my LaFlavour brothers Craig, Gino, Steve, Pete, John C, and Ricky D - Thank You...and much gratitude to all the special LaFlavour fans and supporters who have always been there through the years to recognize birthdays, concerts, and special occasions! A heartfelt "HEY!" to my St. Joe's family, and as always, a very special shout-out to The Son of Ghoul, as well as my special extended family: Jimmy & Lisa, and the Spehar clan. Love and blessings to the Kucera family, Craig & the Schroeders, Mike Sampsel, Tim Hunt, Eddie P, Gordy Oliver, Devan & Lou, Danny Bernard, and the fabulous brotherhood of drummers to whom I owe so much for inspiration and advice - especially Scotty & the Grewells along with all the great cats at Zampino's and Gattuso's. *Special Note: To my good friends who have left me here to deal with the "earthly" music...I miss you BADLY: Jack Chesterfield, Jay Baum, Jeff Snauffer, Dave Schrock, Mark Rogers, Terry Rohr, Danny Franchini, Pennie (Hicks) Carlton, Lou Novy, and Gary Spatz.
