This evening, I was fortunate in viewing a program on T.V. entitled: JUDY GARLAND: BY MYSELF. Over the years, I have listened to Judy singing some of her signature songs,"You Made Me Love You." and "Over The Rainbow." Of course, I have seen "The Wizard of Oz" any number of times. In tonights program, I was able to trace her earliest life till the time she died when she was seventy four. Her life was filled with many joys and many sorrows.
Her joys resulted in sharing her many talents in films. Her greatest joys came late in life when she was able to spend time with her children who she loved deeply. It was also during her later years, when she performed for life audiences, on stage, that she knew how much people loved her. After each song, they gave her resounding applause. Whatever she did, it was with her whole heart. Whenever I hear her sing, I have the feeling that she is singing for me and sharing what she feels.
Her sorrows resulted from the greedy men in show business who exploited her talent, regardless of the cost to her health and well being. Even in her personal life, men treated her badly. She resorted to taking drugs and even, at one point, attempted to taking her own life.
Knowing more about her life through this broadcast, has given me a new sense of appreciation for Judy Garland who was, and is, an Anerican icon, someone who will live in the lives of Americans as long as her songs are heard. If you haven't seen one of her many films where she popularized her songs, give yourself a treat.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 2009, I watched two program on T.V. which gave me a depth perspective on how the United States came to be as a free nation. One program focused on General George Washington and how he ultimately beat the Redcoats in the field. The other program focused on how, on the home front, statesmen like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, tried to hammer out a formal document, "The Declaration of Independence." Both programs made me aware of how problematic it was that the United States came to be.
George Washington, Comander In Chief of the American forces. fought a series of battles with the British and lost one battle after the other. England had sent over thousands of well trained and well equiped soldiers, along with some German mercenarys, to quash the partriot's rebellion. Washington had only a make-shift band of volunteer militia without the training or the equipment of the British forces. What the America forces did have was courage and cunning - they fought back with their own brand of fighting using guerilla tactics. Finally, Washington did assemble an army who could, and did, stand up to the British forces.
While Washington perservered in the field, partriotic statemen hammered out a document which came to be known as "The Declaration of Independence," the work of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson. The biggest obstacles to frameing this document came from southern land owners who were loyalists and identified with the British crown.
Both triumphs are success stories of the American spirit. They are stories of the struggle for freedom which American enjoy to this day. The story of the birth of the American nation has given all those who choose to stand up to tyrants courage, despite the price they have to pay in their quest to be free men and women. On this past July 4, I am grateful to men like Washington and Adams and Franklin and Jefferson, and many others, who had the courage to stand up to the tyrants who tried to prevent Americans from gaining their freedom.
George Washington, Comander In Chief of the American forces. fought a series of battles with the British and lost one battle after the other. England had sent over thousands of well trained and well equiped soldiers, along with some German mercenarys, to quash the partriot's rebellion. Washington had only a make-shift band of volunteer militia without the training or the equipment of the British forces. What the America forces did have was courage and cunning - they fought back with their own brand of fighting using guerilla tactics. Finally, Washington did assemble an army who could, and did, stand up to the British forces.
While Washington perservered in the field, partriotic statemen hammered out a document which came to be known as "The Declaration of Independence," the work of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson. The biggest obstacles to frameing this document came from southern land owners who were loyalists and identified with the British crown.
Both triumphs are success stories of the American spirit. They are stories of the struggle for freedom which American enjoy to this day. The story of the birth of the American nation has given all those who choose to stand up to tyrants courage, despite the price they have to pay in their quest to be free men and women. On this past July 4, I am grateful to men like Washington and Adams and Franklin and Jefferson, and many others, who had the courage to stand up to the tyrants who tried to prevent Americans from gaining their freedom.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Jazz on Jay Street
One reason which makes Schenectady a special place for me to live, happens each spring, beginning on the first Thursday, in June. There is JAZZ ON JAY STREET. Local musicians and vocalists have been engaged by the city to share their talent with citizens of Schenectady. Beginning with the noon hour, a large audience made up largely of senior citizens, many bused in from nearby homes for the aged, are willing to brave the noon day sun and heat, to listen to music which they enjoyed when they were growing up. They listen to the music and do not chat with their companions while the band is playing. People who walk along Jay Street during their hunch break stop to listen to the concert.
Coleen Pratt and her musician friends opened the series on June 4, 2009. Having Coleen as the featured vocalist always insures a large turnout for she is a crowd favorite who has a remarkable talent as a jazz singer. Th following week another group performs and by the end of the summer, some fourteen groups will have shared their talents.
When the concert begins, I position myself front and center to the band so that I do not have to look over the shoulders of those seated in front of me. Listening to the music popular during the Big Band Era, I am tempted to jump up from my seat to start dancing to the infectuous beat of the music
The concert ends after an hour and fifteen minutes. I approach each musician and thank them for their performance. They, in turn, thank me for being such an attentive and appreciative listener. I leave Jay Street feeling exhilerated and think how fortunate I am to live in a city which makes such a program possible.
Coleen Pratt and her musician friends opened the series on June 4, 2009. Having Coleen as the featured vocalist always insures a large turnout for she is a crowd favorite who has a remarkable talent as a jazz singer. Th following week another group performs and by the end of the summer, some fourteen groups will have shared their talents.
When the concert begins, I position myself front and center to the band so that I do not have to look over the shoulders of those seated in front of me. Listening to the music popular during the Big Band Era, I am tempted to jump up from my seat to start dancing to the infectuous beat of the music
The concert ends after an hour and fifteen minutes. I approach each musician and thank them for their performance. They, in turn, thank me for being such an attentive and appreciative listener. I leave Jay Street feeling exhilerated and think how fortunate I am to live in a city which makes such a program possible.
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