Mustang Sally
Soul star Wilson Pickett, best known for the 60's songs "Mustang Sally" and "The Midnight Hour," died Thursday. Wilson Pickett was part of the Memphis Soul Music scene which was very popular in the 60's. Them tunes are playing in my head as I write this blog. Great music, Great artist! God bless him and may he rest in peace.

What does Ronald Reagon have to do with Rockabilly?
Rockabilly music is now more Internationally popular than it was in the 1950's, especially in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Why? After doing extensive research backed up with my own gut feeling and personal Interest, I came up with the following explanation.

When the Berlin wall came down in 1988, the eastern block counties were In a transition period of becoming free societies and being bombarded with Introduction to western culture. Although Rockabilly and early Rock n Roll has been around for 40 plus years, the youth of the oppressed communist countries were forbidden to openly listen to any pro-western music. As they gained their individual liberties and freedom along with wanting blue jeans, they discovered Rockabilly. Which was as fresh to them as it was to the western youth in 1950's. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and early Rock n Roll is very popular and all pro-western music from the Beatles to 60's Rock is gaining interest too.

So, what does all this mean? It means new young emerging Russian and Eastern European Rockabilly artist are recording and selling rockabilly music to their new found crazy teenagers. Their youth are buying up rockabilly merchandise, American bands and artist are sought for touring, and their radio stations are playing anything 'American' Rockabilly. Remember, they are 40 years behind us in pop music.

Besides Eastern Europe, Rockabilly popularity is also growing in liberated Asian Countries as well as in China partly thanks to the Internet. Kids in Asia who can afford to have a computer and are connected to the web also buys 'American Music' along with their blue jeans.

In youth, their seems to be a coalition between Individual liberties and musical expressions, especially other than traditional classical, which could be seen as a form of discipline.

Being a musician, I find this to be truly amazing and may pursue the possibility of touring in Eastern Europe. There should be penty of Memphis musicians who would sign on for just an adventure.

This past year, I have experienced an Increase in my site www.bobbysowell.com visitors from these mentioned countries who are hungry for 'Rockabilly' music.

You can thank President Ronald Reagon for tearing down the 'Wall', for getting it all started and the music pumping once again. Keep on rocking, all yall International worldly hip cats! As Elvis would say, "Thank you, thank you very much".

BS Recommended Links

Memphis Sun Studio

Rockabilly in Russa

Rockabilly in Moscow

Planet Rockabilly

Hall of Fame Artist Inductee Index

Happy Birthday Sherry
I would like to wish my daughter, Sherry Ann Centamore of Jacksonville, FL a Happy Birthday. Sherry is my oldest child.
She was born in Ft Walton, Beach, FL at Eglin AFB. Out of respect for women's ages and her, I won't mention the year. However, it does seem to be just the other day. Time really does fly!

It has been awhile since I saw Sherry. I hope I get to see her soon as I do miss her very much.

-Goodnight

A REAL TRUE FISHING STORY
NASHVILLE, TN - (Excerpt from Jam Magazine interview
May 2002)

What kind of project would an artist-in-residence at home come up with? How about fishing? This is a fishing story that Bobby Sowell recalls one of the strangest experiences he has ever had.


JM: Being from Tennessee, do you enjoy fishing?
No, not at all! I've never caught a fish. I have never gone fishing but once. Oh I've gone boating any number of times, both in streams and rivers and in the ocean, but I've never caught anything. (at least not a fish) And that really doesn't bother me. I love boats, love the water, I just never saw the attraction of sitting there, holding a rod and reel, and hoping that a fish would come by and mistake some sort of gaudy plastic lure for its lunch. No, I much prefer my fish to come in those little pretty plastic containers at the grocery store.


JM: Now for the rest of the story...
People who do love fishing are very passionate about it. And what could be a more perfect this holiday season than one about fishing. But this is a story about Bobby Sowell, so you know that it won't be exactly what you might expect. Anyway here is a true fishing story unlike you never heard before.


It was the year 1970 and Bobby was at home on military leave in Memphis after a tour of duty in Vietnam. His long time childhood friend Gene Taylor kept bugging Bobby to go fishing out on McKellar Lake. After using every kind of excuse for not wanting to go, and the enticement of plenty of cold beer, Bobby finally agreed to go fishing.

They were out on the lake about an hour. Gene was really getting into the fishing. Bobby being board and drinking the cold beer picked up the binoculars and started checking out the lake from far and near. All of a sudden he spotted something black floating in the water. He told Gene, "let's go check it out!" They pulled alone side of the object to discover that it was a saxophone case. So, Bobby picked the case up, opened it and found a beautiful Alto saxophone. The case was air tight and did not damage the sax. They figured that it was thrown overboard from a Mississippi River boat. It had no markings on it. So, what's the point of this story you ask? Well the only time that Bobby went fishing, he caught a 10 LB saxophone! What a unique fishing story!


Saxophone Update...
Bobby took that sax to Florida with him where he was stationed and began playing it. After a lot of practice, he got to be pretty good at it. He had played the sax (1st chair) in the High School Band. However, after a drunken spree and an argument with his 1st wife, she sold it for $100.00 without Bobby knowing it and that ended his saxophone playing ambitions! She had also chopped up his guitar into tiny pieces and buried it in the backyard. He returned to his first love, the piano (too big to bury). Bobby did get another wife but he never picked up another saxophone or fishing rod.


-Martin Bowers, Jam Magazine

The World of Food
Growing up in Frayser was about as country as country could get. It was years before being annexed to Memphis. We even lived on a pig and goat farm (presently Chandler Street). So our food was typical country. Mostly beans, cornbread and other Southern fixings. We never ventured out to Memphis restaurants other than hamburgers or cafes with southern home cooked plate lunches.

When I got drafted, the world of food opened up. I was 20 years old before I had my 1st pizza. It was in Denver, CO. where I was stationed at Lowry ARB for Technical school. I remember seeing a truck coming around to the barracks delivering something in a flat box. I remember thinking, "What in the world is that thing?" on further investigation, it was not only flat but round! Of course, I had to try one and have been eating Pizza every since. I didn't eat Chinese food until I ate it in Thailand. Of course, I didn't know what I was eating but liked it. Now, I try to eat at a Chinese buffet about once a week.

My experience with shrimp was much like the pizza. My first time eating it was in Ft Walton Beach, FL when I was stationed at Eglin AFB. I use to hang out at the NCO Club and heard about shrimp there. I asked, "Where do you get it?" With such a question, they knew I was a newbie. So, they directed be to an Oyster Bar down by the beach. I did have a few drinks before I went there alone which proved to be disastrous. I remember ordering peal-um and eat-um shrimp. But, no one told me to pill them and I ate the whole plate with the shells still on them. I did get sick and it was a long time before I ate them again. But today, Peal-um and eat-um shrimp is my favorite sea food. And Yes, I do peel them!

Yes, children are the products of their environment and become locked in their food selection until they grow up and experience what the world has to offer in foods, I certainly did and what wonderful tastes?

The BS BLOG

INDEPENDENT NATION RADIO SHOW NOW AIRING
Independent Nation is a radio show dedicated to showcasing Independent music. Syndicated worldwide with an estimated audience of over 2 million, the show is currently broadcast on a number of various online and on-air stations worldwide, including AM stations in the UK and Australia. The format is generally geared towards rock, however, all genres of music accepted. Artists may also be presented with on-air interview opportunities and opportunities to be included on upcoming compilation CDs. Submissions ongoing. Visit the below link:
http://www.independentnation.net/

MEMPHIS - As you know, Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. It's the first time that's happened since 1994. Many churches across the country are canceling services. The idea is, with other services in the days before Christmas, having no church on Christmas Day allows folks to spend more time with their families.

World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church on Winchester is among the churches that will not have services on Christmas. The church's pastor was not available for comment Wednesday.

World Overcomers is not alone. Do a quick search on the internet, and you'll quickly discover lots of Christians will be celebrating Christ's birth from home this year. Some of the biggest mega-churches in the country will be closed on Christmas. They include; The Chicago area's largest congregation, Willow Creek Community Church, Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, and North Point Church in Georgia.

Re: Christmas Sunday?

Makes one believe that some Churches are only in it for the money!!! Doesn't help Christian PR at all! I'm sure other religions are laughing especially the Muslims. Can you imagine Masques being closed because Ramadan fell on Saturday?

Hypocrites? The reason for the season certainly not domesticated here! What better appropriate time to worship than on Jesus birthday?
How long does it take to open presents anyway? Family? All Sunday's are for families. I don't think 1 hour of worship would interfere with family? This isn't the 1st time Christmas has fallen on Sunday. But, it is the first time I've heard of closing church on Christmas Sunday! Shows you where some Christians self-centered hearts are really at. Which leads me to the finial question of any church: WWJD?

What Church would Jesus attend?

My Church is open!!