image courtesy of
http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2007/11/android-first-week.html
Hey y'all:
The WIREGRASS best get ready 'cause it looks like the urban legend from the drinking town with a football problem, Robert O. "KA$H" Register, will be heading the old Exploder south down old 82 this week for four days given over to the complete pursuit of devilment in the Tri-States!
Let me hear from ya & maybe we'll run into each other!
Janet Ray Weininger, who was living in Ozark at the time of her father's murder at the Bay of Pigs, recently brought 20 Cuban exiles to Birmingham's Southern Museum of Flight for the unveiling of the painting LOBO FLIGHT.
http://bhamweekly.com/archive_article.php?article_id=496&issue_id=81&vol=11
LOBO FLIGHT is a painting of an Alabama Air National Guard B-26 disguised in Cuban colors bombing Castro's forces at the Bay of Pigs.
Click here to see Janet at the unveiling of the painting last month in Birmingham.
It will hang in CIA headquarters.
http://www.alabamaaviator.com/photoalbum.asp?action=displayimage&ID=30634&catId=2803
Residents of ZERO, NORTHWEST FLORIDA will recall that we helped Janet locate her childhood home in Ozark and that she won $23,900,000 from Castro in the wrongful death suit she brought on behalf of her Daddy, Pete Ray, who was murdered by Castro's men and then had his dead body put on display in Havana for 18 years.
Joe Shannon, the last living Alabama Air Guardsman who fought at the Bay of Pigs, unveiled the painting & a recent issue of BIRMINGHAM WEEKLY has old Joe as the cover story.
http://bhamweekly.com/archive_article.php?article_id=390&vol=10&issue_id=67
Please try to take a few moments & read about the heroism of Alabama Air National Guardsmen & the Cuban exiles they supported.
Mal Thursday of Florida Rocks Again! is like a cat with 9 lives.
He just keeps on ticking! He has expanded his presence on the Internet so now we have to deal with THE SUPER CYBORG MAL THURSDAY ANDROID.
When this droid got it's dose of artificial intelligence,
the formula was heavy on THE ARTIFICIAL!
Man, we love you, Mal-
YOU'RE OUR FAVORITE YANKEE!!!!
& we are so glad to see you growing!
Here's the latest report from Mal:
I got assigned to write the "Classic Horror" category at Viewpoints.com. These are the films I've reviewed so far: ALSO:
Thanks,
J.M. Dobies
Writer/Producer
FLORIDA ROCKS AGAIN!
THE MAL THURSDAY SHOW
Industrious Communications Inc.
904.806.4934
512.297.2320
Jerry Henry's interview with Billy Joe Royal will be published in this week's Planet Weekly http://theplanetweekly.com
ZERO, NORTHWEST FLORIDA wishes to thank Jerry for shooting us an advance copy.
Fellow music lover, Robert Register, emailed me with news of Billy Joe Royal coming to Dothan. There is very little that happens in the music world in and around that area, past or present, that gets by Robert. He also provided me with Billy Joe's latest release Going By Daydreams (Raindrops Records) and if that wasn't enough, he set me up with a interview. Robert being friends with music business heavy weights Paul Cochran and Buddy Buie makes things happen.
Georgia born Billy Joe Royal hit the big time in the 60's with Joe South's "Down in the Boondocks." That hit was followed up with "I Knew You When" "Hush" and "Cherry Hill Park". He toured with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars and came to Birmingham many times with WVOK's Shower of Stars. He returned with country hits in 1985 when he signed with Atlantic and cut "Burned Like A Rocket". Then charted with remakes of "I Miss You Already", "Tell It Like It Is", "Keep Right On Hurtin", "I'll Pin A Note On Your Pillow", plus a song that he penned himself "Love Has No Right". He has been touring with B.J. Thomas and a DVD of their show is available on-line from B.J Thomas Music.
Going By Daydreams was produced by super producer, Chips Moman. This is not a greatest hits project. It is definitely for the over 40 crowd that appreciates Billy Joe's smooth delivery.
The only recognizable cover on this CD is "Under the Boardwalk" which he does very well.
"Class of '65" takes us to our class reunion and asks; What would you do if you knew you never left my heart/what would you do if you knew that you are still tearing me apart.
Another in that same mind set "Where Did the 60's Go" that tells her; You're still my flower child/I'm still your freedom fighter.
Every song on this CD seem as if they were written for Billy Joe.
This is a great musical experience that truly showcases this legendary singer.
It's only available at www.billyjoeroyal.com.
JWH-Billy Joe it's been quite a few years since I've talked with you. How are you doing?
BJR-I'm doing great.
JWH-Do you remember back in the 70's when you hung around my shop, the Surf Hut in Panama City Beach?
BJR-Man yea, that was right around the corner from the Red Rooster. Good Lord, that goes back a ways. I played the Red Rooster a lot. So you live in Tuscaloosa now.
JWH-Yea, actually in Northport which is just across the river. Did you ever play here?
BJR-Gosh, it's been awhile. But yes. I've played everywhere. (laughter) It seems like I played a place called the Front Page or the Back Page or something like that there years ago. I know there were some other places but I just can't remember. I do remember working at Joe Namath's place there. What was that Brother's 3? Do you remember?
JWH-That was Bachelors III. You played all over PC Beach, didn't you?
BJR-I sure did. I played the Breakers with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. I played the Old Dutch some too.
JWH-I used to see you with Joe South a lot back then.
BJR-Good Lord yea. Joe hung around Panama City all the time. He was another that hung around your place.
JWH-Joe wrote "Down in the Boondocks" for you. What else did he write?
BJR-He wrote "Hush". He wrote "I Knew You When", "The Greatest Love", lots of stuff for me. He wrote "I Didn't Promise You a Rose Garden" for me but we didn't have a hit with it. Lynn Anderson did but it was written for me.
JWH-You did the Vegas thing like Elvis. Did you meet him?
BJR-Oh yea! I played Vegas in 1970. The day before I opened, that was the last day of January, I went to see him and we visited a little bit. Later on down the line I played Lake Tahoe, I headlined the lounge and he headlined the main room and both of our names were on the marquee. You know I never took a picture of that and I never got a picture took of me and Elvis. Every night we saw each other. A friend of mine that played on the Boondocks, Emory Gordy Jr., was the bass player at the time with Elvis. So yea I saw him every night for about a month and became friends. You think people are going to live forever and you don't think much about things like that.
JWH-You have been all over the world and now you are coming to Dothan.
BJR-Yea I'm coming down there to Cowboys. I have a lot of friends down there. You know John Rainey Atkins and all those guys that make so much really good music in that part of the country. Bobby Goldsboro was from there, Buddy Buie, the guy that put the Candymen together for Roy Orbison lives there. Those guys later became Atlanta Rhythm Section. There's a lot of talent from around there. Jimmy Dean, who is still a good friend of mine, is still down there.
JWH-I have a copy of your CD and look forward to giving it a listen. I got it yesterday.
BJR-Super! That can be ordered on www.billyjoeroyal.com. It was produced by Chips Moman and he wrote several of the songs. Chips is a legend in the business. He's written a million hits. He produced Elvis's comeback album. He produced Willie and Waylon, Neal Diamond, B.J. Thomas, anybody that's anybody. He wrote "Sweet Caroline". He wrote "Lukenbock, Texas". He wrote songs for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, it goes on and on. Like I said he's a living legend. He's really something!
JWH-Did you ever get to go to Lukenbock?
BJR-No! (laughter) I have no idea where it is. (laughter)
JWH-I found it. It's in the middle of nowhere.
BJR-I just came from Houston, Texas and some friends of mine had been over there but no I have never seen the place. It's just a wide spot in the road isn't it?
JWH-It's just one store owned back then by a guy named Hondo.
BJR-What were you doing there?
JWH-I lived out there. I was in the radio business out in West Texas.
BJR-Where?
JWH-In Midland.
BJR-Yea, Good Lord, I've been there. How far is Midland from Lubbock?
JWH-100 miles.
BJR-That where Waylon and all those guys are from. Buddy Holley was from there too. We played out in Hobbs, New Mexico once and a bunch of us went over there. I hear it's a great music town.
JWH-Jesse Taylor, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Mac Davis, Terry Allen, Pat Green, Lloyd Maines and his Dixie Chick daughter Natalie are all from there.
BJR-You've been around. You been around this ole music business.
JWH-Back then, in the radio business, all of them wanted to know you. It was play me, play me.
BJR-(laughter) It had it's benefits both ways.
JWH-You're traveling with B.J. Thomas now aren't you?
BJR-Yea but not all the time. We just finished up Vegas last week. Right now I am riding around with a friend of mine checking out the venue for tomorrow. We're playing Goat, Music, and More down here in Lewisburg, Tennessee. It's a big deal here. Then we go to Retro Valley and I can't remember what's after that.
JWH-You stayed with it all these years. You never dropped out, did you?
BJR-No, I've been lucky enough to make a living doing what I wanted to do. Even when the records weren't happening, I got a deal with the Flamingo Hotel out in Vegas. As a matter of fact I moved to California and worked there and Lake Tahoe. In the 80's I moved back to Georgia and started going up to Nashville. Knock on wood I have always managed to work. This is what I always wanted to do.
JWH-When did you know this is what you wanted to do?
BJR-Well, I think I always knew. At least I wanted to. I came from a family that all they knew was work. They worked at a cotton mill. To make a living making music was kind of unheard of back then. I had uncles that played on the side and never full time. When I was 9 years old I took steel guitar lessons. I played and sang on a radio show. Anyway I got the bug. We moved to Atlanta and there was a show out of Eastpoint called the Georgia Jubilee. I auditioned for that. The regulars on that show was Jerry Reed, Ray Stevens, and Joe South. Freddie Weller and I auditioned the same day. There was all kind of fine talent with that. Then when it folded up I got a job down in Savannah and that was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I played in this huge club, the Bamboo Ranch,and anybody that was anybody played there. Joe South came down and started playing guitar. So as kids we played with Sam Cooke, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, the Isley Brothers, Faron Young and anybody that was anybody came through those doors. I've been lucky my whole life. I met Joe South that knew Bill Lowery. Joe and I had cut some stuff on our own which was just awful. We took it to Bill and he said he didn't like the stuff and he took us to Nashville. I had 6 or 7 records before "Down in the Boondocks". Of course it was on a major label and it hit.
JWH-So you were one of those 10 year over night successes?
BJR-(laughter) Not quite that long but quite a while. But I made it and don't have any complaints. The pipes are still working and I feel great. Yesterday I did a interview with The Country Weekly and they asked if everything was still working. (laughter) I told them I was healthy as a mule.
JWH-That's great to hear. Billy Joe I sure appreciate you calling and I look forward to listening to your CD tonight.
BJR-Thank You and I hope you guys get to come down and see me in Dothan. We can catch up on old times.
Robert----thanks for sending me that Planet Weekly interview with Billy Joe. I don't really know what Planet Weekly is, but I have probably met that guy along the way.
I used to think the best part of having been in music was the memories of all the places and the moments on stages---
actually the best part is having to this day friends from those times.
B. J., Billy Joe, Buddy, Paul Cochran, Wilbur, Marvin, Dean, Justo, Bill J., all the others----great talents and great people to know.
All things considered, I'm glad I did it.
Jimmy Dean
On Nov 18, 2007, at 12:19 PM, robert register wrote:
> BB:
>
> Thank you so much for your comments on "free" health care.
>
> I buy Rolling Stone Magazine to keep up with the entertainment industry but the latest issue is a little different. Under of mantle of a "40th Anniversary Issue", Jann Wenner has devoted over 200 pages to telling us that the only hope for this nation is Hillary.
>
> I have to wait until I gather the courage to read the shit so I can avoid getting sick to my stomach.
>
> Today I finally read the interview with New York Times columnist/Princeton economist Paul Krugman.
>
> He is about the worst, other than Cornel West who also teaches at Princeton.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel_West
>
> I consider Krugman one of the most evil men in America today.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Krugman
>
> Here's a portion of his Rolling Stone interview I thought you'd appreciate.
>
> Rolling Stone: For an economist who has spent the past seven years telling us what the Bush administration is doing wrong, your new book, "The Conscience of a Liberal", is surprisingly optimistic about the future.
>
> Krugman: I'm a little surprised myself at how upbeat I am. Part of it comes out of my diagnosis of how the bad guys got away with it for so long. It turns out to be embarrassingly simple: Race is at the core of it. The history of U.S. politics for the past thirty years can be summed up in five words: SOUTHERN WHITES STARTED VOTING REPUBLICAN. But we're becoming a different country now. In crude terms, we're becoming a less white country. And the better news is, we're becoming a more tolerant, more open society. The old Republican tactic of using race as a wedge doesn't work anymore, which means we have a real chance of a political process that responds to people's real needs rather that just prejudice. There are a lot of things we can do right if we put our minds to it.
>
> Such as?
>
> The government's role has turned into one of, in effect, promoting inequality, promoting the interest of an elite against everyone else. What liberals like myself want is for the government to go back to the principles of the New Deal- to trying to make society more decent on a broad scale. And if you're going to do that, universal health care is where you start. It now seems perfectly easy to imagine legislation by the end of 2009. If that works, then you have the possibility of people saying,"Hey, if the government can do that, maybe they can do a few other things right, too."
>
>
No mas!!!!
> I can't take it anymore.
> best,
> rr
RR:
Krugman ignores basic truths. SOCIALISM has never worked. CAPITALISM is the model this country was built on.
The NEW DEAL was an emergency program which was never meant to be permanent. It's purpose was not to "make
society more decent on a broad scale". It was to keep people's asses from starving to death until the economy recovered.
The depression was a worldwide
event and not something that evil U.S. rich folks did to the poor.
After World War Two, individual effort saved the day. RACISM HAD LITTLE
TO DO WITH IT.
As a matter of fact,it could be argued that the Republicans came out to vote in large numbers because they feared the Democrats
would implement the very philosophy and dogma that Mr. Krugman espouses in his convoluted utterances.
Just as absurd is his contention
That "SOUTHERN WHITES STARTED VOTING REPUBLICAN" and that explains Reagan,Nixon,and the Bushes.
As Yogi Berra used to say
"look it up". The west, mid-west, and the south, joined together to elect these great men. Has this idiot ever heard of the red state-blue state
phenom. I don't remember the exact numbers, but George Bush won about 70 or 80 percent of the states in 2000.
I could go on but I'll leave it at that for now.
BB
