Lincoln High Alumni Association Website Now Open.

The Lincoln High Alumni Association has it's own independent website now in operation, as announced today at the Alumni Association's monthly meeting.

Log on at http://lhsaatigers.org/Home.html   There's still more to be done but this website should allow for better dissemination of information and provide more current updates of activities and plans.

July 19th of many years past- musicians and entertainers of our times.

Here are some of the things that jog your memory to days gone by- with reference to the LA Radio.com Rewind compilations as the source.  Well, if you aren’t very old, then there’s not that far to to go to be jogged.  But for others, you might notice how so many people, celebrities, we remembered as “young” or “not that old” are now pretty old.  But for some  of this flashback to a younger time, check the list that follows from laradio.com, with some of my comments added.

LARP Rewind: July 19.

On this day in 2011, Jimmy Buffett and his 11-piece Coral Reefer Band played a sold-out concert at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Along with his hits he sang his first chart single, The Great Filling Station Holdup, which reached #58 on the country chart in 1973. On this day in 1980, Billy Joel earned his first gold record, for It's Still Rock & Roll To Me, written by Joel and produced by Phil Ramone. The song was also Joel's first number-one hit.

On this day in 1975, Lefty Frizzell died of a stroke at 47. Born William Orville Frizzell in Corsicana, he had six number-one country hits, including Saginaw Michigan, Always Late and If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time.

On this day in 1966, Frank Sinatra, 50, married 21-year-old actress Mia Farrow.

On this day in 1923, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) put WRC, "The Voice Of The Capitol," on the air at 640 kHz in Washington, DC. WRC shared the frequency with AT&T's short-lived station WCAP.

BIRTHDAYS

Today, July 19, 2012, singer/guitarist Vikki Carr is 71.  Born Florencia Martinez Cardona (I have heard her recite her full name and it’s way longer) in El Paso, she signed with Liberty in 1962 and reached #115 with her first single, a version of Gene Pitney's “He's A Rebel”.  (YouTube audio with a video collage- or montage- of pics of this different treatment by a young Vikki Carr- showing the artist over the years; she seemed chubby in some that must be from a young age, with different changes in the look shown over the years but still exuding the same glamour over all this time.) (I saw her a few times on the Art Linkletter daytime t.v.  show when I was absent from LHS. Linkletter had a popular book, “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” some or much of the content taken from the interviews he did on the show with visiting local elementary school kids, a segment of each show. She was one of the few artists at that time that actually said she was "Mexican." You might remember that Linda Ronstadt had some Mexican roots she didn't seem to generally acknowledge until most of her rock years were behind her, while many new genres were ahead- and she had a fine voice, too, for all of them. )

In 1967 she got to #3 with “It Must Be Him.”  In 1962 and 1968 she was a regular performer on a syndicated variety tv series hosted by trumpeter/bandleader Ray Anthony. Carr began recording Spanish-language albums in 1971 and has won three Grammy awards. Among her hit singles to make the Latin chart are Déjame, Discúlpame, Adoro, Mala Suerte, Cosas Del Amor and Hay Otro En Tu Lugar. She has performed for five US presidents and the Queen of England. Carr's latest CD, Viva La Vida, will be released in September.

(Checking the YouTube videos, her singing in Spanish or English still impresses me.  Hard to believe she’s 71.   Here’s a good sampling of her performances with some pretty good quality video- Vikki Carr Ni princesa ni esclava, Nomas ocho dias, Total (Duo con Ana Gabriel, Video).)  [I have no idea how old she was here but the voice is fine on all the songs over the years.  I have lots of her albums in vinyl that I haven’t heard in many years, and now hearing some of these samplings I remember how those were what they called, “easy listening,” just play and enjoy- my Andy Williams collection  dating from the 70s and 80s were in that category, too.]

Also today, George Hamilton IV (he is the guy with the ever-present tan) is 75, Commander Cody (George Frayne) is 68, Average White Band bassist/lead singer Alan Gorrie is 66, Flying Burrito Brothers/Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon is 65, Queen guitarist Brian May is 65, Lucie Arnaz is 61.

On July 19, 1986, twenty-six years ago today, Michael W. Smith's Rocketown was beginning its fourth week at number one on the KYMS Top 40. God Only Knows by Russ Taff, former lead singer of the Imperials, was #2. David Meece climbed from #19 to #10 with Seventy Times Seven. Tonio K (born Antonio Krikorioan) jumped from #28 to #19 with Perfect World. Dion DiMucci, famous in the late 1950s as leader of “Dion & the Belmonts” (some good doo wop to hear in  “I Wonder Why”  audio on YouTube) (A very good quality video of “Runaround Sue” performed live shows some of what we heard in days past) and in the '60s as a solo artist, (in 1968, was the original singer of “Abraham, Martin and John” that was a departure from his earlier styles,, accompanied with some classical guitar touches) moved from #27 to #26 with Crazy Too, from his contemporary Christian album, Velvet & Steel. High debut at #35 was Prayer For The Children by Allies. The quintet was led by Bob Carlisle, who would have a 1997 top-ten hit, Butterfly Kisses.

LHS Alumni Meeting Saturday at Cafe in the Heights

The LHS Alumni Association's July meeting will be at 9:30 a.m at the Cafe in the Heights on Saturday, July 21, 2012.  The Cafe is located across the street from the school on N. Broadway.

Some items to be covered at the meeting are the August Dodger game fundraiser and the November Alumni Dance fundraiser.  Coming up for more planning is the 2013 Lincoln High Centenial Celebration.  The football season for LHS is getting closer and the Alumni concessions stand will be back in operation so arrangements are being planned now.

The LAUSD calendar calls for classes to begin in August instead of September.  LHS was one of the first to begin using that schedule a few years ago before it was applied to all schools.  One main effect of this schedule would be to have the semester be completed before the Christmas break. 

It's a shorter summer however, but there's also a shorter school year with the days cut back more and more as the LAUSD tries reducing the work year to avoid cutting more teachers.

And there's the continuing issue of charter schools becoming the beneficiaries of the LAUSD school construction program.  Would voters have approved the huge bond measure many years ago if they knew many brand new schools would be operated by charter schools?

But all that's not part of the meeting topics- just a note to see some of the other things going on in the district.

Some July 9th Reference Points in Music and Entertainment

The very informative website www.LARadio.com has one part of the website I present here. That LARP Rewind section always  gets me to think how fast time goes by and how some things don't seem as old as they are- to me, at least.

From the high school perspective, coming out of Lincoln in 1967 by way of graduation, it was the middle of the war in Vietnam, the Summer of Love was here, and two years had passed since the Watts Riot.  It was one year before Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed in April 1968, and two months later, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel here in L.A. after winning the California June primary.

So, you may or may not have some close or vivid memories to these all of events and people, but there should be some here to get you thinking about different times.

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From:

LARP Rewind: July 9.

On this day in 2010, during a Santana concert at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, lead guitarist Carlos Santana proposed to his girlfriend, Cindy Blackman, who toured with the group as their drummer and also recorded and toured with Lenny Kravitz. They would marry five months later in Maui.

On this day in 1965, ten weeks after switching from adult contemporary to top 40, KHJ published its first Boss 30 survey folder. On the cover was 9pm-to-midnight "Boss Jock" Sam Riddle.  (Sam Riddle would be hosting locally on Channel 9 each afternoon the very popular dance show, "9th Street West").  The Rolling Stones' Satisfaction was number one.

On this day in 1957, Dick Clark replaced Bob Horn as host of WFIL/tv's Bandstand after Horn was fired following a drunk-driving arrest. The Philadelphia program would go national a year later on ABC as American Bandstand and run until 1989.

Today, July 9, 2012, Ed Ames is 85. Born Edmund Urick in Malden, Massachusetts, he formed a group with his three brothers, Gene, Vic and Joe, while still in high school. Taking Vic's middle name, they called themselves the Amory Brothers. They performed around Boston and with Art Mooney's orchestra, then became the Ames Brothers. From 1948 to 1960 they had 33 top-40 hits, including Rag Mop, You You You, Tammy and The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane.

Ed played a Native American character, Mingo, on the first four seasons of Fess Parker's 1960s tv series, Daniel Boone. In 1967 Ed had a top-ten solo hit, My Cup Runneth Over. Also today, bluegrass mandolinist Jesse McReynolds is 83, James Hampton is 76, Brian Dennehy is 74, Richard Roundtree (He played the title role in the movie "Shaft"- made more memorable by the title song that Isaac Hayes sang) is 70, pianist/composer John Tesh is 60, country singer/guitarist David Ball is 59, Sister Sledge vocalist Debbie Sledge is 58, tv actor Jimmy Smits is 57, Tom Hanks is 56, Soft Cell lead singer Marc Almond is 55, Kelly McGillis is 55, Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr is 53, Courtney Love is 48, White Stripes lead singer Jack White is 37, Fred Savage (child star of a favorite of mine in the late 80s to early 90s, "The Wonder Years") is 36, Disney Channel actor/singer Mitchel Musso is 21.

On July 9, 1977, thirty-five years ago today, Best Of My Love by the Emotions was in its fourth week at number one on the KGFJ Soul 40.  The group was three sisters who as children had sung gospel and called themselves Heavenly Sunshine. Best Of My Love would earn them a Grammy for best r&b vocal group. The Floaters, a Detroit quartet, jumped from #10 to #6 with Float On. War climbed from #16 to #11 with L.A. Sunshine. High debut at #35 was Clean Up The Ghetto by the Philadelphia International All Stars (Archie Bell, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Dee Dee Sharp and the O'Jays).

On July 6th, Recollections- old and not as old- and Birthdays

Some Entertainment recollections from the past and birthdays from laradio.com’s LARP Rewind for July 6 -

On this day in 2010, Poor Boy Records released Custom Built, the fourth studio album by Poison lead singer Bret Michaels. It included a duet with Miley Cyrus, Nothing To Lose, and reached #14 on the album chart.

On this day in 1998, Western actor/singer Roy Rogers died at 88. On this day in 1971, Louis Armstrong died of heart failure at 69.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, premiered in London.

On this day in 1947, ABC Radio debuted Allen Funt's Candid Microphone, which would evolve into the tv show Candid Camera.

On this day in 1937, Benny Goodman and his orchestra, including Gene Krupa on drums and Harry James on trumpet, recorded Sing Sing Sing for Victor Records. The recording was 8:43 in length and took both sides of a 12-inch 78-rpm record. It reached only #7 on the chart but has become Goodman's most renowned song. Sing Sing Sing was written by Louis Prima, who first recorded it in 1936 for Brunswick.

Today, July 6, 2012,  singer/actress Della Reese is 81, Ned Beatty is 75, r&b singer Gene Chandler is 75, country singer Jeannie Seely is 72, Sylvester Stallone is 66, singer/guitarist Nanci Griffith is 59, rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson III) is 37.

On July 6, 1968, forty-four years ago today, Boogaloo No. 1 by Leo Acosta, a Mexican drummer and orchestra leader, was in its second week at number one on the KALI Top 30. At #2 was Cuando Me Enamoro by Angélica Maria, a singer-songwriter and telenovela actress. Henry Mancini's Norma La De Guadalajara was #7. Released as a single from the album The Big Latin Sound Of Henry Mancini, it went to #21 on the adult contemporary chart and number one in Mexico. José Feliciano jumped from #18 to #8 with Lágrimas Negras/La Copa Rota. High debut at #29 was El Juego De Simon by Los Rockin Devils, a rock'n'roll band formed in 1962 in Tijuana by brother and sister Frankie and Blanca Estrada.

LHS Alumni Association Meets This Saturday

The monthly meeting of the LHS Alumni Association will be meeting this Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cafe in the Heights just across the street on North Broadway from the campus.

The meeting date was moved from the regular 3rd Saturday of the month date to accommodate member plans for the Father's Day weekend.

OC Weekly's Gustavo Arrellano at Cypress Park Library Tonight

Tonight, Thursday, at Cypress Park Branch Library, the commentarian, humorist and cultural advisor, Gustavo Arrellano will make an appearance- From his Face Book entry:

"will be at the Cypress Park Library in LA THIS THURSDAY for Taco USA. 6 p.m., 1150 Cypress Ave., LA. Lecture, FREE; books, BARATO. GO GO GO and BUY BUY BUY!"

If you are not familiar with him, just Google a few lines and check his YouTube clips for some of his insights into life with a Latino angle to it.

Also, you can check columns in the Orange County Weekly aka "OC Weekly," for some of the advice columns he's written in "Ask A Mexican."

Ed Reyes Pushes Pretextual Motion to Keep WalMart out of Chinatown location.

Today's agenda item 16 in city council meeting- much to Council member Reyes' protestations that he is not against business, it looks like he's pulling out all the stops to keep WalMart from setting up a supermarket in Chinatown, kitty corner from the hugely expensive LAUSD Arts high school.

This might be a good thing if only the community interests were at stake but it looks like there's a little more to push him to make the move and that being the non-union nature of WalMart.  Reyes, like most council members listens attentively to the call of the unions and the do produce votes from their disciplined membership.

Reyes cited an accident in Chinatown where a senior was run over and thus traffic hazards exist that need to be considered.  As for using this incident as  being anything to base a ban on a busines, I think it's very disingenuous.  One incident does not create a basis for a ban.  Were is so, what developments would be allowed if more traffic was to be produced? 

Reyes has some justification for the ICO, "Interim Control Ordinance," which is, in other words, a ban.

The jusitifcation comes from the Chinatown community that fear loss of jobs and business if a WalMart supermarket opens.  That property has been vacant for years from my observation.  Reyes can reflect the view of some Chinatown residents and people to create a protection based on keeping an existing conditon from having competition.  Is that a good reason for this?  Maybe.

There are others in Chinatown that want this to come to provide services and to be a basis for other businesses and shoppers to come to the area.   I think it's not an easy choice but isn't competition a natural function of business. City Council butts in too often and for it's own reasons when it should allow things to continue.

A blog entry criticized this for being against the company and not the business use- if it were an Apple store it would have no one opposed.  If you recall history and the notions of protective tariffs that were created to fight imported products, theses are not things that work out well and often backfire in impact.

Also note that Downtown is becoming more populated.  Gone is the weekend when you would find it like a ghost town in most areas.  Now there's been so many residential conversions to house people there's more need for services which one would be a supermarket.  The ICO would be a ban on one element that would serve the need.

I expect the vote to approve the ICO, they vote Yes in over 99% of all motions brought to the Council- and you have to really wonder whether all of the CMs read all the documents since it's going to be a "Yes" vote anyway. 

"Business friendly" for new jobs and companies?  L.A. is certainly not that.

THE AGENDA ITEM

ITEM NO. (16)

 

12-0382

CD 1
CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (REYES - GARCETTI) relative to an Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) related to the establishment and operation of new Formula Retail Uses in Chinatown.
 

Recommendation for Council action:

INSTRUCT the Planning Department, with the assistance of the City Attorney, to:

a. Prepare and present an ICO, to prohibit the issuance of demolition, building, and any other applicable permits for the establishment and operation of new Formula Retail Uses in Chinatown, which is generally bounded by the Pasadena Freeway on the North, North Broadway and North Main Street on the East, Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and the Santa Ana Freeway on the South, and Beaudry Avenue on the West.

b. Include an Urgency Clause in the ICO to make it effective upon publication.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

------------------------------

(Planning and Land Use Management Committee waived consideration of the above matter)

LHS Alumni Association meets Saturday in Student Cafeteria- 9:30 a.m.

It's that third Saturday of the month coming up and that means time for another LHS Alumni Association meeting.  It's being held in the school cafeteria on campus and is open to anyone who is interested- just come on by. 

Among the items on the agenda is the upcoming social event, the Spring Dance, and that's set for Saturday, April 14th.  Also being planned is the Angels Contest addressing the visual and performing arts in school, and the Texas Hold 'em Poker tournament.  Ongoing committee planning is happening for LHS Centennial celebration that will happen in 2013.

March 12th In the Music World - About people and events

Here is an interesting collection of "what's happened" on March 12th in the past from Don Barrett's LAradio.com on Monday- How many of theses items do you remember and how much is news to you now? Do you remember the t.v. show, "Lassie" and Jon Provost, the kid on that show? He's 62 on March 12th.  

And "Get Smart" the t.v. show, not the movie, has Agent 99, Barbara Feldon, Don Adams' co-star from 1965 t0 1970, celebrating a birthday, 72 years old. Hard to believe that much time has passed.

"LARP Rewind: March 12. On this day in 2010, 1500 police were summoned to quell a riot as ticketless fans tried to crash a Metallica concert at Simón Bolívar Park in Bogotá, Colombia. Four fans and four officers were injured and 130 were arrested.

On this day in 1974, John Lennon was ejected from the Troubador in Los Angeles. To celebrate their 15 years in show business, the Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick, were giving a late-night performance at the club. Lennon, who was seated by Harry Nilsson and who had been drinking, started singing loudly, making obscene comments to the waitresses, and heckling Tom and Dick, then punched the Smothers' manager and threw a glass against the wall. Five Troubador employees carried him out and Nilsson drove him home.

On this day in 1969, Paul McCartney married American photographer Linda Eastman in London and George Harrison and wife Patti were arrested for possessing 120 joints of marijuana.

 On this day in 1945, Billboard debuted an album chart. Number one was King Cole Trio, Volume 1, featuring Nat "King" Cole, Oscar Moore and Wesley Prince.

Today, March 12, 2012, Get Smart co-star Barbara Feldon is 79, Al Jarreau is 72, Liza Minnelli is 66, James Taylor is 64, Lassie co-star Jon Provost is 62, Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris is 56, Jackson 5 vocalist Marlon Jackson is 56, former Blur lead guitarist Graham Coxon is 43, Incubus bassist Ben Kenny is 35, actor Tyler Patrick Jones is 18.

On March 12, 1980, 32 years ago today, the Spinners' remake of the Four Seasons' Working My Way Back To You was number one on the KRLA Hit List. Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love was #2, followed by Too Hot by Kool & the Gang. Biggest jumper was Bob Seger's Fire Lake, climbing from #22 to #18. Highest debut was Rock Lobster by the B-52's at #19. Debuting at #26 was Janis Ian's Fly Too High, which failed to chart nationally. (LARP Rewind is prepared by Steve Thompson)"

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LA Radio People captures what March 1 brought for entertainers of our lives.

Don Barrett's web site is published as he can, but no longer a daily item for us to read.  I want to share what you would find in this flashback to past years for March 1st.

As the recent Davy Jones death shows, the artist and celebrities of our past, recent and distant past alike, have no immortality for all their fame, but instead, have lives  as fragile as our own and nothing is guaranteed in terms of longevity.  That fact is shown also by political blogger Andrew Breitbart's death at age 43 Wednesday night.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/02/us-usa-politics-breitbart-idUSTRE8201AV20120302

Check the information below and see if you can relate any of it to what you were doing in your own life.  Time seems to pass very quickly for some of these things.
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"LARP Rewind: March 1. On this day in 2004, Michael Jackson launched a website, mjjsource.com, to celebrate his music and provide updates of his pending court trial for child molestation. On this day in 1985, Help! became the first Beatles song to be used in a television commercial (for Lincoln-Mercury). On this day in 1968, Johnny Cash married June Carter, who he had proposed to during a concert in London, Ontario. The marriage would last until June's death in May 2003; Cash would die four months later. On this day in 1957, the Everly Brothers, Don and Phil, signed with Cadence Records. On this day in 1941, the first commercial fm station, W47NV in Nashville, began broadcasting at 44.7 mHz with a classical music format. In 1947 the station moved to 100.1 and became WSM/fm. It signed off four years later, but in 1968 WSM bought WLWM and made it the new WSM/fm.

"Today, March 1, 2012, Harry Belafonte is 85, Robert Conrad is 77, former Blood Sweat & Tears lead singer Jerry Fisher is 71, Manfred Mann lead singer Mike d'Abo is 68, The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey is 68, The A-Team/Battlestar Galactica co-star Dirk Benedict is 67, country singer Arlene Harden is 67, game show host/Growing Pains co-star Alan Thicke is 65, Dukes Of Hazzard/African Skies co-star Catherine Bach is 58, actor/director Ron Howard is 58, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo singer/guitarist Janis Oliver is 58, Wings/Private Practice co-star Tim Daly is 56, British singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw is 54, Gin Blossoms bassist Bill Leen is 50, Skid Row drummer Rob Affuso is 49, actor John David Cullum is 46, Nickelback guitarist Ryan Peake is 39, actor Mark-Paul Goselaar is 38, r&b singer Sammie Bush is 25, singer-songwriter Ke$ha (Kesha Sebert) is 25, Justin Bieber is 18.

"On March 1, 1975, 37 years ago today, Olivia Newton-John's Have You Never Been Mellow was number one on K-100 (KIQQ), followed by the Ohio Players' Fire and Frankie Valli's My Eyes Adored You. Biggest jumpers were My Boy by Elvis Presley, moving from #21 to #14, and Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton, climbing from #26 to #19. Highest debut was Barry White's What Am I Gonna Do With You at #27. Also debuting were Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John and L-O-V-E by Al Green. "

Davey Jones, lead singer of "The Monkees" - heart attack at 66 years old.

Davey Jones died today, Wednesday, of a heart attack at 66 years old.  The online story from the Associated Press, http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20120229/0db33b33-eecd-454d-a090-04640de922e3 gives more information on this and on the career of Jones.

The L.A. Times has a shorter announcement that adds the note that Jones was to be at a performance later this month in Cerritos performing songs that the and was known for.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/02/davy-jones-monkees-died-.html.

It looks like Jones was experiencing breathing problems and died by the time he arrived at the hospital.  Difficulty in breathing is one of the main symptoms of a heart attack. This happened in Florida where Jones lived and I don't have any idea of what level of emergency care or paramedic response is available there.  I have to wonder whether this could have been avoided by better services, but I don't think that this will ever be known.

Overall I am saddened as I see this loss of a personality who was part of a much younger time for me,  mostly high school years and later, and one who, with other artists of the day, brought us entertainment over the years.  When you heard songs then, it was hard to imagine that someday they would someday be called rock and roll "oldies."

We have had the loss of several persons in the last few months from the music scene, some better known than others, but all contributed in some part to the environment surrounding our younger days. 

It always is a reminder to me how we have inevitably grown older, like it or not, when we see there is another death of the artists of our days. It is also another reminder of our mortality, although we don't like to admiti it, when we see the ages are close to our own, or even more an item when it's someone younger than ourselves.

Davey Jones was sort of lost for a long time and then I noticed him again on television in commercials about oldies and he still seemed the same.  That presence was maintained by the commercials, maybe they were the Time-Life infomercials or some of the oldies shows televised on public television, but the death here seemed more like someone I knew about currently instead of just a name from the past. He always seemed as upbeat as he did on the episodes of the show back in the 60s, and that was something I liked about seeing him on t.v.

There should be another longer obituary coming in the L.A. Times published soon, and that will fill in more details for people who are too young to have a first-hand memory of the t.v. show and the craziness of the band that was very talented after all was said and done.   As with most artists, we still will hear the music and it will stay as their legacy in history of music- pop, rock and roll, or whatever label anyone feels like using.

President's Day today- replaces Washington and Lincoln but recognizes neither.

Do you remember when there was a Lincoln's Birthday Holiday on February 12th, and then a few days later, February 22nd, the Washington's Birthday Holiday rolled around?   It was a day off from school back then but now we seem to have too many holidays to separate these, and, besides, who wouldn't want another 3-day holiday weekend?

So now it's President's Day that includes ALL presidents and Lincoln and Washington among them but the recognition and honor really seems to me to go to no one by this all inclusive approach. Would your children feel more honored by having the birthday party for each one on the anniversary date of their birth, OR, would it be a better approach to celebrate the birthday of all your children on ONE day each year, with a big party, of course?

So, I think keeping it individual does the best job of recognizing anything, including presidents.  

LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL- named after "who'?
I have criticized the alma mater for not making use of the Lincoln's birthday in the past to promote knowledge and that's what scholl should be doing, right?   A "learning" experience here.  When I was there teaching at Lincoln not tht long ago, I was really dissppointed by how many students were unaware of the namesake of their school.    You have one person to learn about as a basic task, I would expect, but that holiday period passed without much special attention from the school.

I think a few times the Alumni Association made efforts to recongnize Lincoln as one of the display cases by the main office was given the Lincoln recognition treatment.

I think that the school has, in the transformations going on from a single school to small learning communities, has forgotten to give attention to simple things as they constantly face evaluation based on test scores used to determine student performance levels.

Well, that's just something I thought would be useful to change but I don't have a current picture of the state of Lincoln's day to day heppenings and maybe I am wrong now.  Since there's no "Brown Act" requirement for school operations like there is for public meetings in government, I have no convenient way to see what's new or what planned, other than the press releases or bulletins that the school or the LAUSD puts forth.

And the other part of the concern here is that learning about President Lincoln is very easy- there are lots of books about this and the times in which Lincoln lived are some of the most crucial years in the history of the United States, the Civil War period.  Combine that with the sadder aspect of Lincoln's term, the assasination in office, we have a very important area for examination.

If we had a different president as our namesake, the features might be less visible and more obscurity in history would still leave us with not much in the way of positive or distinctive elements to learn.  But that's not the case and still, more students might have some pride in the school if they knew a lttle more of what's out there.  It couldn't hurt.

Looking back, January 27 of past times- And Birthdays, from LARadio.com

There have been some good posts in  in Don Barrett's now-occasional  posted "L.A. Radio People" blog the last week of January that relate back to my high school days but all the work in putting this together was on Don's part, not mine.  And with that credit given, check the news of older times and consider where we were and where we are now.  And it seems that time really flies.
From the Friday LARP Rewind:
"January 27. On this day in 2002, Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-out shows at Royal Festival Hall in London. On this day in 1991, Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium. The Giants beat the Bills, 20-19, in the only Super Bowl to be decided by a single point. On this day in 1984, sparks from pyrotechnics set Michael Jackson's hair on fire while he was filming a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium. On this day in 1968, the Bee Gees made their US concert debut at Anaheim Convention Center. On this day in 1961, Mitch Miller's Sing Along With Mitch debuted on NBC/tv. On this day in 1948, the first magnetic tape recorder, the Wireway, went on sale for $149.50. On this day in 1927, New York talent agent Arthur Judson formed a 16-station radio network, United Independent Broadcasters. Near bankruptcy eight months later, the company was purchased by Columbia and renamed Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting Company. In 1928, a group of investors led by William S. Paley bought a controlling interest in the company and renamed it Columbia Broadcasting System. Today CBS owns 14 tv stations and 130 radio stations and operates many more.

Today, January 27, 2012, r&b/blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland is 82, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is 68, Ronettes vocalist Nedra Talley is 66, ballet dancer/choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov is 64, Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey is 61, J. Geils Band lead singer/keyboardist Seth Justman is 61, actress Mimi Rogers is 56, actress Bridget Fonda is 48, country singer Tracy Lawrence is 44, Sister Hazel drummer Mike Trojanowski is 42, Take That keyboardist/guitarist Mark Owen is 40.

On January 27, 1967, 45 years ago today, the Monkees' I'm A Believer/Steppin' Stone was in its eighth week at number one on the KHJ Boss 30. The Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday climbed from #8 to #2 and would reach number one the following week. The Blues Magoos' We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet jumped from #26 to #6. Highest debut at #21 was a remake of the Troggs' Wild Thing by "Senator Bobby" (Robert Kennedy impersonator Bill Minkin). The survey touted KHJ's new Boss Jock, Humble Harve, who would start on February 1.

Soul Train's Don Cornelius dies at 75- apparent suicide.

The news this morning brings some sad news for fans of the long running "Soul Train" t.v. show- host Don Cornelius had died by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound- stated bluntly, a suicide.  His health had deteriorated and was a likely connected motive in some part.

See the LA Times report on this.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/soul-train-creator-don-cornelius-dead-in-apparent-suicide.html

Sad to see another icon of my younger days leave us.  His show was, as most of you my age or thereabouts, a must-see for the latest artists and songs, not to mention the dancers.  It was much like Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" with, of course, "Soul"- and who can forget that dance line each show that showed individual's talents as they moved on down?  That's often been seen at other social dances like wedding receptions. And there was the Cornelius sign off for each show, "Peace, Love and Soouul."  Cornelius was such a know figure that there were many instances of satire of the icon on comedy shows. 

A more complete story and obitutary should be coming soon in the press and online.

Lincoln High's Alumni Association's first meeting for 2012 is Tomorrow.

The Lincoln High Alumni Association will be haaving a busy meeting tomorrow with a recap of the last years events and plans for upcoming events.   The meeting will be held in the "Cafe in the Heights"at 9:30 a.m.  located directly across the street from the school's electronic marquee.  Increased membership is sought and dues are payable by mail (see the LHAA details on the LHS official web site  LHS Website 


A Spring Dance is planned for April 14, 2012 at Maggie's Pub in Santa Fe Springs.

A Lincoln High Centennial Celebration in 2013 is among the long range plans that will be shaped up this year. An assortment of Angels Fund arts contests this spring will be discussed as well as Texas Hold "em poker tournament.

NEXT Month's meeting, Feb. 25, 2012: The membership attending the meeting will be included in the annual group photo that will be taken on that date.

Singer Etta James Dies

Singer Etta James died this morning in Riverside, California at the age of 73.  She's best known for singing "At Last" which is one of the songs that you will hear at about any wedding reception.  The L.A. Times has a news item on this at http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-etta-james-20120121,0,1608543.story .

The life of Etta James included the difficulties of drug use and addiction that was not unusual among many of the artists in music encoutered in their lives, sometimes cutting short those lives  She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Boulevard "Walk of Fame."  

I remember her songs as part of the sounds of the 60's but more with lively tunes, ubeat songs, if you will.  The rendition of "At Last" that James made all her own is nothing of that, but a very earthy, very sincere love ballad.  I think that the L.A. Times may have a longer obituary coming up for her aside from the announcement now online.

What's happened on this date, January 9th- in radio, music and entertainment- from LA Radio.com

Don Barrett's L.A. Radio.com provides a little something for our memories today. It is a little bit of flashback kind of energy that is what I want to share as a sampling of what was published every day until a few months agos http://www.laradio.com/   If you have some years on you, you might recall some of the items from experience.

The following is from is column today for January 9th- "on this date" -

"LARP Rewind: January 9. On this day in 2006, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, who in 2005 had starred in a new version of the 1968 movie, The Producers, were honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. On this day in 1992, Sting played himself on the "Radio Bart" episode of The Simpsons. On this day in 1979, Kmart pulled Steve Martin's Let's Get Small album for being in "bad taste." On this day in 1973, the Rolling Stones had to cancel a planned tour of the Orient when Japan refused to grant a Visa to Mick Jagger because of a 1969 drug bust. On this day in 1963, drummer Charlie Watts joined the Rolling Stones after leaving Blues Incorporated. On this day in 1922, 82AE in Pittsburgh changed call letters to KQV. (This was before a rule change that required stations east of the Mississippi River to have callsigns beginning with W.)


Today, January 9, 2012, sportscaster Dick Enberg is 77, Joan Baez is 71, Roy Head is 69, Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is 68, Buster Poindexter (David Johansen) is 62, Crystal Gayle is 61, Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell is 45, singer/guitarist Dave Matthews is 45, Backstreet Boys vocalist A.J. McLean is 34.

On the KFWB Fabulous Forty Survey 50 years ago today, January 9, 1962, number one was The Twist by Chubby Checker, followed by the Tokens' The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Gene Chandler's Duke Of Earl. Biggest jumpers were Norman by Sue Thompson and Dear Lady Twist by Gary U.S. Bonds."


Roy Head sang "Treat Her Right" in the mid-60s, a one-hit wonder, popular and a lively tune.  Crystal Gayle had "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" as her principal 60s hit.  Sue Thompson's "Norman" was yet another one-hit wonder from the early 60s.   Hard to believe it, maybe, but all part of the pop music we heard in high school years way back.

Don's daily column appeared on the web since about 1997, first as a free site and than as a daily subscription website, now appears "occasionally" for subscribers as he's now spending more time on other things including family.  This break is not complete yet as he leave us with some once in a while postings to ease the radio information vacuum.  What I show here is just a small part of what we had as daily presentations.

A Return to Classes in LAUSD today.

The holiday break that we used to call "Christmas Vacation" is over now.  Lincoln students started the school year earlier than the rest of the District in August for the second year as a pilot program.  The rest of the district was to follow that change last August but there was so much commotion stirred up that that the change was postponed for another year to August 2012.


So be on the lookout for students on foot and more on bikes, as well as the increased traffic to deliver and pick up students by schools.    Does anyone remember way back when we used to walk to and from school from Jr. High and on?    Getting a ride to school was more like a treat but now it's more like the routine.  

It's a different time now but the mayor again is saying that crime is down and L.A. is as safe as it's been since the 1950's.  I disagree with that conclusion.  I think it's a less safer than the 50's but that's for a different discussion.

That's just one bit of exercise that has been cut back a lot.   I don' t know if there was any obesity trend like there is now, but when you have the technology advances, there's a lot more sitting around time happening than we had. 

We had it a little more different than now.   And that's all without having to add in hardships like walking in the snow to get to school- it would have been a real story if that happened even once for us in L.A.

But even with all that we didn't have then, I seem to recall that more came out of school with some better education than we see today.  I remember that we had drop outs but even then there was not what we see now.   And you have to think about all this happening in the pre-Walkout days.  This was what I saw generally, working with an "inferior" education still gave us a lot for our time in school.  But that's just my interpretation and the people with the statistics may be able to produce a different scenario.

Oh, and "Happy New Year" to all.

As the year ends, we see singer Etta James now terminally ill.

There's a December 18, 2011 news story from Reuters that Etta James, age 73, a singer from way back who I remember from at least high school days, is temrinally ill.  Her most memorable song for most who have heard her sing, is  "At Last." a real classic among ballads.  I happened to favor "Tell Mama," a more upbeat tune that let a lot of energy come through.  It was a time back in high school days that soul artists flourished and were inspirations to many of the newly arrived British Invasion artists of the 60's.

I think it was Beyonce who sang her own cover of "At Last" several years ago that provoked some anger in James.  Etta stated very clearly that "that's MY song...."  and was not pleased by the Beyonce version.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/17/us-ettajames-idUSTRE7BF20Q20111217

Sad to hear of the news but there's a difference of opinion among James' sons, according to the report in Reuters about the condition being terminal, although they agree the singer is in deteriorating health.