It would be easy for Todd Morgan & The Emblems to follow the often tread cover band path, but it has raised the bar with songwriting influenced by rockabilly, jazz, Big Band, and rock. Todd Morgan discusses his influences, and the band’s third recently released CD, “Sweet Pretender.”
Category Archives: nostagia
Independent radio and education
Corporate radio is struggling, and for good reason. Listeners are demanding variety, and finding it online or via satellite. How can people hear their favorite types of music (with unlimited artists), and support their local community? Dennis Newhall of Sacramento’s K-ZAP and Joe Parente of Process Theater, Inc. discuss their joint effort in bringing back a local favorite radio station of pub rock and blues into non-profit status, and assisting students with learning the evolving craft and technology of radio, and what the media has to offer in the future.
Cowboy music and heritage
Do you know the difference between cowboy music and country music?
Ron Scoffield has always had a connection with the Old West. He repairs/restores horse drawn carriages and stagecoaches (in fact, he participated in the Bicentennial Wagon Train), and plays guitar while singing cowboy music. During the summer, his Red Mule Ranch hosts Cowboy Campfire Nights, which offers cowboy music, cowboy poetry, and a BBQ. Ron’s brother, Gary, was in town to join him on stage, so I sat down with both of them as they sang a couple of songs, and shared their stories.
Appalachian dulcimers and heritage
The Appalachian dulcimer’s unique sound resonates on a cellular level with those of Irish or Scottish heritage, and is just plain lovely to the rest of us. Robert Scott of Where Ravens Fly discusses the history of the instrument, and plays a couple of songs on a Appalachian dulcimer he designed.
Old radio shows and creativity
With podcasts, we’ve actually returned to the good old days of radio, when there were entertaining shows – comedy, drama, suspense. Robert and Rosemarie Gerould of the Bob and Ro Radio Show re-enact old radio shows with scripts actually written during the original radio show days.
Handwriting and creativity
The debate continues as to when and if handwriting should be taught in schools. Communication specialist Phwanda Moore explains that handwriting is more than a form of communication; it also taps into the creative aspects of the human psyche, and, therefore, should definitely be taught to children.
Motown and Movements
Motown and that “Motown sound” continues to be a powerful influence on musicians and songwriters, and it’s just plain fun. Motown on Mondays (“MOM”) is truly a party for all ages, with 18 current locations, and looking to spread the joy into Europe. This week, I speak with a few of the Sacramento Motown on Mondays gang – Ginnie Jester, Chris Hopkins, and DJ Epik – about this unique ongoing event.
Shoes and Roosevelt
Footwear either provide necessary protection or present fashion statements. Vintage shoes provide a visual historical perspective and perhaps a family connection with an ancestor. This week, the Center for Sacramento History is presenting an exhibit of their shoe collection. I sat down with Veronica L. Kandl, Curator of History, and Rebecca Crowther, Photographs Archivist, about shoe textiles used over the last 100 years, stories associated with footwear and methods of storage. And, we visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
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