R.I.P. Peter Cooper — I had three surprises waiting for me during the Annual Grammy Awards ceremony last night. There were some pleasures like Brandi Carlile winning major awards and being introduced by her wife and kids. And seeing Stevie Wonder play “Higher Ground” with Chris Stapleton and that full band. Man. But the…

Following Your Arrow despite it all — Sometimes forces align. As I was contemplating this story, I read another one by Charlie Cole: Notes In Lavender The oft-ignored or forgotten queer pioneers of musicmedium.com I won’t summarize Charlie’s work except to say that if you haven’t heard or listened to Lavender Country yet, get with it! You can find vinyl copies everywhere, perhaps even in your local record…

When a writing class reveals certain truths — The four of us — my wife, me, my best friend and his husband — share Japanese deviled eggs, smoky bourbons, curry, and ramen. I don’t remember the street or the name of this place, though it’s on Manhattan’s upper east side. We tell stories of work — of privilege…

The bar, not the lunatic fringe group — Last night as I was still processing yet another mass shooting at a public venue, my wife and I spoke about fear. “It’s all this fear of things we don’t understand,” she said. And while I agreed with her essentially, I nevertheless wondered why it’s so fucking complicated to understand…

1973’s crossovers want to know why? — As I approached my senior year of high school (1973–4), I didn’t know where I’d be attending college, how we’d pay for whatever school I got into, and which of my friends would be joining me for the further adventures of late teen life. Turns out, none of those friends…

Carly Simon’s Anticipation — When Carly Simon released her second album, 1971’s Anticipation (Elektra EKS-75016), I was struggling through the deepest throes of adolescence. I didn’t know what the adult world would bring, and I could tell you that I nevertheless couldn’t wait to get there, but I’m not sure that’s exactly right. For…

Reviewing Johnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride — I’m ashamed to say that I wouldn’t have known about Nashville journalist Peter Cooper’s book, Johnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures In Country Music (Blue Hills Press 2017), had I not found out about Cooper’s passing when I saw his image scroll across the “lost ones”…

Until it wasn’t… — You can’t mistake certain aromas, or odors. Back when my mother was still living, I was visiting her down in Bessemer, and a good neighbor dropped over to see us late one afternoon. It’s what retired people do; come-a-visitin’ just before or right after supper, that easy time of day…

Telling our stories before the next teardrop falls — It had to come from somewhere, or at least be born again, born this way, born to be remembered and not forgotten. Country Music that is, in the way I used to know it and how I know it better now. A more beloved rendition of “I Will Always Love…