What’s an Olla Worth?
About 15 years ago, I was setting up at a flea market. Thursday was set-up day, and the show ran Friday through Sunday. I normally arrived at 9 a.m. and…
Essay: My Favorites from Motown
Some of my favorite Motown songs may not be yours, but that doesn’t matter because nearly everything Motown Records released was a favorite—one reason they made so much money. Let’s…
Essay: The Extraordinary Roy Orbison
Let's talk about one of the most talented and inventive pop music stars that ever existed: the extraordinary Roy Orbison. Born in Vernon, Texas in 1936, the emotional operatic ballad singer-songwriter…
Essay: Sweet Sweet Soul
Soul music: a compelling, distinct, and dynamic kind of music very popular in the 1960s. Here’s a good example: Sweet Soul Music, Arthur Conley Originating in the African American community…
Essay: Kind to the Very End
Boy did I miss a lot of big news while I was away in Vietnam. Some fifty years ago I left the good old USA for a yearlong commitment in…