BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MEETING, MAY 4TH 2:00 PM THE FIRST SUNDAY
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE MUSTANG MUSEUM OF AMERICA
LOCATED AT 49 FORMAN FARM ROAD ODENVILLE, AL 35120
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
We had planned on meeting at the Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame located in the Carver Theatre this month but there was a flood and the theatre will be closed for a while. So this ‘road trip’ will have to be rescheduled. This month we will meet at the library as usual. Come and enjoy the fellowship and music we will have.
Next month we will take a ‘road trip’ to the Mustang Museum Of America and check out over 120 Mustangs starting from a 1964½ to recent models. Bobby Powell owns and operates this museum. Bobby is the brother of Johnny Powell who was a member of BRC until his death in 2013. Many of us would go over to Johnny’s house to play records and while there see the Mustangs that Bobby, who lived next door to Johnny, owned. Now he has housed all those Mustangs along with his others in a museum. Be sure to come and take a nostalgic trip back to the beginnings of the Mustang and see the evolution to what has become an iconic American car. For more info go to https://mustangmuseumofamerica.com/visitor-information/
PREPARING FOR THE AUGUST RECORD SHOW
At our last meeting we began our preparations for the upcoming record show. We look forward to another successful show and as time goes on we will be asking for your help in making this type of project happen. Without your help and support each year could be our last show. We are always looking for IT help, help at the door during the show and any ideas in advertising among other things that have to get done. Show dates and time are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 15-17. Friday, members only from 10AM – 2PM and the public from 2PM – 7PM. Saturday 9AM – 5PM and Sunday 10AM – 4PM.
JOHNNY MATHIS
Most of us remember the velvet smooth voice of Johnny Mathis. He had over 50 pop hits from the late 1950’s through the eighties. Johnny, now 89 recently announced that due to memory problems and his age he will cease touring and performing. His final concert will be May 18th at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ. Johnny was born in Gilmer, Texas and raised in San Francisco, CA. He was studying opera at age 13. He was quite an athlete also. He had a track scholarship to San Francisco State College and was invited to the Olympic tryouts but choose a singing career instead. Good choice for music fans. His hits included ‘Wonderful! Wonderful!’, ‘It’s Not For Me To Say’, ‘Chances Are’, ‘Misty‘ and one of favorites, ‘What Would Mary Say’. ‘Chances Are’ and ‘Misty’ are recordings that are in the Grammy Hall Of Fame. I have always had a special place in my music world for Johnny Mathis because he and I share the same birthday. Best wishes to one of the great voices of our time.
HISTORY OF BIRMINGHAM ROCK & ROLL
A while back we had Travis Morgan as our guest speaker and he showed us downloads he has of local bands, local venues, old ticket stubs, etc. He has turned this project into the Birmingham Music Archive. Travis is now working to raise money to help publish a book that will archive Craig Legg’s drawings of the local Birmingham bands and musicians. Craig has done over 300 paintings and the hope is that all his work will be published in a book entitled History Of Birmingham Rock & Roll. For more info and how to donate go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/travm0/craig-leggs-history-of-birmingham-rock-and-roll-the-art-book.
NATIONAL DAY OF……
I hear of National Days for any and everything thought of now-a-days. Here are two that you may want to celebrate:
April 11th is National Eight Track Tape Day. Did you ever think when you threw an eight track tape across the room that there would be a day to celebrate them. I am glad we moved on to better ways of listening to music but I will pause a minute to remember that format of recorded music. I still remember my brother and myself putting an 8-Track player in our parents car, because we used the car sometimes as well. But to be exact, we first put a 4-track player in the car first. It was what we had and we used them for better or worse.
April 12th is National Record Store Day. Participating record stores across the nation will have special releases that day. Check with your local record store and see if they will be participating in this event and if so what releases they will have available.
BIRTHDAYS
Here is a list of some of the musicians who will be celebrating their birthday this month. Happy Birthday, Gang! Did you know that when the song ‘Happy Birthday’ is used in a movie the credits must show the composers names, Patty & Mildred Hill. It comes from the sisters melody, ‘Good Morning To All’ which they wrote in 1893.
Emmylou Harris – April 2, 1947
Tony Orlando – April 3, 1944
Wayne Newton- April 3, 1942
John Oates (Hall & Oates) – April 7, 1949
Vince Gill – April 12, 1957
John Kay (Steppenwolf) – April 12, 1944
Al Green – April 13, 1946
Bobby Vinton – April 16, 1935
Iggy Pop – April 21, 1947
Peter Frampton – April 22, 1950
Barbra Streisand – April 24, 1942
Tommy James – April 29, 1947
Willie Nelson – April 29, 1933
BRC RADIO
And don’t forget that BRC radio is still on the BRC website. Our 3 hosts play all kinds of music including hit songs from the 1950’s – present, LP cuts, songs that received little or no air-play, and all genres. Just go the birminghamrecord.com and click on the ‘RADIO’ icon and chose a show.
See ya,
Charlie