“What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be.”
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The 31st Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal, Canada.
Industry professionals got intimate concerts and opportunities to connect with artists at the 31st Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal, Canada. Artists showcased their music all around the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel.
Conference attendees and folk friends around the world were invited to join a live-streaming a performance of “Give Peace a Chance” from their own beds on February 16th at 9:30 am ET.
“In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged a bed-in at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montréal, Canada where they penned and recorded the iconic pacifist song “Give Peace a Chance.” 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of this historic moment in music history, and our conference is taking place in the same hotel!” Folk Alliance International~
This weekend 78-year-old singer -songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, who had a string of hits in the 60’s and 70’s was honored at the event. She is a peace activist and a very private person who seldom leaves her farm in Hawaii. She recently released a biography.
In what was a folkies paradise, thousands of folk music fans came together to hear music legends in the historic Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. While it was frigid outside, the warmth inside between old friends was palpable. I was sitting next to Tom Paxton as he whooped it up and gave a thumbs up to Livingston Taylor after he performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow. As soon as the set was over, Paxton approached the stage and the two embraced. Both artists have been able to maintain longstanding careers in the folk industry.
The reporter I was working with and I looked for every opportunity to slip into the space where Livingston Taylor was giving his delightful performances. His warm and inviting style was very engaging; his vocals soothing and his guitar playing joyful. But what made Livingston special to me was his performance charisma. Frequently interrupting himself, as to never let a teaching moment pass, he's filled wisdom and humor and eager to share both with his audience. This says a lot, when you think that more than 1,000 singers, songwriters and musicians from around the world were competing for the attention of industry professionals.
There is just something about Livingston that speaks heart to heart.
~~Young artist connected to industry professionals and each other, while showcasing their own music.
Story by award winning reporter Mike Sangiacomo, Cleveland Plain Dealer. https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2019/02/folk-alliance-conference-unites-musicians-from-around-the-world.html
Next years event will be in New Orleans.
VIDEO OF LIVINGSTON TAYLOR SINGING SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW ABOVE WITH APPROVAL OF TOM PAXTON AT THE END.
Remembering the Forgotten
Three veterans were buried with honors; but with no family members present. What could have been a very lonely funeral service was attended by hundreds of community members that packed the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, dies same date as Elvis, years apart.
Aretha Franklins Birthplace in Memphis
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Elvis Week In Memphis 2018
AUG. 2018 ~~Women leave kisses on the wall of what was once the bedroom of Elvis Presley. This apartment, was home to Elvis Presley during his teenage years in Memphis. It is now open for tours.
Elvis fans can sleep in Elvis's bedroom, eat in the kitchen he ate in and sit in the halls where he played guitar because NOW they rent out the unit by the night for $250.00.
Presley lived in public housing with his family at Lauderdale Court before he reached stardom in 1956 as an entertainer. Regular tenants have occupied the income based apartment all theses years until what was Lauderdale Courts public housing underwent renovations. The units are now called Uptown Square apartments. Elvis lived there with his parents at 185 Winchester, apartment 328, from 1949 until 1953. The unit has been decorated to look like it would have during that time and then personalized with photos of Elvis and his family.
Uptown Square is just north of downtown Memphis.
Need you ask? Yes, I left a lip print of my own for the king.
VIDEO BELOW
© Karen Pulfer Focht
http://www.uptownmemphis.org/elvis.htm
August 11, 2018-
Today Andy Childs, Joel Weinshanker (left) (managing owner of EPE), and Lisa Marie Presley took the stage at Elvis Presley's Memphis at Graceland on Saturday to discuss the release of the latest album Where No One Stands Alone. Lisa Marie became emotional. Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley sing a duet on 'new' Elvis gospel album. Lisa said about working on this album "this is the best experience I have ever had." Her business partner and the albums co-producer Joel Weinshanker said of Elvis "What he’d want more than anything in the world is for Lisa to have some peace.
Lisa Marie Presley opened up about how she has overcome her addiction to drugs this week in Memphis.
Aug 13- 2018
Elvis fans renewed their vows in the brand new Graceland Chapel in the Woods at Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee during the 2018 Elvis Week Celebrations.
Previous Coverage
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/elvispresley40
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2015/1/10/elvis-turns-80
Miss Jubilee at Evangeline's
Miss Jubilee entertains diners at Evangeline's during a Sunday jazz brunch in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. Valerie Kirchhoff, @ http://miss-jubilee.com/ the lead vocalist, sings from a great set list of music from the 1920s and 30s. Ethan Leinwand @ http://www.ethanleinwand.com/ is a St. Louis-based barrel-house blues pianist. GREAT FUN! GREAT BRUNCH!
GETTING FIT WAS NEVER SO MUCH FUN!
Diana gets the whole pool rocking during her water workout class at the Cordova, Tennessee YMCA. This fun video clip says more than I ever could.