Down On The Corner
• I ran into U of L's John LaBarbera at a computer store last month, which gave me a brief chance to play catch-up. Seems that he and his family have been living under canvas since his house was damaged by the tornado that hit Marengo, Indiana early this year. The delay in getting things repaired stems from "contractor issues," something I'm sure many folks around here have had to deal with. At least they have power...
• Like ist Jason Koerner, I spent a bit of time in the WLS Garage at O'Malley's recently, judging the finals of the LRS Band Battle. Fortunately, I wear my ball cap bill forward (it's an age-related thing), so I didn't get the unceremonious heave-ho that Koerner did, but I did get to 'hear' three bands. I qualify 'hear,' so the room is, in fact, a garage, complete with a metal-mesh-covered drain pit down the center and concrete walls and floors, which make for very poor sound quality. It was, as they say, an experience. I had wisely taken a couple of sets of earplugs (along with some shooter's ear protection, which was not satisfactory.), so I didn't suffer any additional hearing loss. Note to investors: buy stock in hearing aid companies - that's clearly a growth industry, now that the boomers have reached middle age and are tallying the costs of their youthful risky behavior.
• The Kentucky Center has done a bit of shuffling in their staff recently. A new director of programming, Dan Forte, has been named. Forte was formerly the Program Director with the Huntington, New, Arts Council.
Also recently tapped are Heather Weston, who has been named Director of the Governor's School for the Arts and Kelly Welsh-McNerney, who is the new Theatre Educator.
• With the recent departure of WFPK program/music/marketing director Dan Reed, it must be time to get caught up on PRP staffing. Michael W. Bright (mbright@wfpk.org) has been promoted to the position of Vice-President, Programming and Marketing for all three stations, reporting directly to PRP President Gerry Weston. Bright has been hosting "The Jazz Brunch," a Sunday jazz show. Stacy Owen (sowen@wfpk.org) remains the person to send music to and to take follow-up calls; Scott Mullins (smullins@wfpk.org) is the "Live Lunch" contact person.
• Ukulele maven Mary Lou Dempler has been getting plenty good press of late for the much-maligned instrument. Most recently, she was featured in a segment on Bernson's Corner on Fox 41. Way ta go, girl! Mary Lou also has a new CD, Praise the Lord, on CDBaby.
• Just so you know: The CMJ Music Marathon 2004 is set for Wednesday, October 13 to Saturday October 16 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Get all the lowdown at www.cmj.com/marathon
• Is borrowing from a publicist plagiarism? From our favorite ever-connected Louisville publicist we learn that Dan Gediman is hosting a monthly songwriter showcase at Clifton's Pizza. The "in-the-round" concept will feature three songwriters each month and the CSI stands for Clifton's Songwriter Initiative. The showcase kicked off with host Gediman, his frequent musical collaborator Brigid Kaelin and John Mann, whose new album is about done).
Codas
• Donald H. Brown, 80, died in Ocala, Florida on September 8. He was a retired choral and band teacher, a slide trombone master during WWII with the US Army Special Services and a lifetime member of AFM Local 11-637.