Sparks from the Fire

Ah, Part 5.  Tomorrow night we do Top 3 Inspirational Polkas from Afghanistan and the next night possibly Top 3 Moon Zither Music.  No actually I think I’ll stop this blast into the past for a while and get on to something else.  It’s been fun, though, going back through a lifetime of music and remembering the changing of courses through the influences of great songs.

Alan Jay Lerner

STANDARDS
1. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes — “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is a show tune written by American composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Otto Harbach for their 1933 operetta Roberta.

They asked me how I knew
My true love was true
Oh, I of course replied
Something here inside cannot be denied

They said someday you’ll find
All who love are blind
Oh, when your heart’s on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes was my parents’ “song” – Lyman and Virginia.  It always fascinated me that they could be so in love.  Out of that love I was born.  This song summed up their affections for each other.  Go Lyman.  Go Virginia.

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The Jenny Burton Experience played to sold out houses and ran for seven years in one of New York City’s top clubs, opened for Stevie Wonder at Lincoln Center, played Carnegie Hall and was the first Gospel group to headline in Atlantic City (at Resorts International).

Jenny Burton

Critics unanimously agreed…

“No wonder the whole town’s buzzing.  No wonder there’s so much repeat business.  No wonder she’s been playing to packed houses…  No wonder she’s been extended again and again…” – John Hoglund, New York Native

“If you can’t put aside a Thursday night to catch “The Jenny Burton Experience” at midtown’s Don’t Tell Mama, you can always toss 10 sticks of dynamite into your tool shed and watch the roof take off for the stratosphere.” – Bill Ervolino, The Record

This song closed the show during that magical time.

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I like to think of a blog as a modern day soapbox. For some of you, the term “soapbox” may be so archaic as to be unheard of.

Wikipedia to the rescue:

“The term originates from when speakers would stand on a wooden box meant for holding soap. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a person engaging in often flamboyant impromptu or unofficial public speaking, as in the phrases “He’s on his soapbox”, or “Get off your soapbox.”

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