Tag Archives: Kenny G

Posted in Historical

Historic and Not-So-Historic Events of the Week

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by Bob Sparrow

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

I’m sorry, but I can’t take you to someplace new EVERY two weeks, so I’m staying home and recognizing some historical and some not-so-historical personal events that took place this week. 

  • June 1, 1967: Sgt. Pepper Released: The Beatles released their groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in the United States.

On June 1, 1961: I was first pepper sprayed for getting too fresh on a first date

Birthday wishes today go out to Marylin Monroe and Brigham Young – a great couple!

  • June 2, 1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II: Following her accession in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II was officially crowned at Westminster Abbey, marking the first coronation to be televised.

On June 2, 1968: I graduated from Westminster College and was crowned the ‘most likely to embarrass himself in a job interview’, which I did, but it was thankfully not televised.

Many of you sickos will be wishing Marquis de Sade a Happy Birthday today, but I’m going to wish my granddaughter, Addison Sparrow Borrelli a happy 9th birthday!   

Astronaut Ed White, Space Walking
  • June 3, 1965: First US Spacewalk: Astronaut Ed White became the first American to walk in space during the Gemini 4 mission, lasting 22 minutes.

On June 3,1971: It took me 22 minutes to complete a sobriety field test walk of ten feet. I may have not been walking in space, but I was feeling spaced as I walked.

Another birthday today for anti-Civil Right leader Jefferson Davis – Confederate President

  • June 4, 1942: Battle of Midway Begins: A pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of WWII began, shifting the advantage to the United States.

On June 4, 2000: I lost the battle searching my mid-drift for my naval at the Pacific gym as I weighed in at 240 pounds, shifting the advantage to expansive underwear.

It is the king we fought in our Revolutionary War’s birthday today, King George III – “The British Are Coming”; (But they won’t stay for dinner.)

  • June 5, 1967: Six-Day War Begins: Conflicts began between Israel and its neighbors (Egypt, Jordan, and Syria).

On June 5, 1986: the beginning of the six-day battle with three neighbors over which dog left his ‘greeting card’ on my front porch.

D-Day

Fall asleep tonight with some soft alto saxophone music on Kenny G’s birthday

  • June 6, 1944: D-Day (Operation Overlord): Allied forces launched a massive invasion of Normandy, France, during WWII, opening the Western Front.

On June 6, 2003: Operation Overbearing was launched when I had to listen to some French woman talk about her Western Front – I reminded her that she’d be speaking German if not for us.

The Dalai Lama is 91 today – Namaste

Gauguin’s ‘Road in Tahiti’
  • June 7, 1929: Vatican City Recognized: Vatican City became a sovereign state following the exchange of documents ratifying the Lateran Treaty. 

On June 7, 1966: I was recognized as a ‘person of interest’ in a sorority panty-raid, when I was caught with said garmet on my head.

French Post-Impressionist painter, Paul Gauguin’s birthday party today, he won’t be attending – he died in 1903

Yeah, I know; I hope I’ll be traveling somewhere soon too!

Posted in Music

A Visit from ‘the Hit Man’ in Vegas

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by Bob Sparrow

David Foster & Katherine McPhee

Linda and I had a meeting with ‘The Hit Man’ in Las Vegas last weekend.  No, our lives were not in danger, we went to see a David Foster show.  Some of you are saying, “Who’s David Foster?  Isn’t he the guy that wrote “My Old Kentucky Home”? No, that’s Stephen Foster, and although a gifted musician, he died in 1864.  Oh, you mean Foster Brooks.  No, he’s the lovable drunk that had no musical talent and is also no longer with us.

OK, for those not familiar with this Canadian musical genius, composer, arranger, and producer, here’s a quick bio: He has won 16 Grammy Awards, three for Producer of the Year, he has three Emmy nominations, three Oscar nominations for ‘’Best Original Song”, and a Golden Globe Award.  He has created hit songs and award-winning gold and platinum albums for a diverse array of artists, including:

Andrea Bocelli singing The Prayer with Katherine McPhee

Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, who says, “David hears things no other person hears,” Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, who called Foster “one of the most brilliant musical minds of our time, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Josh Groban, who credits him with “single-handedly changing my life.” Dolly Parton, Chicago, (Foster and Chicago singer, Peter Cetera, together wrote a number of Chicago hit songs), Hall & Oates, Brandy, ‘N Sync, Boz Scaggs and Gloria Estefan.  He’s also created soundtracks for movies such as Bodyguard, Urban Cowboy and St. Elmo’s Fire.  He’s now working on a Broadway musical.  Not a bad resume.

His show, An Intimate Evening with David Foster – HITMAN, at the Wynn in Las Vegas, featured his 5th wife, Kathrine McPhee, who was runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol and is 35 years younger than the 75-year-old Foster. He is a classically trained piano player who makes fun of his own singing, because he really can’t sing.  He was also joined on stage by two fabulous singers, Daniel Emmet and Pia Toscano, both past contestants on America’s Got Talent, who you will hear more about in the near future, because they are both very, very good.  Also joining him and singing via live video was Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Kenny G (not singing, but playing his incredible saxophone).  As he banters back and forth with his guests, you just feel like your sitting with him in his

Foster & McPhee

piano room as he talks about his amazing life’s journey.  The combination of great music, great story-telling and witty comedy throughout, made it one of the best shows I’ve ever seen – we were totally entertained every minute!

If you’ve not seen the documentary on this unique genius, go to Netflix and find Off the Record, it is an amazing story; very entertaining – he is a character!

The cherry on top of our quick trip to Las Vegas was that my 49ers were playing the Thursday night football game and I was able to win a nice parlay bet. Sometimes Christmas comes early!