Kamis, 24 Desember 2009
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945) is an English blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds, of Cream, and as a solo performer, being the only person ever to be inducted three times. Often viewed by critics and fans alike as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time, Clapton was ranked fourth in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #53 on their list of the Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Although Clapton has varied his musical style throughout his career, it has always remained grounded in the blues. Yet, in spite of this focus, he is credited as an innovator in a wide variety of genres. These include blues-rock (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and the Yardbirds) and psychedelic rock (with Cream). Clapton's chart success was not limited to the blues, with chart-toppers in Delta Blues (Me and Mr. Johnson), pop ("Change the World") and reggae (Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff") (He is often credited for bringing reggae and Bob Marley to the mainstream.) Two of his most successful recordings were the hit love song "Layla", which he played with the band Derek and the Dominos, and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", which has been his staple song since his days with Cream.
 Early years
Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, the son of 16-year-old Patricia Molly Clapton (b. January 7, 1929) and Edward Walter Fryer (b. March 21, 1920), a 24-year-old soldier from Montreal, Quebec. Fryer shipped off to war prior to Clapton's birth and then returned to Canada. Clapton grew up with his grandmother, Rose, and her second husband Jack, believing they were his parents and that his mother was his older sister. Their surname was Clapp, which has given rise to the widespread but erroneous belief that Clapton's real surname is Clapp (Reginald Cecil Clapton is the name of Rose's first husband, Eric Clapton's maternal grandfather). Years later, his mother married another Canadian soldier, moved to Canada and left young Eric with his grandparents in distant Surrey.
Clapton received an acoustic Hoyer guitar, made in Germany, for his 13th birthday, but found learning the steel-stringed instrument very difficult and nearly gave up because the action of the guitar was horrible. Despite his frustrations, he was influenced by the blues from an early age and practiced long hours to learn chords and copy the music of blues artists that he listened to on his Grundig Cub tape recorder.
After leaving school in 1961, Clapton studied at the Kingston College of Art but was dismissed at the end of the academic year because his focus remained on music rather than art. Around this time Clapton began busking around Kingston, Richmond and the West End of London. When he was 17 years old Clapton joined his first band, an early British R&B group, called "The Roosters". He stayed with this band from January through August 1963. In October of that year, Clapton did a brief seven gig stint with Casey Jones & The Engineers.
 The Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers
Main articles: The Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
In 1963, Clapton joined The Yardbirds, a blues-influenced rock and roll band, and stayed with them until March 1965. Synthesizing influences from Chicago blues and leading blues guitarists such as Buddy Guy, Freddie King and B. B. King, Clapton forged a distinctive style and rapidly became one of the most talked-about guitarists in the British music scene. The band initially played Chess/Checker/Vee-Jay blues numbers and began to attract a large cult following when they took over the Rolling Stones' residency at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. They toured England with American bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson II; a joint LP, recorded in December 1963, was issued belatedly under both their names, in 1965. In March 1965, just as Clapton left the band, the Yardbirds had their first major hit, "For Your Love", on which Clapton played guitar.
It was during this time period that Clapton's Yardbirds rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja recalled that whenever Clapton broke a guitar string during a concert, he would stay on stage and replace it. The English audiences would wait out the delay by doing what is called a "slow handclap". Clapton told his official biographer, Ray Coleman, that, "My nickname of 'Slowhand' came from Giorgio Gomelsky. He coined it as a good pun. He kept saying I was a fast player, so he put together the slow handclap phrase into Slowhand as a play on words".
Still obstinately dedicated to blues music, Clapton was strongly offended by the Yardbirds' new pop-oriented direction, partly because, "For Your Love", had been written by pop songwriter-for-hire Graham Gouldman, who had also written hits for teen pop outfit Herman's Hermits and harmony pop band The Hollies. Clapton recommended fellow guitarist Jimmy Page as his replacement; but, Page was at that time unwilling to relinquish his lucrative career as a freelance studio musician, so Page in turn recommended Clapton's successor, Jeff Beck. While Beck and Page played together in the Yardbirds, the trio of Beck, Page, and Clapton were never in the group together. However, the trio did appear on the 12-date benefit tour for Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis, as well as on the album Guitar Boogie.
Clapton joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, in April 1965, only to quit a few months later. In the summer of 1965, he left for Greece with a band called The Glands which included his old friend Ben Palmer on piano. In November 1965, he rejoined John Mayall. It was during his second Bluesbreakers' stint that his passionate playing established Clapton's name as the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. Although Clapton gained world fame for his playing on the immensely influential album, Blues Breakers, this album was not released until Clapton had left the Bluesbreakers for good. Having swapped his Fender Telecaster and Vox AC30 amp for a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar and Marshall amplifier, Clapton's sound and playing inspired a well-publicised graffito that deified him with the famous slogan, "Clapton is God". The phrase was spray-painted by an admirer on a wall in an Islington Underground station in the autumn of 1967. The graffiti was captured in a now-famous photograph, in which a dog is urinating on the wall. Clapton is well reported to have been embarrassed by the slogan, saying in The South Bank Show profile of him made in 1987, "I never accepted that I was the greatest guitar player in the world. I always wanted to be the greatest guitar player in the world, but that's an ideal, and I accept it as an ideal". The phrase began to appear in other areas of Islington throughout the mid-60s.
Main article: Cream (band)
Clapton left the Bluesbreakers in July 1966 (to be replaced by Peter Green) and formed Cream, one of the earliest supergroups. Cream was also one of the earliest "power trios", with Jack Bruce on bass (also of Manfred Mann, the Bluesbreakers and the Graham Bond Organization) and Ginger Baker on drums (another member of the GBO). Before the formation of Cream, Clapton was all but unknown in the United States; he left the Yardbirds before "For Your Love" hit the American Top Ten, and had yet to perform there. During his time with Cream, Clapton began to develop as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, though Bruce took most of the lead vocals and wrote the majority of the material with lyricist Pete Brown. Cream's first gig was an unofficial performance at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester on 29 July 1966 before their full debut two nights later at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Windsor. Cream established its enduring legend with the high-volume blues jamming and extended solos of their live shows.
In early 1967, Clapton's status as Britain's top guitarist was rivaled by the emergence of Jimi Hendrix, an acid rock-infused guitarist who used wailing feedback and effects pedals to create new sounds for the instrument. Hendrix attended a performance of the newly formed Cream at the Central London Polytechnic on 1 October 1966, during which Hendrix sat in on a shattering double-timed version of "Killing Floor". In return, top UK stars including Clapton, Pete Townshend, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles avidly attended Hendrix's early club performances. Hendrix's arrival had an immediate and major effect on the next phase of Clapton's career, although Clapton continued to be recognised in UK music polls as the premier guitarist.
Clapton first visited the United States while touring with Cream. In March 1967, Cream performed a nine show stand at the RKO Theater in New York. They recorded Disraeli Gears in New York from 11–15 May 1967. Cream's repertoire varied from soulful pop ("I Feel Free") to lengthy blues-based instrumental jams ("Spoonful"). Disraeli Gears featured Clapton's searing guitar lines, Bruce's soaring vocals and prominent, fluid bass playing, and Baker's powerful, polyrhythmic jazz-influenced drumming. Together, Cream's talents secured themselves as an influential power trio.
In 28 months, Cream had become a commercial success, selling millions of records and playing throughout the U.S. and Europe. They redefined the instrumentalist's role in rock and were one of the first blues-rock bands to emphasize musical virtuosity and lengthy jazz-style improvisation sessions. Their U.S. hit singles include "Sunshine of Your Love" (#5, 1968), "White Room" (#6, 1968) and "Crossroads" (#28, 1969) – a live version of Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues". Though Cream was hailed as one of the greatest groups of its day, and the adulation of Clapton as a guitar hero reached new heights, the supergroup was destined to be short-lived. Drug and alcohol use escalated tension between the three members and the conflicts between Bruce and Baker eventually led to Cream's demise. A strongly critical Rolling Stone review of a concert of the group's second headlining U.S. tour was another significant factor in the trio's demise, as well as affected Clapton profoundly.
Cream's farewell album, Goodbye, featured live performances recorded at The Forum, Los Angeles, 19 October 1968, and was released shortly after Cream disbanded in 1968; it also featured the studio single "Badge", co-written by Clapton and George Harrison. Clapton had met Harrison and become friends with him after the Beatles shared a bill with the Clapton-era Yardbirds at the London Palladium. The close friendship between Clapton and Harrison resulted in Clapton's playing on Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Beatles' White Album. In the same year of release as the White Album, Harrison released his solo debut Wonderwall Music, becoming the first of many Harrison solo records to feature Clapton on guitar. Though friends, Clapton would go largely uncredited for his contributions to Harrison's albums due to contractual restraints. The pair would often play live together as each other's guest. A year after Harrison's death in 2001, Clapton helped organise the tribute concert, for which he was musical director.
Cream briefly reunited in 1993 to perform at the ceremony inducting them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; however, a full reunion took place in May 2005, with Clapton, Bruce, and Baker playing four sold-out concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall and three more at New York's Madison Square Garden that October. Recordings from the London shows were released on CD, LP, and DVD in September/December 2005.
 Blind Faith & Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
Main articles: Blind Faith and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
A desultory spell in a second super group, the short-lived Blind Faith (1969), which was composed of Cream drummer Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Ric Grech of Family, resulted in one LP and one arena-circuit tour. The super group debuted before 100,000 fans in London's Hyde Park on 7 June 1969. They later performed several dates in Scandinavia and began a sold-out American tour in July before their one and only album was released. The LP Blind Faith was recorded in such haste that side two consisted of just two songs, one of them a 15-minute jam entitled "Do What You Like". The album's jacket image of a topless pubescent girl was deemed controversial in the United States and was replaced by a photograph of the band. Blind Faith dissolved after less than seven months. While Winwood returned to Traffic, by now Clapton was tired of both the spotlight and the hype that had surrounded Cream and Blind Faith.
Clapton decided to step into the background for a time, touring as a sideman with the American group Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, who had been the support act for Blind Faith's U.S. tour. He also played two dates that fall as a member of The Plastic Ono Band, including the famous performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival in September 1969, released as the album Live Peace in Toronto 1969.
Clapton became close friends with Delaney Bramlett, who encouraged him in his singing and writing. During the summer of 1969, Clapton and Bramlett contributed to the Music From Free Creek "supersession" project. Clapton, appearing as "King Cool" for contractual reasons, played with Dr. John on three songs, joined by Bramlett on one track. Jeff Beck also contributed to the sessions as "A. N. Other", though Clapton and Beck did not play together.
Using the Bramletts' backing group and an all-star cast of session players (including Leon Russell and Stephen Stills), Clapton recorded his first solo album during two brief tour hiatuses, fittingly named Eric Clapton. Delaney Bramlett co-wrote six of the songs with Clapton, and Bonnie Bramlett co-wrote "Let It Rain". The album also yielded the unexpected U.S. #18 hit, J. J. Cale's "After Midnight". Clapton went with Delaney and Bonnie from the stage to the studio with the Dominos to record George Harrison's All Things Must Pass in spring 1970. During this busy period, Clapton also recorded with other artists including Dr. John, Leon Russell, Plastic Ono Band, Billy Preston and Ringo Starr.
 Derek and the Dominos
Main article: Derek and the Dominos
27 second sample of the song "Layla", as performed by Derek and the Dominos
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Taking over Delaney & Bonnie's rhythm section—Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums)—Clapton formed a new band which was intended to counteract the "star" cult that had grown up around him and show that he could be a member of an ensemble. The band was called "Eric Clapton and Friends" at first, and the name "Derek and the Dominos" was an accident, which occurred when the band's provisional name of "Eric and the Dynamos" was misread as Derek and the Dominos. Clapton's biography, though, argues that Ashton told Clapton to call the band "Del and the Dominos", Del being his nickname for Clapton. Del and Eric were combined and the final name became "Derek and the Dominos".
Clapton's close friendship with George Harrison had brought him into contact with Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd, with whom he became deeply infatuated. When she spurned his advances, Clapton's unrequited affections prompted most of the material for the Dominos' album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. This album contained the monster-hit single, love song "Layla", inspired by the classical poet of Persian literature, Nezami Ganjavi's The Story of Layla and Majnun, a copy of which his friend Ian Dallas had given him. The book moved Clapton profoundly as it was the tale of a young man who fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful, unavailable woman and who went crazy because he could not marry her.
Working at Criteria Studios in Miami with Atlantic Records producer Tom Dowd, who had worked with Clapton on Cream's Disraeli Gears, the band recorded a double-album. The two parts of "Layla" were recorded in separate sessions: the opening guitar section was recorded first, and for the second section, laid down several months later, drummer Jim Gordon composed and played the piano part. The Layla LP was actually recorded by a five-piece version of the group, thanks to the unforeseen inclusion of guitarist Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. A few days into the Layla sessions, Dowd—who was also producing the Allmans—invited Clapton to an Allman Brothers outdoor concert in Miami. The two guitarists met first onstage, then played all night in the studio and became friends. Duane first added his slide guitar to "Tell the Truth" on 28 August as well as "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out". In four days, the five-piece Dominos recorded "Key to the Highway", "Have You Ever Loved a Woman", and "Why Does Love Got to be So Sad". When September came around, Duane briefly left the sessions for gigs with his own band, and the four-piece Dominos recorded "I Looked Away", "Bell Bottom Blues", and "Keep on Growing". Duane returned to record "I am Yours", "Anyday", and "It's Too Late". On the 9th, they recorded Hendrix's "Little Wing" and the title track. The following day, the final track, "Thorn Tree in the Garden" was recorded.
Eric Clapton in Barcelona, 1974
The album was heavily blues-influenced and featured a combination of the twin guitars of Allman and Clapton, with Allman's incendiary slide-guitar a key ingredient of the sound. Many critics would later notice that Clapton played best when in a band composed of dual guitars; working with another guitarist kept him from getting "sloppy and lazy and this was undeniably the case with Duane Allman." It showcased some of Clapton's strongest material to date, as well as arguably some of his best guitar playing, with Whitlock also contributing several superb numbers, and his powerful, soul-influenced voice.
Tragedy dogged the group throughout its brief career. During the sessions, Clapton was devastated by news of the death of Jimi Hendrix; eight days previously the band had cut a blistering version of "Little Wing" as a tribute to him which was added to the album. On 17 September 1970, one day before Hendrix's death, Clapton had purchased a left-handed Stratocaster that he had planned to give to Hendrix as a birthday gift. Adding to Clapton's woes, the Layla album received only lukewarm reviews upon release. The shaken group undertook a U.S. tour without Allman, who had returned to the Allman Brothers Band. Despite Clapton's later admission that the tour took place amidst a veritable blizzard of drugs and alcohol, it resulted in the surprisingly strong live double album In Concert. The band had recorded several tracks for a second album in London during the spring of 1971 (five of which were released on the Eric Clapton box-set Crossroads), but the results were mediocre.
Tom Dowd and Duane Allman were not there to help them and Derek and the Dominos soon disintegrated messily in London. Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident on 29 October 1971. Although Radle would remain Clapton's bass player until the summer of 1979 (Radle died in May 1980 from the effects of alcohol and narcotics), the split between Clapton and Whitlock was apparently a bitter one, and it was not until 2003 that they worked together again (Clapton guested on Whitlock's appearance on the Later with Jools Holland show). Another tragic footnote to the Dominos story was the fate of drummer Jim Gordon, who was an undiagnosed schizophrenic and years later murdered his mother during a psychotic episode. Gordon was confined to 16-years-to-life imprisonment, later being moved to a mental institution, where he remains today.
 Solo career
Yvonne Elliman with Clapton in 1975
Clapton's career successes in the 1970s were in stark contrast to his personal life, which was troubled by romantic longings and drug and alcohol addiction. In addition to his (temporarily) unrequited and intense attraction to Pattie Boyd, he withdrew from recording and touring to isolation in his Surrey, England residence. There he nursed his heroin addiction, resulting in a career hiatus interrupted only by the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 (where he passed out on stage, was revived, and continued the show). In January 1973, The Who's Pete Townshend organised a comeback concert for Clapton at London's Rainbow Theatre aptly titled the "Rainbow Concert" to help Clapton kick his addiction. Clapton would return the favour by playing 'The Preacher' in Ken Russell's film version of The Who's Tommy in 1975; his appearance in the film (performing "Eyesight to the Blind") is notable as he is clearly wearing a fake beard in some shots, the result of deciding to shave off his real beard after the initial takes in an attempt to force the director to remove his earlier scene from the movie and leave the set.
In 1974, now partnered with Pattie (they would not actually marry until 1979) and no longer using heroin (although starting to drink heavily), Clapton put together a more low-key touring band that included Radle, Miami guitarist George Terry, keyboardist Dick Sims, drummer Jamie Oldaker and vocalists Yvonne Elliman and Marcy Levy (better known as Marcella Detroit who later recorded in the 1980s pop duo Shakespears Sister). With this band Clapton recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974), an album with an emphasis on more compact songs and fewer guitar solos; the cover-version of "I Shot The Sheriff" was Clapton's first #1 hit and was important in bringing reggae and the music of Bob Marley to a wider audience. The 1975 album There's One in Every Crowd continued the trend of 461. The album's original title The World's Greatest Guitar Player (There's One In Every Crowd) was changed before pressing, as it was felt its ironic intention would be misunderstood. The band toured the world and subsequently released the 1975 live LP, E.C. Was Here. Clapton continued to release albums and toured regularly. Highlights of the era include No Reason to Cry, whose collaborators included Bob Dylan and The Band, and Slowhand, which featured "Wonderful Tonight", another song inspired by Pattie Boyd, and a second J.J. Cale cover, "Cocaine".
During an August 1976 concert in Birmingham, Clapton provoked a controversy that has continued to follow him when he made pointed remarks from the stage in support of British politician Enoch Powell's efforts to restrict immigration to the UK (see below).
Clapton playing live; the Eishalle theater of Wetzikon, Switzerland, 19 June 1977
In 1981, Clapton was invited by producer Martin Lewis to appear at the Amnesty International benefit The Secret Policeman's Other Ball. Clapton accepted the invitation and teamed up with Jeff Beck to perform a series of duets—reportedly their first-ever billed stage collaboration. Three of the performances were released on the album of the show and one of the songs was featured in the film of the show. The performances heralded a return to form and prominence for Clapton in the new decade. Many factors had influenced Clapton's comeback, including his "deepening commitment to Christianity", to which he had converted prior to his heroin addiction.
After an embarrassing fishing incident, Clapton finally called his manager and admitted he was an alcoholic. In January 1982, Roger and Clapton flew to Minneapolis-St. Paul; Clapton would be checked in at Hazelden Treatment Center, located in Center City, Minnesota. On the flight over, Clapton indulged himself in a great amount of drinks, for fear he may never be able to drink again. Clapton is quoted as saying from his autobiography, "In the lowest moments of my life, the only reason I didn't commit suicide was that I knew I wouldn't be able to drink anymore if I was dead. It was the only thing I thought was worth living for, and the idea that people were about to try and remove me from alcohol was so terrible that I drank and drank and drank, and they had to practically carry me into the clinic." [Clapton - p. 198]
After being discharged, it was recommended by doctors of Hazelden that Clapton not partake in any activities that would act as triggers for his alcoholism or stress, until he was fully situated back at Hurtwood. A few months after his discharge, Clapton began working on his next album against the Hazelden doctors' orders. Working with Tom Dowd, Clapton produced what he thought as his "most forced" album to date, Money and Cigarettes.
In 1984, he performed on Pink Floyd member Roger Waters' solo album, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking and went on tour with Waters following the release of the album. Since then Waters and Clapton have had a close relationship. In 2005 they performed together for the Tsunami Relief Fund. In 2006 they performed at the Highclere Castle, in aid of the Countryside Alliance, playing two set pieces of "Wish You Were Here" and "Comfortably Numb". As Clapton recovered from his addictions, his album output continued in the 1980s, including two produced with Phil Collins, 1985's Behind the Sun, which produced the hits "Forever Man" and "She's Waiting", and 1986's August.
Tina Turner and Eric Clapton at Wembley Stadium, June 18, 1987
August, a polished release that was suffused with Collins's trademark drum and horn sound, became Clapton's biggest seller in the UK to date and matched his highest chart position, number 3. The album's first track, the hit "It's In The Way That You Use It", was also featured in the Tom Cruise-Paul Newman movie The Color of Money. The horn-peppered "Run" echoed Collins' "Sussudio" and rest of the producer's Genesis/solo output, while "Tearing Us Apart" (with Tina Turner) and the bitter "Miss You" echoed Clapton's angry sound. This rebound kicked off Clapton's two-year period of touring with Collins and their August collaborates, bassist Nathan East and keyboard player/songwriter Greg Phillinganes. While on tour for August, 2 concert videos were recorded of the four-man band, Eric Clapton Live from Montreux and Eric Clapton and Friends. Despite his own earlier battles with alcoholism, Clapton remade "After Midnight" as a single and a promotional track for the Michelob beer brand, which had also marketed earlier songs by Collins and Steve Winwood. Clapton won a British Academy Television Award for his collaboration with Michael Kamen on the score for the 1985 BBC television thriller serial Edge of Darkness. In 1989, Clapton released Journeyman, an album which covered a wide range of styles including blues, jazz, soul and pop. Collaborators included George Harrison, Phil Collins, Daryl Hall, Chaka Khan, Mick Jones, David Sanborn and Robert Cray.
George Harrison and Eric Clapton performing for the Prince's Trust Concert at Wembley Stadium in 1987
In 1984, while still married to Pattie Boyd, Clapton began a year-long relationship with Yvonne Kelly. The two had a daughter, Ruth, in January 1985. Clapton and Kelly did not make any public announcement about the birth of their daughter, and she was not publicly revealed as his child until 1991. Boyd criticized Clapton because he had not revealed the child's existence.
Hurricane Hugo hit Montserrat in 1989 and this resulted in the closure of Sir George Martin and John Burgess's recording studio AIR Montserrat, where Kelly was Managing Director. Kelly and Ruth moved back to England, and the myth of Eric's secret daughter began as a result of newspaper articles published at the time. Clapton and Boyd divorced in 1988 following his affair with Italian model Lori Del Santo, who gave birth to their son Conor on August 21, 1986. Boyd herself was never able to conceive children, despite attempts at in vitro fertilization. Their divorce was granted on grounds of "infidelity and unreasonable behaviour."
 1990s and 2000s
The 1990s brought a string of magnificent concerts to the Royal Albert Hall, Such as the 24 Nights Concerts that took place from around Jan-Feb 1990, and Feb-Mar 1991. Sadly the 1990s brought tragedy to Eric Clapton's life again. On 27 August 1990, fellow guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who was touring with Clapton, and two members of their road crew were killed in a helicopter crash between concerts. Then, on 20 March 1991, Conor, who was four years of age, died when he fell from the 53rd-storey window of his mother's friend's New York City apartment, landing on the roof of an adjacent four-storey building. Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven", which was co-written by Will Jennings. He received a total of six Grammy Awards that year for the single "Tears in Heaven" and his Unplugged album.
In October 1992, Clapton was among the dozens of artists performing at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert. Recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the live two-disk CD/DVD captured a show full of celebrities performing classic Dylan songs, before ending with a few performances from Bob Dylan himself. Despite the presence of 10 other guitarists on stage, including George Harrison, Neil Young, Roger McGuinn, Steve Cropper, Tom Petty, and Dylan, Clapton played the lead on a nearly 7-minute version of Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", one of Clapton's early hit singles, as part of the finale.
While Unplugged featured Clapton playing acoustic guitar, his 1994 album From the Cradle contained new versions of old blues standards highlighted by his electric guitar playing. Clapton's 1996 recording of the Wayne Kirkpatrick/Gordon Kennedy/Tommy Sims tune "Change the World" (featured in the soundtrack of the movie Phenomenon) won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1997, the same year he recorded Retail Therapy (an album of electronic music with Simon Climie under the pseudonym TDF). The following year, Clapton released the album Pilgrim, the first record featuring brand new material for almost a decade. Clapton finished the twentieth century with collaborations with Carlos Santana and B. B. King.
In 1996 Clapton had a relationship with singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow. They remain friends, and Clapton appeared as a guest on Sheryl Crow's Central Park Concert. The duo performed a Cream hit single "White Room". Later, Clapton and Crow performed an alternate version of "Tulsa Time" with other guitar legends at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in June 2007.
In 1999 Clapton, then 54, met 23-year-old store clerk Melia McEnery (from Columbus, Ohio) in Los Angeles while working on an album with B. B. King. They married on January 1, 2002 at St Mary Magdalen church in Clapton's birthplace, Ripley, and as of 2005 have three daughters, Julie Rose (June 13, 2001), Ella May (January 14, 2003), and Sophie Belle (February 1, 2005). He wrote the song "Three Little Girls", featured on his 2006 album The Road to Escondido, about the contentment he has found in his family life at home with them.
Eric Clapton performing live at Hannover (Germany) in April 2, 2004
Following the release of the 2001 record Reptile, Eric performed "Layla" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the Party at the Palace in 2002. On November 29 of that year the Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall, a tribute to George Harrison who had died a year earlier of cancer. Clapton was a performer, and also the musical director. The concert featured Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Ravi Shankar, and others. In 2004, Clapton released two albums packed full of covers by legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, Me and Mr. Johnson and Sessions for Robert J. The same year Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Clapton #53 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Clapton at Tsunami Relief Cardiff
On 22 January 2005, Clapton performed in the Tsunami Relief Concert held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, in aid of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In May 2005, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker reunited as Cream for a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Concert recordings were released on CD and DVD. Later, Cream performed in New York at Madison Square Garden. Back Home, Clapton's first album of new original material in nearly five years, was released on Reprise Records on 30 August. In 2006 he invited Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II to join his band for his 2006-2007 world tour. Trucks is the third member of The Allman Brothers Band to support Clapton, the second being pianist/keyboardist Chuck Leavell who appeared on the MTV Unplugged album and the 24 Nights performances at the Royal Albert Hall theatre of London (RAH) in 1990 and 1991, as well as Clapton's 1992 U.S. tour.
On 20 May 2006, Clapton performed with Queen drummer Roger Taylor and former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters at the Highclere Castle, in support of the Countryside Alliance. On 13 August 2006, Clapton made a guest appearance at the Bob Dylan concert in Columbus, Ohio, playing guitar on three songs in Jimmie Vaughan's opening act. A collaboration with guitarist J. J. Cale, titled The Road to Escondido, was released on 7 November 2006, featuring Derek Trucks and Billy Preston. The 14-track CD was produced and recorded by the duo in August 2005 in California. The chemistry between Trucks and Clapton convinced him to invite The Derek Trucks Band to open for Clapton's set on his 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, with Trucks remaining on set afterward, performing with Clapton's band throughout his performances, and embarking on a world tour with him.
The rights to Clapton's official memoirs, written by Christopher Simon Sykes and published in 2007, were sold at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair for USD $4 million.
According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Clapton is currently working on an album with Robbie Robertson. Robertson performed with Clapton at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, where they played their version of the Bo Diddley song "Who Do You Love". On 28 January 2008 Eric Clapton was announced as the headliner for the Saturday night of Hard Rock Calling 2008 in London's Hyde Park (previously Hyde Park Calling) with support from Sheryl Crow & John Mayer. On February 26, 2008, it was reported that North Korean officials had invited Clapton to play a concert in the communist state. According to reports, Clapton's management received the invitation and passed it on to the singer, who has agreed in principle and suggested it take place sometime in 2009. Clapton's management, however, have so far refused to confirm if this is the case. If the invitation does exist, and Clapton accepts, he will be the first western rock star to play there.
Clapton's 2008 Summer Tour began on the 3rd of May at the Ford Amphitheatre,Tampa Bay, Florida, and then moved to Canada, Ireland, England, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Germany and Monaco.
Eric Clapton (4th from left) and his band live in 2007
In 2007, Clapton learned more about his father, a Canadian soldier who left the UK after the war. Although Clapton's grandparents eventually told him the truth about his parentage, he only knew that his father's name was Edward Fryer. This was a source of disquiet for Clapton, as witnessed by his 1998 song "My Father's Eyes". A Montreal journalist named Michael Woloschuk researched Canadian Armed Forces service records and tracked down members of Fryer's family, finally piecing together the story. He learned that Clapton's father was Edward Walter Fryer, born 21 March 1920, in Montreal and died 15 May 1985 in Newmarket, Ontario. Fryer was a musician (piano and saxophone) and a lifelong drifter, who was married several times, had several children and apparently never knew that he was the father of Eric Clapton. Clapton thanked Woloschuk in an encounter at Macdonald Cartier Airport, in Ottawa, Canada.
In February 2008, Clapton performed with his long-time friend Steve Winwood at Madison Square Garden and guested on his recorded single "Dirty City" on Winwood's album Nine Lives. The two former Blind Faith bandmates met again for a series of 14 concerts throughout the United States in June 2009. In September 2008, Clapton performed at a private charity fundraiser for The Countryside Alliance at Floridita in Soho, London, that included such guests as the London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Clapton performing with The Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon Theater
March, 2009 found Clapton performing with The Allman Brothers Band (amongst other notable guests), celebrating their 40th year, in tribute to the late Duane Allman on their annual run at the Beacon Theater, with Butch Trucks commenting that "this performance wasn't the typical Allman Brothers experience, given the number and differences of the guests who were invited to perform. "Eric Clapton taught us!", Trucks said. Songs like "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", were punctuated with others, such as "The Weight", with Levon Helm; Johnny Winter sitting in on Hendrix's "Red House" and of course, "Layla".
Clapton was scheduled to be one of the performers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert in Madison Square Garden on October 30, 2009, but cancelled due to gallstone surgery. Van Morrison (who also cancelled) said in an interview that he and Clapton were to do a "couple of songs" but that they would do something else together at "some other stage of the game". Clapton is also set to perform a 2-night show with Jeff Beck at London's O2 Arena in February 13-14, 2010. The two former Yardbirds bandmates have now extended their 2010 tour with stops at Madison Square Garden, Air Canada Center and the Bell Center in Montreal. Clapton will begin a series of concerts throughout 11 cities in the United States from February 25 to March 13, 2010 before his third European tour with Steve Winwood between May 18 and June 13.
Clapton has performed songs by myriad artists, which include Bob Marley, J.J. Cale, Bo Diddley, Robert Johnson, and Bob Dylan. He cites Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin both in musical influence and on his style on the guitar.
He holds no other artist in higher esteem than Robert Johnson. In 2004, Clapton released a CD and DVD entitled, "Sessions for Robert Johnson", featuring Clapton recording Robert Johnson covers with electric and acoustic guitars. He performs these tracks live and in the practice space on the DVD, as well as gives brief interviews explaining the huge influence Robert Johnson had on him. Doyle Bramhall II assists Clapton on the acoustic tracks of the CD and the DVD.
In his book, Discovering Robert Johnson (which he co-authored with several other writers), Clapton said of Johnson, that he was "...the most important blues musician who ever lived. He was true, absolutely, to his own vision, and as deep as I have gotten into the music over the last 30 years, I have never found anything more deeply soulful than Robert Johnson. His music remains the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice, really. ... it seemed to echo something I had always felt." Clapton persuaded Freddie King to sign with his record label, RSO in 1974. Clapton has recorded more than six of J. J. Cale's originals and has put out an album with him. Clapton has also collaborated with Frank Zappa, B.B. King, George Harrison, Santana, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters, John Lennon, and The Plastic Ono Band. Clapton also collaborated with singer/songwriter John Mayer on his 2006 album release, Continuum. Mayer cites Clapton in his liner notes, Eric Clapton knows I steal from him and is still cool with it. Clapton inspired Mayer to write "I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)", resembling characteristics of Clapton's musical and fashion style.
A few guitarists that Clapton has influenced are: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Eddie Van Halen, John Mayer, and Alex Lifeson.
Clapton on the There's One In Every Crowd Tour, on 15 August 1975 with "Blackie"
Clapton's choice of electric guitars has been as notable as the man himself, and alongside Hank Marvin, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, Clapton exerted a crucial and widespread influence in popularising particular models of the electric guitar. With the Yardbirds, Clapton played a Fender Telecaster, a Fender Jazzmaster, a double-cutaway Gretsch 6120 and a 1964 Cherry-Red Gibson ES-335. He became exclusively a Gibson player for a period beginning in mid-1965, when he purchased a used Gibson Les Paul Sunburst Standard guitar from a local guitar store in London. Clapton commented on the slim profile of the neck, which would indicate it as a 1960 model.
Early during his stint in Cream, Clapton's first Les Paul Standard was stolen. He continued to play Les Pauls exclusively with Cream (one bought from Andy Summers was almost identical to the stolen guitar) until 1967 when he acquired his most famous guitar in this period, a 1964 Gibson SG. Just before Cream's first U.S. appearance in 1967, Clapton's SG, Bruce's Fender VI, and Baker's drum head were all repainted in psychedelic designs created by the visual art collective known as The Fool. In 1968 Clapton bought a Gibson Firebird and started using the 1964 Cherry-Red Gibson ES-335 again. The aforementioned 1964 ES-335 had a storied career. Clapton used it at the last Cream show in November 1968 as well as with Blind Faith, played sparingly for slide pieces in the 1970s, heard on Hard Times from Journeyman, the Hyde Park live concert of 1996 and the From the Cradle sessions and tour of 1994/95. It was sold for $847,500 at the 2004 auction. Gibson produced a limited run of 250 "Crossroads 335" replicas. The 335 was only the second electric guitar Clapton bought.
In July 1968, Clapton gave George Harrison a red, refinished Les Paul. In the following September, Clapton played the guitar on the Beatles' studio recording of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". His SG found its way into the hands of George Harrison's friend Jackie Lomax, who subsequently sold it to musician Todd Rundgren for US$500 in 1972. Rundgren restored the guitar and nicknamed it "Sunny", after "Sunshine of Your Love". He retained it until 2000, when he sold it at an auction for US$150,000. At the 1969 Blind Faith concert in Hyde Park, London Clapton played a Fender Custom Telecaster, which was fitted with Brownie's neck.
In late 1969, Clapton made the switch to the Fender Stratocaster. "I had a lot of influences when I took up the Strat. First there was Buddy Holly, and Buddy Guy. Hank Marvin was the first well known person over here in England who was using one, but that wasn't really my kind of music. Steve Winwood had so much credibility, and when he started playing one, I thought, oh, if he can do it, I can do it." First was "Brownie" used during the recording of Eric Clapton which in 1974 became the backup to the most famous of all Clapton's guitars, "Blackie". In November 1970 Eric bought six Fender Stratocasters from the Sho-bud guitar shop in Nashville, Tennessee while on tour with the Dominos. He gave one each to George Harrison, Steve Winwood and Pete Townshend.
Clapton assembled the best components of the remaining three to create "Blackie", which was his favourite stage guitar until its retirement in 1985. It was first played live January 13, 1973 at the Rainbow Concert. Clapton called the 1956/57 Strat a "mongrel". On 24 June 2004, Clapton sold "Blackie" at Christie's Auction House, New York for $959,500 to raise funds for his Crossroads Centre for drug and alcohol addictions. "Brownie" is now on display at the Experience Music Project. The Fender Custom Shop has since produced a limited run of 275 'Blackie' replicas, correct in every detail right down to the 'Duck Brothers' flight case, and artificially aged using Fender's 'Relic' process to simulate years of hard wear. One was presented to Eric upon the model's release.
In 1971, Clapton gave a signed guitar to the Hard Rock Café's to designate his favourite bar stool. Pete Townshend also donated one of his own guitars, with a note attached: "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete."
In 1988, Fender honored Clapton with the introduction of his signature Eric Clapton Stratocaster. These were the first two artist models in the Stratocaster range and since then, the artist series has grown to include models inspired both by Clapton's contemporaries such as Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, and by those who have influenced him such as Buddy Guy. Clapton uses Ernie Ball Slinky and Super Slinky strings. Clapton has also been honoured with signature-model 000-28EC and 000-42EC acoustic guitars made by the famous American firm of C.F. Martin & Co.. His 1939 000-42 Martin that he played on the Unplugged album sold for $791,500 at auction. Clapton plays a custom 000-ECHF Martin these days.
In 1999, Clapton auctioned off some of his guitar collection to raise more than $5 million for continuing support of the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, which he founded in 1997. The Crossroads Centre is a treatment base for addictive disorders such as drugs and alcohol. In 2004, Clapton organized and participated in the Crossroads Guitar Festival to benefit the Centre. A second guitar auction, including the "Cream" of Clapton's collection – as well as guitars donated by famous friends – was also held on 24 June 2004. His Lowden acoustic guitar sold for $41,825. The total revenue garnered by this auction at Christie's was US $7,438,624.
 "Woman tone"
The "woman tone" is the informal term used by guitarists to refer to Eric Clapton's distinctive mid- to late-1960s electric guitar sound, created using his Gibson SG solidbody guitar (with humbucking pickups) and a Marshall tube (valve) amplifier. It is an overdriven, distorted sound that is articulate yet thick. It is characterized by being quite distorted (or even achieved with a fuzz) but muted, in contrast to the bright and twangy distortion that most guitarists were using at the time. Many players have tried to duplicate it, usually without success, in part because Clapton's playing technique had a lot to do with the tone, and also because it required heavily overdriven tube amps to achieve.
Among the techniques used to replicate Clapton's sound is a technique by which the amplifier's volume is turned up to full, while the guitar's tone knob is turned down to zero or one.
Perhaps the best examples of the "woman tone" are Clapton's famous riff and solo from his band Cream's 1967 hit "Sunshine of Your Love." Clapton has explained that he obtained the tone with his Gibson's tone control rolled all the way down, switching to the neck pickup (closest to the fretboard) and the volume all the way up, with his distortion turned all the way up. The treble, mids and bass controls on the amplifier were also maxed out. Some versions of the "woman tone" may also have involved strategic positioning of Clapton's wah-wah pedal.


Taylor’s 2009 tweets deserve some kind of award or something. pt3
"Create your OWN happily ever after."
Shanghai press conference, May 29
Everything about Taylor at the BBMAs last year was just pure greatness.
I mean, we had the Haters Gonna Hate shirt
Giving no fucks about calling guys out in songs.
Shutting down the accusation that she lip synced.
So many awards that she had trouble holding them.
One of the best things she’s ever said in an acceptance speech.
And of course, these gems.
"I don’t think that you should wait. I think you should speak now.”
Guys!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I’m crying cause tonight was honestly terrible and she just turned it around.
Best of Taylor Swift’s instagram comments, April 2014
Top right is my favorite because it’s exactly what I need to hear.
i was watching much music last night and they mentioned how taylor went to the fan’s bridal shower and then they proceeded to say “okay guys so it’s time to stop hating taylor swift because of her awkward dancing, her break up songs, her surprised face, or her ex boyfriends because she is NICER THAN YOU” and now, i finally have faith in our future


|Clarence talks about "Fire"
Just call me BROTHER JULIUS!
Clarence Jackson was the janitor at the ill-fated "Fire" sessions. Dubbed "Brother Julius" by Brian, he was the one that carried the bucket full of burning wood around the studio. A full interview with Clarence is coming soon! Wait until you hear what he had to do at the "water" and "air" recording sessions.
A 1966 rare photo of Clarence and Brian at the "Fire" sessions. It was at this time that Brian had the idea for Clarence to carry the bucket full of burning wood around the studio.
Clarence in 1998 at a Beach Boys concert. Unfortunately, Mike Love would NOT autograph the cover of SMiLE that Brian gave Clarence back in 1967...


Gigi Rivera caressing her silky smooth legs with a sexy smile on her face!
Gigi Rivera spreads her legs exposing her sexy green lace panties!
Gigi Rivera pulls her panties to the side and shows her shaved slit!
Gigi Rivera strips out of her bra teasingly slowly!
Gigi Rivera shows off that firm ass while stripping down!
Gigi Rivera strips naked and spreads her legs on the chair!
Gigi Rivera lets her horny fingers wander down to her shaved slit!
Gigi Rivera spreads her legs open and shows off that sexy snatch! Just watch Gigi get that clean shaved pussy soaking wet as she lets her curious fingers explore her enticing naked body!
See more of Gigi Rivera posing nude now at ATK Petites


VENDOR BOOTHS SOLD OUT!!
India Heritage Center team does it again, We are bringing Dytto an international sensation to perform live for you at our Diwali Mela at Overpack Park in Leonia on Sept 17th. Watch Dytto’s unbelievable performance below and see Bollywood super star judge Remo D’Souza admire her talent. Come and enjoy Dytto’s live performance and be completely blown away!!!


Here are some of the video stills to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance music video from the previous post. The music video is directed by Francis Lawrence and styling is by Nicola Formichetti. Scroll down for outfit credits.
2) Alexander McQueen Dress, Haus of Gaga Crown.
3) Vava Dudu Trench Coat, Franc Fernandez Diamond Crown Outfit.
5) Haus of Gaga Metal Bra, RP Encore Rat Headpiece, Alexander McQueen Heels.
All Photos & Outfit Description: Nicola Formichetti


The love affair between Ed Sheeran and Heinz Ketchup has transcended endorsement offers and is quickly approaching the extent of “annoyingly enraptured celeb couple.”
And, within the vein of earlier awkward couplings like Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton, now they even have matching tattoos.
Heinz, which lately launched an advert starring model superfan Sheeran, right this moment introduced the limited-edition “Ed Sheeran X Heinz” bottle, of which solely 150 have been made. Of these, 104 can be given away through a web based sweepstakes. Three bottles can be auctioned at Christie’s on Aug. 15, with proceeds going to 2 charities of Sheeran’s alternative: East Anglia’s Youngsters’s Hospices and Rise In opposition to Starvation.
Created by company David, the bottle includes a number of Sheeran’s many tattoos, which embrace a rose, puzzle items representing his closest buddies and, in fact, a Heinz Ketchup brand. Sheeran received the tattoo throughout an Ohio tour cease and has stated it’s merely a illustration of his enduring love for the product.
In June, David created a Heinz advert starring Sheeran and primarily based completely (so we’re advised) on a DM the singer despatched to Heinz:
The limited-edition bottle challenge comes as Sheeran nears the tip of his Divide tour, which lately broke the document to develop into the highest-grossing tour of all time.
Right here’s a better take a look at the bottle design:


Messy and then getting him to tell under the sheets, Stewart takes out his cock, and when I can fuck him as hard and sticking her fingers into my bedroom. Little did she just came back to his gay friend s cunt, licked off her role as Felicia Alpine in Sex Free Video Hosters. Myla Sinanaj s brush with fame when she is currently busy filming her nude photos of helen hunt husband, former baseball star David Justice.
All participants were at least 18 years of age or older at the time of production.
Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved


JAMIE LEE CURTIS
Sexy Jamie Lee Curtis makes aging look easy. Her natural, close-cropped hair offers inspiration for older women whose hair may be graying or thinning.
This example of pretty older women favors simplicity and neutrals as basic wardrobe fashion for women over 50.
The daughter of show-business royalty Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, she now has a real-life British title as the wife of British Lord Haden-Guest, known in the USA as actor Christopher Guest.
Curtis prefers not to be known as Lady Haden-Guest in the States. She emphasizes simplicity and health in interview after interview.
Actress, author, and according to Good Housekeeping a first-rate organizer, Curtis confided that she was, at age 51, trying to become stronger by playing tennis with an eye on competition.
Her wardrobe emphasizes basic neutrals. That is a good starting place for fashion for women over 50 who also want a simple wardrobe.
Curtis told AARP magazine in 2008 that she sticks to black-and-white outfits. The teal off-shoulder dress, worn to a premier in 2010, suggests that is not completely true.
On a tour through her closet, Curtis noted that she has one pair of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans – the only ones in her wardrobe. On the other hand, she has a bin of workout clothes.
Her athletic build and well-known topless shot in Trading Places ensure she will make most lists of pretty older women.
Simple garments do a great job of showing off her assets and minimizing figure flaws. The Spartan hairstyle is effective because of her strong features – but perhaps not for everyone.
The brave actress is doing her part to demystify aging for pretty older women. Not only is she wearing her natural hair color; in a photo shoot she allowed herself to be shown without flattering lighting or makeup to reveal a less than perfect figure.
Curtis told More:
There's a reality to the way I look without my clothes on. I don't have great thighs. I have very big breasts and a soft, fatty little tummy. And I've got back fat. People assume that I'm walking around in little spaghetti-strap dresses. It's insidious — Glam Jamie, the Perfect Jamie, the great figure, blah, blah, blah. And 'I don't want the unsuspecting forty-year-old women of the world to think that I've got it going on. It’s such a fraud. And I’m the one perpetuating it.
She also said she gave away almost all of her jewelry because she rarely wore it. Her celebrity photos confirm this.
Even in a strapless J. Mendel dress, sexy Jamie Lee Curtis wears her glowing good health as others wear precious stones. She is without a necklace and only the smallest of earrings. They appear to be pearls.
She stands out for showing that simple elegance can be sexy.
In this dramatic photo, Curtis shows off what she regards as one of her best features.
The simple black dress has a plunging neckline. A silver circle pendant on a delicate chain draws the eye upward toward her silver-accented hair and that face with its great bone structure.
The look is simple, beautifully balanced, an inspiring and achievable look for pretty older women. The photo shows a strong woman not afraid to reveal her flaws while showing off her assets.
Sexy Jamie Lee Curtis fits the fashion archetype of Sophia in what she says and how she dresses.
Figure-flattering garments with clean lines, solid colors, minimal jewelry, healthy living, and decluttered closets are signs of the simple elegant living of the Sophia style embodied by sexy Jamie Lee Curtis.


Raven-Symoné has become one of the biggest and most successful actress/singers working in the entertainment business today. With a record breaking television series and a budding music career, Raven-Symoné is well on her way to becoming a legend at only 25. The 20+ year veteran was born Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman on December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia. She was named after the first bird released from Noah’s Ark following the flood. By the time she was 16 months old she was already working, appearing in local prints and television ads in Atlanta. By the time Raven was 2, she already knew what she wanted to do in life, and that was be an actress. Her parents (Christopher B. Pearman & Lydia Pearman) were encouraged by Stephanie Seymour, Raven’s then manager, to pursue her career on more of a national level. At age 3, her family moved to Ossining, New York where she attended Park School.
In 1989, Raven-Symoné auditioned for a part in the Bill Cosby movie, Ghost Dad. At three years old she was considered too young for the role, but Bill Cosby admired her so much that he found a part for her on his show, The Cosby Show, as his granddaughter Olivia. Raven-Symoné played the part of Olivia until the show ended in 1992. She then appeared as the younger version of Halle Berry's starring character, a headstrong biracial slave, in the TV movie Queen: The Story of an American Family, based on the book by Alex Haley.
Raven-Symoné began her singing career at the tender age of five, when she signed with MCA Records. She was the youngest artist ever to sign with a major record label. Her debut album Here’s To Knew Dreams was released on June 22, 1993. The album sprawled a hit single “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of.” The single was written and produced by then unknown Missy Elliott. In 1993, Raven landed the role of Nicole Lee in the hit series Hanging With Mr. Cooper. Symoné co-stared on the series until it ended in 1997. During her time on the show, she had her first big screen role in the movie The Little Rascals, playing Stymie's girlfriend.
She was then cast in the Eddie Murphy comedy Dr. Dolittle (1998) and then Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Charisse Dolittle, the oldest daughter of Murphy's character. Meanwhile, she also appeared in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999), which was her first production under the Disney umbrella. Soon after, Raven returned to music and recorded her second album Undeniable. The album which was recorded under her own label Ray-Blaze Records was released in May of 1999. That summer Raven spent her time touring with N*Sync as their opening act on their No Strings Attached tour.
In 2001, Raven-Symoné auditioned for a role on an up-coming series for the Disney Channel titled Absolutely Psychic, about a teenager with psychic abilities. She originally auditioned for the role of Chelsea Daniels, but her role was changed to the lead, Raven Baxter and the series name changed to That's So Raven. The series debuted on January 17, 2003, becoming the Disney Channel's highest-rated and longest-running series ever. It spawned a franchise including soundtracks, dolls, episode DVDs, and video games. It is estimated that the “Raven” brand has made over 400 million dollars for the Disney company.
The comedy was the first series to break Disney's 65-episode limit, producing an unmatched 100 episodes. That's So Raven was also nominated for Outstanding Children's Program during the 2005 and 2007 Emmy Awards.
In 2003, she starred as lead singer Galleria Garibaldi in the Disney Channel Original Movie, The Cheetah Girls. The movie centered four city girls who have dreams of becoming superstars. The movie was the channel's first musical and was the basis for another franchise, including dolls, video games, platinum-selling soundtracks and more. During her time on That‘s So Raven, Symoné provided the voice of Danielle in the comedy, Fat Albert. (2004) and also made an appearance in the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. (2004)
In early 2003, she signed a deal with Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned label. On September 21, 2004, she released her third studio album This Is My Time, which included the single "Backflip", which received heavy rotation on both Disney Channel, as well on BET and MTV. The album debuted and peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200 selling 19,000 copies in its first week of release and becoming her most successful album.
Raven-Symoné also recorded music for That's So Raven's first original television soundtrack. The soundtrack debuted and peaked at #44 on the Billboard 200 and is now certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies.
In 2006, Raven-Symoné reprised her role as Galleria Garibaldi in The Cheetah Girls 2. Raven-Symoné served as executive producer of the film. The film brought in more than 8 million viewers opening night, making it (at the time) Disney Channel's most-watched movie. Also during 2006 Raven lent her voice to the animated-film Everyone’s Hero. She also stared in her first dramatic film Lifetime’s For One Night. The film based on a true story, centered an African American teenager who shook up a small town where high school proms had been racially segregated for decades. Amid the protests of the community and with the help of a newspaper reporter who returns to her hometown to cover the story, the two women are able to reverse decades of racist tradition and make history, at least for one night.
In support of her third studio album and That's So Raven Too! soundtrack, which was the second soundtrack album from the series. Raven-Symoné embarked on her first headlining tour. The This Is My Time Tour kicked off on May 19, 2006 in Richmond, VA and concluded on October 21, 2006 in Columbia, SC.
By 2007, Raven had finished production for That’s So Raven, and began filming her first leading role, feature-film. 2008’s College Road Trip surrounds Melanie Porter a 17-year-old college-bound girl who is eagerly looking forward to her first big step towards independence, when she plans a girls only road trip to check out prospective universities. But when her overbearing police chief father (Martin Lawrence) insists on escorting her instead in hopes to sway her decision, soon finds her dream trip has turned into a nightmare adventure full of comical misfortune and turmoil. In its opening weekend, the film grossed approximately $14,000,000 in 2,706 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking as the #2 film at box office. It went on to gross more than $60 million worldwide.
To coincide with her film College Road Trip, Raven-Symoné released her fourth studio album on April 29, 2008.The self-titled album features production by Sean Garrett, The J.A.M., Knightwritaz, and The Clutch. The only single released was Double Dutch Bus, a remake of Frankie Smith's 1981 funk track.
To promote the album she planned to headline her first all-arena tour The Pajama Party Tour in Spring 2008, but due to what promoters call "unforeseen difficulties" the tour was postponed until further notice. Later on, Raven-Symoné confirmed that the tour would be re-scheduled and would kick off in the Summer of 2008. The tour now dubbed the Raven-Symoné: Live Tour kicked off in July 2008, and continued through 2009.
During 2008 and 2009, Raven-Symoné provided her voice for the light-fairy in the Disney Fairies direct-to-DVD film series, Tinker Bell, and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. Raven-Symoné is expected to return to the franchise for the films, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods, and Tinker Bell: Race Through the Seasons. Raven also appeared in Chris Rock’s 2009 documentary Good Hair.
In 2010, Raven-Symoné starred in an ABC Family, made-for-TV film, Revenge of the Bridesmaids. Revenge of the Bridesmaids surrounds two childhood friends who attempt to thwart the wedding of a no-good, money hungry ex-friend by going undercover as bridesmaids so that true love can prevail. The film garnered 2.5 million viewers on its premiere, making it the number 1 movie on basic cable in Women 18-34, and ranked among the Top 5 programs in its time period in Total Viewers that week.
Due to the success of the film Raven was tapped by ABC Family to star in an original comedy series titled State of Georgia for the network.
In 2012 Raven-Symoné took center stage in a way she had never before. Symoné made her Broadway debut as Deloris van Cartier in Sister Act: The Musical. A role previously held by Patina Miller (Broadway) and Whoopi Goldberg (Films).
The question remains, Will this girl ever slow down? We fans sure hope not, and as Holly Robinson-Pete stated in Raven’s Ebony Magazine Cover Issue "were all looking forward to watching her bright future with sunglasses on!"


- Alex was born in Sudbury, Ontario. His current wife is Jean, and the Trebek’s children are Mathew and Emily.
- As of 2012, Trebek has hosted Jeopardy! for 28 years.
- Mr. Trebek has suffered two mild heart attacks in recent years: the most recent was during the summer of 2012, and the one before that, in 2007. In both cases, he made quick comebacks and was soon back on the set hosting the show.
- Alex received some initial schooling from the Jesuits. After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in philosophy, he found himself working for the CBC.
- For a brief time, Alex was the only American television host in history to handle three games shows at the same time.
- His interests are many, and his curiosity insatiable. By his own admission, he’s curious about everything. For a long time, he owned and managed a 700 acre thoroughbred race horse farm. He also owned Creston Vineyards. Alex has a collection of vintage American hubcaps, one set of which is on display at the Smithsonian.
- Alex contributes his time and energy to various charitable organizations, and is well-known for his work with USO.
- In addition to Jeopardy!, Alex has hosted numerous other game shows in his lengthy TV career, and he’s made cameo appearances on over 25 different shows (usually playing himself).
Category: Trivia Eh?


Who was Marie Tussaud?
Marie Tussaud was formerly known as Marie Grosholtz. She was very much interested in becoming an artist and a sculptor. One of her mother’s employers helped her in making her initial wax figure in 1777 when she was just 16 years old.
When she was 24, she married and became Madam Tussaud. Her talent was recognized in France, but it was England where she became famous. Philippe Curtius, the employer of her mother, was her mentor. Initially she participated in various exhibition projects of doctor Philippe Curtius, but later she started making her own works immortalizing writers and philosophers.
In 1777, she immortalized Voltaire and in 1778, the rebellious Jean-Jacques Rousseau. She had also immortalized the faces of some of her friends who had died for the revolution. In the year 1794, she had inherited the figures of her mentor Philippe Curtius. And by the time it was 1802, Marie, accompanied by her eldest son exhibited her collection in London. She chose London to be her final destination where she would continue showing her masterpieces. She continued showcasing her marvelous work and her House of Horror is worth mentioning, where she presented various figures of the revolutionaries and their murderers.
After about more than thirty years after Marie Tussaud’s death, in 1884, the museum which was used for the display of her work, was moved to Maryylebone Road and it is still there. Then in 1926, unfortunately a fire started which taking most of Madam’s works away. Most of the wax figurines were melted and thus the Tussauds Group was created with the objective of renovating the museum.
Soon enough, it gained worldwide attention and tourists from far and wide came to London just to visit the museum. The Tussauds Group started opening up other museums in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Las Vegas… etc and gradually it became a hugely successful multinational company.
Now these museums are considered excellent places to visit and meet some of your most favorite public figures. From Hollywood actors like Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, to music icons like Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, the Beatles… etc they all have their waxed statues at Madam Tussaud’s. Even from the political arena, we have quite a few presidents and politicians immortalized like John F. Koennedy, Mahatma Gandhi etc
In London museum, there are more than 400 personalities which are exhibited in the Hall of Fame. Whenever any celebrity’s wax figure is put up in either of the Madam Tussaud’s Museums, He/she usually comes for inauguration. However, obviously, this cannot be said for those public figures who are no more alive.
It takes about two hours to tour the entire Madam Tussauds. A lot of people look out for their favorite celebrities to quickly get a picture of themselves taken with them. The statues of teenage heartthrobs like Zac Effron and Daniel Radcliffe are often surrounded by their adoring fans, waiting eagerly to get photographed with them.
8 Popular Places in Washington DC


As the sun sets on another year in Palm Springs,
it’s time to take a moment and look back on our favourite looks from the
2018 Coachella Music and Arts Festival!
Hailey Baldwin: As she so often does, style icon Hailey Baldwin showed that casual can be classy rocking the ultimate off duty look in a white crop and denim cutoffs at the Revolve party. She’s a winner in our eyes!
Jasmine Sanders: Model Jasmine Sanders offered one of our favourite, practical looks this weekend, donning ribbed coordinates and sneakers for a flawless combination!
Kendall Jenner: The style queen does it again! A regular on the best dressed list, Kenny could do no wrong this weekend, keeping it casual and sporty in this ultimate off duty look.
Olivia Culpo: Everyone’s ultimate style crush truly stole the show, bringing some seriously classy bohemian vibes in a white lace dress. Amazing!
Rihanna: Our favourite Good Girl Gone Bad debuted her Fenty x Pumpa range this weekend in this wide leg, memorable number. You’re the queen, Rhi!
Shanina Shaik: The beauty queen did Australia proud this weekend, donning the ultimate white monochrome look as she kicked up a storm in the desert! We love!
Shay Mitchell: In the words of style queen Paris Hilton ‘that’s hot’! Actress Shay Mitchell turned up the heat at the Revolve Activation party in white cutoffs, black boots and a knotted crop. Amazing!
Alessandra Ambrosio: The Queen of the catwalk put in another unforgettable performance this weekend, providing a pop of colour and a denim inspired look.
Emily Ratajkowski: As usual, beauty Emily Ratajkowski was turning heads in this white button down number, she can do no wrong, especially with that bod!
Beyonce: She’s Queen B. Need we say more? Except her killer performance that included a Destiny’s Child reunion!
Excuse us while we come to terms with our serious style envy! Until next year…


Here’s a heads up. Daniel Howell, author of The Barefoot Book is scheduled to be a guest on The Kathie Lee and Hoda segment of The Today Show. He will be appearing tomorrow, Friday, December 3 at 10:00am (EST, and whatever that translates to in other time zones).
Time to set up those VCRs and DVRs.
One thing about these various interviews: the news media consider bare feet just odd enough, and interesting enough, that appearing on one show will often generate a request to appear on another show (and they do have to fill those time slots). When I have occasionally been on the news, it seems that one appearance can lead to another appearance.
I’ve never hit the big time like Daniel has, though.
[Update: Word is that Daniel boarded his flight to NYC to appear on the show, but was then escorted off the plane because he did not have shoes. I don’t know anything more at this point. Check in later for further updates.]
[Further update: Daniel’s appearance was entertaining, informative, and charming!]
[Update X 3: From the comments, here’s a link to the video of the segment.]


The official video of the Cameroonian slammer Lydol put on line since September 15 marks a new artistic comeback of this beast of stage.
Welcome to the universe of Lydol (anagram of Dolly). The name Nwafo Dolly Sorel, of her real name, has reassured the music lovers of the mastery of her art: the slam. Her title “D’un autre” from her first EP “A part” is a real slamic slaughter. A master piece that enforces respect regarding the spirit of the production and the quality of realizations.
In a somber tone, she passes her message on “Valeur de la vie”. In her creations, she invites her audience to “rely on the advice of another.” Beautiful illustration of her maturity after her passage on the stages of the international competition “Africa has an incredible talent”. The album is announced for November 2017.
Thank you for loving and sharing her work on her official page.


Netflix now has KidPoker, a documentary that chronicles the life of the world’s most high profile poker player, Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu. It is now available for viewing in Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The doco takes viewers on an interesting journey to the very beginning, starting with Negreanu’s childhood in Toronto, Canada, through to his affinity with gambling and pool-hustling days, and then his rise in the poker world. He began playing poker when he was 21, turning his sights onto the bright lights of Las Vegas to chase his dream of poker stardom.
At 23, he became the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet. Because of this victory, he earned the nickname ‘Kid Poker’. Even at the ripe old age of 41, Kid Poker still manages to mix it with the new breed of poker players in the highest buy-in live poker tournaments around the world and online.
The full-length PokerStars documentary features contributions from some of the biggest stars in the high stakes poker scene, including Phil Ivey, Jason Mercier, Vanessa Selbst, Maria Ho, Antonio Esfandiari and John Duthie, the creator of the European Poker Tour (EPT).
KidPoker had premiered to an exclusive crowd at the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre in Downtown Toronto late last year, and at the conclusion of the film there was a great crowd reaction. Most were expecting to watch the behind the scenes success story of the six-time WSOP bracelet winner and poker’s all-time money list leader (with over $30 million in live earnings), but nobody was expecting the story of the close bond that the Toronto native has with family and friends, who obviously were a huge influence in his early life. After the film, questions were answered by Negreanu, ranging from how poker in his time has changed, and it also provided an opportunity to reminisce with poker friends about old times.
Of course, the high stakes poker personality isn’t new to the silver screen, he has made cameo appearances in a range of films, including X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Grand (2007) and Lucky You (2007). However in “KidPoker”, he’s the star of the film.


Who can say no to a Fassy shower?
So there’s James’ lovely happy face as he’s standing next to his wife.
And then there’s his face when he’s standing next to Michael:
Damn it James.
Leonardo DiCaprio | Photographed by: Craig McDean


Who does not know Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former captain and legendary batsman of the Indian cricket team today? Dhoni is the player in Indian cricket history who not only earned his name in world cricket with his brilliant batting and wicketkeeping but also made India 3 times ICC World Champion under his captaincy. For this reason, today the number of Dhoni’s fans around the world is in the number of lakhs and crores. The same, today’s young cricketer also considers Dhoni as his role model.
As you know that Dhoni has retired from international cricket in the year 2020. But he is still playing IPL for CSK. Dhoni can also be seen on the cricket ground in IPL 2023. The same, Dhoni is now ready to spread his flame in the film world after cricket. Yes, tell that Dhoni has now opened his production house in the name of Dhoni Entertainment.
LetsCinema has disclosed this information on its Twitter handle. It has been told that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has launched his film production company. Dhoni has not ventured into Bollywood but South film industry. Dhoni will make films in 3 languages Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
— LetsCinema (@letscinema) October 9, 2022


Music fans will find lots to sing about in these biographies from the Lititz Public Library.
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Olivia Newton-John
Four-time Grammy winner shares her personal journey, from her childhood in Melbourne and music and screen success, to her fight with cancer and advocacy for health and wellness.
Hindsight: & All the Things I Can’t See in Front of Me by Justin Timberlake
A collection of anecdotes, reflections and observations on the author’s life and work reveals aspects of his childhood, songwriting process, collaborations with other artists and performances in concert, TV comedy and film.
Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing up Bernstein by Jamie Bernstein
The oldest daughter of Leonard Bernstein offers an intimate look at her father, the composer of West Side Story, chief conductor of the New York Philharmonic, television star, humanitarian and friend of the powerful and influential.
Change of Seasons by John Oates
Raised in a small Pennsylvania town, the author teamed with Daryl Hall in the late 1960s, finding success in the ever-changing pop music world and coming to terms with managerial, business and personal challenges.
An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith That Brought Me Home by Jessi Colter
Songwriter, singer and wife of Outlaw Country recording artist Waylon Jennings recounts life at the center of the 1970s roots music scene and how her faith became a source of strength amidst the turmoil.
They’re Playing Our Song by Carole Bayer Sager
Grammy and Academy Award-winning songwriter shares the frank and darkly-funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio.
Testimony by Robbie Robertson
At age sixteen, the songwriter and guitarist left Canada and headed for the Mississippi Delta, spending wild years on the road and forging the unique sound of The Band, culminating with their famous farewell concert brought to life in the movie The Last Waltz.
Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins
Playing in the clubs of 1960s London, the author joined Genesis as drummer, later stepping into the spotlight on vocals and rocketing to international fame and tabloid headlines.
Toni Tennille by Toni Tennille
Behind the scenes, the sparkling image of the 1970s pop duo Captain and Tennille was an entirely different story.
Paul Simon by Robert Hilburn
Tumultuous personal and professional ups and downs lie beneath the surface of Simon’s fifty-year career.
Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey
Born during the air bombing of London in 1944, the front man for The Who began assembling the band while working at a sheet metal factory in 1961, beginning a career that included iconic hits, drugs, mayhem and premature deaths.
My Love Story by Tina Turner
Singer shares stories from her rise to fame and years working alongside the biggest names in music, as well as unexpectedly meeting the love of her life.
Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way by Ryan White
Music critic presents the account of Buffett’s journey from singing songs in bars to his emergence as a tropical icon and CEO behind the Margaritaville industrial complex.
Johnny Cash: The Life and Legacy of the Man in Black by Alan Light
Music journalist traces Cash’s story from his origins in rural Arkansas to his early recordings with Sun Records, his battles with drug dependency, romance with June Carter, commercial success, death and legacy.
Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman
Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter shares the experiences that have shaped him in a life that has included incredible highs and lows.
Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels
Self-taught guitar and fiddle player presents the path from his post-Depression childhood to performing for millions as one of the most successful country acts of all time.
Sticking It Out: From Juilliard to the Orchestra Pit by Patti Niemi
At ten years of age, the author picked up drums in her school music class and from that point onward has devoted her life to mastering percussion, struggling to make it in a cut-throat race to a coveted job in an orchestra.
April 19, 2019


Like so many today, I was shocked and saddened at the sudden death of pop icon and superstar Michael Jackson. As a Gen-Xer I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know his name or hear his music. Michael’s death reminded me that the first album I ever owned was a tape of Thriller. My mother bought it for me along with my very own walkman. (Do you remember those?) With my headphones on, I listened to that tape over and over again, non-stop. And when I wasn’t listening to the tape, I had the radio on, cruising from station to station to hear “Thriller”, “Beat It”, and “Billy Jean”. I don’t recall any other performer who held his kind of superstar power. He and his music riveted my imagination. When Michael Jackson came to town on his Thriller tour, the Washington Post had a full-page autographed insert picture of him which hung on my bedroom wall for several years.
Michael’s good friend Elizabeth Taylor rightly dubbed him “The King of Pop,” and that he was. His music and artistry captured the adoration and respect of a whole generation of young people. And I was one of them.
But then, right at the crest of his powerful career, the magic of Michael Jackson began to ebb away. His inwardly-focused, unusually exotic, outlandish lifestyle seemed to take a strange twist. We heard tales of amusement parks, zoos and other lavish attractions at his Neverland mansion. Then we began to see odd changes to his face– Michael’s infamous plastic surgeries. Speculations about his health and behavior covered the tabloids. We saw images of Michael dangling one of his children outside a window balcony. The stories of lawsuits over child molestation, breaches of contact, and his marriages flashed across the headlines. And it went on and on and on…
Only God knows the inner workings of Michael Jackson’s soul and the things in his mind that led him to the decisions he made over the course of his life. I’m sure the speculations about the kind of man he was will dominate entertainment shows and documentary specials for years to come. Frankly, I think it’s all pretty pointless. He was who he was.
The real tragedy of Michael Jackson, however, is not any of this, but rather the neglected opportunity he had to rally his massive influence to benefit the world who made him famous. When I was a preteen fan of Michael Jackson, anything he might have said or done would have motivated me to be a better person. Even his reclusive, quiet voice could have commanded so much in the lives of people who adored every aspect of his being. And yet, for whatever reason, he turned most of what he had onto himself. And that’s the true tragedy of Michael Jackson: he failed to use the influence he had to make more positive, lasting impacts on the world.
Yet Michael Jackson doesn’t stand alone in this failure. I think of others like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, and others who died far too soon without living up to their full potential in using their gifts to accomplish untold amounts of good. It makes their deaths all the more painful.
Looking at Michael Jackson’s death, I’m also deeply challenged to examine my own life. If I were to suddenly die today or tomorrow, could I honestly say that I used every gift of influence and ability God has given me to accomplish the most good? It’s easy to pounce on a fallen giant, but do I stop to look at my own life with the same kind scrutiny? My former hero’s death has me thinking again. I hope he has even gotten you to think of your own legacy, too. Perhaps then, the ongoing influence of Michael Jackson, even in his death, could spur on some lasting good.


September 25! Welcome to the GOOD Life : a music and visual arts tribute to Kanye West. Early Kanye West. I’ll be there with paintings inspired by Graduation and College Dropout, and I’ll be in the crowd pretending to be in all the videos. Benefiting the National Museum of African American Music and the W.O. Smith Music School.


‘Ali bumaye’, Ali bumaye , Ali bumaye, The crowd cheered On, As the legend, Mohammed Ali took his final bow to Mother Earth , and transited to the other side of eternity future.
One of my friends sent me a video clipMohammed Ali of one of Ali’s Interview in his early 30’s where a young lad ask him what he would be doing when he retires. He gave an exceptional discuss on God, Heaven and Hell. I think his explanation was of how he would spend his retirement was something to really think about.
I hope that he is resting in the best place he prepared his later years for. According to the words of Mike Tyson- God has taken his champion home.
Rest on Ali-The greatest.
Here are some great nuggets that the legend left behind.
Photo/Quotes courtesy Google.com
OBA2016@Thekingsoracle. All rights reserved.
4 Comments Add yours
Thanks for the ping back.
R.I.P to a legend, I grew up to stories about Mohammed Ali. His words and his life’s work are truly inspiring. Great post!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Self-confessed “airline geek” John Travolta jetted into Dubai yesterday morning and declared the emirate’s skyline the best in the world.
Travolta famously shone as Danny Zuko in musical classic ‘Grease’ – and it seems the star and aeroplanes go together rather well.
The fully qualified pilot has been an ambassador-at-large for Qantas for more than a decade.
And following Emirates’ recent tie-up with the Australian national carrier, Travolta yesterday embarked on a five-day tour of Dubai.
The actor said his first glimpse of the emirate’s skyline while flying in first class from London on Qantas’s A380 that morning had left an instant impression.
“I don’t think there’s anything like it in the world,” Travolta told 7DAYS.
“It was a very nice final approach. It’s breathtaking, man.
“I’ve seen the pictures for years and it’s attracted me like a magnet.
“The skyline is outstanding – nothing compares to it.”
Dubbing Dubai “the ultimate futuristic city – it’s like a whole other universe here”, Travolta said he’d be keen to follow in the flightpath of Tom Cruise and do a movie in the emirate.
“If you wanted to get that illusion in a movie, there’s nowhere else in the world you would come but here,” he said.
Travolta’s new film, ‘Killing Season’, with Robert De Niro, is out now, and heis currently working on heist film ‘The Forger’ opposite Christopher Plummer.
Travolta said his love of aviation started at the age of five. He lived in New York on the flightpath to La Guardia Airport and would watch “all the aircraft of the day”.
The star learned to fly in his teens, eventually even acquiring an ex-Qantas Boeing 707 – and becoming “the first non-test pilot” to fly the Airbus A380.
The ‘Pulp Fiction’ actor, who is travelling with his family, said that other plans on his Dubai itinerary include a trip to the desert, riding a camel… and visiting “the building with the sail”.


The annual Hawaiian Luau and the National Night Out event for 2020 have been officially cancelled. We look forward to 2021, as we hope for bigger and better events.
Ken Osmond (the actor who played Eddie Haskell in Leave it the Beaver) became a Los Angeles Police Officer after the show ended. He ended up being shot in the line of duty and survived because of his bullet proof vest. He is now retired.
As of 8/1/2016


For the past 20 years, Nasir Jones has been at the forefront of the hip-hop movement. He first burst onto the rap scene at 19 years old, penning what arguably, might be one of the most classic albums of our time, “Illmatic” where we had a chance to hear rap in a way that we were not accustomed to. His ability to paint pictures with words has been something that has become his calling card. After twenty years & nine albums later, NAS brings us his 10th album, “Life is Good” on world renown, Def Jam Records.
In this latest collection of music, we get a chance to see NAS in a light where we have never seen him before. Transparent. Which is quite evident from the album cover, in which NaS has his ex-wife’s wedding dress draped over his knee while holding a glass of champagne. NaS opens up to us about his recent divorce to R&B singer, Kelis in “Bye Baby” and what goes through his mind as the father of a teenage daughter in, “Daughters” executive produced by legendary producer & Chicago native, No I.D. We receive NaS’ most complete work in recent years. Stand out tracks on the album are “Accident Murderers” Featuring Rick Ross, “Cherry Wine” featuring Amy Winehouse & “Loco-Motive”
This is a phenomenal album with truthful content, wonderfully produced tracks & that is worth every penny.
Click HERE to get your copy of “Life is Good”


CUTEST FAMILY AWARD!!
The cutest family award goes to Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Baby Blue. We all know that minority women are always left to be single mothers. For an African-American woman to have the father of her child stand by her no matter what is a BIG DEAL. I mean of course he isn't going to leave "BEYONCE", but the fact still stand that they are a very powerful couple with many negative influences pulling them both in many directions. But they choose each other, and family, and loyalty. They are amazing!! I'm sure that they're going to have problems like any other couple, but they aren't calling it quits and that says A LOT about the character of those two people. She is beautiful, He is loyal to his family, and Blue is blessed to have her biological parents together.


In a nutshell, Eminem took inspiration from his real-life experience of becoming a star to write Stan. One thing is for sure; Eminem did not write Stan because he wanted to make something that would eventually become a meme, a new slang term, or even a new word accepted into the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Those all came later, but it was not his intention, just a happy accident.
Is Stan a real person?
The name Stan just happened to be a good fit for Eminem’s masterful rhymes, but it’s not a representation of just one real-life person. Rather, the song character Stan is the embodiment of all the fans and new attention that Eminem was getting. Eminem wrote lyrics that depicted his own struggles, thoughts, and life in general, which quickly resonated with many people from his audience. Good ol’ relatable Slim Shady. This then sparked droves of fans to start writing fan mail, each one expecting a heart-felt reply from Em. You can imagine that wasn’t feasible with all the commotion of his rise to fame. I can understand it, too, I mean I don’t even reply to one text for days and my life is not that hectic.
The basic take-away from this is that musical artists are people too, so we can’t expect too much of them. They also need to eat, sleep, take care of hygiene, and go to the bathroom, not necessarily in that order. And they, just like the rest of us, also have a mere 24 hours in the day to get everything done. So, Stan was also a cautionary tale warning fans not to get too caught up in expecting too much of the people they idolize. Though Eminem has repeatedly expressed how much love he has for his fans, he simply can’t be available to each fan at their convenience.
Today’s Meaning of the Term Stan
The term Stan has grown to become not just a meme representing overly enthusiastic fans, it is also a noun and a verb with its own entry in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as of 2017. The verb refers to exhibiting extreme, over-the-top fandom for something, whereas the noun is defined as being a nearly obsessive, devoted, loyal and enthusiastic fan.


Rick Collins Appears On RX Muscle’s RX-TV
Rick Collins was recently featured on RX Muscle’s RX TV – where he was interviewed by Dave Palumbo for RX TV’s “Behind the Muscle.” The first segment of the multi-part interview is available for viewing at www.rxmuscle.com/2013-01-11-01-49-59/behind-the-muscle/11100-behind-the-muscle-rick-legal-muscle-collins-part-1.html.
This first part of the interview focuses on Rick’s early years as a competitive bodybuilder, fitness trainer, lawyer and actor – and how Rick combined all of these parts of his life to become the country’s leading authority on steroids and the law. During the interview, Rick provides some history and background behind his appearances in movies such as the Toxic Avenger series, his television experience which includes a brief walk-on role on HBO’s The Soprano’s, as well as his most recent acting role as a cast member of the production of New York’s longest running play Line. In talking about his acting career, Rick notes the similarities in skill sets needed for both acting and trial law, and how the skills gained from his acting experience have proven valuable in the courtroom, as well.
When asked how he entered the niche market of steroid legal defense, Rick notes that he was fortunate to have been able to combine two parts of his life: his experience in fitness and bodybuilding and his skills as a trial lawyer — both as a prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer. Rick notes that his goal is to bridge the gap between the muscle world and the legal community, both through his legal counsel as well as through www.steroidlaw.com as a valuable informational website addressing issues surrounding steroids and the law.
Watch the first part of the interview at www.rxmuscle.com/2013-01-11-01-49-59/behind-the-muscle/11100-behind-the-muscle-rick-legal-muscle-collins-part-1.html – and check back here for the link to the second part of the interview as soon as it airs!
For more information about Rick Collins and his role as one of the top experts in steroid law, or to discuss how Rick may be able to help if you are in need of a legal counsel surrounding anabolic steroids, call Rick directly 24/7 at 516-294-0300 or email him at firstname.lastname@example.org.