Michael BrownPolitical instability in France, and a surprise in Japan’s LDP leadership election made for a spicy start to the week yesterday, though stocks rallied regardless. Today, a barren docket awaits, as participants continue to headline-watch.A penny for the thoughts of G4 central bankers right now, as none of them appear to have particularly easy jobs.First, Fed Chair Powell, who recently resumed the journey back to a […]
The Phoenix Phamily CD3 cover, insides & back – On the cover, clockwise from top left, that’s Tom & Jan Staebell, Gene & JoAnn Fioretti, Dolores & Don Brown and Jimi & Nancy Hopewell
CD3 Disc with an AI Generated Graphic of a Rock Band of Mythical Flaming Phoenix Birds
Wall O’Pix in our Chicago Studio – The Phoenix band members, Tom, Don, Jimi & Gene + their mates, bottom right, Jan, Dolores, Nancy & JoAnn – also pictured with the Phoenix Phamily, is Rich Bauer, left middle and Ed Chabot, right middle
Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll
LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — These days we have plenty of great older Rockers to remind us that we’re never too old to Rock & Roll; Mick Jagger & Paul McCartney jump to mind. But sadly, there are also stark reminders that even those very young, or with youthful spirits, can leave us too soon; Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, Jones & Cobain, all gone @ 27.
During an interview with The Phoenix, they spoke of a surreal feeling they had while recording their cover tribute to The Traveling Wilburys’ End of The Line, “realizing Roy, George & Tom were there.” The Phoenix knows, all too well, how fragile the life of a band and it’s members can be. They lost their original drummer (Jim), had a guitarist (Rich) forced to quit due to health issues and recently the spouse (Dolores) of their guitarist and sound engineer (Don) passed away, leaving a palpable void in what they now refer to as their Phoenix Phamily.
The guys just completed their 3rd CD of tribute cover recordings and decided to dedicate this one, CD3, to Dolores. She’s featured on the inside cover and the last 3 tunes were planned, recorded and dedicated to honor and memorialize her sweetly joyful spirit.
Listening to them talk about their recording process, it’s apparent they’ve been at this a long time and they clearly enjoy doing it together. The guys are mostly retired from professional careers as business executives, engineers and even a MD cardiologist. They live all over, Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas and BC Canada, and yet, they manage to stay close and current through regular Zoom sessions. The band is not a money making endeavor for them, indeed they told me it’s about constantly spending money and, more importantly, time doing what they love, making music together.
The fine print around the edge of their new CD3 disc says it well: “The Phoenix is a not-for-profit Rock & Roll Band established in Winona, Minnesota in 1968 and still recording their classic tribute performances for their own enjoyment and to share with Family, Friends & Fans…”
Btw, about the crazy graphic on the CD3 disc; it’s an AI generated image of a rock band consisting of actual mythical flaming Phoenix birds. Apparently the guy that did it (Jimi) likes it, Don tolerates it, Tom doesn’t care and Gene is embarrassed by “whatever it is.” “A healthy consensus & resolution process,” said Jimi, “that’s a key element to keeping such a group of humans together for so long.”
Having listened to all 3 of their CD’s and after watching their videos on their Facebook Fan Page and YouTube Channel, it’s fair to say these guys are good. Some of the tunes they’ve covered are very demanding, especially the Moody Blues orchestrated pieces that they’ve meticulously reproduced, always with a spin of their own. It’s impressive how they’ve been able to produce a recorded sound & feeling as though they were all in the studio together playing live. Their performances can be checked out on Facebook and YouTube.
From the beginning in 1968: Don (guitar), Gene (keys, guitar), Tom (bass), Rich (guitar) and Jim (drums), friends from Saint Mary’s College, in Winona, Minnesota, formed The Phoenix rock band in the Fall of 1967. These were booming years for (what we now call) Classic Rock and these guys were in the thick of it; playing covers of their favorite band’s hits for enthusiastic college crowds.
After graduation, as often happens, everyone went their separate ways across the US & Canada; embarking on their careers, getting married and starting families. Through it all, they kept playing with a string of other bands. As fate would have it, some of those bands were in Chicago where Don & Jimi (current drummer) met and played together for years.
2014: The unfortunate passing of The Phoenix original drummer, Jim Rauer, was a tragic catalyst bringing the guys back together and igniting the idea for a reunion. Don tracked Jimi down in Vegas and they set a date for a week long reunion filled with catching up and a whole lot of playing & recording.
Since then annual reunions followed in 2017, 2018 & 2019 (2020 was canceled. You know why). Each year the band recorded some of their old covers as well as some new work, including an original written by a friend from St. Mary’s, Ed Chabot.
In order to keep the music going between reunions, the guys developed a process for recording remotely. They Zoom for about an hour a couple times a month to discuss all the tunes in process and what they’re going to cover next. They strive for a holistic sound as though they were playing live together. It was a bit of a learning curve, but each contributor has equipment and ability to digitally record their performance then send tracks to the Master Mixer/Producer Extraordinaire – Don Brown who tirelessly works to keep things on track while building their mixes. Friends of The Phoenix have contributed their talents to their recordings as well – Ed Chabot, vocals and slide; Dan Nelson, vocals; Michael Sullivan, pedal steel; Richard Schoen, Jim Gilbert, Lisa Lombardy & Hunter Hopewell on vocals, to name a few. The guys always enjoy & appreciate having these talented performers on board.
To date The Phoenix has 60+ tunes in the can and 15+ music videos, which you can see on their Facebook Fan Page and YouTube Channel, with many more to come…
It’s cool realizing these guys have been playing together for 55+ years; they definitely have a strong brotherly bond centered around music which lifts their spirits and keeps them young at heart – Rock On!
Hunter James
Cre8ive Network, llc
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Donovan “Razor” Ruddock vs. James “Lights Out” Toney at Jamaica’s Epic “Rumble In Sun” Boxing Match.
In November, for the first time, Donovan “Razor” Ruddock and James “Lights Out” Toney square off in an epic boxing match.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, August 28, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Legendary Jamaican-Canadian boxing Heavyweight Champion Donovan “Razor” Ruddock returns to his birthplace of Jamaica for an inaugural match against the International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee and Champion James “Lights Out” Toney at the mega “Rumble In The Sun” event on Saturday, November 11, 2023, inside Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park. This historic match-up marks Ruddock’s first time competing in a boxing match in Jamaica. Rumble In The Sun is a revolutionary match and a catalytic mechanism for philanthropic partnerships with the Red Ground District primary school and Gloves Over Guns initiative and for establishing Jamaica as an international boxing destination.
“Jamaica is the birthplace and heritage of some of the most dynamic and talented boxers,” says Ruddock. “I am excited to participate in a groundbreaking boxing match that will change the world’s perception of this beautiful country.”
Noted as one of the 100 greatest punchers of all time due to his signature “smash,” an impression and hybrid left-hand punch, Ruddock was born in St. Catherine’s parish and immigrated to Toronto, Canada, with family in his youth. While there, he fine-tuned his burgeoning boxing skills and, in March 1980, defeated Lennox Lewis as a teenage amateur boxer at the Ontario Junior Boxing Championship. Since becoming a professional boxer in 1982, he has garnered knockout wins against former WBA heavyweight champions Michael Dokes and James “Bonecrusher” Smith and held the WBA inter-continental heavyweight title. In 1991, Ruddock battled against “Iron” Mike Tyson in two matches, one of which he fought nine rounds despite sustaining a broken jaw in round three.
His opponent James Toney has held “world champions in three weight classes” and was voted Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1991 and 2003. As a youth, Toney was inspired to become a boxing champion after watching fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns box at the August 1980 WBA Welterweight Championship. Since becoming a professional boxer at age 20 and winning his first fight against Stephen Lee in October 1988, Toney has competed in 92 fights, including 77 wins and 47 knockouts. Toney returns to the ring after a six-year hiatus following his 2017 unanimous vote and win against Mike Sheppard.
“Years from now, people will still be talking about one of the greatest boxing matches of all time between me and Razor,” says James Toney. “My career is filled with history-making moments in boxing, and Rumble In The Sun is no exception.”
Rumble In The Sun is proudly endorsed by the Jamaican Boxing Board and partners with the Gloves Over Gun initiative. “There are youth today using boxing as a platform for personal development, social support and community cohesion,” says Stephen “Bomber” Jones, Jamaica Boxing Board president. “Having them witness such an event will further cement in their minds boxing as a vehicle for the way forward.”
Premier global sports and entertainment digital platform FITE by Triller will broadcast the event live on pay-per-view via cable and satellite networks. For the latest information, visit the event website at www.rumbleinthesun.com.
About Donovan “Razor” Ruddock
Donovan “Razor” Ruddock has undoubtedly established his legacy as one of his era’s most formidable and relentless heavyweights. The hard-punching Canadian top contender is most known for fearlessly challenging former undisputed Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson twice in 1991 and his terrifying
knockouts of former WBA Heavyweight Champions Michael Dokes in 1990 and James “Bonecrusher” Smith in 1989. Through two decades of boxing, Ruddock achieved an honorable career of 47 professional fights with 40 wins, six losses and one draw.
About James “Lights Out” Toney
James “Lights Out” Toney is an American former professional boxer noted for his outstanding defense and smooth counter-punching from 1988 to 2017. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF and lineal middleweight titles from 1991 to 1993, the IBF super middleweight title from 1993 to 1994, and the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003. Toney is also revered for brazenly battling some of the sport’s giants, such as Roy Jones Jr., Evander Holyfield and Mike McCallum. He has rightfully earned a tribute to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame.
About TRILLER:
Triller is the AI-powered open garden technology platform for creators. Pairing music culture with sports, fashion, entertainment, and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology.
About FITE:
FITE is the premium global platform for live sports and entertainment, offering many of the industry’s marquee PPV events to more than 7M registered users. Consumers can stream FITE globally through its iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire TV and Huawei apps. Available online at www.FITE.tv. FITE is owned by TrillerVerz Corp.
Nicole Brown
Rumble in the Sun
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By Mark Gruenberg In an unprecedented decision, the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the entire “safety culture” at Norfolk Southern Railroad, not just the individual NS crashes that landed it in hot water, notably the Feb. 3 massive and dangerous freight car derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. It was the first of two wrecks […]
The post Safety Board To Probe Norfolk Southern, Not Just Individual Crashes first appeared on IPA Newspack.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 7 January 2022 – For centuries dialogue has been known to create positive transformation in businesses, cultures and communities, shaping our global, regional and industry agendas. SpeakIn is launching Asia Dialogues in an effort to build conversations on topics of immediate focus to the Asian region. The forum being launched in Singapore will enable progressive discussions that will not only bring us closer to […]
Good morning. Here’s our morning roundup of all the media news you need to know. Want to get this briefing in your inbox every morning? Subscribe here. British reporter Iona Craig went to the al Ghayil, the Yemeni town stormed by Navy SEALs in the raid that President Trump says was a great success even as it claimed the life of the operator whose widow was honored […]
George Osborne will earn £650,000 a year for working four days a month at BlackRock, more than ten times what he is paid as an MP once expected share awards from the world’s largest fund manager are included. The detail of Mr Osborne’s pay at BlackRock, which he agreed to join as an adviser earlier this year, was disclosed in the register of members’ financial interests at […]
