Once upon a time there were things called ‘binders’ (see photo) which were used to hold something called paper. The type of paper that was held in binders was primarily for office and administrative uses, and was used to document information. Long ago, in the early ages of computers, businesses and schools would have hundreds of these paper organizing tools, each holding hundreds of these paper units (they were called sheets or pieces). It might be hard to imagine, but this ‘paper’ was made from trees, and we (the people of earth) consumed so much paper and paper related products that it required entire forests to be cut down.  As the forests were cut down, new forests were planted in their place, but it wasn’t long before the rate of paper product consumption overtook the efforts to compensate for the loss of forest.  It was inevitable that the Earth’s forests would soon disappear forever.

In January of 2010, Craig Sumsky, the owner and Director of a small entertainment company, attended a N.A.C.E. meeting at The World Cafe Live in Philadelphia where he heard a woman speak about “Going Green”.  At the time, this was a term used for a movement in which companies both large and small could make changes that would save the earth.  The woman’s name was Lori Hill of Lori Hill Event Productions, and she inspired Craig to re-invent the way his company did business, and to be mindful of his responsibility to future generations.

Craig’s efforts sparked a worldwide movement, and within a decade all companies small and large had reduced their consumption of paper to less than five percent of what in had been ten years before.  This was the catalyst for a continuing effort that found viable alternatives to fossil fuels, and inevitably reversed global warming by the year 2025.  Shortly after, the nations of the world were able to use their resources to solve the problem of world hunger, while finding a cure for cancer and locating the island where John Lennon, Elvis Presley, James Dean and Jim Morrison had been in hiding.

All kidding aside, Cutting Edge Entertainment reduced it’s paper consumption by over 50% in 2009, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to conserve resources and eliminate waste.

Check out Lori Hill’s website, and help make a difference.

www.lorihillevents.com

“Elvis Presley’s death deprives our country of a part of itself.”
~Former U.S. President James Earl Carter

“Elvis is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century.”
~Leonard Bernstein, Conductor, New York Philharmonic

“If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been the Beatles.”
“Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
~John Lennon

January 8, 2010 marks what would be the 75th birthday of Elvis Aaron Presley, The King of Rock & Roll.  No matter what is, was, or can be said about Elvis, there is no disputing his contribution to American popular music and culture.  He was both the end of an era, and the beginning of another, crooning as dreamily as Crosby and Sinatra while rocking as hard as Berry and The Beatles.

Put simply, Elvis Presley was a ‘class act’, with emphasis on the word “class.”

Although Elvis’s ‘pelvic gyrations’ may have been considered racy and unfit for television audiences (in an era when it was forbidden to say “pregnant” on network television), he was still a gentleman of style and grace. He was polite in interviews, respectful to his fellow artists, and an overall gracious individual.  When his country called, he served.  And, although he had V.I.P. offers from both the Navy and Air Force, he refused special treatment and took the U.S. Army route, serving in West Germany in 1958.  Coincidentally, my father was also serving there, and has often told me of his meeting with Elvis while they were both stationed in Baumholder.  My father recollects a down-to-earth Elvis, who was “just one of the guys.”

I was eight years old when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, and I didn’t know him.  His legacy – for me – is primarily his music, but with the introduction of streaming internet video I have had the chance to hear him speak both officially and candidly in interviews and performances.  The more I watch, the more I come to understand the persona of Elvis… or at least the one he presented publicly.

Am I saying that Elvis Presley is an Angel? No. He had his demons and transgressions like anyone else, maybe more. Let’s face it, it ain’t easy being The King.  But, measured by the standards set by today’s ‘artists’, Elvis would at least have a shot at sainthood.

Elvis never attended an MTV Music Awards show, nor—to the best of my knowledge—an Emmy Awards show either.  I don’t think the former could even exist without Elvis, and yet I’m not sure he would have taken kindly to the gimmicks and antics of today’s musical elite.

Elvis Presley belongs to a simpler time, when artists were musicians and performers, and there was something of an unspoken behavioral barometer.  Many (not all) of today’s artists are mere shadows of The King, and the degenerate stunts they seem to pull each year at these award shows become worse and worse. As a public figure, Mr. Presley displayed a moral fiber that the likes of Kanye West can’t even begin to imagine or mimic. As I said earlier, Elvis was a gentleman, and I only wish that someday a new generation of performers might take their cue from him… he was The King for a reason.

-Craig Sumsky
Cutting Edge Entertainment

Elvis image used with permission, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
www.elvis.com

When Bob Gruen – John Lennon’s personal photographer – emailed to thank me for the review I had written about his book ‘John Lennon: The New York Years’, I responded by asking him if he wouldn’t mind signing a few copies of his book that I had purchased.  Within twenty four hours, his studio manager Sarah emailed to make the arrangements… I was to meet Bob Gruen on Sept 9, 2009.

The date – 09.09.09 – was already practically a Beatles national holiday.  It was on that day that both The Beatles Rock Band video game and The Beatles re-mastered boxed sets (in stereo and mono) were slated to be released, while rumors abounded about The Beatles music finally being made available for download on iTunes.  What better day to travel to The Big Apple and have a Beatles adventure?

I contacted my friend and colleague Kevin York, who is an accomplished photographer and a fan of both John Lennon and Bob Gruen , and asked him to join me.  Admittedly I thought it would be a great idea to have a photojournalist along to record the trip, but I thought it would be even better to to recruit a helper to schlep all of those books I wanted signed all around Manhattan.

Kevin and I took the Amtrak train from Trenton into Penn Station in N.Y.C. and then hopped a taxi to Mr. Gruen’s studio. We arrived shortly after 11:00 a.m. and we were greeted by Sarah who brought us inside to meet Bob.

Bob Gruen in person is very real, and very down-to-earth.  He is as much of a witness as he is a photographer, considering he is the man who had not only documented the last decade of John Lennon’s life, immortalizing him in photo after photo, but is also likely one of the greatest and most accomplished rock and roll photographers in the world.

After some initial chit-chat, Bob got down to business, signing almost a dozen copies of his book for us and graciously answering a barrage of questions I had about John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, and a multitude of other rock legends who Bob had had the pleasure of meeting and photographing. Looking around his studio, it was clear to see that he is a true music enthusiast, having what seemed to be thousands of CDs and records (while Ringo Starr played in the background) and walls filled with photos of almost every imaginable famous rocker.  Although the camera that Bob’s mother bought for him as a youth may have introduced him to the art, when I asked, “Why rock & roll photography specifically?”, he smiled and replied “I’m not a 9 to 5 kind of guy… especially the 9 part.”

After an hour or so of chatting with Bob, he asked if we would like to see the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Annex.  Naturally we said yes, and he arranged a few complimentary passes for us, yet another unexpected treat.  All in all, I am grateful for Bob Gruen’s willingness to not only sign some books, but to take the time out of his busy schedule to meet and chat with us.  The measure of Bob’s generosity particularly hit home when, on our way out we met some folks on the way in who asked “Are you with Rolling Stone or VH1?” to which I replied, “Nahhh, I’m just Craig.”

Our next stop was the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Annex, which was really cool, particularly the opening film (you were right, Bob), and the Lennon exhibit.  Unfortunately we weren’t permitted to take photos inside, so you’ll just have to check that one out for yourself.

Lastly, the one place I just had to see for myself was The Dakota, John & Yoko’s New York home on Central Park, and the place where in December of 1980, John Lennon was needlessly taken from us all.  The doorman behind me in the photo is about to tell me to move along, so at least it’s good to know The Dakota has ’stepped up’ the security since that fateful night.

I was happy to return home that night, put down those books (have I mentioned how heavy they were?) and kick my shoes off.  I still haven’t picked up my Beatles Rock Band or boxed set or any of that yet, but thanks to Bob Gruen, I have a 09.09.09 memory that I won’t soon forget.  Thank you Bob.

-Craig Sumsky

Photos by Kevin York
(Be sure to visit Kevin’s blog for more photos from our visit with Bob Gruen)

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

In a previous blog about my Beatles Journey, I reviewed the book ‘Lennon Revealed’ by Larry Kane, which I didn’t realize would be so… ‘revealing.’

Kane’s book led me to Bob Gruen, the next step in my journey to discovery.  After I had completed writing my blog about Mr. Kane’s book, I shot a raw and unedited copy of it off to Bob Gruen in an email, asking his permission to use a photo.  One might say that Mr. Gruen was the Lennon’s (John & Yoko’s) personal photographer, who knew John Lennon and his entourage personally.  I have to admit I’m still in shock that I got a response, and even more surprised that it was a yes.

Once again, into the car and off to the bookstore… this time for Bob Gruen’s book ‘John Lennon, The New York Years.’

It took me three reads.  The first read, I tried to be thorough, but the pictures were so captivating that I was distracted and just flipped through for the images.  The second read I stayed the course, and though I thought Larry Kane’s book was touching, as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.   My third read was a deeper look at the pictures, with a better understanding of their meaning, and Bob’s personal experiences that went along with them.

Bob Gruen is an amazing photographer.  I’ve looked at his website, checked out a lot of his work and let me just say this guy is the real deal.   More importantly, I really get the impression that Bob Gruen is a good man. With each page I turned I felt the love through his lens.

Sure, when presented with the opportunity to photograph John Lennon in his most intimate moments, a photographer would have to be a fool to pass it up.  Even for no pay, we’re talking about John Lennon here, a Beatle. How good would that look in a photographer’s portfolio? Bob Gruen was one lucky guy.

But was he the luckiest?  I think not.

In looking at the photos, and reading Mr. Gruen’s tale, I believe John was the lucky one, or perhaps he just had a gift.  You see, in choosing Bob Gruen as a photographer and chronicler,  John chose wisely… Very wisely.  Perhaps it was luck that put these two together, but whatever it was, Bob Gruen’s book is filled with love.  Each photo, each word, each page tells its own story.

I really didn’t get the impression that this book was about John Lennon the superstar, or John Lennon the musician.  For me it was much more John Lennon the person, and the many faces of that person within a decade’s time.   One cannot read this book – pictures and words – without coming out of it feeling like they know John a little better.

I wonder if John knew that when he and Yoko offered to let Bob Gruen take so many personal and intimate photos that he was again bringing someone into the fold who would do justice to his legacy when he was gone.  To tell the story the right way, the way John – or anyone for that matter – would have wanted their story told.

So yeah, I really love this book.  So much so that it wasn’t enough for me to just say how much I loved it or to write about it in a blog, I had to go a few steps further… I went out and bought twenty-five copies.  Not only do my friends and family get to hear me talking about The Beatles on a daily basis, but now they get a book as well.  It’s just that good.

-Craig Sumsky

P.S.  Thank you Sarah for all of your help and patience.

www.bobgruen.com

Photos by Kevin York

www.cuttingedgedjs.com