I was just a little girl (around ten years old) when I first “met” Cutting Edge Entertainment at my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, where I was carried into the room by one of the dancers (Pedro). Dancing since the age of three, I would have never thought I would be performing in front of people as a profession. At every party that my family would attend Cutting Edge Entertainment seemed to be the DJ company that everyone we knew was using. As I got older, Craig said to me one day at a party I was invited to, “When you’re older, I’d like you to come work for Cutting Edge”. As a child I never thought I would live up to his expectations, and would certainly never be like the dancers who were at my brother’s Bar Mitzvah.

As I now begin my third year as a Cutting Edge employee, I look back on when I started working here and being taught the ropes by one of the MCs, Shoshana, and  I realized that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, because Cutting Edge is a great place, with an environment that really allowed me to grow as a person.  Working at Cutting Edge I’ve learned so much about myself, and I’ve grown up from the quiet, shy girl I once was.  Before I got this job, I was afraid to stand up in front of a room full of people and talk.  Now, after working here all this time, I no longer have that fear. I even get on the microphone and talk to crowds of people, and I love it!

I learned that having a job that you love is not always about the money, it’s about enjoying what you do. Working for Cutting Edge parties I sometimes forget that it’s a job. I get so into the music and the kids that I feel like I am just hanging out with new friends and the time flies by. Everyone is extremely close and it’s like working with family. We’ve built a relationship as a team and everyone has taken me under their wing as one of their younger (sapling) dancers.

~Ashley

Photo by Kevin York – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

So here I find myself, almost a year after my first blog post about The Beatles, and subsequent meandering journey in search of Beatles lore.   I read someplace that you know you are obsessed with something when in the instance the subject is brought up in conversation, everyone in earshot turns to look at you.  So it is with me and The Beatles.

I began my journey not on August 3, 2009 – the day I posted my first article on this blog about The Beatles – but rather thirty years earlier when the first record album I ever purchased was a Beatles album.   Like Kevin Costner’s character in Field Of Dreams, who through his teenage years rejected his true love of baseball, I, like teenagers often do, found myself listening more to the music of the day… the music my peers were listening to. In essence, I lost my Beatles way. Teen angst is funny like that.

I’ve been in the Disc Jockey business in some fashion or another for well over twenty years now, and through my twenties and thirties I had love affairs with many bands, genres and music styles, all of which suited me just fine for their time.  My love for music is rivaled only by my love of reading, and I’ve been voraciously tearing through books since I first learned how to read.  It took reading a book about The Beatles to re-awaken the Beatle beast inside me, and I haven’t stopped since, nor do I see an end to my new found passion anytime soon.  As they say in “The Secret”, I’m “manifesting” The Beatles.

Upon finishing Larry Kane’s “Lennon Revealed”, I had decided to write a review titled “A Beatles Journey: Larry Kane & John Lennon”, and post it to this blog.  I decided that if it was to be a proper blog post, I would need a photo of John Lennon, so I reached out to photographer Bob Gruen, who willingly provided one (see the post).  It was then that I realized that The Beatles were not just four guys in a band, but a parade of auxiliary cast members who make up The Beatles circle.  Some, like Bob Gruen and Larry Kane are actually somewhat accessible, as I was able to meet Mr. Gruen in person, which I wrote about in “A Beatles Journey: 09.09.09 in New York City” where I not only met Bob, but at his behest went to see a John Lennon exhibit at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex, but also visited The Dakota, and John’s memorial in Central Park.

I was also able to meet Larry Kane and hear him speak at an event held at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, and although I have been unsuccessful in catching up with Larry after that, I have exchanged emails with him and hope to have the opportunity to pick his brain sometime soon.  Larry is currently working on a third book about The Beatles and their time in Liverpool prior to super-stardom, and I look forward to reading it.

In the past year, I’ve read over a dozen books on The Beatles, I’ve shaken hands with three people who shook Beatles hands (third degree?), and I’ve watched virtually every Beatles film and documentary I could get a hold of.   Today, my favorite album is Rubber Soul, but I anticipate that could change at any time.

So what’s next?  well, I’ve recently finished reading Sir George Martin’s book “All You Need Is Ears” – a brilliant book I might add – and am currently putting the finishing touches on that review (and patiently waiting for an illustration of Sir George).  I’ve begun reading “John’ by Cynthia Lennon, and I am currently in the process of trying to get my hands on tickets for the August 2010 Paul McCartney concert in Philadelphia while planning a pilgrimage to Las Vegas to see The Beatles Cirque show.  All Beatles, all the time.

And that’s where I am with The Beatles.  I continue to be amazed by their contributions to music and popular culture, and their continuing impact on everything that has come since.

-Craig Sumsky

So far, I’ve published nine blog posts pertaining to my Beatles journey (this being the tenth).  For anyone who might be interested in reading my long winded musings, reviews and opinions (I know, I know), feel free to check out the links below.

A Beatles Journey: Larry Kane & John Lennon

A Beatles Journey: Don’t Hate On The Octopus

A Beatles Journey: Bob Gruen & John Lennon

A Beatles Journey: Philadelphia 45 Years After

A Beatles Journey: 09.09.09 In New York City

A Beatles Journey: Larry Kane’s ‘Ticket To Ride’

A Beatles Journey: George Harrison

A Beatles Journey: Paul McCartney, A Life

A Beatles Journey: Taxman

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

To truly make a list of “Summer Songs” could easily have become an endless endeavor.  There are songs that epitomize the spirit of summer, like Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” or Chicago’s “Saturday In The Park”, while the Beach Boys entire library could easily be construed as a soundtrack of the summer season.  Regardless, this list has been narrowed to songs which specifically use the word “Summer” in the title.  While some say “Driving fast with the top down” summer, others say “Chilling on the porch with a glass of lemonade” summer, with all sorts of summer interpretations in-between.

No, not every summer song is included here on this list by a long shot… but there’s always next summer.

“Summertime”  by Billy Stewart

Summertime was composed by George Gershwin – with lyrics by DuBose HeyWard -  in 1935 for the show “Porgy and Bess”.  It quickly becabe a jazz standard recorded by such artists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Sidney Bechet just to name a few.  It continued to resurface through the years, recorded by dozens of artists from The Zombies and Ray Charles to Paul McCartney and Sublime.  Billy Stewart’s radical interpretation of the song reached the Billboard top ten in both the R&B and pop categories in 1966.

“Summertime, Summertime”  by The Jamies

The Jamies (Tom and Serena Jameson) were an a-capella group, sometimes classified as do-wop, who first recorded and released “Summertime, Summertime” in 1958, then later in 1962, reaching the Billboard Top 40 on both occasions.  Although the song itself was re-recorded by a handful of other artists, it is The Jamies version that is regarded as the most popular, and most commercially successful.

“Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer” by Nat King Cole

Reminiscent of a Polka/Minstrel style (insert Philadelphia Mummers string band), Nat King Cole’s “Lazy-Hazy-Crazy” song is a short ditty that sings of pretzels, beer, picnic baskets, drive-ins and girls in bikinis on the beach.  This fun tune reminds us of a simpler time, while still representing what summer is all about.

“Summer”  by War

Unlike the previous track by Nat King Cole, this tune is much less timeless with it’s lyrics saying things like “listening to the 8-track” and “rapping on the CB radio”, deeply rooting it in a time gone by… those ancient 1970’s.  It’s slow and easy tempo invite you to sit back, kick your sandals (or flip-flops) off and sip on a cool drink on the beach or in the park.  Although the song never reached any notable commercial success, it’s still a great summertime classic.

“Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran

Although re-recorded and released by mega-groups The Beach Boys and The Who, Eddie Cochran’s version of Summertime Blues (written by Eddie himself) is still the most popular, making Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Songs of All Time” list.  Summertime Blues peaked at #8 on the Billboard charts in September of 1958.  The humorous lyrics eveke the age old teen no-win summer scenario of no money, no date vs. work late, no date.  Some things never change.

“In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry

Recorded and released in 1970 by British pop band Mungo Jerry, “In The Summertime” charted at #1 in twenty six countries.  By far one of the silliest tunes on this list, the humorous girl-getting lyrics advise “If her daddy’s rich take her out for a meal, if her daddy’s poor just do what you feel”.  Pure nonsensical fun.

“Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

The Fresh Prince of West Philadelphia, a.k.a. Will Smith rhymes about school being out, being in Philly in the park, popping the water plug and  making sure you dress right before you hit the basketball court… because there’s girls there.  “Summertime” samples another great summertime song called “Summer Madness” by Kool & The Gang.

“Summer of 69″ by Bryan Adams

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams reached #6 on the Billboard charts with this now classic summer song.  Adams shows his harder edged lyrics to be “not what you think they are”, and in a 2008 interview admits that 69 has nothing at all to do with the year, “Just listen to the last line in the song and you’ll get my meaning” says Adams.  I think we “get it” Bryan.

“Summer Nights” by John Travolta & Olivia Newton John

Someone should have told Danny and Sandy that it’s a bad idea to kiss-and-tell.  In 1978, this duet rocketed to the top of the charts (with the help of a hit major motion picture), and became forever a part of American pop culture.  All summer ingredients included like beaches, lemonade, and makin’ out under the dock (or the boardwalk, depending on the seashore).

“Summer In The City” by The Lovin Spoonful

Summers aren’t just spent on beaches and at campsites, as The Lovin Spoonful’s “Summer In The City” suggests.  All kinds of sound effects were thrown into this recording like car horns and jackhammers to give it that authentic “city sound”.  Charting at #1 in 1966 (the same year as Billy Stewart’s “Summertime”), “Summer In The City” was a gritty take on an urban summer.

“Summer Girls” by LFO

LFO is an acronym for the late 1990’s boy band Lyte Funky Ones, who – other than this summer song which went certified platinum – didn’t leave much of a mark.  Many people identify this as the Abercrombie & Fitch song, as the brands name is repeated several time throughout the lyrics.  Regardless, as campy as the tune may be with it’s pop culture references, it had the necessary pieces to become a pop hit.  And what says summer more than cute guys singing about cute girls?

“Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra

Old Blue Eyes hit the jackpot with this summer song, and it remains a DJ favorite at weddings as a sure-fire floor packer for young and old alike.  When the summer wind came blowing in from across the sea, it was whisked away from Wayne Newton who first recorded the song to forever be part of Frank’s library of classic standards.  It peaked at #25 in 1966,and being our third summer hit from that year clearly suggests that 1966 was “A Very Good Year” for summer songs.


Have a great summer everyone!

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

From a very early age I’ve been interested in music. Sure, sports were all well and good, but being neither the fastest nor most skilled athlete kind of kept me from truly embracing them. But then, as if my calling simply appeared out of the blue, I discovered music. My first real experience with music was joining the Keystone State Boys Choir. Some people might ask “Hey, what does this have to do with being a DJ?”, but be patient… I’m getting there. Through the choir, I was able to discover nuances and other subtle things most people would never even think were there. With age, I began developing myself as a musician, both technically and musically.

As I stumbled into my twelfth awkward year, it came time for me to have my bar mitzvah. With the wise advice of the Johnson family (whose son Ben is now aspiring to be as good as I am, and doing a darn good job of it), we decided to go with Cutting Edge Entertainment for the DJ. I had had no previous experience with Cutting Edge and knew nothing of its “colorful” staff, but after my first meeting with Pedro and Craig I was convinced, this place was awesome. Being that I was not the only Jewish thirteen year old in town at the time, and also being amongst the younger ones in my grade, I went to a lot of bar and bat mitzvahs before my own. Although everyone had a good time and the music got played, I was never really wowed by anything the other companies did, be that with their music or with their MCs.

As I left the synagogue and headed over to Moonstruck for my party, I had an idea of what would happen at the party, and that it would be just another event. Wow, was I wrong. Upon arriving, I was promptly walked into the room by my two wonderful dancers to my favorite “it’s all about me” song, TNT. Then, something happened that would change my future forever: as everyone began to dance to the first song, I heard another song begin to creep in and eventually flow seamlessly onto the dance floor. I experienced beat mixing! At the time, I thought this was reserved for the radio and clubs, so it was quite a surprise. Song after song wound seamlessly together and I loved every minute of it.

Following my party, when Craig approached me to ask if I would want to work for him, the only logical response I could think of was yes. Since then, I would like to think that I’ve grown up a good deal and learned a whole lot, and can honestly say that this was the perfect job choice for me, and that still holds true to this day, almost four years later. To me, being a DJ has always been about the music. Sure, I’ve learned a great deal of other technical, social, and miscellaneous skills on the job, but when I put the headphones on and look up to see a packed dance floor, it’s the hook for me.

As of now, I am fascinated with music, singing and Djing alike. I would probably say that I’m the heaviest into singing, but being a DJ is a perfect complement to that. As a junior in high school, I have plenty of friends who work boring after school jobs and despise going in to work. To me, work is a new opportunity to try something new and – not to have too much “youthful cockiness” (that’s what the older guys call it) – to show off what I would like to call some pretty good DJ skills.

In all, working as a DJ for Cutting Edge Entertainment has played a huge part in expanding my passion for music while at the same time keeping me up to date with the latest trends, music, and technology, be that through the job itself or the people I work with.

A lifelong lover of music,

Justin Leis
a.k.a. DJ Back of the Bus

Photo courtesy of David Difuntorum Photography – www.daviddifuntorum.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Over the past two years at Cutting Edge Entertainment, my outlook towards life has drastically changed. I attribute a lot of that change to DJ practices with Craig, Richie and the rest of the guys. Cutting Edge has been slowly influencing me since the day I walked in the door for the first time. Thanks to everyone at Cutting Edge Entertainment for that, especially and most importantly my Mom. My Mother was fairly persistent in getting me to agree to go to one of the DJ practices, and it’s a good thing she didn’t allow my “tunnel vision” to prevent me from getting in the way of what is perhaps the most influential thrill ride of my life so far.

The biggest change I have noticed in myself is that I’m more open minded. When I came to Cutting Edge I had the mindset that the music I liked was the “best” and all other genres of music were a waste of my time. Starting with Big Band like Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima. I used to despise “old boring music” but now I have a new-found respect and understanding of it, and now I really enjoy listening to Big Band and Jazz music. My other big revelation was dance music! Everything from Motown to Disco to today’s Pop. There is a lot of music that I was too closed minded to listen to, but Cutting Edge has changed that. Not only do I listen to broader types of music but I have noticed I am more open to new foods or different books.  Some people might say I am just growing up but I attribute a lot of my newer outlook to my lessons at Cutting Edge.

Perhaps the most important thing I have picked up from my time at Cutting Edge is problem solving. When Richie and Adam taught me to troubleshoot the systems they stressed that you must remain calm and take the logical approach. You start from the beginning and take your time so you don’t miss something important in your haste. Also I have learned that shortcuts rarely ever pay and more commonly bite you in the butt later. It may be easier to carelessly toss wires under the table but at the end of the night all you end up with is a giant mess.

Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. – Confucius

Cutting Edge is a dream job for me and this quote has only proven to be true. The only thing I can be sure that hasn’t changed since I came to Cutting Edge Entertainment is that I love music, and since Cutting Edge maybe I love it a little bit more.

Sincerely,

Jack Duggan
The Quiet One
a.k.a. DJ Summer School

Photo courtesy of David Difuntorum Photography – www.daviddifuntorum.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Guest Post by Kalyn Johnson: Let the music Play

Who says that your first dance has to be a traditional ballroom type dance? Are you and your intended traditional ballroom-dance kind of people? If so, read no further. If not, have you begun to think about how to incorporate your style as a couple into your wedding reception? What better way to kick-off a fantastic party to celebrate your nuptials than to make a grand entrance to music that speaks to who you are as a couple? If you Google “wedding first dance”, pages upon pages of lists of wedding songs come up – from the classic, “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra, to the more contemporary Leona Lewis singing “A Moment Like This”.  These are great songs with wonderful sentimental value.  But, if the classic wedding songs aren’t you, you’re not alone. Do you remember a few years ago when that YouTube wedding video circulated of the couple whose first dance was to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got You Back”? They made it all the way to The Today Show. And who can forget Jill & Kevin’s wedding – you know, the couple whose whole wedding party danced down the aisle to Chris Brown’s Forever? It was such a classic wedding moment that The Office parodied it a few months later when Pam and Jim got married.

It’s unlikely that your first dance will land you on national morning television, but it doesn’t mean that your first dance shouldn’t be a showstopper. Come on, it’s your first dance together as Mr. and Mrs. It should be special! Neither of you are great dancers? Neither are a lot of the folks who appear on Dancing With The Stars, but they practice and they get out there and have a good time. If you’re truly thinking about doing something non-traditional and dancing is not your forte, invest in dance lessons and have a professional choreograph something that you can master in a few weeks time leading up to your BIG DAY. The final weeks of wedding planning are so hectic that you rarely get to see your beloved as you both run around going to appointments and fittings and making sure that you’ve crossed all of your “T’s” and dotted all of your “I’s”; dance lessons and intermittent practices are a great way to schedule in some couple time.

Take a walk on the wild side! Your guests will love your non-traditional first dance, however crazy, sedate, good or bad it is. And, you’ll have a great story to tell your kids and wonderful memories to boot.

~Kalyn



Kalyn Johnson is a fashion stylist who specializes in helping brides navigate the path to I DO stylishly and sanely. Recently married, Kalyn learned more about weddings than one has the right to keep to herself so she decided to share some of the nuggets she gathered along the way. Check out Kalyn’s blog, Wedding STYLE by Kalyn Johnson. By the way, her first dance was choreographed to “Mas Que Nada” by Sergio Mendes featuring the Black Eyed Peas.  When Kalyn offered to guest post for us we jumped at the chance, as her insight and writing style speaks for itself.

Photo courtesy of Kalyn Johnson

Before I begin, allow me to apologize for the previous article posted on this blog titled “The Greatest MC of All Time”, or some such nonsense like that (authored by my boss Craig), which many of you had to painfully endure. As someone who actually knows the Hip-Hop industry in its current incarnation, I felt it necessary to respond.

If you were to truly look at the biggest and most revered Rap/Hip-Hop artists of the CURRENT generation, the names you would constantly hear are Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, and the widely misunderstood Lil Wayne. As you can see, the elderly gentleman (by “elderly gentleman” of course, I refer to “MC” Craig) – who made the feeble, yet valiant argument for Rakim – is a little out of touch and unable to connect with the “new school”, or new generation of the hip-hop industry of today. In a world where the biggest names of the genre are beginning to push the age of 40, (like Craig), there has been a void, an evident disconnect between these artists and a younger audience.

Before we can actually get into an educated discussion of things, some framework and foundation should clearly be established, so sit back, as “Hip-Hop 101” is now in session.

First and foremost, the definition of “Hip-Hop” is too inclusive of a term, and should not be used to consider all of the artists who are currently compiled into the genre; however, for lack of a better term I will use it henceforth. For the most part, fans of the real genre would consider most of what is on the radio to be some fusion between pop, house, and rap. Real “Hip-Hop” occurs in waves. These waves reflect whatever sound is “hot” at the moment and are often circuitous. Therefore artists, regardless of their geographic location, must try to reproduce that sound in order to evolve with the changing times. For a while the New York gritty sound monopolized the genre until the industry became overly saturated with it, and the time came to move on to something new (#ontothenextone as real hip-hop heads would say). Texas had its short run as did E-40 and the “bay area” sound. However the next big wave that took over – and the one most prevalent today – is referred to as the “Southern Movement”.

The Southern Movement was something fresh and new, something that everyone – from kids to grandparents – could take part in. No longer was hip-hop about the harsh realities of street life, about being a thug, and about being angry (often referred to as “Gangsta Rap”). The focus shifted more towards dancing, partying, and having a good time.

Coupled with the plummet of record sales, and the leaking of songs prior to their intended release en masse, Hip-Hop began to see a lot more “one hit wonder” type artists. These artists would achieve one, two, sometimes even three popular songs, but lacked longevity and would quickly fade away into obscurity. Some became more household names such as DJ Unk while others such as The Pop It Off Boyz and the G5 Boys were known only by there one contobution to the dance floor. Nevertheless it seemed as though everyone was hitting the drawing boards in an effort to come up with the new gimmick and dance to cash in on this craze.

It was in 2006 that Souljaboy first appeared on the scene, a 16 year old that had written and produced the smash hit “Crank Dat”, with its subsequent dance that swept the nation. Everyone from Regis to Oprah to YOU (yes YOU) felt the craze and the desire to scream out “YUUU”. The song exploded and was even called the electric slide of the new generation. It held no boundary. Regardless of race, age, or economic standpoint, anyone and everyone could be seen on YouTube participating in the dance, often in very unconventional settings. Lawyers were “crankin dat” in the office, the mailmen was “yuuu-ing” while delivering mail, and even an entire second grade class(teacher included) were doing “the souljaboy” in what should have been their instructional time. Yet Souljaboy had no intention of merely becoming the average southern one hit wonder, and seizing the popularity of YouTube, Myspace and other social networking sites, he was the first in the Hip-Hop world to utilize them to connect with his audience. Fans and haters alike could watch him doing his everyday tasks while – through the internet – his following began to grow at alarming rates. Suddenly kids had an artist of their own, someone from their generation that was taking over the industry and was putting it in the crippler crossface. Although he was never a lyrical emcee, each single released had the same success. Presently, there is no song that girls in the Hip-Hop club scene get more excited to hear at a party than ‘Donk’.

As is often the case in the “Hip-Hop world”, once you become too large of a star, others try to diminish your shine. Soulja’s success put the older artists in a state of frustration, confusion, and anger. They asked “Who was this kid that didn’t have to say anything lyrically to gain such a large following?” Everyone from Ice T to Nas has felt his impact. Chants that “Hip-Hop is dead” were repeated in song after song, while Nas even used it as an album title. Ice-T began to post videos on YouTube telling the child prodigy to “eat a d*ck” and that he was the reason for the demise of a once reputable genre. While there were many others who played their role in changing the direction of the hip-hop, artists began pointing fingers at Soulja. They were clearly and visibly upset that they no longer had the same influence and that the sound they brought them their fame, notoriety, and success was the process of transformation. Simply put, older artists were now the ones forced to get back to the drawing boards.

After about two years of struggle trying to find his place in an industry dominated by an older generation who, largely, did not want him to survive, Souljaboy’s track record is what made other’s within the hip-hop community take notice. Whether they liked him or hated him, his music reached and moved the masses. Soon some of the biggest stars within the industry began knocking down his door to be on remixes to his smash hits. Everyone from Lil Wayne to Young Jeezy and everyone in between felt the need to hop on the “Turn My Swag On Movement” and bless the record with a verse of their own. It could be heard on every college campus, at every stepshow, at every party, and was quickly becoming the hip-hop anthem for 2008. “Kiss Me Through The Phone” was in heavy rotation on both the hard hip-hop radio stations and the pop/mainstream radio. The Birdwalk had the children and the adults up and dancing again to another Soulja jam. Hate it or love it he was here to stay.

You see, Hip-Hop is not just a genre of music, it is a culture that transcends barriers of color, creed, and socio-economic status. While there will be many people who disagree with this my views in this blog posting, those who are truly immersed and fluent in the culture and language of Hip-Hop know my statements to be true. Readying for his third studio release, Souljaboy has remained consistently on top of the charts, relevant in both club and radio, and remains one of the biggest artists on the web with millions of visits with each video he posts. Whether you hate to love him or love to hate him Souljaboytellem’ is here to stay and has truly earned the title: Leader of the New School.

Nate “H.B.K.” Jones
Cutting Edge Entertainment’s resident Hip-Hop expert

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

P.S. PRETTY BOY SWAG IS THE HOTTEST UNDERGROUND SONG OUT RIGHT NOW! & ALL THE WAY TURNT UP IS THE HARDEST SONG IN HIP-HOP STREETS

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was born in Venice on March 4, 1678, and was taught by his father to play the violin at an early age. Intending to become a priest, Vivaldi first took holy orders in 1773, but left the priesthood after two years due to a respiratory illness. At twenty seven years of age he was employed as teacher and Maestro di violino (master of violin) at the Conservatory of The Pietà, a Venetian hospice for orphaned girls, where he first began composing music.

Although in a period of economic and military decline, Venice remained a prestigious cultural center, renowned especially for both music and painting. This was a period of enlightenment for Europe, and the time when Venice began to develop its romantic reputation and mystique, in part to the memoirs of Casanova. The city was also experiencing a theatrical renaissance, and is believed to be the prelude for vaudeville, improvisation and even the modern circus. It is believed that Vivaldi frequented the theater often, and it may have been part of his musical influence and inspiration.

It was during these years that Vivaldi wrote much of his music, including many operas and concertos. In 1705, the first collection of his works was published, and his work began to gain appreciation and esteem abroad. At that time in Venice, opera was the most profitable popular musical entertainment, and where Vivaldi first gained his reputation and success as a composer.

He later moved to Mantua, and then Rome, and it was during this period that he composed what is likely his most well known classical work, The Four Seasons, four violin concertos depicting natural scenes in music. During the height of his career, Vivaldi received commissions from European nobles and royalty. The wedding cantata Gloria e Imeneo was written for the marriage of Louis XV, while Opus 9, La Cetra, was dedicated to Emperor Charles VI (Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, Sovereign of the Habsburg Empire, Archduke of Austria etc, etc) in 1728, who Knighted him for doing so.

Vivaldi’s life, like those of many composers of the time, ended in financial difficulties. His compositions no longer held the high esteem they once did, and Vivaldi, in response, chose to sell off sizable numbers of his manuscripts at paltry prices to finance a migration home to Vienna. Vivaldi died a pauper on July 28, 1741.

Vivaldi’s “Spring” from The Four Seasons is amongst the most popular wedding ceremony compositions played today, not only by instrumentalists, but perhaps – aside from a few others (Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bach’s Minuet in G to name a few) – is likely one of the few classical pieces played by the wedding DJ as well.

On March 4, 2010, Google honored Antonio Vivaldi’s 332nd birthday with a custom graphic, depicting four violins each representing the four seasons, in homage to his most acclaimed concertos of the same name.  It was internet reflecting art that inspired me to write this blog in tribute to this great composer and musician, whose legacy lives on in his beautiful music.

-Craig

John was the big mouth, Paul was the big eyes, Ringo was the big nose and George was the big mystery.
~Unknown

My study of The Beatles began with John Lennon, and I presumed that Paul McCartney would be next. For me, John was easy… he was outspoken, opinionated, and somewhat socially abrasive (much like myself). I would never have predicted the chain of events that would put George Harrison on my radar ahead of Paul, but that is a story in itself, perhaps better left for another day.

So far, I’ve read almost half a dozen books on George Harrison, watched countless interviews (the one with Dick Cavett was particularly good), and even spoken to a few people who met him. The more I learn the more I’m left feeling that I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of understanding. Additionally, simply reading about him often left me feeling as if I was intruding into a life that George had worked very hard to keep private; he is quoted as saying he would have rather been successful than famous.

The nicest thing is to open the newspapers and not to find yourself in them.
~George Harrison

“George Harrison” by Craig Sumsky

George Harrison was born in Liverpool, England on February 25, 1943, the youngest of four. He disliked school, but he did love cars, comic books and music. His mother helped buy him his first guitar, and soon after he joined a band called The Beatles and became very famous and very successful making music. He played other instruments as well, and in particular he studied the sitar, not surprising since George loved Indian culture, music, and spirituality. After The Beatles broke up in 1970, he had a successful solo career and was responsible for organizing The Concert for Bangladesh, the first benefit concert of its kind. In addition to being a musician, George was an accomplished songwriter, motion picture producer, automobile enthusiast (racing was a hobby) and gardener. He was very spiritual, and lived the latter part of his life in a very spiritual way. Later, he played with the group The Traveling Wilburys, continuing to make music over a span of fifty years. George was a loving husband and father. He died of Lung Cancer at 58 years old in Los Angeles, California on November 29, 2001.

Short and to the point, the way I think George would have wanted it. If you’d like to learn more, here are a few books you might want to check out.

I, Me, Mine by George Harrison

By far my favorite of anything I read about him, as far as books go this is probably the least ‘revealing’, autobiography I’ve ever read. At the same time, it is in his own words (with the help of friend and former Beatles press officer Derek Taylor). The real treasure within this book is George talking about his music. As I read, I would listen to each song, gaining a better understanding of the inspiration (or lack thereof) for each composition. This is the book I would most highly recommend regarding George Harrison.

Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd

Pattie was George Harrison’s first wife, and later married Eric Clapton. Quite an interesting story here, and strangely enough, Eric and George were able to maintain a friendship in the end. Although this book is really more about Pattie’s life experience overall than a story of George Harrison, I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read, and a respectful and invaluable insight into a part of George’s life. I always prefer reading a book authored by someone who was ‘there’ as opposed to something purely researched, and this was no exception. Pattie, a former supermodel, is now an acclaimed photographer (as well as a pretty good cook).

Here are a few other books I found to provide interesting perspectives into the life of George Harrison.

Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison
by Joshua M. Greene

Ticket to Ride by Larry Kane

The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles

The Mammoth Book of The Beatles (edited) by Sean Egan

Read the Beatles (edited) by June Skinner Sawyers

Yet no matter what can be written in any book, I truly believe that the real George, his thoughts, his words, his feelings, his inner self and all the gifts and wisdom he had to offer in his life as George Harrison are best expressed in his music.

When you’ve seen beyond yourself
Then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we’re all one
And life flows on within you and without you
~George Harrison

-Craig Sumsky

P.S. Olivia, If by chance you should read this, I hope you write a book about George someday. If you did I’d be amongst the first to read it.

Illustration of George Harrison by Sean Gallo

One the main reasons for my becoming a DJ is my passion for music, specifically American popular music, and I’ve spent the past twenty years exploring the soundtrack of the twentieth century. From Tin Pan Alley and the authors of the American Songbook and its earliest ambassadors in Ragtime, Jazz and Swing, to the the emergence of Rhythm & Blues, Country & Western and Rock ‘n’ Roll. I have always believed that music – and the medium through which it was conveyed – were interwoven, with the latter having an immense impact on the former.

Elijah Wald’s book had me re-think everything I know about music’s history, and as Yoda the great Jedi master once said, “Unlearn what I have learned.”

First let’s make clear that this book is not a Beatles bash fest. On the contrary, the author takes nothing away from the importance and significance of The Beatles, but he does make a very strong argument as to how they could very well have had a greater impact on the course of American popular music then anything that came before or after.

Whether I was nodding my head in agreement or thinking that Mr. Wald was off of his rocker, it was at all times thought provoking. Probably better defined by its non-propagandist subtitle “An Alternative History of American Popular Music” this book takes a very comprehensive and contemplative look at all popular music trends and styles of the twentieth century, and not just The Beatles.

If you love music, read this book… It’s really that good.

-Craig Sumsky