Yesterday during the endless coverage of Ed McMahon's death, I heard an old quote from Frank Sinatra that struck me as poignant. Sinatra uttered the quote when he was still alive and so many other friends of his were passing away. The quote goes, "All my friends are leaving me."
Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post and ESPN voiced a similar sentiment on PTI yesterday, when he said that he grew up on Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson, and it was not only odd for their show to have been off the air for 17 years, but it was sad to see that two men who he had grown up with were now dead.
On a more personal note, I've heard my father talk about the original Temptations countless times, and how sad it is for him to know that four out of the five members are dead. Paul Williams committed suicide at age 34, David Ruffin died of drug overdose at age 50. Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer at 52, and Melvin Franklin died of a brain seizure at 52. Otis Williams is the only living member at 68, and considering my father grew up with, lived and breathed the Temptations, he still gets emotional talking about them. He has all of their works on both cd and vinyl, he knows the words, he knows the dance steps, he knows the background vocals, the instruments..every damn thing, and as he says to me often, "Its hard to believe they are all gone Rashad..it just means I'm getting old too"
I guess as I get older this will happen to me too, and its sad when you think about it, but its the cycle of life. This is two depressing entries in a row..I promise I'm not depressed though..just reflecting that's all.
By the way, I recommend you go out and buy this new cd by Kurt Elling entitled, "Dedicated To You" Elling, and the fine band backing him, toured all over the country performing this cd, which was originally recorded by John Hartman and John Coltrane in 1963. I had the pleasure of going to see Elling perform this at the Kennedy Center, and it was excellent. Its nice relaxing music, and if you buy it you won't regret it. Here is what we call in the business, a tease:
3 comments:
Here's a snippet of your father to son conversation in 15 years:
" son, I knew something was amiss when Jairobi wasn't on the low end theory tracks, but I figured he was dancing or something. But I knew dem boys was special- I mean Phife asked "mr dinkins would you please be my mayor & boom! Next election Dinkins was mayor. I gotta confess I never did cop the Phife solo joint son - in my mind, I just couldn't recall the last time I heard the Phife was sloppy - I mean ... Anyway go in there & tell yo' mama she got da goods, like madelyne woods- see you young boys don't know nothing bout that son"
Sab,
that is hilarious..then i can tell my son that I never knew what the hell Tribe was saying in "Electric Relaxation"
You and Sab D are retarded!!! hahahahahahahahaa But now that I think about it, I will probably tell my kids "Who do you think first recorded Candy Girl?? Who do you think those deadbeats you listen to got their moves from?? Go dust off my New Edition Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2, and lemme show you how it's done!!" hahahahahahhahahaaa
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