Georgia On My Mind.
This amazing song is celebrating it's 90th birthday this year, as well as...
]]>This amazing song is celebrating it's 90th birthday this year, as well as the 60th anniversary of the Ray Charles recording. Ray took it to the top of the charts in 1960. Willie Nelson did it again in 1978.
I remember playing Dave Barduhn's killer big band arrangement of it in college in the early 90s. We played it not unlike this band plays it. Maybe not as good. Maybe. But, and in addition, that big band is led by my college jazz band director, who (if I recall the story correctly) played the same arrangement of "Georgia" when HE was in college. A sweet song with 90-years of generational legacy.
There ya go. That's it. That's my connection to Georgia: Not only have I kept Georgia on my mind, but have helped others keep it on their minds by performing fabulous versions of that timeless tune for public enjoyment.
(I mean, I know playing bass trombone 25 years ago in the jazz band of a small private university about as far away from the state of Georgia as you can get ain't much... but its not nothing.)
"Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind"
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Some other great versions:
Doc Severinsen with the Tonight Show Band, 1988
Usher at Ray Charles' Smithsonian Tribute at the White House, 2016
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]]>You may wonder why I am leaning hard on black with this New Jersey design. Blame Kevin.
Kevin is from New Jersey. I love Kevin. We were housemates when Brick States was in its earliest days. When I was learning to screenprint I attempted to print some NJ state designs. All Kevin wanted was black... black ink on black shirts kinda stuff. ALL black. Because I have few experiences and interactions with New Jerseyans, Kevin became New Jersey to me. So if Kev likes black, so must the great state of New Jersey.
And why red?
I'm no hockey fan, but I have learned that the Devils colors are black, white, and red. So, there you go: red. Helpful. Kev might not approve, but I hope the fans appreciate.
Also, Newark is know as "Brick City". How can we not love, adopt, and go traditional brick red on this design when NJ has a city named after the very object we design and build with.
Love you Papa Kev. Love you NJ.
p.s. To complete the circle: before the New Jersey Devils were the Devils, they were the Colorado Rockies (really!), and before they were the Rockies, they were the Kansas City Scouts... and Kansas City is where Kev and I met and were housies. KC → NJ.
p.p.s. Brickstates NJ gear here.
]]>I grew up a Steeler fan. A grade-school friend liked them, so I liked them. This was the trailing end of the glorious Steel Curtain days. I remember watching Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mean Joe Greene, and coach Chuck Noll. That's a fun name to say. Try it. Chuck Noll. Chuck Noll. Put the emphasis in the "Ch". CHuck Noll.
Anyhow. I say this all because, for a kid living on the west coast, somehow I loved the Steelers, and thus had some irrational connection with Pennsylvania. I mean, I still have a 3rd grade sized Steelers "12" jersey.
I have been to (through) Pennsylvania once. I drove westbound on highway 90 on Lake Erie taking the long route from Rochester to Detroit. That's it. Never been to Pittsburgh. Not Philadelphia. Not even Scranton. Just that stretch of 90.
I have good friends from Pennsylvania. From places like Johnstown and Lancaster. That helps grow affection for a place: knowing people that have called it home. I love those friends, so I love their place. I loved Terry Bradshaw, so I loved his "place".
Enjoy this week's brickstates offering for Pennsylvania, including some hints to the black and gold. "One for the thumb in '81."
(Bradshaw/Noll image from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
]]>Delaware is known for ratifying the Constitution first on December 7, 1787, five days before those stinkers in Pennsylvania.
They might have been first then, but they sure are tiny. Ranked 49th in land area, 45th in population. What they lack in land and people, they make up for in corporations. If you are to believe our friends at wikipedia, over 50% of the corporations in the country are incorporated in Delaware. Wowzers. Tax haven anyone?
This brick color scheme was selected as a tribute to the official colors of this beautiful state, and that handsome license plate:
Evidently Aubrey Plaza, VP Joe Biden, and George Thorogood all call Delaware home (3 of the less than 1 million that currently live in the entire state). But for my reading, check out not-as-famous-but-made-a-difference Delawarean Absolom Jones.
Please enjoy this week's Brickstates installment, and the inaugural state in our 2020 endeavor through all the states.
Go Blue Hens!
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