Didactic Doctor Daddy-O

In 1947, a relatively unknown art professor from Chicago named Dr. Vernon Winslow, started a show highlighting black music in New Orleans on WJMR — a white-owned radio station. Unknown to most listeners, Dr. Winslow wrote the scripts, selected the music, and taught the white DJ, "Poppa Stoppa" how to sound black. So, Dr. Winslow, after being fired for taking to the microphone when the white DJ was a no-show, went on to WWEZ and became New Orleans' first black DJ — "Doctor Daddy-O." He was ubercool.

.

However, in early days, he was forced to ride up the freight elevator to the station because of his race, Winslow was later convinced by white record producer Cosimo Matassa to broadcast from his studio. Within one year, The "Doctor Daddy O" show was the top rated radio program in New Orleans and Winslow was one of the top ten DJs in the country. His program ran until the early 80's. I fondly recall listening to his radio show during Summer Vacation stays in The City (as the locals generally refer to "N'Awlins").

.

Anyway, his programs not only introduced us to the musical art forms of Blues, Zydeco and classical but more importantly, he introduced us to other art forms that were then unknown to us, like the visual art forms. These were rhetorical items he discussed in art classes he taught at Dillard University, in New Orleans, beginning in 1936. He inspired his listeners to visit museums and to check out both local artists and those in the publications of their local libraries. He was fond of saying "Don't forget, Dudes and Dudettes, people create art, art bears beauty, beauty inspires goodness, and goodness...well...it makes the world go 'round." I don't think that I'll ever forget that expression...

.

So, when I recently listened to the Subdudes' highlight song, Poor Man's Paradise, on their new release Street Symphony, a flood of memories came rushing back to me about this guy, who I haven't thought about in years!! Sadly, he passed away in 1993.

.

We will always remember you, Doctor Daddy-O...

Tour de Vin...Austin Style!!

Friends and acquaintances of mine know that right after college football (The SEC varietal, specifically) food and wine are my second most intense passion/interest/obsession....call it what you like. I suppose it goes back to the days of my teenage youth, working in Summers and holidays with my uncle, who was a chef at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans (which, BTW was established in 1840 and is the country's oldest family-run restaurant...that's another story onto itself).
.
AnyWho, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and Whole Foods Market partner up to host the fifth annual Tour de Vin on Thursday, October 4, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. on the pictureque rooftop plaza of Whole Foods Market at 6th Street and Lamar. Featuring wines and cuisine from around the world, a silent auction (always lots of fun!) and live music from Patricia Vonne, this unique tasting has become a treasured event for Austin wine and food lovers, over the years. I encourage everyone to check it out...

Bizarre Columbus Courthouse Ruling

Columbus, OH (AP) - A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that familyunity be maintained to the highest degree possible.

.
The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the University of Michigan Wolverines, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone!!

Cave Without A Name

Recently, my business travels brought me to lovely Boerne, TX, located on the Northwest side of San Antonio, just off of I-10. In the process, I ran across this really cool place. I mean, after all, its internal temperature is 66 degrees year around.

.

The cave has formations of Stalactites, Stalagmites, Soda Straws, Cave Drapery, really interesting Flowstones (that look like running liquid rock) and Rimstone. It also has a series of dams, after all, it is a subterranean "Pirated Stream Passage" for the Guadalupe River. (Would that be a Texas Pirated Stream Passage, I asked? Indeed, said the tour guide lady, indeed!!)

.

Check it out if you're in the area or are looking for something different to do. They even hold classical music concerts in the cave, performed by the horn or string section of the San Antonio philharmonic orchestra. See their website for details.

.

I suppose we can learn and experience new things everyday.

What-The-Dickens

As bizarre as this may seem, I actually enjoy select children's books. They help my creative side to revisit ideas that we, as jaded adults, take for granted. While vacationing recently (and consequently visiting relatives) dear Uncle Scooter was requisitioned to read this "new favorite book." So, I obliged and found it to be quite interesting.

.

Without giving away too much, it is a story about a newly hatched orphan creature who finds that he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity and a penchant for getting into trouble (this last part being something to which I surely could identify as a part of my youth, being the little rogue cretin that I was, according to Sister Mary Katherine and all her various and sundry nun teacher friends). Anyway, where was I before digressing...oh yeah, the orphan dude befriends Dinah, a skibbereen, and they find that the world is much stranger than they thought !! Who says that there are no such things as tooth fairies, anyway?

.

Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

.

What's more, I specifically recall books simply not being this cool, when I was a kid. No offense intended to Dr. Seuss fans or other, similar type authors. Anyway, I highly recommend it to both kids and used-to-be-kids alike !!