Valerie's father, Mr. Tom Stapleton, went to school with Nelson Riddle. Riddle has written or arranged music for records, film, television and public performance. His work contributed to the success of the best performers in the United States including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole and Linda Ronstadt. He also played trombone in Tommy Dorsey's band. They corresponded throughout their lives and Valerie ended up with a letter Riddle had written to Tom in college. The letter is a facinating account of Nelson's time in college, taking classes, playing in three bands and his desire to arrange. Nelson Riddle is one of the most renown composer and arranger in popular music history.
We went to the University of Arizona where Valerie donated the letter to the University of Arizona Nelson Riddle Collection.



Above, Keith Pawlik, music archivist at UofA accepts the letter and Valerie inspects Riddle's Academy Award for Best Adapted Music Score.

Think about the songs "Magic Bus" by the Who, "I Want Candy" by the Strangeloves, "Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly, "Willie and the Hand Jive" by Johnny Otis, "Screwdriver" by the White Stripes, and "Desire" by U2. The distinctive beat is attributed to Elias Otha Bates otherwise known as Elias McDaniel also known as Bo Diddley. Bo Diddley died last night, June 2.

As aspiring musicians, like those listed above, many people picked up a guitar or drumsticks and struck a beat later referred to as the Bo Diddley beat. As a prolific blues musician, Bo Diddley caught the attention of popular musicians who incorporated his catchy "shave and a haircut" rhythm. The rhythm is a ...One and two and three and four and one and two and three and four and... beat that you hear often in blues and popular music. Bo Diddley also popularized reverb, distortion, and tremelo to accompany his signature hambone beat.

Additionally, many of Bo Diddley's songs were successfully covered by others in the UK and America. George Thorogood, The Clash, The Animals, Quicksilver Messinger Service, Jesus & Mary Chain, The Yardbirds, Kinks and Rolling Stones, The Who and many, many others benefited from his simple straight-forward song writing style.

He was a Golden Glove boxer, banned from the Ed Sullivan Show, had his own guitar style and his beat will live on.

A few weeks ago me, Cyd Manning and Mike Haasis went to the studio to record a set of songs for Mike.



It was a blast returning to Orangewood Studios again with our buddy Mike Coleman at the board.

What a lovely evening at the May 13th Pink Martini outdoor concert at Scottsdale Center for the Arts Ampitheatre. We shared the night with our friends and neighbors Roy and Wendy.



The band with their international flavor was awesome and China Forbes' voice filled the night air with strong and sweet sounds. My favorite moment was when the band played Sympathique.

We are all BIG Pink Martini fans. When Roy and Wendy moved to our neighborhood we had them over to our house at a welcoming party. When he heard Pink Martini on our outside speakers he knew he was in the right place. Roy first heard P.M. on a CD ostensibly forgotten in a rental car in the northwest. I heard them on NPR and immediately went to their web site and bought the CD there.

While in NYC recently I had a chance to drop in for a couple of sets of the Steve Kuhn Trio featuring Ron Carter on bass and Al Foster on drums at Birdland. Mr. Kuhn is an awesome player with quite a history as are his fellow musicians.



Besides playing world-class jazz, these are the nicest guys to meet and talk with. I was honored to have a photo taken with probably the best bass player alive, Mr. Ron Carter. Also, Mr. Al Foster delighted me and a couple of French tourists with stories of when he played with the greats including Miles and Herbie.

On another (bass) note, read the article from Bass Player magazine about the historic "Bass of Doom". Jaco Pastorius' long lost fretless '62 Jazz Bass appeared recently in NYC.