Remembering Shirley Temple

When I was young, Shirley Temple movies were shown on TV quite often. I loved her movies which were always entertaining and uplifting. One of my favorite of her films was with her friend Bill Robinson who was a fabulous dancer himself. He appeared as a dancing butler in movies with young Shirley Temple.

Click the photo if you would like to purchase Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 3 (Dimples / The Little Colonel / The Littlest Rebel) (1936) 

In this video Bill "Bojangles" Robinson dances the stairs with a young Shirley Temple
From "The Little Colonel" (1935)

To watch Shirley Temple movies on Amazon click here: 
Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple Americas Little Darling

Click Here to read more about Shirley Temple famed former child actress.
Click Here  to learn more about Robinson and the song that was written about him.

 

The Day the Music Died

"The Day the Music Died", dubbed so by Don McLean's song "American Pie" refers to the tragic aviation accident that occurred on February 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing rock and roll musicians 22 year old Buddy Holly (Peggy Sue), 17 year old Ritchie Valens (La Bamba), J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson (Chantilly Lace), and the pilot Roger Peterson.

Singer Don McLean memorialized Holly, Valens and Richardson in the 1972 No. 1 hit “American Pie,”

Ironically, Holly, who influenced such artists as Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, and his band, the Crickets, had just scored a No. 1 hit with “That’ll Be the Day,” and his last single was  "It Doesn't Matter Anymore."

"...with each passing decade, the myth of Buddy Holly has grown by substantial degrees." ~Claire Suddath, Time

Buddy Holly's career only lasted a year and a half with only one number one single, yet his influence on early rock 'n' roll is almost unmatched.

"Both John Lennon and George Harrison learned to play guitar in part by listening to Buddy Holly records. The first Rolling Stones' single released in the U.S. was cover of Holly's "Not Fade Away." ~Claire Suddath, Time

Buddy Holly and The Crickets - Peggy Sue - Live on The Arthur Murray Party (29th December, 1957)

Read More
Time: A Brief History of The Day the Music Died
This Day in History 

Edited 2/3/16

Bowie & Elvis Share The Same Birthday

Bowie and Elvis share January 8 as a birthday, both Capricorn according to western astrology. They, also, are both born in the Year of the Pig in Chinese Astrology.

Chinese Astrology Years of the Pig
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

David Bowie (born David Robert Jones January 8, 1947)



Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977)

According to the popular Chinese myth the animal ruling the year in which a person is born tremendously influences his or her behavior and traits.

Pig people are said to possess considerable determination and if they set their minds on something will pursue it and attain it. Good careers for people born in the year of the pig are in music, food, writing, and looking after others.

They are often imbued with the energy of wealth and the support of others. The person born in the Year of the Pig accepts the existing richness of life.

They are said to be tolerant, generous, and peaceful. They are well liked for their honesty and warm nature, which was true of Elvis and I think it is true of Bowie.

Are you a fan of one or both of these men? Do you think these attributes fit them?

Want to read more about Elvis? Check out Elvis The Martial Artist

Come Little Children - Hocus Pocus

In the fall some people start thinking of celebrating the traditions of Hallowe'en or "All Hollows Eve". 

There are a few movies that come to mind. Hocus Pocus is one of them. 

Here is a video to celebrate the season. 



Fantasies Ghost "The song 'Come Little Children' from Hocus Pocus was created using the first verse of the Poem 'Come Little Children' by Edgar Allen Poe."
 

~*Lyrics*~

Come little children,
I'll take thee away,
into a land of Enchantment.

Come little children,
The time's come to play,
Here in my garden of Shadows.

Song/Poem: Come Little Children
Poet: Edgar Allen Poe
Cover Artist: Kate Covington (katethegreat19)

Celebrate National Senior Health & Fitness Day

tai chi man by Hren Design

Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day. The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. 

Here's a tip! Try singing and chanting for your health!

Singing, laughing and chanting make the sternum (the breast bone) vibrate which stimulates the immune system as the oscillations boost the Thymus, a small gland in the chest behind the sternum which controls the production of the body’s key defense cells called T lymphocytes. When you sing or shout, pray or chant, or listen to music, whether it be recorded or played live by many musicians, the Thymus is stimulated.

Unfortunately, the thymus becomes smaller and smaller with age and almost disappears in old age. Some researchers believe that different infections and cancers in old people are closely linked to the decline in T lymphocyte production. So stimulating the thymus in some way either through laughing, chanting or singing can be helpful in maintaining or improving health as we age.

Vibrations in the throat also stimulate the thyroid, the gland which produces hormones that regulate metabolism which affects the body’s energy consumption and body weight.

Read more about the Thymus, health and sound at my Cultivating Balance Blog

So now you know! The Fountain of Youth was inside YOU all the time. Keep laughing and singing for a long and healthy life!

Here's a video that will keep you seniors singing! Remember this?

The Song That Never Ends

What are you doing to stay young and healthy? Please leave a comment.

I use Anti-Aging products from NuSkin. Want to see a more youthful you? NuSkin is committed to helping you achieve the best version of you. - click here

Learn more about them here: 
Learn more about Chanting  

Check out these links for Health and Fitness   

Green Tea for Health   

Qigong For Health  

Staying Young With Okinawan Longevity

Read more about National Senior Health & Fitness Day Click Here

edited 5/22/16

Memorial Day Lantern Floating in Hawaii

Lantern floating is an Asian spiritual tradition that beautifully symbolizes the wish for all beings to live in peaceful coexistence....in remembrance of loved ones, or as symbolic prayer for a harmonious future...40,000+ residents and visitors who cast afloat lanterns...hope that Lantern Floating Hawai`i brings you a sense of peace and warm remembrance of your departed loved ones.

The following video is part of the 2010 ceremony featuring Keola Beamer and R. Carlos Nakai.

Lantern Floating Hawaii in 2010 

at Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu, HI

 

The following video is a brief history of the journey of lantern floating ceremony to Hawaii.

Break Out The Bagpipes And Drums!

It's National Tartan Day! How do you celebrate? It's important to celebrate one's cultural heritage. In the United States and Canada, people with Scottish heritage celebrate the legacy of our shared heritage every year during March and April--Tartan Week! Tartan Day Read More...

And for some great Scottish Music check out Arvel Bird, Celtic Fusion Recording  Artist

Happy 68th Birthday, John Lennon

"The time has come,"
The Walrus said,
"To talk of many things . . ."
-- Lewis Carroll

Today we are celebrating John Lennon's 68th birthday. Grab a cup of tea and visit my webpage dedicated to John and his music. I think you will enjoy it.

Click the blue link to join the celebration of
John Lennon Lives Forever!