By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
Huey Lewis had a great line in response to the first time one of his albums reached number 1 on the charts. He said, “we're number 1? I thought we were better than that.” I know exactly what he meant by that. Last week, my brother Mike announced on Facebook that his album, “Enjoying the View”, hit one of the jazz radio charts at Number 78! I went to the site myself and noticed that the album also picked up 14 new stations for the same time frame. In that same post, he also mentioned that his “sister from another mister”, Maci Miller, is also on that chart and climbing fast. I still haven't had a chance to listen to Maci's album yet, but judging by the musicians she enlisted to play, I bet it's outstanding. Staying on the subject of Mike and his latest album, yesterday, he sent birthday wishes to Antonio McLendan. In case that name is not familiar to you, he provided both the vocal parts and vocal arrangement for “The View”, which is by far my favorite song on entire album. Happy birthday, Antonio. Back in my neck of the woods, in the land of podcasting, they also have tracking tools similar to those found on other areas of the media. Things like charts complete with rankings, trending, and the like. As I mentioned in previous episodes, the podcasting industry is booming. Statistics show that there are millions of podcasts published worldwide. According to ListenNotes, there were nearly 197,000 new podcasts released in 2018. The next year, that figure jumped to 316,000. 2020 brought more than 1,000,000 new podcast shows, a record number which more than tripled the previous year. In 2021 and 2022, the growth trend seemed to go down a bit, but the number of newly released episodes per year is still quite constant at around 28 million per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Numbers for 2023 are yet available, but it is safe to say that podcasting is here to stay! In fact, podcasting has become so popular that television and radio networks are creating their very own podcast series, hosted by their regular on-air talent. While I'm encouraged by the growth of this area of the media, and wish the big boys well, I don't go out of my way to listen the those shows. That's because I'm drawn to the smaller shows, with the smaller budgets. Those shows tend to have few or no sponsors. They are members of my tribe. According to Edison Research, more than 80 million people in the US are listening to podcasts on a weekly basis. You can only imagine the number on a global scale, as podcasting is really available everywhere. According to Spotify‘s statistics page, the current number 1 podcast in the world is “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. This information shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Spotify decided to acquire the Joe Rogan Experience show for about $200 million during 2020. While $200 million is nothing to sneeze at, you need to be aware of the fact that you have to give things up in order to reap the payday. For example, Rogan’s podcast had one of the most popular YouTube channels at the time, and once acquired by Spotify – it’s was available exclusively on Spotify. Other podcasts lost total creative control over their content. The sponsors became de facto editors. So, which podcasts do I listen to? It depends as much on my mood as it does the day of the week. Let's just say that my tastes run toward the eclectic. The one constant is that the show has to be available on YouTube. That makes it seem like I'm a hypocrite since my podcast is an audio—only show. But my evolved truth is that I think that my show is boring enough without subjecting you to having to watch me squirm and yell “cut” every thirty seconds. One show that I'm currently listening and watching is “Celebrity Underrated”, which is a biographical anthology show hosted by a gentleman who doesn't announce his name anytime during the episodes. There is a haunting synth pad that is playing underneath the narration, which raises the dramatic level through the roof. Celebrity Underrated chronicles the lives and deaths of entertainers, sports figures, world leaders, and others both famous and infamous. I recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of pop culture history, with a morbid slant. I'm also watching a video podcast titled “Holly Randall Unfiltered”. It's hosted by a woman who has been a photographer and director in the adult entertainment industry for over a quarter century. In fact, her parents taught her the business. Holly Randall Unfiltered is a podcast series that sheds light on those working in the adult industry, and explores all topics of sex with authors, educators, and advocates. Here you get to know your favorite adult stars and what REALLY happens behind the scenes! Full episodes are about one hour long, with anywhere from 5,000 and 250,000 views per episode. “The Sauce w/Kenzie Taylor”, is a podcast hosted by the award-winning adult performer and entrepreneur of the same name. The show recently changed its title to “The Sauce Podcast” with the addition of Kenzie's on-screen stepsister Sarah Taylor. According to its description, “The Sauce” has unfiltered conversations about topics that most might be shy to talk about. You can expect lots of laughter, exclusive interviews, relationship chats, Q&A sessions, trivia & more. Kenzie also believes that mental health is extremely important. She facilitates real discussions about addiction & recovery, aiming to create a safe space for those who may be struggling. Her show continues to create content that keeps her audience entertained, informed & inspired. The Sauce typically draws up to 10,000 views per episode on Kenzie's YouTube channel. The final adult-themed podcast I'm currently watching is “Cooking with Nathan” hosted by adult entertainer Nathan Bronson. In addition to Nathan being a highly sought-after performer, he is an accomplished chef and for good measure, a talented stunt man. On this show, Nathan invites adult film stars and other industry types into his kitchen where he cooks a wide range of delicious foods, with the guests serving as his sous chef. He also chats with them about their personal lives and experiences in the adult industry. This show is sponsored by the mysterious Judy. What I enjoy about these adult-themed podcasts is how they bring the human touch to their guests. I get to see just how smart, funny, and sensitive they are. I also learned that many of them made the conscious choice to enter that line of work, and are making plans for when they retire, if they so choose. Like Kenzie, Nathan draws up to 10,000 viewers per episode on his YouTube channel. I used to watch a sports-themed podcast titled “What Did I Miss” hosted by veteran sports broadcaster Michelle Beadle. Unfortunately, she stopped publishing episodes about a year ago. Beadle, who now calls games on TV for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, is eager to see her former ESPN colleagues land new gigs elsewhere that could let the talent “be themselves.” I just learned that she has a new show on the Amazon-owned Wondery podcast network. When I find it, I'll be sure to like, subscribe, and share it within my small universe of friends, family, and fans. Parting Shots There are other podcasts I occasionally consume in video format. I think I'll carve out space on this show to highlight a few of them in some upcoming episodes. They probably won't be the most popular ones with the largest audiences. But they will be shows that I find entertaining, educational, and thought-provoking. I'm always interested in learning more about people perceived to be living on the fringes of mainstream society. As much as I really enjoy the shows I just mentioned in this episode, they didn't make my list of top three favorites. They are, in no particular order, “I Have Things to Say w/Angel Snipes”, “ISO Peace & Healing w/Celia Boone”, and of course, “Much More to Say w/Ken Boone, Sr.” They are my favorites because they represent the passion and commitment of the shows' hosts. Celia and Angel threw everything they had into providing good content, expecting nothing in return. And after publishing nearly 100 episodes of my show, I still give it my all. And I'm not tired yet. And here's one thing that my brother Mike and I have in common. We are more than willing to compete with the Goliaths of the world, knowing full well that our success will not be measured in sales, airplays, or downloads. We know that if we do the best that we can, we are indeed winners. The other stuff will take care of itself in due time. Today's Quote “Numbers don't lie, but they also don't speak. It is up to us to interpret and understand their meaning.” Paul Lockhart – American Mathematician
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By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
It's that time of year again. It's time for my annual “State of the Ticker Address.” And I'm thrilled to say that the state of my ticker... is still really, really good! This month marks 4 years since the medical crisis that forever changed the way I approached my life. I'm happy to say that my heart function has returned to normal! My weight and blood pressure are at normal levels! I'm still eating healthy and faithfully taking my medications. However, there have been some significant changes to my medical status and condition since 2019. Dr. V is no longer my cardiologist. Not because of anything medical in nature. It was just that I changed insurance policies, and his group was not in my network. So, I switched to a practice that is affiliated with a rival hospital. I'll miss Dr. V, but there are dozens of excellent cardiogists in the Greater Charlotte area. Thank God my new ticker specialist, Dr. D, is one of them. In addition to Dr. D being a general care cardiologist, he also a heart surgeon, although I hope to never need that service. My first appointment with him was in February, 2023. It was such a smooth transition to him from Dr. V. All of my records were transferred in a timely fashion, and I was treated quite well. And the $25 co-pay wasn't a bad cherry on top. As I said many times on this podcast, although I was happy with the care I got from my former hospital and all of their affiliated private practices, I was a little annoyed with them being overly aggressive with their testing. Mainly because there was little regard to the hardship the testing placed on our finances. And since I'm retired and living on a fixed income, money is indeed an object! I was pleased when Dr. D decided not to change my medications. Neither did he order a bunch of tests. What he did was have me continue my diet and exercise regimen, plus add weight training to my routine. I can easily do that. Let me back up a bit. In December 2022, I was taken by ambulance to Atrium University City Hospital. That's the same place that treated my Congestive Heart Failure back in 2019. This time, I was admitted due to a Gastro-Intestinal bleed. Because of my prior heart diagnosis, they kept as close an eye on my cardiac health as they did my GI condition. In fact, I recall getting at least two EKGs while I was there. In fact, one of them was taken immediately after the procedures they performed to correct my “plumbing issues”. I said all of that to say that although other parts of my body were going haywire, my heart was in excellent shape. In fact, I was told that having a well-functioning heart would allow for a speeding recovery from my latest medical ordeal. They kept me in the hospital for a few days. To be honest with you, I lost count. I just knew that they could have sent me home with prescriptions and instructions. My hemoglobin was low, which was a cause for concern. But that's why iron pills were invented. And besides, the number was trending upward. So, after hours of bitching and moaning, they released me with prescriptions and instructions. And like a good patient, I did exactly what I was told. That included a restricted diet and no trips to work out at the fitness center. After about eight weeks, everything was back to normal, including my hemoglobin levels. Which brings me back to the state of my ticker. I had a follow up appointment with Dr. D last month. While medically speaking, things are great with me, I am a little concerned some of the administrative and financial aspects of my care. My last blood tests were performed in December 2022, when I was hospitalized for my GI bleed. It makes sense that Dr. D would like to have something a little more current on file. My creatinine levels were a little high but trending steady. Since high blood pressure is something I that I'm always dealing with, there was concern that I may have early-stage chronic kidney disease, which I do. So, a referral to a nephrologist (aka kidney doctor) was warranted. I was also encouraged to schedule a stress test and another EKG. Not to act like a know-it-all or sound ungrateful, I had to question the need to take those tests. I didn't have a heart attack. I strenuously ride a stationary bike at least three days per week and have been doing so for almost four years. If I had some kind of artery blockage, something would have happened during or after my workouts. Like passing while riding the bike. When I pressed him about the need for those tests, Dr. D said that he wanted to order them to basically check off the box in my file. He also reminded me that my previous cardiologist, Dr. V, also wanted to perform the stress test. But Dr. V said that he didn't think that there was any blockage, and that he wanted to check off the box. My problem with that is that they get to check off the box while I get the bill. And that's a problem in my book. You'll recall that I told you Celia's father was a very successful physician based in Asheville, NC. He made a fortune caring for his patients. Enough to send all seven of his kids to college, as well as donating a boat load of money to various causes in the church and community. But what was most impressive to me was that he always had the financial health of his patients top of mind. That means that he would never try to scare someone into taking an expensive test or buying an expensive device to someone who is already terrified. That's why I didn't buy the dye-spewing vest they tried to sell me four years ago. I'm not accusing Dr. D, or anyone associated with his medical group of trying to up-sell me. I'm just not prepared to go into debt in order for them to maintain pristine files. That's why I cancelled my stress test. I'm also considering postponing my EKG until the end of this year. I did keep my appointment with the nephrologist. He agreed that although my creatinine levels a touch elevated, they are trending steady, he took a sample and told me to come back and see him in three months to give another sample. All of that for a $25 co-pay! I still give credit for my recovery to Dr. V., my wife Celia, and Angel for noticing that I was looking pretty bad and had to get things checked out. I give a heaping dose of gratitude to Mike and Erica and their prayer group in Bucks County, PA. And let's not forget my friends in that 12-Step group who also helped me quit smoking! They helped in ways unimaginable! Thanks for the continued prayers. Parting Shots So, four years after my cardiac health scare, what is the state of my ticker? I'm still happy, still pretty damn healthy, still happily married, still a proud father and grandfather, and still enjoying retirement while pursuing my life's passions! I'm finally embracing my tendencies to advocate for others as being something of a good thing. This year, I'm focusing on the notion of paying it forward. That said, I'm starting by promoting the efforts of the trio of talented musicians who kept us entertained during the worst of the COVID pandemic. As you know, I refer to Mike Maci, and Larry as “The Philly 3”. I will still follow my doctor's orders, although I won't hesitate to question things that seem a little off. The last thing I need is to work hard to lower my blood pressure, only to have it spike once I get the bill! But I don't see my current health care providers using profit as their main motivator. Next month marks three milestones in my world of podcasting. October 16th is the fifth anniversary of me producing shows for the Descant MMG Podcast Network. On or about October 18th, I will publish my 100th episode of this podcast. And finally, October 27th is the third anniversary of my first full episode of this show. Had it not been for the spiritual and medical intervention I received in my time of need, who knows if I would have been around to celebrate any of those milestones. That's why I don't let a day go by without thanking all the people who helped me arrive here. Celia, Angel, Dr. V., Mike & Erica, and North Noon, and now Dr. D, it's your fault that I'm still here. And I still owe you BIG TIME! Today's Quote “Be careful when reading health books. You may die of a misprint!” Mark Twain – American Author
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
Muhammed Ali once said that “service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” If he's to be believed, I won't have to ever worry about getting evicted. I originally picked this topic for an April 15, 2019 essay that I posted on my old blog. I admit that I was full of anger at the time I wrote it. That's because my old resentments were resurfacing. That was also the beginning of my emotional and spiritual healing. My intent was to talk about how I was raised to be overly accommodating to others because anything less than complete deference by me was considered selfish. I was going to launch into an endless rant about how I was taught to let others get ahead of me in the line of life. I was supposed to be supportive of their climb up the ladder, with me sometimes being the ladder itself. More than a few times, the person in front of me pulled the ladder up behind them before I could start my climb, whether intentional or not. I can still hear my mother’s voice ringing in my ears. Her mantra was “It seems as though our family’s purpose in life is to be of service to others.” Those words were usually uttered right after she would brag on the accomplishments of the children of her friends. I didn’t just have to listen to her boasts, I was supposed to join the cheering section. And if I didn't cheer, I'd be considered a hater. Thank God I didn't write that essay. I reserved my emotional purging for my old podcast, “From Grievance to Gratitude”. So, I changed course and used that essay to forgive my mother for doing what she thought was the right thing. She was a new believer, and she was just trying to fit in to a new social order. That essay also served as a pivot point, with me beginning to practice accountability on a consistent basis. That was a painful process at the start, but the more I practiced it, the more progress I made. Now it's almost second nature for me to first take a look in the mirror before I react. A lot has changed since April 15, 2019. The most significant event that took place was my hospitalization in September of 2019 for Congestive Heart Failure. Being told that you will die if you don't make serious lifestyle changes would certainly put the fear of God in anyone. I did make the necessary changes, beat the odds, and now I'm in better physical and emotional shape than I've ever been! I've also learned the delicate dance of supporting others without losing track of what I want and need out of life. To that end, I modified my “doorman” job description to include both by way of this podcast as well as my blog and social media activities. Which brings me to my headfirst dive into supporting the efforts of my brother Mike and his friends, collectively referred to by me as “The Philly 3”. Facebook is a platform where people can reconnect with family, friends and associates from their past. It's also place where they can reinvent themselves. During the first wave of COVID, more than most social media platforms, Facebook was nothing short of a life line that kept us connected with each other. That's just in my humble opinion. While it may seem counterintuitive, it was in that imposed isolation that I learned to relish my solitude. I no longer felt the need to be “on” all the time. It was there that I didn't have to open myself up to perceived rejection and abandonment. I could keep to myself, and only respond with a like and/or share to a post that was of interest to me. Like everything to do with “The Philly 3”. As you recall from previous episodes and blog posts, “The Philly 3” are bassist and my older brother Mike Boone, vocalist Maci Miller, and guitarist Larry Tamanini. Reporting on their exploits will provide me with enough content to last at least a couple of years. I will also share videos of each of them performing live, apart and together. Recently, I've been quietly promoting the release of Mike's latest album titled “Enjoying the View”, and Maci's latest one titled “Nine”. Both albums have been met with favorable reviews, as well as being picked up by a number of jazz radio stations across the country. But today, I'd like to focus on Larry Tamanini. Although I've yet to meet him in person, he's fast becoming not only one of my favorite guitarists, but one of my favorite people, period. The following is from his biography: Larry Tamanini is an American jazz guitarist and composer. He is the leader of the Larry Tamanini Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His playing style incorporates elements of bebop and Contemporary Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Jazz Fusion. A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Larry is one of the premier jazz artists to emerge from Bucks County since bursting onto the scene in the late 1990s as a young protege of Pat Martino. Larry always knew he was meant to be a jazz guitarist. He is quoted as saying, “when I was 18, I came home from school and my dad said we were going to The Iridium to sit-in with Les Paul and that Pat Martino would be meeting us in NYC. I had been taking lessons with Pat and Dennis Sandole for about a year at that point. While feeling pretty nervous, I knew this is exactly why I picked up the guitar and I need to find a way to keep doing this my whole life.” Larry learned the music from countless hours of practice and going to jam sessions and performing. “I have to play constantly,” he says. “Otherwise, I worry I’m being lazy and that makes me anxious.” That impressive work ethic has led to Larry sharing the stage with Pat Martino, Joey DeFrancesco, Grover Washington Jr., Mickey Roker, Lenny White, Richie Cole, and Dr. Tyshawn Sorey, along with many other giants in Jazz. It was at Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus where Larry truly got his education in the language, history, and culture of the music. “You could walk into Ortlieb’s on any night and get a chance to play with drummer Mickey Roker, pianist Sid Simmons, bassist Mike Boone, and drummer Byron Landham.” These players helped shape Larry into the hard-swinging virtuoso that he has become. In 2012, Larry released “Lookin' Into It”, a classic organ drum trio album featuring George Laks on the Hammond B-3 and drum legend Byron Landham. In 2019, he followed up that album with “Front and Center”, which featured the Hazelrigg Brothers and John O'Reilly, Jr. Also worth noting is that, in addition to his duties as bandleader, Larry composed six of the album's tracks. Larry still maintains a busy schedule of playing, recording, and guitar instructions. In fact, this month he will be appearing as a featured artist at the Rocky Mountain Archtop Jazz Guitar Festival in Arvada, CO. While there, he will also present a workshop titled “Blues, Bop, and Beyond”. To learn more about Larry Tamanini, please visit his website by clicking or tapping HERE. Parting Shots I posted a link below to a short YouTube video of The Larry Tamini Group playing at Maxwell's on Main in the heart of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The socially-distanced outdoor set took place on September 15, 2020, during the COVID pantemic. This was just one of many instances Larry shared his musical gifts with us back when the outcome of all of this was in doubt. To view the clip, just go to the “Show Notes” for this episode, which can be found on my website. Over 25 years ago, I set out to produce a documentary about the vibrant jazz scene in Philadelphia. While the project got off to a great start, it quickly fizzled out. I always vowed to revisit that subject someday, but not necessarily in a video format. In the coming weeks, I'll devote more airtime to that scene and the people who keep churning out great music and vibes. Stay tuned for more details. I used to resent always singing the praises of others, because I wanted to receive my fair share of props. These days, I'm perfectly content to lurk in the shadows and give shout outs to deserving people. If that means I'm still something of a doorman, so be it. But now, my new gig is to open doors at the classiest establishments. Just don't call me a doormat and we'll get along just fine. Today's Quote “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
My brother, Mike, will be dropping his eighth jazz album this week. I'm going to do what I can to promote it. But first, let me take you back to a time when we didn't think something as ambitious as recording an album was even possible. Back in 2020, when the first strain of COVID effectively shut everything down, bassist Mike Boone, aka my older brother graciously agreed to be interviewed for the first episode of my podcast, “Freelancer Survival Stories”. At the time, his income streams were effectively cut off. Income from teaching, live performances, and recording sessions suddenly disappeared. But that didn't dampen his spirit, as you can tell from the tone of the interview you're about to hear. Please forgive the poor audio quality, as I was working out the kinks in Zoom: Parting Shots As I mentioned earlier, Mike will be releasing his eighth album, “Enjoying the View”, this week. I just finished listening to the entire album and in my humble opinion, it is fantastic! His gigging schedule is at least as active as it was pre-COVID. If you don't believe me, just do a search on Google, and be blown away by the number of YouTube videos out there of him playing. For all of his obvious talents, self-promotion is not one of them. He doesn't use his website for that purpose. However, he is active on Facebook, and his music is available on Spotify. I'll find out where you can purchase a CD. I may have a partial solution for his distribution, but that will require more research on my part. You can learn more about Mike by visiting his website HERE: Today's Quote “A positive attitude may not solve all our problems, but that is the only option we have if we want to get out of problems.” Subodh Gupta – Indian Contemporary Artist |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
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