Musical Notes

Ephemeral effluent oozes from the temporal lobe of my cerebral cortex. Over the years, sensory neurons formed a continuum of long-term potentiation. Neurological pedantry aside, the ensuing exudation elucidates some music trivia.

Most people know Richard Wagner's iconic "Ride of the Valkyries" from the operatic cycle, Der Rings Des Nibelungen. Fewer know the song, "Here Comes the Bride", is the "Bridal Chorus" from his opera, Lohengrin.

Many theories exist about the etymology of the word jazz. The word came from the jasmine perfume worn by working girls in New Orleans' brothels, from the French word for chatter, jazer, from the African/Creole, jaz, meaning to speed-up, from the J.S., one of the first riverboats to feature jazz.

According to the generally accepted theory, jazz was borrowed from baseball. In the early 20th century, sportswriters used the term to express vim or vigor. The hitter had some jazz on his bat; the pitcher's fast ball showed some extra jazz. That origin is compelling as baseball and jazz are two uniquely American institutions.

High school pals, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, formed 60's pop group, The Turtles. After that band broke up, they joined Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Contractual restrictions not only forbade them from using their former band's name, but from using their actual names. Enter the Phlorescent Leech (Howard Kaylan, later shortened to Flo) and Eddie (Mark Volman).

In addition to working with Zappa, Flo & Eddie lent their harmonies to performers as divergent as T Rex, David Cassidy and the Ramones. They also created the music for the children cartoons Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears.

Pedal steel guitar player, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, anchored the sound of seminal country rock band, The Flying Burrito Brothers. He played with the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell and countless others. Kleinow was also a special effects artist. Specializing in stop motion animation he lent his talents to TV shows like Gumby, The Outer Limits and David & Goliath. His motion picture work included The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao starring Tony Randall.

Hopefully the release of this data will prevent the information in my gray matter from reaching critical mass. as ever - BB

"I've got the brain of a four year old. I'll bet he was glad to be rid of it." - Groucho Marx