This summer, I’ve forgone an extended vacation away from NYC in favor of taking Fridays off from my day job, and the shortened work week / extended weekend has added immeasurable value to my life. I highly recommended it.
As tempting as it is to just stay inside with the AC blasting and stare at my iMac all day, I make sure to plan a little urban adventure each Friday so I can get outside and enjoy the lovely sun and hot hot heat. Because if you are lucky enough to live in NYC, you owe it to yourself and your surroundings to cultivate an Explorer Mentality! Continue reading Hogs & Heifers, A Legendary Meatpacking District Fixture, to Close on August 23rd!→
Fourteen time Grammy winning record producer Phil Ramone passed away in New York today, March 30th, 2013. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Ramone was 72 years old (though I have seen two sources cite his age as 79, not sure where that is coming from as his year of birth is given as 1941). A brief list of artists Ramone worked with includes Burt Bacharach, Bono, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder. CNN has more information and celebrity remembrances in a nice obit at This Link. RIP, Phil!
TV and Music Industry Legend Dick Clark has passed away today, April 18, 2012, at the age of 82 after suffering a massive heart attack. He had a good, long life. For about the first 70 years of his life, say up until he had that devastating stroke in 2004, Dick Clark looked just as he did in the photo above. He was like a modern-day Dorian Gray, staying forever young while an oil painting of his likeness aged in an attic somewhere. Tell me I’m not right about that. The man just never aged. RIP Dick Clark. I wish I knew your secret to eternal youth.
Dr. James Marshall, who revolutionized the music industry as the founder of Marshall Amplification, has passed away on April 5th, 2012 at the age of 88. Fondly referred to as the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock,’ a nice remembrance of Jim’s life and achievements in music can be found at This Link.
Guitarist Slash, who had a long professional relationship as well as personal friendship with Marshall offered this statement:
“I consider myself very fortunate to have known the late Jim Marshall. He was such a fantastic individual. Not only did he create the loudest, most effective, brilliant-sounding Rock & Roll amplifier ever designed, but he was a caring, hardworking family man who remained true to his integrity to the very end. His work ethic was unequaled and his passion unrivaled. He took great care of me personally, as one of his loyal fans and Marshall Amp enthusiasts, ever since we first met in the early 90’s. At that time, he did the unprecedented; he had the first-ever Artist Model Marshall series designed for me when my Marshall amps were destroyed in a Guns N Roses concert riot in St. Louis in 1991. We had been friends ever since.
Jim cared for all his customers like they were his family. He would do whatever it took to make sure an artist was completely satisfied and he made sure his staff did likewise. It was very important to him that Marshall quality and customer care was paramount. Jim’s passing marks the end of a very loud and colorful era. From Pete Townshend to Kerry King, Marshall Amplifiers have been behind every great Rock & Roll guitarist since the beginning. Marshall Amplification is one of the most enduring, iconic brands of contemporary music history. This industry will likely never see the likes of Jim again. But his legacy will live on forever.”
