This isn’t Peoria-related. It’s just something I found interesting, and felt like sharing.

Did you know there’s been a “war” going on in recorded music ever since jukeboxes came on the scene, and escalating with the advent of compact discs and digital recording technology? It’s called the “loudness war,” and it has to [...]

I was watching a YouTube clip of some old TV show host interviewing the late actor Peter Sellers. The host brought up that Sellers started out as a drummer in a band, and asked why he didn’t stick with music as a career. Sellers’ answer was that life on the road as a musician [...]

Yep, that’s me on the left of this banner from over five years ago. The band started in 1998 with Brian Carroll singing lead, Mike Mercer on lead guitar, Matt Tomlianovich on bass, Doug Rendleman on drums, and me on the keyboard. Tonight, you’ll get to see that original lineup again, plus our [...]

I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but I’m starting to see more and more positive articles about the return of vinyl records. NPR gave their spin on it last April. Wired Magazine waxed eloquent about its resurgence last October. Amazon.com has banded together all its vinyl product into one section of its [...]

Anyone who knows me well knows that my favorite singer/songwriter is Keith Green. Most of you have probably never heard of him. My uncle got me started listening to his music when I was in my pre-teen years. I borrowed his albums (yeah, for you youngsters out there, we used to listen to music on these round vinyl things with grooves in them called “albums”) for some time. It wasn’t until my twelfth birthday that I first got my very own Keith Green album (“No Compromise“).

The next day, July 28, 1982, Keith Green died in a plane crash in Texas. He was 28.

Since this is the 25th anniversary of that fateful day, I thought I’d post a little video biography of Keith that’s out on YouTube for anyone who would like to learn a little more about him. It’s a pretty interesting story, actually, even if you’re not into Christian music.

Update (7/30): The Associated Press reported over the weekend: “EMI/Sparrow Records is painstakingly going through recordings saved by [Keith's] wife, Melody. An iTunes release with music never before heard by the public is planned for August. More material will be released next year, said Bryan Ward, director of artist development with EMI Christian Music Group.” This is great news for Keith Green fans!

Continue reading My favorite music artist died 25 years ago today

I’m looking forward to the concert tonight. Anyone else planning to go? Here’s a clip from YouTube of Alison, Union Station, and child prodigy Sierra Hull playing “Cluck Old Hen”: