Here are a few of my original compositions.
Emanuela De Paula is one of the Victoria Secret Models, one of the Victoria Secret "Angels" and my friend. Years ago, when "Kendra" was a small child, when the Victoria Secret brand co-opted the "angel motif" truth is I was offended. At this point in life I don't know why I should have been. After all, the "bodiless powers" are depicted in secular literature in myriad ways. So it is not especially evil to depict them as exceptionally beautiful human females? Yes, it blurs the image of something sacred, like Santa Claus blurs the image of the real Saint Nicholas. Then here precious little "Kendra" newly formed into "Emanuela De Paula" became one of the angels, and a father's heart melted. Seeing little Kendra turn into Emanuela I immediately heard Arturo Sandoval playing in the streets of Havana and heard this music. I know Sandavol never actually played in the streets of Havana - but in my mind here is what it sounded like.
A little girl approached me one night at The Depot and asked if I could play Fair Elise by Beethoven. I had played it when I was a kid. I told her. "I will find the piece and play it for you next time you come for dinner." Elise Fantasia was the result. All these photographs are original and taken by yours truly and have deep meaning for me.
Cloudland Canyon, one of Georgia's best kept secrets. So beautiful. I was painting on the canyon rim when I composed this piece in my mind. Then was the task of finding it on the keyboard and learning to play it.
This little blues piece celebrates The Depot. I think my sister Sandy is a little bit of an angel. One day I said that if I could chose my life, I would chose to be a 19th century salon pianist or a pianist in a brothel or New Orleans tavern. I did a short gig at the tavern, John Lafette's Blacksmith Shop Bar in New Orleans I really enjoyed it. Next thing I know I'm playing piano at the Depot and folks are enjoying it. I'm such a solitary person, without Sandy's push, I would have never played for anyone but myself.
So you can know the context. In the first photo that is me on the left. In the second is my hero sister, Linda York on the left and me on the right. Included on this vid is the very first painting I did. 1969. Also include is my first grand daughter's first steps.
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I was scheduled to record several songs and the night before I had a stroke, losing feeling and partial use of my left hand. That night I awoke, defiant - determined not to allow the death I felt in my left hand to define me. At two
AM this sound came to me. At two PM I recorded it. Forgive me for the technical quality of all my recordings. I don't have patience to learn "recording," but I love composing. Following this recording over the months I recorded about fifty songs. In the process I broke my little finger on my left hand, and didn't know it was broken for months, until one day I glanced down as I was playing and thought, "my finger should not look like that." Since I could not feel my finger, the pain I was having was above my elbow. I never associated that pain with my finger. The good news is my left hand is 90% back and the abused bone is gaining strength every month.
Dedicated to my Bishop, Archbishop Alexander (Bykowetz) The Autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in the U.S. A.
Well, The Depot was lots of fun. It really was.
My political comment vis a vis Muslim.
Well, what can I say. Take a look at my "muse" in this video and ask me if I could have written anything else?
In central Italy is a beauty the world does not know. The Pescara River is not famous. It is just beautiful with it many, many huge springs creating this river.
Cousin J Russell Robinson was a ragtime composer and pianist semi-famous in the early 20th century. What a talent he was! His music inspired this composition of mine. Cousin, hope I get to meet you in the hereafter.
In the seventies the Council On Foreign Relations recruited me. I spent a decade in conversation with trenchcoats, traitors, heros and spies.
I was sleeping late and my wife Linda called me and said, "Have you heard about the plane that hit the world trade center? Immediately, that split second I KNEW what it was. I brewed a pot of coffee and turned on the T.V. Shortly the second plane hit the tower. I dropped to my knees saying, "Well, there it is." I had known for two decades it was on the way. I could not understand why the U.S. government ignored the threat. Why did they ignore the treat? The record clearly shows Clinton and Bush ignored it, until it was too late? Why? I composed this on the afternoon of 9/11 - wrote the main theme as an "hours chant".
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