the king of rock n roll coming to north park
TRANSCRIPT
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7/28/2019 The King of Rock N Roll Coming to North Park
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From our front yard we can
and have watched the Dayton
Air Show for a quarter century
now. Thats the same air show
that was a mere shadow of
itself with sequestration forc-
ingall military exhibits to bow
out this year. It was exception-
ally sad this time around with
thedeaths of wing walker Jane
Wicker and her pilot during a
crash in the third performance
of the air showon Saturday.
This column isnt about the
air show however. The death
of the way-too-young-to-die
mother of two was merely one
of several events that came to
mind posing a real question
about living life to its fullest.
At about the same timeas
thecrash I watched an inter-
view with Nik Wallenda who
just walked across the GrandCanyon on a tightrope from an
elevation higher than the
Empire State Building. As
those two individuals had my
mind occupied I thought about
Dale Earnhardt who lost his
life before he reached the age
of 50 racing around a track.
ThenI saw a rerun ofa story
about the guys who put on
skin tight bird outfits and fly
down the face of huge cliffs
around the world for thethrill
of it.
Of course Nik Wallenda and
thebird men arestill among
theliving. But the simple
question that came to mind
with theseand so many others;
why?
When someone dies too
young from performing their
chosen stunt Ill so often hear
At least they went doing what
they loved.And my response
to thatis to ask what good
thats doing them or any of
their friends or family.
Please understand I am not
criticizing any of the individu-
alsIve named. I quitesimply
dont get it. Imwell aware we
could get hit bya car walking
across thestreet tonight. Iknow there are no guarantees
in life. But I cant wrap myself
around pushing the envelope
to 110 percent over and over
again. Its testing fate; and fate
often wins.
While theyre doing what
thrills them at 110 percent I
am quitecontent doing 70 per-
cent but realizing the thrills
Im enjoying are not likely to
cut my lifeshort. I lovethis
life and weonly get one shot
at it. I want to squeeze every
secondout of it I can.Andmy
guess is,if you askthe friends
and family of those who died
doingwhat they loved so
much if theyd rather have
them keep performing or still
have them around, their
response would be have them
around. I may be way off on
that prediction.
It was a sad weekendfor the
aviation world and for the
family of Jane Wicker and we
are praying. Again, this was
not a criticism ofJane orany
other entertainer who thrills
their audiences. Its an effort
for me to understand the
potential trade-off; and
whether those choices are ulti-
mately worth it.
Mike Scinto is a 37 year
veteran talk show host serving
locally, statewide and nation-
ally behind the microphone.
For the past dozen years he
has authored this award-win-
ning column.You may have
also seen him offering his
unique insights of Fox News
Channel. Friend Mike at
www.facebook.com/mikescinto
show or visit mikescinto-
columns.blogspot.com
4 Thursday, July 4, 2013 Springboro Sun
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The King of
Rock N Rollcoming toNorth Park
Se lected as T he Worlds
Number One Rock and Roll
Elvis, Kavan will be at North
Park next Tuesday, July 9. The
show starts at 7 p.m.
Please be early for this event,bring a lawn chair, blanket, pic-
nic basket, refreshments andget
ready to hear Elvis l ike it was
1956. Space will be limited to
about 2,000.
Kavan will be backed up by
the Columbus Horns, an out-
standing instrumental and vocal
ensemble.
This is a free concert sponsored by the city of Springboro.
Kavan hasbeen an Elvis fanhis entire life andbegan perform-
ing on stage at age three. He was chosen among all the current
American ETAs (Elvis tribute artists) for a 2007 BBC television
special on ETAs that was filmed in London, England. It was here
that Kavan won the honor of The Worlds Number One Rock
and Roll Elvis.
TheColumbus HornBand will also bring back those wonder-
ful sounds from the 60s and 70s with their cover renditions of
groups like The Blues Brothers, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, KC
and the Sunshine Band and others.
This is oneconcert you cant miss whether youre seven or 70.
Therell be lots of room on the dance floor in front of the band
shell, so wear your dancing shoes.The Rotary Club refreshment
stand opens at 6:30 p.m. with soft drinks, popcorn, candy and
much more.All proceeds benefit children in need.The band will
take a 15-minute break around 8 p.m. and conclude their show
before 9:30.
Hey, pretty lady, you might be able to get your picture taken
withElvis and Facebook it acrossAmerica. Dont miss thisonce
in a lifetime event, bring all your friends and get ready to Elvis-
ize your Tuesday night. Ill be your emcee again and look for-
ward to seeing you and Elvis.
A first. The other afternoon I saw a teenage girl drive by that
was not talking or texting on her phone while driving. I was so
impressed I wanted to send her a text about how much I appre-
ciated her not texting or talking while driving but I didn't know
her number so I just stayed put and read Facebook for 15 or 20minutes. Some of those people on Facebook are crazy arent
they? (my friends) I then checked "Linked In" for messages
(about 20 minutes) and read 38 emails, returned several phone
calls and then checked the local news (wow, 26 minutes worth)
started the car and put it in the garage. Another long day at the
office.
I was over at the MVCC Studios doing the final edit approval
of the 45066TV show for July/August that started airing earlier
this week when I realized I left home without my cell phone. I
didnt feel safe. I was frightened to make the long drive home,
about 10 miles,without it. For some dumb reasonthis past week,
I started putting my cell phone on myleftwhenIm on the com-
puter instead of the right and have left it on the left three or four
times. Im Wright handed, always Merge-ing Wright.
The TVcrew wishedme a safe journey and told me to call in
when I got home safely. LOL.Thenthey asked me, How many
times have you pickedup your cell phone thinking its the mouse
and when you tryto click on it you realize its your phone. Ohhabout three or 11 times I think. It was just one of those days.
One final note before I see you at the concertTuesday night.
Have you picked out your Halloween costume yet? Some places
are jumping on the bandwagon right now. Imthinking Man of
Steel or Lone Ranger but want to wait and see what else pops
up in the next few weeks. Lucys already told me, No way am I
going as Tonto. Get that straight, Mr. Lone Ranger. Shes think-
ing Lois Lane. I can readher likea book.
Merge Wright ia available 24/7 at: [email protected].
MERGE WRIGHT
B
y Don Wright
Times
Columnist
David C. Webb (L) and comedian Sinbad (R) after his concert in Columbus discussing the proposed Funk Hall.
Time for Dayton to claim itsspot as the Birthplace of Funk
Cleveland may have the Rock n Roll
Hall of Fame, but Dayton could
soon have its major musical claim
to fame celebrated and recognized.
In addition to home of The Wright
Brothers, poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, cash
register and self starter for the automobile, a
group of folks want the world to know
where the birthplace of Funk, the Dayton
Sound if you will, came from.David Webb is the CEO of the Dayton
Funk Dynasty Group. Webb, alongside
Lakesides legendary Funk artist, Thomas
Shelby, made the official announcement that
Dayton will be the permanent home of the
Funk Hall of Fame and Museum.
He says the time is now to claim whats
rightfully ours, that Dayton, Ohio, is the
Funk capital of the world.
It all started in 1965 at Roosevelt and
Dunbar high schools right here. The initial
sound can be attributed to James Brown and
some of the first groups were The
Morrocos, London Fog and the
Continentals, Webb says.
From there, trailblazers such as The Ohio
Players, Lakeside, Roger Troutman & The
Human Body, (later known as Zapp) Faze-O, Slave, Sun, Dayton and Aurra (Deja) all
came from here and perfected what James
Brown began.
Somewhere along the way, Dayton lost its
foothold as Funkytown USA, but David
says this music style is just as important as a
couple of brothers taking to the skies.
The Wright Brothers are recognized as
innovators of flight, just as the groups men-
tioned earlier were the innovators of funk.
Not that we were the first, its that we took a
sound and expounded on it and made it our
own. Just as Motown and Philly have that
recognizable sound, so does Dayton, David
says.
So, what in the funk are we waiting
for?
We have been asking ourselves the verysame question. The bottom line is it takes
money. There have been ideas in the past,
but no one had the initiative, or strong
enough desire, to actually take on the
responsibility to make it happen until now.
Most of us are in the twilight of our careers
and we need to make sure that Funk music
stays relevant, especially since Funk music
is still being sampled 50 years later, Webb
says.
David says plans are currently in the
works.
We want to create a tribute to Funk
music as most other genres have (rock and
roll, country, jazz, etc.). Collectively, we
thought it was time for Funk music to have
its own place in the annals of time. It is
important that we create a space and envi-
ronment where people can come see, hear
and feel what it means to be Funked Up!By creating the Funk Hall of Fame, we
can ensure Funk music is recognized and
appreciated 300 years from now. Bach and
Beethovens music was preserved, and Funk
artists contributed to that same music time-
line and their art deserves to be respected as
well, he says.
Right now the biggest hurdle is money,
but like the difference in size of an LP
record as opposed to a 45, (really dating
myself here) there is a short-term goal.
We want to bring awareness to the music
and share the history. The long-term goal is
to construct a building to house memorabil-
ia. We want to display any and everything
from the Mothership, to Bootsies boots,
Rogers guitars, Lakesides pirate costumes,
and Sugarfoots double neck guitar, Webbsays.
David says hes a like an 8-track tape
(again Im dating myself, for those that dont
remember, an 8-track was a tape cartridge
that played over and over) that plays one
song and the lyrics are the same - that
Dayton and the Funk Hall Of Fame will
make beautiful music together again.
Demographically, all these groups came
from this area; the tri-angle of Funk, Indy-
Cincy-Dayton. Looking back, one could
breach the argument that Dayton produced
more groups to the phenomenon Funk
music. Just as Dayton is considered the
birthplace of flight, so to should it be con-
sidered the birthplace of Funk, David says.
And eventually the Hall would, not could,be an economic driver for the region, which
will have us all singing in unison.
We want everyone to walk away know-
ing the people and groups who made Funk
music and to understand the historical aspect
of the music. Our goal is to educate, as
much as possible, on another truly unique
American art form, he says.
Thats right David, Dayton, Ohio: The
Funkiest Place on Earth. Its time to get our
groove on.
MORE BUCH BANTERINGS
The Funk Hall Of Fame Museum is just
phase 1 of the project. Additional Funk
Entertainment Epicenter plans include:
The Groove Line Restaurant (a funk
infused and inspired restaurant) Funky Walk of Stars (a beautification
project in downtown Dayton which will pay
tribute to Funk Artists and any significant
contributors to Funk Music)
The Legends of Funk Tour (a world
class tour of legendary Funk Bands all in
one show)
Dayton Fly Records ( a record label
developing and producing the new Funk)
School of Music and Performing Arts
(with emphasis on Funk music with Funk
artists as mentors and instructors)
On the One The Funk Chronicles (a
music magazine)
An annual Funk Awards Ceremony (a
red carpet event)
A Funk Music documentary will be
filmed throughout the process with in-depthinterviews from the legendary Funk artists
and contributors of Funk music.
To contribute, a Funk Hall of Fame
account has been set up. You can donate at
any US Bank branch.
For more information, visit the Funk Hall
of Fame & Museum Facebook page.
Thrills of our lives, but at what cost?Mike
Scinto
Timescolumnist