Saturday, April 13, 2024

A00072 - Eleanor Collins, Ruby Sneed, and the Black Canadian Experience

 



I noted with great interest the recent obituary for Eleanor Collins, Canada's First Lady of Jazz.



and the Wikipedia article sparked my interest in the sister of Eleanor Collins, Ruby Sneed,


The interest in these individuals is not an isolated one.  The interest is that I sensed a connection to both Eleanor and Ruby through our Amber Valley and Edmonton connections.  As my cousin Ron Mapp notes in the following article, the Amber Valley Black Canadian Experience was a rich one which has greatly influenced Canadian history

'One of the biggest Black settlements in Western Canada' has a rich history | CBC News





I feel blessed to have Amber Valley as part of my own history and to occasionally be surprised by unexpected revelations such as those of Eleanor Collins and Ruby Sneed.

Simply amazing!

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
April 2, 2024 

P..S. When Eleanor Collins was 102 she was honored by having a Canadian stamp issued in tribute to her.  For those who have the time and the interest, please view the following tribute video.  Eleanor Collins was not only the First Lady of Jazz she was also the First Lady of Class

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A00071 - Red Baraat on Holi

 


In addition to being Palm Sunday 


yesterday, March 24, was also Holi



As the Wikipedia article explains, 

Holi is a popular and significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring.[1][9][10][11] It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna.[12][13] Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil,[14][15] as it commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu.[16][17] Holi originated and is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent of India and Nepal, but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.[10][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring in India and Nepal, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love.[18][25] It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season.[18][25] It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling on the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.

*****

To celebrate Holi, yesterday I ventured over to the SF Jazz Center to finally see and listen to a band that was recommended to me by an Amherst College classmate some many years ago.  I went to see Red Baraat led by the very talented Sunny Jain


For over 100 minutes Red Baraat gave a highly energetic set which many of the attendees (including many of the senior citizen attendees) enjoyed by standing, dancing and jumping for the full 100 minutes on the dance floor in front of where the band performed.  This was the first time that I have seen a band invite over twenty attendees up on the stage to dance with them while they performed.  And the first time that I have seen an entire band go into the dancing crowd and play while the crowd danced around them.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate Holi, one which I recommend to any who may have the opportunity to see Red Baraat in the future.  After all Holi, need not be confined to a single day.  For some, it can exist on every day.

Maybe you are one of the some.  If so, enjoy.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins 
Fairfield, California
March 25, 2024
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Sunday, March 24, 2024

Alphabetical and Numerical Listings (1-80)

Alphabetical Listings


A Meditation on John Coltrane A00048

A Musical Meditation on Rumi A00038

A Tale of Two Memorial Services A00051

Ahmad Jamal, R.I.P. A00029

Amazing Grace A00044

And the Grammy Goes to Tyla for "Water" A00063

Art Laboe, R. I. P. A00017

Barrett Strong, R.I.P. A00023

Blue-Eyed Soul Singer Bobby Caldwell, R. I. P. A00028

Book of the Month for February 2023: Autobiography of a Yogi: The Yogi and the Dream Weaver A00045

Book of the Month for December 2022: Cloud Empires: John Perry Barlow A00020

Burt Bacharach: The Victorville Years A00025

Cloud 9 on MLK Day A00061

Dakota Staton: A Hidden Gem of History A00032

Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas in August A00014

Eleanor Collins, Ruby Sneed, and the Black Canadian Experience A00072

Elza Soares, The Brazilian Voice of the Millennium A00030

Freshlyground A00060

Goree Carter, The Forefather of Rock and Roll A00068

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song A00024

Hallelujah Revisited A00026

Henry Fambrough, The Last of the Original Spinners A00069

In Celebration of Coltrane: The Real Ambassadors and the Monterey Jazz Festival of 1962 A00016

In Praise of Omar A00056

Irene Cara, R. I. P. A00019

It Won't Be Like This For Long A00070

James Caan, Amherst College Memories and the Theme from Brian's Song A00013

Jim Seals and Summer Breeze A00010

Jim Seals' Diamond Girl A00011

La Vida Es Sueno A00006

Mary Ellin Barrett, R.I.P. A00015

Meditations on Rumi: The Music of Shujaat Khan A00002

Meklit Hadero A00004

Music from the Barrio A00055

Must See TV for February 2024: PBS: Gospel Live! and Gospel A00065

Must See TV for February 2024: PBS: Gospel Live! and Gospel: A Review A00067

Must See TV for August 2023: PBS: Independent Lens: Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary A00035

Must See TV for January 2023: PBS: American Masters: Roberta Flack A00022

My Tribute A00033

Native American Indian Heritage Month A00018

Owamni and Yoasobi  A00050

Red Baraat on Holi  A00071

Robbie Robertson, Native Son and the Leader of The Band, R.I.P. A00042

Roger Whittaker, Anglo-Kenyan Singer of "The Last Farewell", R.I.P.  A00047

Samara Joy A00027

Sara Tavares, R.I.P. A00058

Shuhada' Sadaqat, R.I.P., and Welcome to the Realm of the Ancestors A00037

Sidney Poitier, R.I.P. A00005

Songs for Native American Heritage Month A00001

Summer of Soul: Oh Happy Day! and Precious Lord, Take My Hand A00008

The Golden Time of Day A00009

The Healing Power of Soul Music A00039

The Healing Power of Soul Music: A Divine Addendum A00040

The Immortal Life of Art Laboe A00054

The Integration of Country Music A00052

The Lasting Legacy of Madame Butterfly A00031

The Magical Wonder of Route 66 A00036

The Memorial Service: Shaman's Call A00043

The Memorial Service: The Guiding Scripture A00046

The Nearness of You A00007

The Songbird of Asia A00057

The Soul of Bentley and The Colors of the Wind A00062

The 'Spiritual Wonder" of Van Gogh's Starry Night A00034

The Weekend Theme Song A00053

There's Something On Your Mind A00066

Thom Bell, R.I.P. A00021

Tio Feco y El Rey A00003

Toby Keith, R.I.P.  A00064

Unborn Child A00012

Vincent van Gogh Masterworks by Rosalind Ormiston A00041

Wild World A00049 

Zahara, R.I.P. A00059

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Numerical Listings 


A00001 Songs for Native American Heritage

A00002 Meditations on Rumi: The Music of Shujaat

A00003 Tio Feco y El Rey

A00004 Meklit Hadero

A00005 Sidney Poitier, R.I.P.

A00006 La Vida Es Sueno

A00007 The Nearness of You

A00008 Summer of Soul: Oh Happy Day! and Precious Lord, Take My Hand

A00009 The Golden Time of Day

A00010 Jim Seals and Summer Breeze

A00011 Jim Seals' Diamond Girl

A00012 Unborn Child

A00013 James Caan, Amherst College Memories and the Theme from Brian's Song

A00014 Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas in August

A00015 Mary Ellin Barrett, R.I.P.

A00016 In Celebration of Coltrane: The Real Ambassadors and the Monterey Jazz Festival of 1962

A00017 Art Laboe, R. I. P.

A00018 Native American Indian Heritage Month

A00019 Irene Cara, R. I. P.

A00020 Book of the Month for December 2022: Cloud Empires: John Perry Barlow

A00021 Thom Bell, R.I.P.

A00022 Must See TV for January 2023: PBS: American Masters: Roberta Flack

A00023 Barrett Strong, R.I.P.

A00024 Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song

A00025 Burt Bacharach: The Victorville Years

A00026 Hallelujah Revisited

A00027 Samara Joy

A00028 Blue-Eyed Soul Singer Bobby Caldwell, R. I. P.

A00029 Ahmad Jamal, R.I.P.

A00030 Elza Soares, The Brazilian Voice of the Millennium

A00031 The Lasting Legacy of Madame Butterfly

A00032 Dakota Staton: A Hidden Gem of History

A00033 My Tribute

A00034 The 'Spiritual Wonder" of Van Gogh's Starry Night

A00035 Must See TV for August 2023: PBS: Independent Lens: Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

A00036 The Magical Wonder of Route 66

A00037 Shuhada' Sadaqat, R.I.P., and Welcome to the Realm of the Ancestors

A00038 A Musical Meditation on Rumi

A00039 The Healing Power of Soul Music

A00040 The Healing Power of Soul Music: A Divine Addendum

A00041 Vincent van Gogh Masterworks by Rosalind Ormiston

A00042 Robbie Robertson, Native Son and the Leader of The Band, R.I.P.

A00043 The Memorial Service: Shaman's Call

A00044 Amazing Grace

A00045 Book of the Month for February 2023: Autobiography of a Yogi: The Yogi and the Dream Weaver

A00046 The Memorial Service: The Guiding Scripture

A00047 Roger Whittaker, Anglo-Kenyan Singer of "The Last Farewell", R.I.P.

A00048 A Meditation on John Coltrane

A00049 Wild World

A00050 Owamni and Yoasobi

A00051 A Tale of Two Memorial Services

A00052 The Integration of Country Music

A00053 The Weekend Theme Song

A00054 The Immortal Life of Art Laboe

A00055 Music from the Barrio

A00056 In Praise of Omar

A00057 The Songbird of Asia

A00058 Sara Tavares, R.I.P.

A00059 Zahara, R.I.P.

A00060 Freshlyground

A00061 Cloud 9 on MLK Day

A00062 The Soul of Bentley and The Colors of the Wind

A00063 And the Grammy Goes to Tyla for "Water"

A00064 Toby Keith, R.I.P.

A00065 Must See TV for February 2024: PBS: Gospel Live! and Gospel

A00066 There's Something On Your Mind

A00067 Must See TV for February 2024: PBS: Gospel Live! and Gospel: A Review

A00068 Goree Carter, The Forefather of Rock and Roll

A00069 Henry Fambrough, The Last of the Original Spinners

A00070 It Won't Be Like This For Long

A00071 Red Baraat on Holi

A00072 Eleanor Collins, Ruby Sneed, and the Black Canadian Experience

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A00070 - It Won't Be Like This For Long

 


A week ago, I attended and participated in the wedding of my oldest daughter, Camille, to Jeremy Pointer in the city of Spokane, Washington.  It was an emotional time for me, filled with many tears. Most people first saw those emotions when they saw me walking Camille down the aisle with tears traveling down my cheeks. Of course, I was not alone.  Camille had tears too and when Jeremy saw the two of us, he began tearing up too.  It got so bad that the pastor decided to intervene by saying that we needed to get on with the ceremony to avoid having everyone in tears.  I was able to do my job and answer "I do" when the pastor asked who gives this woman to be married to this man. I then sat down. But the tears only stopped for a brief time.

Actually, the flood gates had already begun to flow when Camille called me in late February and asked that I go through the old photo albums and send her some photos that she could use in a video montage during the wedding reception.  It took me a little while to get started, but once I did a floodgate of memories came back and the realization that those times were long gone descended upon me.  Seeing tender family moments from forty years ago and coming forth was, in many ways a traumatic experience.  So many of the photos were taken with treasured family members who are no longer here and the moments depicted often showed a happiness that can never come again in this physical realm.

I really could not choose which photos were best, so I sent Camille far more than she needed.  But the damage had already begun.  I told her that seeing those photos had caused me to become teary eyed and that I was afraid that I would be a basket case once the wedding began.

Camille reassured me that all would be fine and that all I needed to do was to say "I do" when the pastor asks me the question.  So, with that reassurance I felt confident that I could get through the ceremony without too many tears.

The day before the wedding, the Jenkins and Pointer families convened at the Women's Club of Spokane to prepare the venue for the wedding that was to take place on the next day.   It was actually a nice bonding exercise allowing the two families to get to know each other and to work together.  After working for four hours, we ran through a rehearsal of the wedding itself.  And I was fine.  My confidence began to rise.  I can do this. I really can.

But then came Saturday.

We all gathered in our finest.  Before the ceremony got started, Camille came to me and told me that she had a special gift for me.  She had some special cufflinks that she wanted me to wear.  I was surprised and immediately opened the box to put them on.  I noticed that the cufflinks were engraved.  One of the cufflinks simply read "Father of the Bride 3/16/24".  That was fine.  But the other cufflink read "I loved you first. Emoji Camille" and the floodgates began to crack. I did not cry immediately, but as I waited at the staircase waiting for Camille to come through the door so that I could walk her down the aisle, the flood gates came down.

As described above, the impact was contagious. And, unbeknownst to me, the flood would not be confined to my simply walking my daughter down the aisle and completing my task of saying "I do".  No, the real downpour was yet to come.

After Camille and Jeremy lovingly exchanged their vows and were officially confirmed as man and wife, the bride and groom disappeared for a time while the rest of us convened in the large reception hall.  While we waited for the newlyweds to return, we were treated to a video montage containing many childhood photos of Jeremy followed by many childhood photos of Camille... many of them the photos that I had sent her.  The montage was accompanied by one of my favorite country songs, which on this particular occasion only caused the tears to more freely flow.  This is the song
   

Darius Rucker - It Won't Be Like This For Long (Official Video) (youtube.com)


It has been a week, but it still makes me cry.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California 
March 23, 2024

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A00069 - Henry Fambrough, The Last of the Original Spinners

 



Received news of the passing of Henry Fambrough earlier this month

Henry Fambrough, Last of the Original Spinners, Dies at 85 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)




The passing of Mr. Fambrough caused a flood of memories centered on the music that he helped to make.  The three strongest memories centered around three songs. The first was an appropriately titled song that seemed to symbolize my inaugural year at what was then called the Boalt Hall School of Law, but which is now UC Berkeley Law School. This song seemed to be played every morning as I drove from Novato to Berkeley in the Fall of 1975.



Then there was this song which seemed to be an anthem for certain aspects of my life.


And finally, there was the song that we played as part of the photo (video) montage at my mother's memorial service in 2010.




Rest in Peace, Henry Fambrough, and thank you for the musical memories.

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
February 28, 2024

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