An Unhappy Return

It was so hot that I could barely breathe. We didn’t have air-conditioning in the car back in those days, so the windows were wide open, and I could hear the wind rushing past as we drove through the total darkness of a moonless desert night. I leaned towards the nearest window, thinking that poking my head out would give me the relief of cooler air, but the wind outside was like a blast furnace. I recoiled in shock – I couldn’t believe that air rushing past the car could be so hot - at night. That just defied logic.

Celebrating My Dad's Life

Dr. Walter A. Manch, 81, died March 22, 2013, at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. He was surrounded by loving family, including Gertrude, his wife of 59 years, son Larry, and close friends, Rose and Ken Ronjon of St. George.

Dr. Manch, Ph.D., was born September 14, 1931 in Utica, New York, the only child of Larry and Eleanor (Bowman) Manch. He attended elementary, middle, and high schools in Utica before enrolling at Utica College and Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. He earned his doctorate from SU in 1961, and taught chemistry and physics in several colleges and universities over a lengthy and successful career.

 

It’s Still Rock and Roll

Do you understand the differences between ‘folk rock’, ‘country rock’, ‘Southern rock’, ‘classic rock’, and ‘pop rock’? The terms ‘rock’ and ‘rock and roll’ cover many sub-genres. Most of them are self-explanatory, but some music fans are confused by the terms. While the label doesn’t really matter – it you like it, who cares what you call it – it can be helpful to understand the differences.

Travelin' Man

What began as a way to impress girls – singing and playing guitar – became a way of life for a 1950’s teenage idol. He became one of the top selling artists in pop music history. His father Ozzie was a well-known big band leader, and later a radio and television star. His mother Harriet was a singer with Ozzie’s band, and starred as Ozzie’s wife on the popular radio and then television show ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet’. While Rick Nelson had advantages that most people don’t enjoy, he quickly emerged from the shadows of his parents to become a star in his own right.

Significant Roles

Their abilities as guitar players, singers, and/or songwriters made these men highly visible. As with most of the greats of rock music, their contributions were such that without them, their bands may never have achieved the level of fame they enjoyed. Without a doubt, these men played significant roles in the development of the bands in which they played and in the history of rock music.

Allen Collins is a tragic figure. Once a talented guitarist in one of the biggest bands of the rock era, his life spiraled out of control after a series of devastating events – every one of them a disaster of epic proportions.