I’ve decided to make a few changes in my life – pretty big changes – but all for the better !  It’s been exactly one year since I sold my car, and started living more “green”, more healthy, and a lot less expensive.  Except for the occasional grocery shopping in the rain or snow, I haven’t missed my car at all – and certainly haven’t missed spending close to $1000. a month, including “everything” like insurance, gas, and maintenance too.  I just get a ZipCar or rent a car when I need one now.

Anyway – that’s just the start; a year ago I also joined a gym, and started working out; managed to lose 17 pounds of fat and gained 4 pounds of muscle in a year !  My daughters moved out, and I realized I really don’t need, or want, a big ol’ empty house, and the mortgage, and the line of credit…and… well, you know what I mean.  So, I sold the house, and have moved into a rented apartment.  “Downsizing”, they call it – or perhaps “right-sizing” ?

At the same time, I was realizing radio management just isn’t as much fun as it used to be – for me.  Now friends, please understand – I’ve been AM 740’s original and only program director for over 10 years, and this is my 40th year in the radio business. I’m very proud of what I, and the teams of wonderful people I’ve worked with, here and at my previous radio stations, have achieved. This isn’t the time or place for me to wax poetic about all that - but I DO want to acknowledge the great and talented people during the past decade that have helped make AM 740 the very special station it has been. 

So, as you’ve gathered by now – I’m hangin’ up the radio program director management duties. My final day as manager is May 31st – after which my tasks will be taken over by John van Driel who is the program director for our sister station Classical 96.3 FM.  John’s a great PD, who’s successfully steered Classical 96.3 for many years, and is a great guy too – he helped me so much these past 3 years, during the ownership of Moses Znaimer and Zoomer Media.

I very much appreciate that Moses and our President/CEO George Grant have invited me to stay ‘on the team’ and continue hosting the two radio shows that I now do – ‘Vintage Favourites’ Sundays 2-4pm., and my co-hosting of ‘Mike Filey’s Toronto’ Sundays 12-1pm.  Creating interesting and exciting radio shows is what I truly love about the business; it’s why I originally got into radio back in 1972.  Heck, it’s why I first started playing records at dances and parties in the 60s – to entertain people.

So perhaps you could pass along the news to other AM 740 listeners - that I’ll no longer handle the station’s on-air sound, music direction, and on-air show hosts – that ‘torch is being passed’ to John van Driel.  However, I’ll stay on the team, and carry on hosting some good shows.  Please stay tuned in to my shows, and of course, to this unique radio station, unlike anything else anywhere - combining great adult standards, wonderful rock’n'roll oldies and timeless classics in their original form and in exciting new versions – Zoomer Radio, AM 740.  Cheers.  Gene.

I’ve got several very cool things to tell you about what’s happening at the station – perhaps you’ve already heard of some of these:  our excellent Sunday night “Conspiracy Show” hosted by Richard Syrett has spun off into a TV version of the show – airing Friday nights at 11pm. on VISION TV. There are two half-hour programmes every Friday night – not necessarily linked with the radio shows Sundays from 11pm. to 1am.  So if you’re as fascinated by strange goings-on, UFOs, aliens, government secrets, who-dunits, etc, as I am, then we have both a radio and now a TV show for you.  With this fall’s tenth anniversary of “9/11″, and the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination coming up in a couple years, two of the most baffling and persistent conspiracy theory subjects will get a solid work-out – I’m sure.

AM 740 has so many specialty programmes – 25 of them during a week – and some of them may be airing at times not everyone can catch them live on air. That’s why we’ve put 6 of our specialty shows on-line available for you to catch again at your own convenience.

The daily ‘Goldhawk Fights Back’ (airing Mon-Fri 11am.-1pm.), Saturday morning’s ‘Garden Show’ (9-10am.) and Sunday night’s ‘Conspiracy Show’ (11p-1am.) have been long available for downloading at podcasts.

Recently Michael Englebert’s ‘Applause’ (Saturdays 4-6pm.), Denis Snowdon’s ‘A Little Breath of Scotland’ (Sundays 4-6pm.) and Frankie Benson’s ‘Radio Erin’  (Sunday’s 6-7pm.) have been made available for on-demand listening anytime.

So if any of these shows pique your curiousity or perhaps you’re a fan but cannot catch them regularly, or maybe you’d like to listen to any of them again – now you can.   Our home page will indicate where you can click to find these shows.

We’ve also taken further steps to improve the quality of reception which, for any AM station can be tricky at times – depending on electrical interference.  The first step was to stream the station on-line at www.am740.ca, which you can hear worldwide in stereo now.  Next up was putting AM 740 onto Rogers Cable across Ontario – now available in crystal clear quality on Channel 949.

This past week we’ve added a third option – for those with i-Phones, i-Pods or i-Pads, you can now download the AM 740/Classical 96.3 ‘APP’, from i-Tunes, and listen to us on your mobile device.

Ain’t technology grand ?

So what’s coming up on my own show – ‘Vintage Favourites’ – Sundays 2-4pm. ?  This Sunday, March 13th, birthday salutes to Neil Sedaka, Vera Lynn, and Mike Love of The Beach Boys, plus big band legend Harry James, and a special music set in honour of Leonard Chess – who founded the historic blues label that gave us Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and many others.

Here’s a sneak peek at the very special show I’m planning for March 20th – it’ll be dedicated entirely to ‘The Toronto Sound’ of the 1960s – and Robbie Lane will join me to reminisce about the glory days of The Hawk, David Clayton-Thomas, Mandala, Paupers, Big Town Boys and of course Robbie’s own ‘Disciples’. 

That’s about it for now – “beware the ides of March” (March 15th – the day that div-ides the month – that’s where Shakespeare came up with the word) … and celebrate the first day of Spring (20th). You might also start planning your annual hijinks for April Fools Day – and before you know it, the nice warm days will be here.  Cheers.

A few years ago there was debate over introducing a mid-February national holiday. Remember the talk of calling it ‘Flag Day” perhaps, because our national emblem came into being February 15th 1965 – we’ll talk about that on Mike Filey’s Toronto this Sunday February 13th(12-1pm.) I quite liked the idea of establishing Valentine’s Day as a national holiday – nothing wrong with celebrating LOVE – imagine getting  day off to do that ?   Eventually of course, we in Ontario settled on “Family Day” and that’s OK too.  So, I’ll be travelling to New York to see my daughters on Family Day weekend (Feb.19-21) – that’s appropriate, eh ? 

As for music on my ‘Vintage Favourites’ this Sunday/13th – nice tribute to Nat King Cole, who died Feb.15th 1965 … birthday salutes to Gene Vincent, Gene Pitney, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and the 50th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s own record label – Reprise – when he really because the “chairman of the board”.  So – hope you can tune in this Sunday/13th, from 2-4pm.

Cheers.

Every week seems to be well packed with lots of fascinating stuff – but this coming weekend’s show is blessed with more highlights than most.  It seems to be packed with important beginnings and endings in popular music. 

Elvis Presley made his national TV debut on the Dorsey Brothers’ ‘Stage Show’ January 30th, 1956 – 55 years ago this Sunday – so we’ll play the songs he played on TV that night – and we’ll even hear the introduction to the young man.  Here’s a cool piece of TV trivia – do you remember who appeared on that weekend with Elvis on ‘Stage Show’ ?  Comic Jack Carter and the June Taylor Dancers !

But it was also a weekend of endings – the Beatles played together for the final time on January 30th 1969 – atop their Apple office building in London – remember ‘Get Back’s ending when John says “I hope we passed the audition” ? 

Looking back it’s kinda hard to accept only 13 years passed from Elvis debut to Beatles farewell.  13 years ago, it was 1998 – we were going crazy over the movie “Titanic” – doesn’t seem THAT long ago does it ?

Of course the biggest anniversary we’ll be remembering is ‘The Day the Music Died’ … February 3rd, 1959 – when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper died in that plane crash.  I’m dedicating the entire second hour of the show (3-4pm.) to the three pioneers of rock’n'roll.

It’ll be a great show – I’ll toss in a few other surprises – Mario Lanza, The Hollies, and even Billy Fury – if you’re a fan of Brit-pop from before the Beatles, you’ll know Billy Fury.  So, please join me Sunday afternoon for ‘Vintage Favourites’.

And let’s wind down this oh-so-chilly month of January – it’s almost over, and that brings us closer to another spring !  Stay warm.  Your pal – Gene.

My daughters came up from NYC for a nice week-long stay, and my son popped by Christmas Eve for a great family get-together.  So what’d we do ?  We watched 6 movies in 2 days !  We LOVED it – we’re such movie fans.  Yes – the first of the 6 was “It’s a Wonderful Life” – a classic of course – the others – not so much, but fun anyway.

So, the new year is upon us, and we ARE busy already.  I’m sure you’ve heard by now that this Saturday (Jan.8th) is our TENTH anniversary as “AM 740″.  Hard to believe it’s been TEN years since we first turned on that “740″ frequency (it used to belong to the CBC, going back to the 1930s).  The day was Monday, January 8th, 2001 – and almost everyone on staff was gathered together in or near the studio in our Oakville location.

Tom Fulton was our first morning host, and the then-owner Michael Caine, had joined him to welcome our listeners at exactly 7:40am.   We had been playing music with some recorded announcements on “740″, in the weeks leading up to that day, while we broadcast on the original frequency at 1250 AM. 

But at precisely 7:40am. on January 8th, Tom Fulton opened his microphone, welcomed the listeners, and introduced Michael Caine who gave a warm and cheery greeting to the listeners.  Filming it all was a TV crew from CTV, and the local newspaper also filed a nice story.

It was exciting, and after the opening announcements, the very first song played on “AM 740″ was “All The Way” – the then-new duet version by Celine Dion with Frank Sinatra.  It was my personal pick since I thought it perfectly represented everything we were – a combination of classic standards and modern adult music, which we believed would indeed go “all the way”.

Our ratings shot up instantly – that first spring survey showed we had exploded from under 200,000 listeners to a half-million weekly.  Great times launching a new station – although, technically, the station had been in existence since 1956 – it was always limited in its coverage due to a weak, local, coverage area.  “740″ would expand our coverage all over southern Ontario, and deep into the US – after sunset, we proudly claim: “…from Maine to Minnesota, the Carolinas to Thunder Bay”.  And we sure heard from folks all over the place – including letters and e-mails from New Orleans, Florida, Chicago, Minnesota, Thunder Bay, Washington DC,  New York City, Cape Cod, Montreal, Ottawa and many more…perhaps most impresisvely, from Bermuda !

Nowadays, of course, the station can be heard anywhere in the world – and in stereo at that – via the Internet, on-line at www.am740.ca.  Locally, if you have reception problems working in offices or living in a high-rise, you could also tune us in via Rogers Cable, Channel 949.

OK – so what are we doing this weekend ?  Well, we’ll give you a musical treat for 10 hours on Saturday, counting down The Top Ten Hits of  Ten of our Very Best, strating at 11am.

Here’s the list:  11am. – Top Ten by Elvis (it’s HIS birthday the same day, you know) … noon, Top Ten by The Beatles … 1pm. Top Ten by Nat King Cole… 2pm. Top Ten by Neil Diamond … 3pm. Top Ten by Frank Sinatra … 6pm. Top Ten by British Invasion Stars of the 60s … 7pm. Top Ten by The Beach Boys … 8pm. Top Ten Hits on the Motown Record Label if the 60s and early 70s … 9pm. Top Ten Rock’n'Roll Artists of the 50s & 60s … 10pm. The Top Ten Soul Artists of the 60s.

Hope you can tune in and enjoy it all.

Speaking of Elvis – and it IS his birthday on Saturday as well – he’d've been 76… our sister TV station, Vision TV, is presenting a 3-night mini-series called ‘The Church of Elvis” on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Jan. 11-12-13th.  Every day THIS week, we’ve been featuring interviews with key players in the film and in Elvis’ life mornings at 9:20am. and afternoons at 2:40pm. All the interviews are also available on our web-site, in case you missed them on-air.

So, I’ll wrap this up now – thanks to ALL our wonderful listeners over the past decade – you know we do this for YOU – it’s all FOR you.  We remain Canada’s only radio station designed purely for the 45+ age group; but that’s a pretty big group, and that’s why we have over TWO DOZEN specialty shows through the entire week – it’s probable you don’t like them all, and don’t listen to them all.  But we are unique in our variety approach – from great adult nostalgia for standards and oldies, to compelling mid-day consumer advocacy, countdowns, Scottish and Irish music, the big bands, rock’n'roll, rockin’ soul, romance and naughty, vintage and eclectic … plus relevant information and warm companionship too. 

Celebrating TEN great years – we are ‘The Best of the Best’ – Zoomer Radio – AM 740.  Cheers !

I like December – even though I hate November and winter’s approach, the slush and dark, etc.  But I admit liking December, and for many reasons – sure Christmas brings friends and families together and that can be very nice.  Presents are fun to give and receive – as long as they don’t get overdone, too expensive and ‘competitive’ (do you know what I mean).

But December is also my birthday month – I’m turning over a big round number on the 18th !  Yep, I’m turning 30 … no, just kidding – 60 actually !  But I feel younger than 60 – I think most folks nowadays feel younger than previous generations did at this age.  I promised myself awhile back to really get in shape for my 60th – in the past 9 months I’ve lost 17 pounds of fat, and gained 4 pounds of muscle – well, that’s what my fitness club’s fancy electric doo-dads tell me.  I feel much better than a year ago – my “plumpness” is mostly gone, I’m stronger, and eat better and walk more.  I also wanted to improve my finances approaching my 60th, and dumping my car was a big step in the right direction for both goals. 

Despite wintry weather, I’m still OK without a car. When it gets a bit nasty out there waiting for a bus, I just smile to myself thinking about the hundreds of bucks I’m saving every month.  I recommend doing it  if you possibly can do without a car.

I also like December for the excellent Oscar-qualifying movies and gift-books and year-end magazines that all come out this month.  I cannot wait for a few days off between Christmas and New Years to catch up on my reading, and movie-watching. 

Here are a few good ones I saw lately:  “The King’s Speech” – excellent, and Colin Firth MUST win it THIS year !  “Black Swan” – very good thriller, with some creepy moments, and an outstanding performance from Natalie Portman, who I have new-found respect for – I’d pick her for Oscar too. I really liked “127 Hours” – not nearly as gruesome as I was led to believe – yes, there are a few seconds of cringe-inducing cutting action (ahem) – but, really, it’s based on a remarkable true story, and the least we can do is put up with a few seconds of what actually took the poor guy many hours to do.  And here’s a 4th winner – “Barney’s Version” – excellent performance by Paul Giammati; Dustin Hoffman’s always a treat, and look for a half-dozen special ‘cameos’.

I’m looking forward to seeing one of my childhood’s favourite books come to the screen “The Voyage of The Dawn Treader” – the 3rd in the Narnia books series.  I know it’s not a classic, but it was a book (and a series) I just loved growing up – I re-read the series a few times, and then enjoyed reading them again as an adult parent to my kids. So – yes, I’m excited about seeing the flick with my kids.

December – it’s a good month, and we haven’t even touched on New Year’s Eve yet – I’m not a big one for partying, or hotel/club-hopping – but there is something special about turning over the calendar.  “They” say one of the “must-sees” in one’s lifetime is New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Well a few years ago, I did just that with my twin daughters – well, we “almost” did it. 

We got there early enough to be corralled into one of the block-long holding pens up 7th Avenue, several blocks north of Times Square itself – which was occupied by mid-day.  It was about 8pm. and we were ‘locked in’ – everyone had to pass thru a narrow entrance where we were each ‘wanded’ by security, and told no in-and-out privileges.  So, there were were in the cold, blocks away from ‘the action’, standing with a bunch of over-indulging yahoos, with about 4 HOURS to go … I wondered what happens if I have to pee.  I wondered how did the folks who gathered hours earlier do it. Then I wondered how is this “fun” ?  My girls and I looked at each other and said – we’re outta here – we enjoyed the new year in a restaurant having delicious cheesecake !

Whew – my fingers are getting tired – thanks for reading this far.  Be sure to stay tuned to AM 740 through the Christmas season – we’ll be running full-time Christmas music from Monday/20th right thru December 25th midnight.  Check out our New Year’s Eve oldies show with Brian Peroff and his Friday Night Bandstand – then our big New Year’s Day special – all #1 Hits from 8am. right thru the end of ‘The British Invasion’ show hosted by Robbie Lane, Saturday January 1st 6-7pm. Every song we’ll be playing that day was a bona fide chart-topping #1 smash – a great way to bring in 2011. 

Have yourself a truly joyous Christmas, and a wonderful new year. Thank you for listening to our radio station during the year – YOU make it all worth our efforts.  See you in 2011.  Gene.

Since my kids have grown, I’m not as much “into” it; I don’t get a tree, I don’t put up lights and I’d never actually play a Christmas song for myself at home.  However, I remember the “magic” and nostalgically re-live the best of Christmases-past, now and then; especially when I see young parents towing their little ones in shopping malls or on parade days. Yeah – good memories come back.  And I really don’t mind hearing Christmas songs – heck I even catch myself humming or whistling along to the good ones.

I do buy a few presents because it really does feel good to give, but I don’t get all worked up in the seasonal mania that many folks do.  I think Christmas is such a unique time, that everyone marks it in their own way, and it’s going to be vastly different from person-to-person.  Growing up Catholic, I remember the midnight masses, and with my European heritage, the “big night” for gifts was always Christmas Eve.

But nowadays I’m much more interested in the historical and mythological studies of Christmas than in the actual commercialized holiday it has become.  I’m fascinated how the young Christian Church chose the very same day so many other ancient religions and cults had also selected – December 25th – just days after the winter solstice, marking the end of the 6 month process of shorter days and increasing nights, and the start of the re-birth of longer days, which eventually leads to spring and the rebirth of nature (in the northern hemisphere). 

Well, don’t get me started, otherwise I’ll keep writing a long long time – but if you’re as interested in this stuff as I am, I suggest you dig into it a bit – get some books, or surf the ‘net – you’ll find it fascinating.

So – what’s happening at the radio station ?  We started playing Christmas songs the first Monday of December; a good one every half-hour – next week we’ll increase that to two Christmas songs every half-hour, and the week of December 20th, we’ll go “ALL Christmas”, 24/7. 

I know that’s not what all listeners wanted – but it’s nicely down the middle between those who cannot wait to hear only Christmas songs as early as the Santa parade, and those who really love our usual music and don’t want to lose it just yet. 

Ah – we’re just playing one of my favourite songs – “Mary’s Boy Child” by Boney M – I LOVE that song.   So, I’ll wrap it up for now.  Whoops – just before I do that …

Please tune into my Sunday show “Vintage Favourites” this Sunday (Dec.12th) for a 95th birthday salute to the legendary Frank Sinatra – who doesn’t like Frank ?  He’s still one of our most-played artists, but I’ve never done a Sinatra show on Vintage Faves – and I really wanted to mark this special anniversary.    Then, next Sunday (Dec.19th), it’ll be my annual Christmas show, featuring all the great Christmas pop songs of the Vintage Era in historic order – from the early 30s through the late 60s…

I will write again before the big day, but it’s OK for me to say this right now: “Merry Christmas” !

Weather’s been pretty nice, but you know – you KNOW – winter’s blast is coming. Get ready.  Since I don’t drive a car (dumped it earlier this year, and saving BIG bucks – thank you), I really don’t worry about a big snowstorm – so I say “bring it on”.  We haven’t had a good ol’ fashioned snowy winter for what seems like years.  Now, I’m not a big fan of winter, I don’t ski, or skate (anymore), and I don’t particularly like tromping thru the slush – but soft, snow-covered, side-streets can be very nice for a pleasant evening walk.

Around the station, we’re getting ready for the Christmas music season. Music Director Brian Peroff is going through lists of songs, checking out new seasonal music too – we’ll be starting this year’s Christmas music on December 6th.  And, as always, we’ll be playing more and more Christmas music as we approach the big day – we’ll be solid Christmas from December 20th onward.

This Sunday afternoon, I’ll complete the 3 weekend series of ‘Top Tens’ we began with The Top Ten Big Bands November 14th, the Top Ten Female Vocalists of the Vintage Era November 21st, and this Sunday (28th) The Top Ten Male Vocalists of the Vintage Era.  Again, I’ll promise you some genuine surprises – but as always, my lists are based on official Billboard chart rankings as reported in the books by Joel Whitburn.  So these are official rankings, and full of surprises – so I hope you tune in this Sunday 2-4pm.

Next weekend, December 5th, I’ve got a good show for musicologists and fans alike – ‘The One-Hit Wonders of the Vintage Era’.  You’ll be amazed how many recording artists actually had only ONE taste of fame EVER.  They literally had just ONE hit song, but you’ll know the songs, if not always the recording artist.  You’ll also be surprised that some famous artists (with their famous songs)  really only had one hit.  It’ll be fun – tune in Sunday December 5th, 2-4pm.

After that I’m looking forward to my first-ever Frank Sinatra feature – December 12th – which will be the 95th anniversary of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birth.

So – here’s to December – Christmas, New Year’s Eve, holidays, giving-and-receiving, snowy nights and crispy sunny days, great live music, festivals, and music – of course.  I’ll write again before Christmas…till then… Cheers.  Gene

No sun – no moon ! No morn – no noon !  No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day – no sky – no earthly view – no distance looking blue….

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, no comfortable feel in any member – no shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, no fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,

November !

Ain’t that the truth ?  Now, I know some folks might like this month – with apologies to the astrological Scorpios – I always found November to be dark, dank, damp, dreary – and darn sad too – what with the falling leaves, the coming of cold winter weather, rain, early darkness, and of course Remembrance Day’s sadness too.

Well friend, I now have one more thing to dump into November.  I recently drove my daughter (while her sister flew) and their “stuff” to their new home in Brooklyn. (sniff ! – I miss ‘em). 

I knew it had to happen sometime, but “the empty nest” really is empty - yikes. The house is suddenly bigger, emptier, colder, and quieter.   You’ve been through this have you ?  And, yes, it DOES get better – I know.  They’re going to visit, sure … but it’s never going to be the same again.

I’m lucky to have a terrific girlfriend – Trudy – and I AM so happy for my daughters who are already doing well in ‘The Big Apple”.  So life goes on – right ?

So let me tell you about my upcoming shows.  “Vintage Favourites” THIS Sunday (Nov.14) will countdown The Top Ten Big Bands – and I guarantee you’ll be surprised by several of the top ten big bands on the list.   Have you heard we’ve switched hosts for my other show – the late night naughty “Midnight Blue” – effective tonight (Nov.8th) – Ziggy is the new host.  She’ll handle her old show “Stardust” from 11pm. to midnight, and now add on a 2nd hour, with some saltier stuff. Ziggy’s gonna have a lot of fun, and so will you listening to her.

So – don’t let November get you down – it’s time to warm up with friends, family, food, films and more great radio from AM 740  -Zoomer Radio.  Till next time – cheers !

So let me tell you a bit about my holiday – I took my girlfriend Trudy on a driving holiday through Vermont, New Hampshire, to Boston, out onto Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, then the Rhode Island cities of Newport and Providence, then to New York City and on to Washington DC.  It was a great holiday, despite a few days of heavy rain.  It was my first-ever fall vacation – since, in the past, I’ve always had to wait for my kids to get out of school. What a great time of year to go on a driving holiday – “autumn in New York” indeed ! 

Highlights were Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Manhattan and DC … I suggest when you first visit a new city take a guided bus-tour – even though I knew Boston and DC well, I still learned so much taking tours there, and hop-on, hop-off tours are so handy.

I love the huge “TD Bank” logo on Boston’s new hockey/basketball arena – I wonder how Bruin fans feel knowing their team’s arena is sponsored by a TORONTO bank ! Ha.  Pretty close to the arena, is the site of one of the most famous bank robberies in history – ‘The Brink’s Robbery’ of 1950 with over $2 million stolen from the Brink’s offices.  The location wasn’t mentioned by the tour, but it’s easy to find out about it on google…its a big parking garage now.

In NYC, we caught a great new musical “Million Dollar Quartet” – the story of the night 4 superstars of the 50s got together at SUN Studios in Memphis – Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. That one-time get-together became the stuff of rock’n'roll legend, till a few years ago, when they discovered the tape recordings made – the musical features some terrific spot-on performances. If you’re going to NYC and love old time rock’n'roll – catch it. The other big rock’n'roll show on Broadway is called “Memphis”, and I hear it’s coming to Toronto next year, thanks to Dancap Productions.  That’ll be good too.

In Washington – we had great weather, dashed thru museums till we near collapsed, and had tea with Barrack and Michelle (well, not really).  Incredible security in that city – especially near the White House.  But what a place – and it still impresses me that access to most museums is FREE !  It’s a great way to boost tourism and to give your own citizens access to culture, history and arts.

So – I’m back, and as much as I love travelling – nothing compares with Toronto.  I wish the folks belly-aching, complaining and getting all negative about this city, realized how lucky we are to be here and now. 

OK – ’nuff said on that.  I hope you can catch my Sunday afternoon show this week (Oct.17) as I salute “the Father of Rock’n'Roll” – Chuck Berry – on his 84th birthday, from 2-4pm.  (’The feeling is there, body and soul !”)