Martin Luther King speaks on KPFK - It will move you to listen just a little while.

Anyone who's interested today, KPFK  (90.7FM) is playing Martin Luther Speeches all day.
Here's the schedule:

Detailed schedule of KPFK’s programming on Monday the 19th

6am       Democracy Now featuring excerpts of newly discovered  1964 speech by Dr. King 7am       Connect the Dots (with a commentary on Dr. King’s legacy) 8am       Democracy Now special featuring the King’s 1967 speech at Riverside Church in New York City at which he came out against the Vietnam  War 9am       Democracy Now featuring excerpts of newly discovered  1964 speech by Dr. King 10am     Letters and Politics on the life and legacy of Dr. King 11am     Speeches by Dr. King – Hour One:                                 On the Power of Peaceful Persuasion – June 24, 1957                                 The Future of Integration – June 1961 (at Ford Hall in NYC) Noon     Speeches by Dr. King – Hour Two                                 We Want to be Free Speech – May 26, 1963 (in Los Angeles at Wrigley Field)                                 Discussions of a Complete Life – January 1962 1pm       Speeches by Dr. King – Hour Three                                 America Chief Moral Dilemma – May 17, 1967 (in Berkeley at Sproul Hall) 2pm       Speeches by Dr. King – Hour Four                                 But If Not – November 1967 (in Atlanta)                                 Men and Women in the Arts Concerned with Vietnam – March 16, 1968 (in LA) 3pm       Speeches by Dr. King – Hour Five                                 Dimensions of a Complete Life – January 1962 (at Yale)                                 Domestic Urgencies vs. Military Costs – February 25, 1967 (in LA)                                 The Civil Rights Movement and its Goals for the Future - April 14, 1967 (at Stanford)                                 Memorium in Central Park the Day After MLK was Assassinated 4pm       From the Vault Documentary on the “I Have A Dream” Speech 5pm       From the Vault Documentary that includes the entire 1964 speech from London, England that was recently discovered by the Pacifica Radio Archives

Currently they're playing a speech he did in the Hollywood Hills at a private home. He was introduced by James Baldwin. Incredible. Made my heart beat faster. It's amazing how far we've come and how sad it is we still have racism, anger, violence towards innocents... Incredible how prescient, moving and important it is to hear The Great Doctor.

And this speech in particular was taped by KPFK and preserved back in 1968.

Enjoy!

"If the Haves are willing to join hands with the hands with the Have Nots, it wouldn't take much." - Martin Luther King

#MLKDay #KPFK

A Prayer for Jerry Sharell

Sundays our house is always tuned into KJAZZ. We do the crossword -- New York Times, we've never been able to make the leap to the LA Times Crossword -- and without fail we listen to Jerry Sharell's radio show Sundays with Sinatra on 88.1. My husband loves Frank maybe as much if not more so than my father had. He even created a Facebook page dedicated to Jerry and his love for Frank and the show.

And so it makes it even more shocking and horrifying to learn that Jerry was victim of a bizarre and violent episode this weekend. Home in Woodland Hills, his girlfriend's ex-husband took Jerry and his girlfriend hostage over a 5 hour period, finally assaulting Jerry with a machete. How unbelievably sick is that? It's a total nightmare. Jerry's girlfriend, also injured, finally got away and was able to get help. The ex-husband slit his own wrists before being apprehended. Both Jerry and his "alleged" assailant are in critical condition in the hospital.

Sharell, now in his 70's, is a former music exec, known for his work in the 1970's and 80's with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, The Cars and The Eagles. These days he seems to be dedicating much of his musical know-how and passion towards his wonderful show. I can't tell you how much fun it is to listen each and every weekend.

Jerry Sharell

Such an amazing talent, such a great voice, he's brought such joy into our home. It breaks my heart something like this has happened. I pray for Jerry and his family.

MBE on KCRW

Graffiti in Silverlake - see, there's always a silver lining

If you come to LA and have any music interest at all, you're at some point or another going to get turned onto (I hate that expression) KCRW. A famous radio station, it's big show in the morning, Morning Becomes Eclectic hosted by Music Director (and good friend of Henry Rollins) Jason Bentley, is on every week day from 9am-12pm. They play a lot of new music and have a live guest on around the 11 o'clock hour. I'm not going to weigh in what I think of MBE, though put it this way, like most everything, some days it does not hit the sweet spot. And in full disclosure, when they started calling it "MBE" - oy vey I thought I was going to stick a nail in someone's tire.

That being said, today I got to give it up to MBE. Good old Jason IS hitting the sweet spot this morning and in a major way. You know I'm so about atmosphere. If it's dark outside I think I might as well throw in the towel, I just can't deal. And frankly I can be in a sour mood even when the sun is shining warm and bright. I'll see it as hitting my eyes and think, would someone PA-LEASE turn that thing down already?

So try and remember that at any moment you change one thing in the delicate balance of your atmosphere and that is when you will truly give yourself the chance of changing your moody mood.

Staring too long at this graffiti in Silverlake might not put you in a good mood.

For me music works like The Jaws of Life and I needed that this a.m. My computer's been crashing, I have this big post I want to put in but I'm afraid I'll crash my computer again because of all the photos and add in that I'm doing this stupid thing about trying to figure out my purpose in life and you know... IT'S A PERFECT STORM

Which now looks like exactly what today is: a sunny, warm day in Los Angeles where I cannot WAIT to get back outside because of the moment I heard this man:

 Marvin Gaye.

If you can play your own music or if you're in your car and you want to risk the good old-fashioned radio, turn it up LOUD. The Jaws of Life can only work if they know they're needed. In other words...

YOU GOTTA PRESS ON! 

This is the song I heard on (urgh) MBE that turned it all around for me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRcVQDELAd4]

PS: My mom just called laughing her ass off reading my Mother's Day card and truth be told, that can do it, too.

This is almost how I feel now. I still have to wash my face.

Have a great day, Los Angeles!

Two Things Worth Doing This Week: Henry Rollins and Jen Sincero

In Los Angeles, radio is not remotely an outdated form. Yeah, you have your downloads, your audio books, your iPod mixes, etcetera, etcetera, but when you're in the car, a lot, which if you are in Los Angeles most likely you know of what I speak, there are times you're sick of your own sound design and want to be surprised. Luckily this town is Number 1 in high quality radio. If you're unsure of what to listen to, what's worth the try, I am preparing a great radio finds list for you all to check out. That being said, time is of the essence so I feel compelled to tell you to listen to Henry Rollins show tonight on KCRW, 89.9 FM. Seriously, program that shit in immediately.

Henry, who was the leader of Black Flag back in the day...

Hot and Scary, Henry in his Black Flag Days

puts on a show Sunday nights that has no equal. He knows more about music than anyone I've ever encountered. And while Henry is a devout lover of all that is punk, the show is not exclusively punk by any stretch. He likes what he likes and what he likes is so varied, so special, and so dimensional, it's impossible to be bored. He's introduced me to so much - even stuff I should've already been totally familiar with but hadn't given much of a chance prior to listening to his show (ie.: The Cramps or Tinarewen). I owe Henry a lot.

Not only will you be exposed to a vast array of tasty tunes, he will let you know whatever there is to know about what you're hearing whether it be regarding band history, how to get downloads of obscure tunes, how the music recorded in the studio sounds different than the live performances, and tons of other stuff that will make you feel far more learned and articulate than you ever have in your life. At the bottom of it, he cares so much and his brain is so large that all this information must be shared or I'm afraid Henry will combust.

Number 1 Fanatico

So  make a date for an early dinner tonight and then drive around from 8-10 pm, tuned into 89.9 FM, going through the hills of Los Feliz or winding around Mulholland overlooking the valley. Open those windows and turn it up loud. Your senses will thank you. As will your brain.

A taste of tonight's show: Ween, Nancy Sinatra, Devo, Fats Waller, Terakaft and David Bowie.

For more info click here for Henry's Page at KCRW.

Another way to get enlightened this week is to check out a book signing event at Book Soup.

Book Soup, established back in 1975, is pretty much an LA landmark, located smack dab on the Sunset Strip. To this day it's where the hip, the cool, the famous and the normal go to expand their minds and nourish their gray matter. If you've never gone to a book signing there, I highly recommend it. It's quite possibly the only establishment on the strip where your brain is more honored than all the other sexy parts of your body.

This Tuesday night from 7-10pm, a really good friend of mine, Jen Sincero, will be delighting fans and truth seekers alike, while signing and chatting about her new book...dah dah dah daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah:

Already a best selling author, Jen Sincero's latest is a tremendous, insightful and all-around kick ass guide covering the how, the why and the what the hell are you going to do so you can finally get your head out of the sand and live that big life that you know you're supposed to be living.

Now I know me and Jen are buds...

but let me tell you something, this book is truly affecting me. It's already helping me. Maybe because this is no ordinary self-help book. You are a Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life appeals to the cynical, the tired of it, and the ones who think they've heard it all but they for some reason still don't feel better so they wish they hadn't heard it all because something really has to change.

So check it out. I'll be there with bells on. Big loud bells so you'll hear me coming. Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90019. Also know two little things: 1) Sally Kellerman will be signing a book there on Wednesday night and also there's a rare editions book store next to The Soup that if you find it, you will feel as though you entered a secret world. Oh! Also be careful about parking. They ticket like crazy on Sunset. Trust me when I say you don't want to be caught with your meter empty or your tires not facing into the curb.

If punk stands for all that is good and cool and right with the world then this is already shaping up to be a righteously punk week. Happy Cinco de Mayo and let me know how you like Jen & Henry!