I’ve been nominated for Young Blog Awards - check out it out - and throw a vote my way if you feel so inclined!

 www.adipopescu.com/this-month-nominees

 Thank you so very much!

Yeah, I know, it’s a repeat Stevie Ray Vaughan Drawing.  I originally brought two with me to allow Cutter his choice for the SRV Memorial Ride, but on our second visit to House of Texas Music on South Lamar Street, and meeting Ray Hennig, I knew that this picture was to have a home in one of Stevie’s favorite hangouts, and the place he first layed his hands on his ‘59 Strat.  AKA Number One, the story behind that is a great one, I will share it the upcoming days.  Stevie was in Ray’s store each and every day.  It was great to hang out and just feel the nostalgia there.

Ray Hennig was one of Stevie’s closest friends, and what a kind southern gentleman he is.  Ray took the time to share stories about Stevie and several things that went on during those beginning years, and told us the story of how he would throw Stevie a pack of strings over the counter, when he would buzz in before he was going to do a show. 

As we were getting ready to leave, Ray asked Jake what strings he used, and set him up with a bag full.  I got one of the greatest compliments that I have in my life, being that Stevie is such a passion of mine to draw, Ray asked if I would inscribe it to him, as I was doing so, he put his hands over Stevie’s mouth, and said the mouth looks good, and I have seen a lot of drawings of Stevie, but you really captured his eyes, and that nose dead on.

Ray was going to hang this in the back, so no one stole it, and I inscribed it - To: Ray, thanks for sharing your stories.

Susie Kleiner

~ Soul to Soul from Austin !

Happy Birthday Steven Tyler!

Steven Tyler has a style all unto itself, if you have ever listened to Just Push Play, the beginning of the song starts with a sassy nanananahhhh, nannahhhnna from a front man that can belt out some fantastically ferocious lyrics.

You Gotta Move debuted on Tuesday, November 23rd at 7:00 PM at several Regal Cinema’s across the country, I happened to snag tickets for this IMAX type event.  My son & husband crabbed the entire drive, by the end of the Big Screen Concert they were pleasantly surprised.

This was truly a unique experience, with interesting footage of the band. 

Steven Tyler says, “I just spent four weeks in Pandora’s Box mixing this puppy into a sweet 5.1 lather, and tonight, for one night only, you’re gonna hear, see and feel 30 years of clubs, arenas, juke joints and jams rolled into two hours of sweet concert insanity!”

While I was watching this Big Screen Concert, it was clearly evident that this man’s mind never stops ticking, constantly trying to figure out the best mix of crazy composing and blending it correctly to make yet another number one song.  Dedication to his passion, is most likely the drive behind the success and continuation of a band that has seen the seemy side of life, and lived to tell about it.

After a long March, caulked full of bad news, the good news is, we will be in Austin, TX as you read this.  I am a huge fan of the book, Can’t Stop a Comet, by Cutter Brandenburg and have emailed with him back & forth since I purchased his book. 

Some will argue, it’s not all about SRV, but it is about life, and it is about dedication of what friends and people do for one another.  The book is full of information of Cutter’s life on the road, and the people he met, and how they touch his life.

Life is short, NO DOUBT, take that for what it is,  use it, live it, learn it, and continue to grow it.  There is no going back in life, you may be able to correct the wrongs, but you will not be able to re-live the moment. Cherish the people around you and enjoy life. 

Stevie Ray is an icon, he is a legend, his music will envoke in you a person you never knew existed, take the time to listen.  My friend Danny over at Guitar Players Center takes time, each and every night, not only playing his own stuff, but playing the licks, the riff’s and the melodies of those that have shaped our world with music as great as Stevie, Jimi, Lighting and Buddy Guy, plus many, many more. 

As you read this, I am hopeful that I will be meeting up with Cutter and will be able to give to him the piece above, so it can be auctioned off at the 14th Annual SRV  Memorial Ride, along with a brand new piece of Hei Matau Bone Art from New Zealand.   I worked on this piece in one afternoon, dedicated and decided, that this would be the one that I would donate, it shows off the fine Hei Matau Bone Art that Stevie worn later in his career. 

WOW.. that’s truly why I have been drawing this magnificient man.. his bone structure is like no other, the boxer nose, the fine eyes, and those to die for big, beautiful Vaughan hands! When you watch Stevie, take a peek at his arms.. the veins popping and the hands just don’t stop as they hit those notes and cords with astounding passion and love for the music he has left us with. 

~ Soul to Soul

Susie

Originally written in 1936 by Robert Johnson, Sweet Home Chicago has been debated time and time again, regarding the true meaning behind the lyrics, with many references to California.  Does it matter? Not to me, I enjoy listening to any great guitarist buzz through the legendary song, with their own style and rendition.  

When I think of Chicago Blue’s music, Buddy Guy comes to mind instantaneously.  With his well known club - Buddy Guy Legends.  Even though Buddy’s beginnings were in Louisiana, he has become a household name in the Chicago area. 

Where mind you the first day of spring brings us a winter weather advisory.

The original form of Blue’s music is said to have a single line repeated four times, with a very loose narrative.  I recently read the book Moanin’ at Midnight - Howlin’ Wolf, and if you are interested in getting down to the nitty gritty raw life style of a true blue’s musician, this should be on your to read list.

One of my favorite CD’s of Buddy Guy’s is Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, released in 1991.  “Remebering Stevie” is one of the tracks that makes you feel Damn Right, I’ve got the Blues, you can feel the heartfelt emotion felt by a friends loss, a beautifully done instrumental with that gut wrenching power of the blues.