Happy Birthday Miriam Linna of Kicks/Norton Records!

Celebrating the birthday of Kicks.Norton Records co-founder Miriam Linaa with an interview and some performances.

Writes Miriam...

"Thank you, friends and fiends, for the excitable birthday greets. I'm a 20th century gal who is still hanging onto the old world for dear life, so bear with my antiquated mind, means and methods. News is coming very soon about projects that have been stewing for a very long time - and are now ready to share. It's peculiar how synchronicity plays with our daily doings. I was reading one of my favorite paperbacks from the old days, Fahrenheit 451, during the wee hours this morning, and recalled that I had seen a copy of the fireproof asbestos edition under glass at a book fair many years ago. Now making this post, I wanted to reshare a clip of Stay, complete with its teenage TV host, and what do I see on the wall behind the group- look/see. So anyway, all rambling aside, please stay just a little bit longer. Thank you to everyone who has helped me through the hard stuff and to those who share with the fun and laughter. That accounts for everybody!" - Miriam XXXX
 

R.I.P. producer/manager, music historian and cable-TV host Art Fein

Sadly, Art Fein, host of Art Fein's Poker Party and rock 'n' roll's best friend has passed away. He'll be greatly missed!

Dave Alvin remembers Art Fein

Extremely sad hearing of the passing of Art Fein. 

There is so much to say about Art. A music journalist, a  passionate (though always nicely cynical) true believer in rock and roll, rockabilly and other raw creations, a sometime band manager/advocate for The Cramps, The Blasters and other notable groups, a public access television host (check out his old Little Art's Poker Party shows on YouTube), a sneaky photographer and a complicated friend. I'll save the details for the eventual memoir but for now, I'll just say a belated, sincere thank you to Art, for everything he did for The Blasters and me. 

Back in the early days of The Blasters, when few outside of Rollin' Rock Records knew or cared who we were, Art cared deeply. 

In late 1979/early 1980, I was a wannabe poet working as a fry cook in Long Beach. I was also a clumsy guitar basher in a R&B combo from Downey who was beginning to write songs for my brother to sing. One of those songs was called Marie Marie. 

Long story short: Art Fein played Marie to a Welsh rock and roll singer named Shakin' Stevens, who quickly recorded my song and made it into a huge international hit (everywhere except the USofA). Thanks to Art Fein (and the ensuing BMI royalty checks), I was soon able to quit my job as a cook and pursue music.songwriting and rockin' n' rollin' full time. 

I can never, ever thank you enough for all you did for me, Art. Especially for ending my career as a fry cook.

Rock In Peace! - Dave Alvin

 

LINKS

Los Angeles Times Poker Party's freewheeling ace Art Fein

Get a copy of Art Fein's memoir Rock's In My Head (Trouser Press) right here.

Remembering Chuck E. Weiss on his 80th birthday

Remembering hipster Chuck E. Weiss on what would've been his 80th with a few 78 finds and some Art Fein's Poker Party clips. 

Remembering Norton's Billy Miller on his birthday

Remembering Norton Records mainman Billy Miller with a Hasil Adkins documentary along with a few A-Bones and Zantees clips.

Happy Birthday Billy Boy Arnold!

Here's Chicago blues harp hero reprising "I Wish You Would" with Phil Alvin on Art Fein's Poker Party back in 1993. 

R.I.P. rockabilly rebel Johnny Powers, 1938-2023

Remembering Detroit rockabilly great Johnny Powers with a documentary trailer and a performance on Art Fein's Poker Party.  

Texas top hand Don Walser plays the Poker Party

Watch late great country yodeler and Texas Plainsmen singer Don Walser on Art Fein's Poker Party circa '96.