Garth Drabinsky was born in Toronto, Canada.
He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1973.
He produced several films in the late '70s and early '80s and in 1979 he helped co-found Cineplex Odeon, the predecessor of Cineplex Entertainment, the largest Canadian operator of movie theaters.
In 1995, he was made an Officer in the Order of Canada, an honour for merit that is the highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council in the Canadian system of honours.
He also operated Livent, the publicly traded theater company.
Livent acquired the Lyric and Apollo theaters in New York City and remodeled them into the Ford Center of Performing Arts, later renamed the Hilton Theater.
Drabinsky's productions won 19 Tony Awards.
However, some productions were too lavish and the company was losing money. In 1997 alone they lost over $40 million.
In November of 1998, Drabinsky sought bankruptcy protection in the US, claiming a debt of $334 million.
After investigations by both US and Canadian securities regulators, Drabinsky and his partner, Myron Gottlieb were found guilty of fraud and forgery for misstating the company's financial records.
On August 5, 2009, Garth Drabinsky was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the half billion dollar fraud at Livent.
"Ragtime" was the inaugural Livent production in the Ford Center.
It had a long run but was financially unsuccessful.
Some Broadway insiders consider its lavish production to have been the financial "undoing" of Livent.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Loreena McKennitt- The Mummers' Dance
When somebody is doing what they love, does it matter if anyone else appreciates it?
When that somebody works hard and perseveres, shouldn't others pay attention?
Especially when that somebody takes their work so seriously?
Well, people have started to notice Loreena McKennitt.
It's OK that you don't know who Loreena McKennitt is (yet).
She's still sold 13 million albums worldwide.
But in case you wanted to know, she is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs "world music", mostly with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes.
At a young age, she fell in love with Celtic music. After she learned to play the Celtic harp, she performed in public places for tips in order to earn enough money to publish her first album.
It was recorded in a studio in a barn.
Her popularity slowly rose in the late 1980's and early 1990's until she won two Juno awards in Canada for her 1991 and 1994 studio releases. These albums have been certified Gold in the US.
Before McKennitt composes any music, she engages in considerable research on a specific subject which then forms the general concept of the album. This often involves travel to such places as Ireland, Spain, and The Silk Road of Asia.
She frequently uses literary works as sources of lyrics or as a springboard for interpretation.
This song comes from her 1997 release "The Book of Secrets".
It was the theme song for the TV series "Legacy" (it only lasted one year...not much of a legacy), and was included on the trailer for the Drew Barrymore film "Ever After".
When that somebody works hard and perseveres, shouldn't others pay attention?
Especially when that somebody takes their work so seriously?
Well, people have started to notice Loreena McKennitt.
It's OK that you don't know who Loreena McKennitt is (yet).
She's still sold 13 million albums worldwide.
But in case you wanted to know, she is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs "world music", mostly with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes.
At a young age, she fell in love with Celtic music. After she learned to play the Celtic harp, she performed in public places for tips in order to earn enough money to publish her first album.
It was recorded in a studio in a barn.
Her popularity slowly rose in the late 1980's and early 1990's until she won two Juno awards in Canada for her 1991 and 1994 studio releases. These albums have been certified Gold in the US.
Before McKennitt composes any music, she engages in considerable research on a specific subject which then forms the general concept of the album. This often involves travel to such places as Ireland, Spain, and The Silk Road of Asia.
She frequently uses literary works as sources of lyrics or as a springboard for interpretation.
This song comes from her 1997 release "The Book of Secrets".
It was the theme song for the TV series "Legacy" (it only lasted one year...not much of a legacy), and was included on the trailer for the Drew Barrymore film "Ever After".
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Great Smoky Mountain Bird and Creek Sounds
I went to see my Granny today.
I usually see her every Tuesday morning.
About 2 years ago, I started driving south about an hour every Tuesday morning so I could adjust my Mom and Dad. I'm only in the office for about an hour. Then it's back to Woodstock for my afternoon shift.
Since then, my aunt and uncle, an old patient that I had from the five years that I practiced in McDonough, and several friends have been coming in on a regular basis to get chiropractic care.
I usually bring one of my kids with me. They look forward to seeing Nana and Pops, and then going to IHOP with Daddy afterwards.
Shortly after I began going down, my Granny started coming to see me.
She has had chiropractic care for much of her life off and on.
Now she's coming to see her grandson.
I remember when we were younger, we used to go camping alot. We would go to High Falls, Hard Labor Creek, and Myrtle Beach. But some of my most vivid memories with Granny is camping in the Smoky Mountains. We would cookout, go tubing in the creek, go to Ghost Town, and lots of other fun things.
She was always right there with us participating in those activities.
She turned 89 this past January.
Now she needs help to stand up and she has to have someone with her all the time.
Her mind isn't quite what it used to be either.
Today, I spent a little extra time on her. I know she won't be with us much longer.
After I was done, she said, "I sure do thank you."
No, Granny. I thank you.
I usually see her every Tuesday morning.
About 2 years ago, I started driving south about an hour every Tuesday morning so I could adjust my Mom and Dad. I'm only in the office for about an hour. Then it's back to Woodstock for my afternoon shift.
Since then, my aunt and uncle, an old patient that I had from the five years that I practiced in McDonough, and several friends have been coming in on a regular basis to get chiropractic care.
I usually bring one of my kids with me. They look forward to seeing Nana and Pops, and then going to IHOP with Daddy afterwards.
Shortly after I began going down, my Granny started coming to see me.
She has had chiropractic care for much of her life off and on.
Now she's coming to see her grandson.
I remember when we were younger, we used to go camping alot. We would go to High Falls, Hard Labor Creek, and Myrtle Beach. But some of my most vivid memories with Granny is camping in the Smoky Mountains. We would cookout, go tubing in the creek, go to Ghost Town, and lots of other fun things.
She was always right there with us participating in those activities.
She turned 89 this past January.
Now she needs help to stand up and she has to have someone with her all the time.
Her mind isn't quite what it used to be either.
Today, I spent a little extra time on her. I know she won't be with us much longer.
After I was done, she said, "I sure do thank you."
No, Granny. I thank you.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven
Sometimes when I pray, it's like I'm in a very tight rubber room and the words just keep bouncing around inside the room until I give up.
At other times, it seems like the words get lost as quickly as they are formed and evaporate into thin air.
But every once in a while, there is a tangible connectiveness in which the words actually feel like they are drawn out of you. In those moments, you feel as if you have direct access to the eternal mind of the Creator.
There have been times that I have prayed for something and forgotten about it. Then years later you see or hear something, and you think "God did hear me", because the very thing you asked for is right there.
I posted a few weeks back about a friend of mine that had gotten mixed up with meth.
I had learned that he was in rehab and wrote him again.
This time...I got a reply.
"I am doing fine here, learning how to break the chains of addiction through Jesus Christ and building a closer relationship with him. For this is where I can't go wrong."
This is going to be a long road. But I have learned over the last 40 years that life is about one thing:
relationships.
We're all busy. But at the end of the day, it's people that matter.
I keep praying that God will continue his work of healing.
And I've got the feeling that He's listening.
At other times, it seems like the words get lost as quickly as they are formed and evaporate into thin air.
But every once in a while, there is a tangible connectiveness in which the words actually feel like they are drawn out of you. In those moments, you feel as if you have direct access to the eternal mind of the Creator.
There have been times that I have prayed for something and forgotten about it. Then years later you see or hear something, and you think "God did hear me", because the very thing you asked for is right there.
I posted a few weeks back about a friend of mine that had gotten mixed up with meth.
I had learned that he was in rehab and wrote him again.
This time...I got a reply.
"I am doing fine here, learning how to break the chains of addiction through Jesus Christ and building a closer relationship with him. For this is where I can't go wrong."
This is going to be a long road. But I have learned over the last 40 years that life is about one thing:
relationships.
We're all busy. But at the end of the day, it's people that matter.
I keep praying that God will continue his work of healing.
And I've got the feeling that He's listening.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Chris Botti with Sting- Seven Days
If I were to ask who is the largest selling American jazz instrumentalist, your answer would be...?
You peeked at the title.
Yes, Chris Botti.
Some people are just made to play. Chris is one of those.
When he was 12 years old, he heard Miles Davis play "My Funny Valentine".
He then realized that playing the trumpet was his key to "doing something meaningful with my life".
At 17 he enrolled in Mount Hood Community College in his home state of Oregon, and finished out his senior credits there. He constructed this scenario so that he could play at Portland clubs in the evenings.
After graduating from high school, Botti studied under jazz educator David Baker and trumpet professor Bill Adam at Indiana University. Botti was also the recipient of two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts which allowed him to study with trumpeter Woody Shaw and saxophonist George Coleman during two consecutive summer breaks.
He left Indiana University during his senior year so he could do a short touring stint with Frank Sinatra.
I think I would have, too.
In the 1990's, he began most of his touring and recording.
During that period, he also performed/recorded with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Scritti Politti, Roger Daltrey and others, including Sting.
This is from a performance at the historic Boston Symphony Hall with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on September 18 and 19, 2008. The show includes guest appearances from Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer, Katharine McPhee, Sting, Lucia Micarelli and Steven Tyler.
What a lineup.
You peeked at the title.
Yes, Chris Botti.
Some people are just made to play. Chris is one of those.
When he was 12 years old, he heard Miles Davis play "My Funny Valentine".
He then realized that playing the trumpet was his key to "doing something meaningful with my life".
At 17 he enrolled in Mount Hood Community College in his home state of Oregon, and finished out his senior credits there. He constructed this scenario so that he could play at Portland clubs in the evenings.
After graduating from high school, Botti studied under jazz educator David Baker and trumpet professor Bill Adam at Indiana University. Botti was also the recipient of two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts which allowed him to study with trumpeter Woody Shaw and saxophonist George Coleman during two consecutive summer breaks.
He left Indiana University during his senior year so he could do a short touring stint with Frank Sinatra.
I think I would have, too.
In the 1990's, he began most of his touring and recording.
During that period, he also performed/recorded with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Scritti Politti, Roger Daltrey and others, including Sting.
This is from a performance at the historic Boston Symphony Hall with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on September 18 and 19, 2008. The show includes guest appearances from Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer, Katharine McPhee, Sting, Lucia Micarelli and Steven Tyler.
What a lineup.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Louis Prima- Oh Marie
Have you ever seemingly been the last person on Earth to see a movie?
A few years ago, about 5 to be exact, Bekah and I went on a cruise with some friends from church.
Well, Be-Bop went with us because she had just been hatched. Plus, she looked so cute with the flamingoes in the Bahamas.
For most of the trip, the guys that we went with were reciting lines from "Napolean Dynamite".
At the time, I don't think I had ever heard of the film, but they had obviously enjoyed it immensely, because that is just about the extent of the conversation that weekend...
...that and the repeating of the phrase, "Git-r-done", another phenomena that I was late on.
So guess what Bekah and I did as soon as we got back home?
We rented "Napolean Dynamite" (and got a copy of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour).
As I am writing this, I am finishing a box of tots. I've got mad skills at this blogging thing. Git-r-done.
So I thought I was caught up.
Yesterday, I read about a 1996 film starring Tony Shalhoub from "Wings" and "Monk", Stanley Tucci from lots of things, Marc Anthony, and Minnie Driver.
It's called "Big Night".
Set in the 1950's in a small town on the Jersey Shore, it tells of two immigrant brothers from Italy who own and operate a restaurant called "Paradise".
As their restaurant is failing, one of the brothers goes to a successful competitor (one, whose wife he happens to be having an affair with), and asks for a loan. Instead, the competitor says that when the great Italian-American trumpeter, Louis Prima, comes to town, he will arrange for him to visit their restaurant. Surely his patronage will revitalize their business.
The brothers frantically prepare for the "big night", inviting dozens of people to dine for free, and spending what little they have left in preparation of an extravagant feast.
The film won several awards when it was released.
This particular tune is included on the soundtrack.
Louis Prima, incidentally, went on to voice the raucous orangutan King Louie in the Disney animated film "The Jungle Book".
That one I've seen.
A few years ago, about 5 to be exact, Bekah and I went on a cruise with some friends from church.
Well, Be-Bop went with us because she had just been hatched. Plus, she looked so cute with the flamingoes in the Bahamas.
For most of the trip, the guys that we went with were reciting lines from "Napolean Dynamite".
At the time, I don't think I had ever heard of the film, but they had obviously enjoyed it immensely, because that is just about the extent of the conversation that weekend...
...that and the repeating of the phrase, "Git-r-done", another phenomena that I was late on.
So guess what Bekah and I did as soon as we got back home?
We rented "Napolean Dynamite" (and got a copy of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour).
As I am writing this, I am finishing a box of tots. I've got mad skills at this blogging thing. Git-r-done.
So I thought I was caught up.
Yesterday, I read about a 1996 film starring Tony Shalhoub from "Wings" and "Monk", Stanley Tucci from lots of things, Marc Anthony, and Minnie Driver.
It's called "Big Night".
Set in the 1950's in a small town on the Jersey Shore, it tells of two immigrant brothers from Italy who own and operate a restaurant called "Paradise".
As their restaurant is failing, one of the brothers goes to a successful competitor (one, whose wife he happens to be having an affair with), and asks for a loan. Instead, the competitor says that when the great Italian-American trumpeter, Louis Prima, comes to town, he will arrange for him to visit their restaurant. Surely his patronage will revitalize their business.
The brothers frantically prepare for the "big night", inviting dozens of people to dine for free, and spending what little they have left in preparation of an extravagant feast.
The film won several awards when it was released.
This particular tune is included on the soundtrack.
Louis Prima, incidentally, went on to voice the raucous orangutan King Louie in the Disney animated film "The Jungle Book".
That one I've seen.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tool- "Track #1" from Aenima
My oldest kids are into Michael Jackson now. They are 9 and 7.
I'm not exactly sure how this happened.
I think it's probably Jared's fault.
Jared is a kid that was in C-Bo's 3rd grade class last year.
My suspicion stems from a lunch visit that I made during the school year in which I sat next to my son and Jared and throughout the whole meal Jared lamented, "I can't believe the King of Pop is dead."
Not that I'm upset about it.
I enjoyed MJ's music. And it's not like they're going over to Neverland for a sleepover.
But I digress...
So now they like to watch Michael Jackson videos on YouTube...
which is fine for the most part.
Good tunes, good moves.
Except "Thriller".
Now P-Diddy (my number 2 son) sometimes has a hard time getting to sleep because of the images of the zombies on "Thriller".
So we have to remind him to think about silly stuff like "Spongebob" to get to sleep.
I'm still not sure how that helps.
We caution them not to click on anything but those videos that their Mom and I have pre-approved as acceptable viewing. So...
Today, I wanted to do a post on the band "Tool".
"Tool" is a Grammy award winning alternative metal band. Due to their incorporation of visual arts and relatively long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transcending act and part of progressive and art rock. Their 1996 album, Aenima went triple platinum.
This particular song is the first track on the album.
After watching the video, I think I'll be humming the Spongebob theme song before I can go to sleep tonight.
I'm not exactly sure how this happened.
I think it's probably Jared's fault.
Jared is a kid that was in C-Bo's 3rd grade class last year.
My suspicion stems from a lunch visit that I made during the school year in which I sat next to my son and Jared and throughout the whole meal Jared lamented, "I can't believe the King of Pop is dead."
Not that I'm upset about it.
I enjoyed MJ's music. And it's not like they're going over to Neverland for a sleepover.
But I digress...
So now they like to watch Michael Jackson videos on YouTube...
which is fine for the most part.
Good tunes, good moves.
Except "Thriller".
Now P-Diddy (my number 2 son) sometimes has a hard time getting to sleep because of the images of the zombies on "Thriller".
So we have to remind him to think about silly stuff like "Spongebob" to get to sleep.
I'm still not sure how that helps.
We caution them not to click on anything but those videos that their Mom and I have pre-approved as acceptable viewing. So...
Today, I wanted to do a post on the band "Tool".
"Tool" is a Grammy award winning alternative metal band. Due to their incorporation of visual arts and relatively long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transcending act and part of progressive and art rock. Their 1996 album, Aenima went triple platinum.
This particular song is the first track on the album.
After watching the video, I think I'll be humming the Spongebob theme song before I can go to sleep tonight.
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