I have reduced the price on all my available CD's to five bucks, yes, that's $5 dollars American greenbacks. This is a serious deal.
Write me at:
georgedlee@sbcglobal.net
post a comment on this blog site, or at:
www.myspace.com/georgedouglaslee
or call me at 409-763-3160
and you can have a copy of the newest "Rock and Roll Singer", a retrospective of kick-ass cuts from my days in the bands "GEO" and "WHITE HEAT"... or for some comedy for the kids and the young-at-heart, "Monster Musicals", with songs and voices from three of my plays; and for some live acoustic rock, "Courtyard Cafe", my first release.
You will not be disappointed!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
THE ROCK AND ROLL SINGER RETURNS
THE ROCK AND ROLL SINGER CD!
MY newest old CD, or oldest new CD, that is to say, my latest CD release of previously recorded material ships Wednesday the 21st (March) from NY.The disc is called "Rock and Roll Singer" because in those days, that's what I was. Recorded at SoundMasters Studios, ACA Studios and Studio B, all in Houston, the songs are a retrospective from 1975 - 1982.
The first 6 cuts were single records (45's to those under a hundred and over 50) and the rest of the twelve songs were recorded for the album "Made To Be Played", released in 1983. A number of musicians played on the songs, and sadly, three are no longer with us. However, my good friend Tom Harrison - Madison Texas Rhythm Assassin (drummer that is), and guitarist/singer as well, is still in touch and helping stoke the fires of my long dormant musical recording career.
Joe Alford played bass, guitar and sang background vocals, and was former bassist for Collin Raye's band was my musical fraternal twin during those years, John Bember, long time neighbor (drums); Bob Glass (drums); Johnny Gaertner, lead guitarist on "Elayne" and "It's Up To You" and leader of my first rock 'n roll band Uncle Jak, is an executive with Champion Paper Company, among the others, but these were and remain great friends and valuable influences.
There are several "classics", among my legion of fan, that is. "Sweet & Brutal", "Elayne", "Maybe I'm Fallin'", "Indiana Red", "No Woman" and the title track "Rock and Roll Singer".My wife Brenda loves these tunes and took it upon herself to produce this retrospective and get it out there before she becomes a city councilwoman and has no time or sense left.I rediscovered these tracks, and for the most parts, the master tapes were in pretty good shape and the productions on most hold up very well, as it's been so long, 70's style record sounds are coming back, although now musician's have access to better garages.
MY newest old CD, or oldest new CD, that is to say, my latest CD release of previously recorded material ships Wednesday the 21st (March) from NY.The disc is called "Rock and Roll Singer" because in those days, that's what I was. Recorded at SoundMasters Studios, ACA Studios and Studio B, all in Houston, the songs are a retrospective from 1975 - 1982.
The first 6 cuts were single records (45's to those under a hundred and over 50) and the rest of the twelve songs were recorded for the album "Made To Be Played", released in 1983. A number of musicians played on the songs, and sadly, three are no longer with us. However, my good friend Tom Harrison - Madison Texas Rhythm Assassin (drummer that is), and guitarist/singer as well, is still in touch and helping stoke the fires of my long dormant musical recording career.
Joe Alford played bass, guitar and sang background vocals, and was former bassist for Collin Raye's band was my musical fraternal twin during those years, John Bember, long time neighbor (drums); Bob Glass (drums); Johnny Gaertner, lead guitarist on "Elayne" and "It's Up To You" and leader of my first rock 'n roll band Uncle Jak, is an executive with Champion Paper Company, among the others, but these were and remain great friends and valuable influences.
There are several "classics", among my legion of fan, that is. "Sweet & Brutal", "Elayne", "Maybe I'm Fallin'", "Indiana Red", "No Woman" and the title track "Rock and Roll Singer".My wife Brenda loves these tunes and took it upon herself to produce this retrospective and get it out there before she becomes a city councilwoman and has no time or sense left.I rediscovered these tracks, and for the most parts, the master tapes were in pretty good shape and the productions on most hold up very well, as it's been so long, 70's style record sounds are coming back, although now musician's have access to better garages.
As with all my CD's, you can buy Rock and Roll Singer at www.cdbaby.com/all/georgedouglaslee
Stay tuned for more....
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
MISSING AND REMISSING...
It's been hard enough just to keep up with posting newsworthy nonsense here at the GLOG Spot, but I have been totally remiss in leaving out information about my beloved son Colin! A dear friend whom I haven't seen or talked to in years wrote to say she'd looked at the site, but wondered why I didn't mention Colin. She knew how close we always were, and that got my attention. So much to do, so little time...
Colin Douglas Lee was named after the actor Colin Clive, whom you film buffs will recognize as Henry Frankenstein from the first two "Frankenstein" films with Boris Karloff and directed by James Whale. Our Lee family is of English, Scottish and French ancestry, so it was only fitting that he receive a good Welsh name.
He was born in Houston, Texas on July 7, 1982, shortly after the release of my first record album, "Made To Be Played". He has proven the old Cajun superstition of many 7's associated with a person bringing good luck. He was born on the seventh hour of the seventh day of the seventh month. He weighed 7 pounds. There were seven people in the delivery room.
He has been blessed with extraordinarily good fortune, certainly aided by his brilliant mind, multiple talents and incredibly good looks. He's not only been a fine son in every way, but I consider him my best friend as well. Always wise beyond his years, Colin had some sage advice when I was -- well, there's just no delicate or tactful way to put this - a divorce from his mother after 24 years. My fault, I will admit. I told him I would like to have custody of him (he was about 11), he calmly pointed out that, "Dad, you don't look good on paper." Of course, he was right. When he was 12, he sternly admonished me to "act his age!", after some childish thing I said or did.
Actually, Colin has become his grandfather, my dad, Douglas D. Lee, who was a successful bank president, now deceased. When I listen to my son, if I close my eyes, I would swear my dad has come back. This of course, is a very good thing! He's probably the son my dad always wanted. Me, I am totally right brained, all creative, no sense. Colin is a brilliant combination of both.
He is the director of operations at Stubbs Cycles in Houston, and is married to a beautiful young woman named Kyle. They just moved into their second home, a palatial residence in the Sienna Plantation area southwest of Sugar Land, Texas.
I only hope I can make him as proud of me as I am of him!
Colin Douglas Lee was named after the actor Colin Clive, whom you film buffs will recognize as Henry Frankenstein from the first two "Frankenstein" films with Boris Karloff and directed by James Whale. Our Lee family is of English, Scottish and French ancestry, so it was only fitting that he receive a good Welsh name.
He was born in Houston, Texas on July 7, 1982, shortly after the release of my first record album, "Made To Be Played". He has proven the old Cajun superstition of many 7's associated with a person bringing good luck. He was born on the seventh hour of the seventh day of the seventh month. He weighed 7 pounds. There were seven people in the delivery room.
He has been blessed with extraordinarily good fortune, certainly aided by his brilliant mind, multiple talents and incredibly good looks. He's not only been a fine son in every way, but I consider him my best friend as well. Always wise beyond his years, Colin had some sage advice when I was -- well, there's just no delicate or tactful way to put this - a divorce from his mother after 24 years. My fault, I will admit. I told him I would like to have custody of him (he was about 11), he calmly pointed out that, "Dad, you don't look good on paper." Of course, he was right. When he was 12, he sternly admonished me to "act his age!", after some childish thing I said or did.
Actually, Colin has become his grandfather, my dad, Douglas D. Lee, who was a successful bank president, now deceased. When I listen to my son, if I close my eyes, I would swear my dad has come back. This of course, is a very good thing! He's probably the son my dad always wanted. Me, I am totally right brained, all creative, no sense. Colin is a brilliant combination of both.
He is the director of operations at Stubbs Cycles in Houston, and is married to a beautiful young woman named Kyle. They just moved into their second home, a palatial residence in the Sienna Plantation area southwest of Sugar Land, Texas.
I only hope I can make him as proud of me as I am of him!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
George Lee trains the funlight on minimumwageland in this hilarious comediography about his adventures in retail.Targeteer follows George as he sorts socks and zones underwear. He learns to speak a new language of specifically vague acronyms and gets lost in the big box. See George in Lingerie, Girl's Bottoms, Diapers and Women's Accessories. Watch him take orders from adolescents with walkie-talkies!
It's all here in this comediography of dramatic proportions. This is what the book "Nickel and Dimed" only hinted at. Author Barbara Ehrenreich subtitled it, "...On Not getting by in America". This is the funny and the unfunny of the way it really is in Retail Land, and unbelievable as it will seem, it's the real deal.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Brenda Lee, Candidate For Galveston City Council, District 2
As of March 30, Brenda Donaloio and I will have been married for 6 months. As we celebrate our anniversary quarterly, it will be our second.
Apparently bored with this wedded bliss thing, Brenda announced last week that she will run for City Council in District 2, replacing former Councilman Marc Hoskins, who lost his appeal to be reinstated after his ouster.
After a decade of community service as president of the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association and the Galveston Alliance of Island Neighborhoods, plus her volunteer work with a number of organizations here, Brenda is uniquely qualified. Frankly, as an outsider, she's done more for this City than most elected officials and she knows how to build beautiful neighborhoods, one family at a time. After all, Cities are nothing more than a collection of neighborhoods under the umbrella of what we affectionately refer to as "government". If she can bring the same success to the City Council that she has to the San Jacinto Neighborhood, Schools, Playgrounds, the Seawall and so many other worthy projects that benefit people, not politicians, she will not only serve all three terms, she will be an excellent candidate for Mayor. I can certainly attest to the time she has given to these various endeavors, because I've had to give up a lot of time with her as a result. This is a great thing for this little town, not only because of her background, but also because of her impeccable ethics, honesty, intelligence and common sense approach to complex objectives. Yes, those are unique and, well, RARE qualities in government... I'm so convinced she's superior, I plan to vote twice, an honored Galveston tradition!
Brenda will be visiting residents in District 2, attending events and busily campaigning until the special election is Saturday, May 12. She refuses to vote twice, so I am coaching her on flexibility.
Apparently bored with this wedded bliss thing, Brenda announced last week that she will run for City Council in District 2, replacing former Councilman Marc Hoskins, who lost his appeal to be reinstated after his ouster.
After a decade of community service as president of the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association and the Galveston Alliance of Island Neighborhoods, plus her volunteer work with a number of organizations here, Brenda is uniquely qualified. Frankly, as an outsider, she's done more for this City than most elected officials and she knows how to build beautiful neighborhoods, one family at a time. After all, Cities are nothing more than a collection of neighborhoods under the umbrella of what we affectionately refer to as "government". If she can bring the same success to the City Council that she has to the San Jacinto Neighborhood, Schools, Playgrounds, the Seawall and so many other worthy projects that benefit people, not politicians, she will not only serve all three terms, she will be an excellent candidate for Mayor. I can certainly attest to the time she has given to these various endeavors, because I've had to give up a lot of time with her as a result. This is a great thing for this little town, not only because of her background, but also because of her impeccable ethics, honesty, intelligence and common sense approach to complex objectives. Yes, those are unique and, well, RARE qualities in government... I'm so convinced she's superior, I plan to vote twice, an honored Galveston tradition!
Brenda will be visiting residents in District 2, attending events and busily campaigning until the special election is Saturday, May 12. She refuses to vote twice, so I am coaching her on flexibility.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Sweep the Seas of plundering murderers... I ran across a small item in the Chronicle last week, one of those environmental posts buried back by the weather map. It reported that Japanese fishermen in the small village of Tajii had killed 20,000 bottle-nose dolphins since last October! I was incredulous and sickened. They perform this wholesale slaughter of our aquatic counterparts once a year. The Tajii fishermen coax and herd the dolphins into coves, then begin to shoot or harpoon those not drowned in the nets, until the water runs red with the mammals' blood. The dolphins that aren't murdered are trapped and sold to acquariums and carnivals. Genreally, the captured ones are very young.
Is nothing to be done before the Japanese deplete the seas of all marine life? They have practically overfished their own Sea of Japan, using mammoth vacuum hoses that suck everything from the water. Their factory ships continue to illegally hunt whales. They've found loopholes in the law to get away with hunting other species as well, claiming it is not for consumption but research. There is an organization called SEA SHEPHERDS who are doing something about this. Often referred to as Greenpeace, they are far more aggressive. And effective. Take a look at their website... www.seahshepherd.org
These people harrass and even fire on the hunters, who now become the hunted, until they are disabled and forced to stop and return to port. It's drastic, indeed, but apparently the only way to get them to stop.
Al Gore is winning Oscars and making money from his investments in carbon offset services while scaring people into believing we are in dire danger from global warming. Everyone is talking about it, even young children. I personally believe the inconvenient truth is science fiction, and the Earth is cycling as it has done since creation. Some scientists predict a cooling period in the next 40 years.
We should be conserving energy and stopping pollution for thousands of better reasons than the hype surrounding global warming. It's just common sense and best for everyone worldwide to cut back on the wholesale gluttony of fossil fuels. Frankly, it won't matter much when the seas have been depleted of life. Humans and much of nature are dependent on the Oceans, far more than the Japanese, the Russians and Icelanders are dependent on whale meat and fish to the point of decimating the populations.
Read about it, then do something. If nothing else, try to stop this vile practice because you are moved by the heartbreaking tragedy inflicted on these intelligent and innocent creatures. The founder of sea shepherd said he began the group after looking directly into the eye of a harpooned whale and... well, see for yourself on their website.
Is nothing to be done before the Japanese deplete the seas of all marine life? They have practically overfished their own Sea of Japan, using mammoth vacuum hoses that suck everything from the water. Their factory ships continue to illegally hunt whales. They've found loopholes in the law to get away with hunting other species as well, claiming it is not for consumption but research. There is an organization called SEA SHEPHERDS who are doing something about this. Often referred to as Greenpeace, they are far more aggressive. And effective. Take a look at their website... www.seahshepherd.org
These people harrass and even fire on the hunters, who now become the hunted, until they are disabled and forced to stop and return to port. It's drastic, indeed, but apparently the only way to get them to stop.
Al Gore is winning Oscars and making money from his investments in carbon offset services while scaring people into believing we are in dire danger from global warming. Everyone is talking about it, even young children. I personally believe the inconvenient truth is science fiction, and the Earth is cycling as it has done since creation. Some scientists predict a cooling period in the next 40 years.
We should be conserving energy and stopping pollution for thousands of better reasons than the hype surrounding global warming. It's just common sense and best for everyone worldwide to cut back on the wholesale gluttony of fossil fuels. Frankly, it won't matter much when the seas have been depleted of life. Humans and much of nature are dependent on the Oceans, far more than the Japanese, the Russians and Icelanders are dependent on whale meat and fish to the point of decimating the populations.
Read about it, then do something. If nothing else, try to stop this vile practice because you are moved by the heartbreaking tragedy inflicted on these intelligent and innocent creatures. The founder of sea shepherd said he began the group after looking directly into the eye of a harpooned whale and... well, see for yourself on their website.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
A YEAR OF BIG CHANGES FOR GEORGE!
I haven't had a chance to update this Glog (George Lee web Log). Especially lately since bigtime neck surgery which has changed me from a lower animal into an even lower form of inbertebrate, perhaps a mollusk. I had a very expensive and painful laminectomy, which was more complex than my previous lobotomy, probably because there was more to work with and less bone. Now I have less nerve than before, and once I can move my head, sit and stand, I will be in much better shape, but probably shorter. In fact, it's difficult to type this while holding my head down and looking up at the same time, which plays hell with my bifocals and very expensive glasses that feature 16 levels of vision and I can't see out of any of them!
Obviously, due to pain as well as lapses in synapses, I haven't been playing guitar or singing anywhere in recent weeks. I can barely hold my nose, which is necessary while watching TV or reading the paper these days. (I just finished a book on Attila the Hun, my wife takes pointers from his behavioral therapy techniques. My favorite character in the book was Attila's jester, Atrocious, who was a noseless, hunchbacked Libyan dwarf with club foot and bad limp who stuttered and lisped. I like to share these little-known facts that everybody's heard of)
But I digress, as I always do when trying to make an elliptical point...
I will make my new-neck-debut at CLAUDIO'S in Kemah on Monday, March 5. Claudio's Open Mic Night, hosted by the ubiquitous and nimble-fingered guitarist extraordinaire, Mr. Lynn Raggio. Claudio's is viewable with location directions at:
http://www.claudiospianobar.com/bands/georgelee/georgelee.html
It is a fine dining and music establishment, Claudio himself is an accomplished international musician and Italian. I will play for thirty minutes, along with other singers and players. I hope to play there frequently. The ambience is charming, the food is excellent and the bar is well-stocked and lengthy.
MARRIED and still engaging: I travelled to the frozen north... Mt Upton, NY, upstate, to marry the former Brenda Donaloio, who is now a famous singer from the fifties and early sixties, Brenda Lee. It was a beautiful ceremony performed by a Nigerian Minister in several variations of English language, but we understood that we actually were married in a legally correct manner. We just celebrated our quarterly anniversary! Brenda and I were married on September 30, 2006 and honeymooned overnight in Unadilla, one of the better known lesser resorts near the Catskills. We also visited other points of interest, including Sidney, Milford, Oneanta, among the other thousands of hamlets and villages that pop up every 20 feet or so, before making our way back to Syracuse and on to Detroit, Houston and back to our home here on this pestilential little Island.
As of this writing, we are celebrating our second quarterly anniversary. One has to take these things in incremental steps, like an infant baby attempting to walk, but like riding a bicycle, sometimes the seat chafes and you get leg cramps. Writing things like this makes it obvious why I am known among women and Pomeranians as the "Master of Romance".
MUSIC UPDATES: "Rock and Roll Singer" is my newest collection of musical songs, and will be released by the end of March, or perhaps later than sooner. The album features the 6 songs from my three 45 rpm single records made between 1975 and 1979 with full instrumention. These days, I prefer to play with myself. An additional 6 songs are culled from sessions for the "Made To Be Played" 33 1/3 rpm record released in 1982, year of my wonderful son Colin's birth.
Once recovered from my recent surgery, I will make an aggressive effort to play in the Houston/Galveston area with more frequency.
With the help of Tom (Sumo) Harrison, accomplished drummer, singer and empressario, Brenda and I are planning to produce a studio demo of my new material using professional players with proven producer to shop my songs to established artists. Time to bask in the royalties from 30 years work.
PLAYS: I have been unable to interest Island theaters to stage any of my plays, which enjoyed much success in the Houston area during the nineties and early days of the 21st Century. All were well attended and made money. They also thoroughly entertained people and even generated productive thought, which is the point. In future, I hope to rent a theater and produce them myself, but until then, I have finally sent my plays to publishing houses in the major markets, i.e. Dramatic Publishing, Samuel French, Pioneer Drama, TheatreFolk and several others. I have more than twenty finished plays, most produced and they range from edgy social drama to musical comedy for children and families.
A BOOK: My latest venture, and one that I am very excited about, is currently being written. A book. It's entitled "TARGETEER". I've worked at the Galveston Target store (aka TargaMart, KinderStore and Mickey Mouse Club) for four years, about four years longer than I ever intended. It is quite a story. This is my real-world (if the retail planet can be addressed with such a cognomen) account of living on a minimum wage as a working poor targeteer in a big box discount store. I was inspired to write it all down by "The Lost Weekend" and "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. "Targeteer" is hilarious, insightful and somewhat melancholy. I hope to finish it by May and begin shopping it to publshers.
ART: During my medical leave, I have completed a number of art projects, the most significant being a series I call "Ceilings On The Wall". These are individually signed and numbered paintings created from vintage stamped tin ceiling panels (circa 1915) salvaged here in historic Galveston town, framed in century-old red pine that is literally soaked in the Gulf storm surge of the 1900 Storm which sank the Island under 12 feet of salt water on the horrifying night of September 8, 1900. I have completed over twenty of these unique pieces and will be displaying them in Houston galleries by summertime.
Obviously, due to pain as well as lapses in synapses, I haven't been playing guitar or singing anywhere in recent weeks. I can barely hold my nose, which is necessary while watching TV or reading the paper these days. (I just finished a book on Attila the Hun, my wife takes pointers from his behavioral therapy techniques. My favorite character in the book was Attila's jester, Atrocious, who was a noseless, hunchbacked Libyan dwarf with club foot and bad limp who stuttered and lisped. I like to share these little-known facts that everybody's heard of)
But I digress, as I always do when trying to make an elliptical point...
I will make my new-neck-debut at CLAUDIO'S in Kemah on Monday, March 5. Claudio's Open Mic Night, hosted by the ubiquitous and nimble-fingered guitarist extraordinaire, Mr. Lynn Raggio. Claudio's is viewable with location directions at:
http://www.claudiospianobar.com/bands/georgelee/georgelee.html
It is a fine dining and music establishment, Claudio himself is an accomplished international musician and Italian. I will play for thirty minutes, along with other singers and players. I hope to play there frequently. The ambience is charming, the food is excellent and the bar is well-stocked and lengthy.
MARRIED and still engaging: I travelled to the frozen north... Mt Upton, NY, upstate, to marry the former Brenda Donaloio, who is now a famous singer from the fifties and early sixties, Brenda Lee. It was a beautiful ceremony performed by a Nigerian Minister in several variations of English language, but we understood that we actually were married in a legally correct manner. We just celebrated our quarterly anniversary! Brenda and I were married on September 30, 2006 and honeymooned overnight in Unadilla, one of the better known lesser resorts near the Catskills. We also visited other points of interest, including Sidney, Milford, Oneanta, among the other thousands of hamlets and villages that pop up every 20 feet or so, before making our way back to Syracuse and on to Detroit, Houston and back to our home here on this pestilential little Island.
As of this writing, we are celebrating our second quarterly anniversary. One has to take these things in incremental steps, like an infant baby attempting to walk, but like riding a bicycle, sometimes the seat chafes and you get leg cramps. Writing things like this makes it obvious why I am known among women and Pomeranians as the "Master of Romance".
MUSIC UPDATES: "Rock and Roll Singer" is my newest collection of musical songs, and will be released by the end of March, or perhaps later than sooner. The album features the 6 songs from my three 45 rpm single records made between 1975 and 1979 with full instrumention. These days, I prefer to play with myself. An additional 6 songs are culled from sessions for the "Made To Be Played" 33 1/3 rpm record released in 1982, year of my wonderful son Colin's birth.
Once recovered from my recent surgery, I will make an aggressive effort to play in the Houston/Galveston area with more frequency.
With the help of Tom (Sumo) Harrison, accomplished drummer, singer and empressario, Brenda and I are planning to produce a studio demo of my new material using professional players with proven producer to shop my songs to established artists. Time to bask in the royalties from 30 years work.
PLAYS: I have been unable to interest Island theaters to stage any of my plays, which enjoyed much success in the Houston area during the nineties and early days of the 21st Century. All were well attended and made money. They also thoroughly entertained people and even generated productive thought, which is the point. In future, I hope to rent a theater and produce them myself, but until then, I have finally sent my plays to publishing houses in the major markets, i.e. Dramatic Publishing, Samuel French, Pioneer Drama, TheatreFolk and several others. I have more than twenty finished plays, most produced and they range from edgy social drama to musical comedy for children and families.
A BOOK: My latest venture, and one that I am very excited about, is currently being written. A book. It's entitled "TARGETEER". I've worked at the Galveston Target store (aka TargaMart, KinderStore and Mickey Mouse Club) for four years, about four years longer than I ever intended. It is quite a story. This is my real-world (if the retail planet can be addressed with such a cognomen) account of living on a minimum wage as a working poor targeteer in a big box discount store. I was inspired to write it all down by "The Lost Weekend" and "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. "Targeteer" is hilarious, insightful and somewhat melancholy. I hope to finish it by May and begin shopping it to publshers.
ART: During my medical leave, I have completed a number of art projects, the most significant being a series I call "Ceilings On The Wall". These are individually signed and numbered paintings created from vintage stamped tin ceiling panels (circa 1915) salvaged here in historic Galveston town, framed in century-old red pine that is literally soaked in the Gulf storm surge of the 1900 Storm which sank the Island under 12 feet of salt water on the horrifying night of September 8, 1900. I have completed over twenty of these unique pieces and will be displaying them in Houston galleries by summertime.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
