At first I didn’t think I’d have to spend much time in explaining Frank Sinatra. I have, however, thought the better of it. I write for a jazz site with some frequency, and a copy editor told me I had to identify “Bird” (i.e., Charlie Parker, the alto saxophonist, sort of synonymous with the inventionContinue reading “Frank Sinatra, Yock, and the Corner”
Author Archives: RJS El Tejano
Holy ! Week !
Holy Week. It does it every time. I realize that if you are not a Roman Catholic of a certain age (partially pre-Vatican II), you are liable to find a lot of what follows of little interest. I certainly don’t want to reduce my legion of loyal followers (maybe two dozen at last count) anyContinue reading “Holy ! Week !”
Over Manoa Road
His name was Ernie Pellegrino. He was always dressed in white. If he had a sense of humor, you could’ve fooled me. He presided over “Ernie’s,” the barber shop at Manoa Road Shopping Center. He was a glowering presence, the yin to the yang and sunny disposition of the guy who owned the hardware storeContinue reading “Over Manoa Road”
But What About Ordinary People? The Super Bowl Ain’t For You, Friend (or For Me. For That Matter)
I guess it was last year the Philadelphia Inquirer, which I regard as hopelessly “woke” (sorry), ran an idiotic story about the price of Super Bowl tickets. The gist, of course, was that you had to be pretty damn affluent to afford the thrill. No kidding. This is America. Money talks. If you haven’t noticed,Continue reading “But What About Ordinary People? The Super Bowl Ain’t For You, Friend (or For Me. For That Matter)”
Lou, Zenith and WJBR
For some people, music has an odd effect. You hear something, maybe even a few bars, and all of a sudden, you’re in another world. Usually, that world has a few miles on it, as do you. But for a few seconds, or a few minutes, you’re there. Sights, sounds, nous, cultural milieu, things otherwiseContinue reading “Lou, Zenith and WJBR”
A King Fit for A Mall and Other Travel Stuff
So, for the first time since Covid, I got out of Dodge, otherwise known as San Antonio. Yup. I took the plunge to go see my daughter, Rosie, in Germany, where she is a free-lance bass player and all-around interesting person. It took more nerve than I thought I could summon up. See, I amContinue reading “A King Fit for A Mall and Other Travel Stuff”
Hail to the Blue and Gold
Yeah, there was one of them glinty balls that reflected spots of light all over the auditorium. And on special occasions, the nuns would fire it up. You know, it was like something out of the Roaring Twenties. That’s because it was something out of the Roaring Twenties. Today we call them Disco Balls, butContinue reading “Hail to the Blue and Gold”
Philly is the New Ciudad Juárez
Warning: This won’t display well on a smart phone. Sorry Anyone lucky enough to know me will already know what I did for a living. By training– some colleagues in other disciplines might dispute this–I was (and) am an economic historian. My principal field was Colonial Latin America, but I have stuck to Mexico. WhyContinue reading “Philly is the New Ciudad Juárez”
Madeline and Her Sisters
Believe me, I have thought a great deal about this one. I wasn’t really sure I could even write it, even though I’ve written about lot of others in my family, including my Dad. Yeah, it’s, as the cliche goes, complicated. Writing about my Mom was never going to be easy because in her ownContinue reading “Madeline and Her Sisters”
Aunt Frances to You, But Grandmom to Me
“Weren’t there any women in your family?” No. Italians reproduce asexually. At least married ones. Look, there were some people in my family who were too good to be true. My maternal grandmother was one of them. So if you are as cynical as I am, you will stop right here. But that doesn’t changeContinue reading “Aunt Frances to You, But Grandmom to Me”
This Game Is Over, Salvucci Sez 