27 Jul

About BG (Big Geez)

Posted by BG.

biggeezchimp1

I’m a retiree who is also a music lover, so I’ve sort of combined the two to make this blog. It started as an offshoot of my old website (GEEZERWEB — now discontinued because most of my attention is here these days). Once I realized what a great job WordPress does with blog hosting, I migrated everything over here. Smartest thing I ever did.

I’m located in the Midwestern US, and before my retirement was a manager at a facility that was part of a middle-sized company — which was then swallowed up by a much bigger company. The end was in sight, and when our location was shut down I took early retirement. At that time, I recognized the need for a way for former co-workers and friends to keep in touch, so I started a site on the web. It was a scrolling, regularly updated source of news, gossip, pictures and links — a blog, years before I’d even heard the word.

With the Geezer Music Club, I’ve entered the world of conventional blogging and I’m having a ball. I think there’s a real need for Seniors (or Geezers as I like to call us) to stay active in all ways, and that’s one of the reasons for some of the things I do on the internet. That — and to keep me out of Mrs. BG’s hair.

19 Responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Lori on February 19, 2007 at 2:30 pm

    I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for writing about the Cotton Club, as an artist I decided to paint Loui Armstrong with the infamous Cotton Club sign behind him, and found that your article intriqued me even more so to paint it. Thanks so much.
    Regards,
    Lori Andrews

  2. Posted by George Spink on March 6, 2007 at 3:09 am

    I enjoyed browsing through your site tonight, the first time I have done so. We have a few things in common. I retired in 2001 and have spent the past five-plus years working on my web sites and blogs, most of which pertain to jazz and big band music.

    Two of my sites I think you will enjoy are:

    Tuxedo Junction – http://www.tuxjunction.net
    The Palomar – http://milliondreamsago.net
    (The Palomar also is a WordPress blog.)

    I have another site, Club Alibi, that features hard-driving rhyhtm n’blues and classic rock n’roll from the mid-1950s, when I was a teenager. Born in 1940, I am now 66.

    I liked your comments about how big bands were featured in movies. I look forward to watching them whenever they are shown on Turner Classic Movies and Fox Movies.

    PBS ran an interesting program on “Soundies” over the weekend. I’m now searching the Internet to find some “Soundies” I can download for free. YouTube, Google Video, and a few other sites have some. Do you have any suggestions where I should look?

    Keep up the great work!

    Cordially,

    George Spink
    Los Angeles

  3. Posted by dave on April 13, 2007 at 1:54 pm

    Thanks for a great website! I just accidentally discovered this while trying to do a little research on my latest acquisition – a Selmer Modele 22 Tenor sax in silver plate. I still have my day job, but my first love is music performance. I was a musician in the Navy, and probably should have majored in music in college, but make more money as a civil engineer. I suspect we are about the same age – some of my earliest music memories were listening to my parent’s 78 rpm Glenn Miller, Bix Beiderbecke, and Billie Holiday records. I currently hold the bari sax chair with the Ches Kellam Orchestra, and am on the sub list for three or four big bands in the Baltimore/Washington region. Mostly, though, I am musical theater productions, ’cause that s where the demand is.

  4. Posted by biggeez on April 14, 2007 at 7:42 pm

    Thanks, Dave – it does sound like we have a lot in common, although I wouldn’t know where to start if I were to pick up my old clarinet.

  5. Posted by fiddlersson on June 3, 2007 at 3:15 pm

    Hey Big Geez
    Love the site and information. I like others ran across it by accident… I have a website also for geezers I guess, I am 50 and promote my 75 year old fathers music! So ain’t none of us getting no younger. He has a CD of traditional country and old time fiddle tunes for your pleasure and enjoyment. The site has a great links page that even lists free music instruction links and such. I was looking for someone to review his CD, not an easy thing these days with all the new wave music and sites…
    Come give us a visit, we are http://www.roycrawford.net
    Will be adding a link to your Geezin on our site soon as I can.
    Take care and God Bless
    Roy Crawford Jr. (Fiddler’s Son)

  6. Posted by David Webster on September 1, 2007 at 8:22 am

    Yo BG: Enjoyed your site….you have a very good ear. I am a huge Tommy Emmanuel fan. The Mystery Cd review is spot on. Look at the CD named Happy Hour, Tommy is playing with a fab swing guitarist by the name of Jim Nichols.
    Actually all Tommy’s CD’s are great music….I particularly love the Only and Initiation CD’s and his 2 DVD’s St Lois and Australian concerts are amazing. I will also tell you that it is very easy to get his music from his web site. Gina and Tracy do a wonderfull job getting his music out. I will book mark this web site for future. All the best and happy retirement Cheers

  7. Posted by BG on September 1, 2007 at 1:19 pm

    Thanks, David – nice to have you aboard.

  8. Posted by Cornelius Washington on November 28, 2007 at 8:32 pm

    Big Geez,
    I would like to publish your article “Retro Redux: Brainwashed (?) By Radio Moscow” in our organization’s newsletter May I have your permission to do so? We are a ham radio radio organization. Check out our web site http://www.omikradio.org.

    Cornelius

  9. Posted by John Kernell on December 24, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Hi, BG,

    Great blog. Awesome! Fixed the link to the newer URL at http://www.thegeezerbrigade.com/daily.html

    John Kernell
    The Geezer in Chief (for now)

  10. Posted by BG on December 24, 2007 at 2:23 pm

    Thanks, John

  11. Posted by Rene Morris K6XW on December 14, 2008 at 9:48 am

    Hello BG,

    I stumbled on your site while looking for Radio Moscow recordings.
    I too listened to RM in my youth. I was in my late teens and
    interested in SW radio (among many other things) and recall
    listening to Radio Moscow with all the propaganda they could muster.
    I am leaving this message for you to let you know that you can still
    be the ham that you wanted to be as a youth! It’s easier now than
    ever before as there is no Morse code required. If you are even
    a little interested, please email me directly so we can discuss.

    Rene Morris
    K6XW

  12. Posted by Alan G on March 14, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Doing a little “tag” surfing in WordPress and ran across your blog. Enjoyed my visit and took in a tune or two, or three. As long as your ticket prices remain at your current level…..count on my return! :)

  13. Posted by Phil Ralph on May 31, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    Hi. I’ve been searching for the name of the banjo-guitarist with Larry Clinton’s Orchestra on this youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVm9iTCsqQo

    Can anyone help, please? I’ve Googled for ages now and the only name that has come up is Jack Chesleigh. Someone else put a message on the youtube clip that it could be Bennie Mortell.

    Also, is that a solid-body amplified banjo that he is playing? Sounds like a guitar, not a banjo.

  14. Posted by sandrar on September 10, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

  15. Posted by BG on September 10, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    Thanks, Sandra — good to have you on board.

  16. Posted by mel carter on November 13, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    BG I just wanted to thank you for the piece you did on me and all the wonderful adjectives you expressed and yes I’m still doing what I was born to do and that is sing and entertain—though I laughed when you said they compared me with a energetic Jonny Mathis (smile)–lets keep the magic going with the new cd “THE HEART AND SOUL OF MEL CARTER” that is through on the second ballot for a Grammy this year–again thank you much and I do appreciate your comments—God Bless—Mel Carter

  17. Posted by BG on November 13, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Thanks for writing, Mel.

    You have a lot of fans around — keep singing!

  18. Posted by Brigitte Zarie on November 25, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    Hey there love your blog thought ,or hoped you might enjoy my music!
    Have a wonderful thanksgiving big geez!

  19. Posted by BG on November 26, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    Thanks for writing. For those who are curious, you can access Brigette’s music HERE. Try it — you might like it. I did.

Respond to this post