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Art Alexakis of Everclear - Hershey, PA - 8.28.2016

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Bethlehem, PA

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Tommy Stinson of Bash & Pop @ Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia

January 2017

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Pete Donnelly of The Figgs @ Bowery Electric, NYC

9.8.2018

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Leaman’s Place Covered Bridge, Paradise, PA

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“Hot Off The Press”

When this vee pack (a type of hydraulic seal) came off of the compression mold (press) the Duck & Rubber (a material that combines fabric and rubber) was still smoking. The press is still part of my world - but a smaller part, which operates a bit differently and tells an entirely different story.

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Today I received this beautiful plaque to acknowledge my service on the Board of Directors for the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. I’ve been very fortunate to have served with, and worked with, so many outstanding people over the years. They have inspired me, and motivated me, with their passion and commitment to the local business community, and our community as a whole. My hope is that I have made some worthwhile contributions along the way. There is no doubt that I have received far more than I have given, and I thank the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce for giving me the opportunity to serve.

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Buddy’s Christmas Pose (at Lebanon, Pennsylvania)

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The Old 97’s The Capitol Theatre York, PA May 7, 2017

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Jackson Browne April 5, 2017 Hershey, PA

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Brian Wilson April 25, 2017 Hershey, PA

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Prince, 1958-2016

Prince died today, and so did a part of my youth.

In 1984, I was dating a dancer. At 18, having just finished my first year in college, my horizons were expanding rapidly, and my mind was becoming far more open to different ways of thinking. Hardly a unique experience for an 18 year old college kid, but shut up. This is my story.

I’d grown tired of the small town, rock and jock mentality that had characterized my image of “cool�� to that point. The dancer and I came from very different places, and she opened my eyes to a lot of new thoughts and experiences that would help me set me on a path to part of who I am today.

1984 was the summer of Prince, and Purple Rain. It was an exciting time to be young, and in love, surrounded by creative, artistic people from diverse backgrounds, with different beliefs. There was lots of fascinating discussion, more than a few strange parties, and more than a few adventures. Prince provided us with a soundtrack to it all.

Looking back, I think Prince’s openness, honesty, androdgyny, sexuality, musicality and his freedom, provided me with a role model unlike any I’d had to that point.

I give him credit for my high heeled short boots, ruffled shirts, purple pants and dangly earring (It was Prince’s fault Dad. I wasn’t trying to piss you off. And I wasn’t playing “Fame” because I was hanging around with 3 dancers. I was trying to be my own half assed version of Prince.)

My dancer, and her friends, and Prince, helped my begin to break down some stereotypes and prejudices I had. One of my dancer’s best friends was gay. And black.

The race thing had never really been much of an issue for me, though growing up in a small town where there weren’t many people of color, I’d never had a close friend who was black.

I’d certainly never had a gay friend. Actually, he was very soon simply a friend, who happened to be gay. He actually became a friend who I occasionally poured my heart, and insecurities out to. He was a friend who gave me good advice - from a perspective most of my other guy friends either couldn’t, or more likely wouldn’t, ever have been secure enough to share. I can only hope I was as good of a friend to him as he was to me.

Don’t forget - ever, that Prince’s music was pure sex. That’s not a bad interest to share with a free-thinking dancer when you happen to be young and in love (and/or lust). I mean the common interest in Prince’s music. Well, and the sex. But that’s another story that’s none of your business. Suffice to say, my complexion cleared up that summer. At least that’s how my dad put it.

The fall brought one of the best birthday gifts ever - tickets to see the Purple Rain tour at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Thirty two years, and hundreds of concerts later, it remains one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Prince had it all - a master songwriter, musician, singer, dancer, showman. It was beyond s concert. It was a spectacle. The man was a genius. Really.

Things didn’t work out with the dancer. She left me with a broken heart, a bad habit, a broader mind and fond memories. All in all, I guess it worked out fine.

Prince stayed with me through the years, periodically providing me with a soundtrack or inspiration, and then disappearing. My musical tastes continued to grow, in part because Prince blended so many musical styles, it exposed me to new sounds, and old ones. In 1985 I wrote a research paper about Prince’s impact on music and popular culture. I connected Robert Johnson, to jazz, to Little Richard, to Mowtown, to Hendrix, to Sly & the Family Stone, to disco as the path from which Prince evolved. It was pretty good, and a terrific musical education for me. I think I got a B.

Thank you for a funky time.

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Proud to support and participate in this outstanding event for a second year.

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Menzenhauer Guitar Zither, Circa 1894

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“You can’t go skinny dippin’ in your underwear.”

Scott S. Downs