Dawn and I enjoy watching “America’s Got Talent” and witnessing the birth of some amazing acts like Terry Fator and Bianca Ryan. Some of you may not be aware that the show is patterned after its counterpart, “Britain’s Got Talent”.

If you watched BGT last season, you’ll remember finalist Connie Talbot, the little six-year-old princess that captured everyone’s hearts with her version of Over the Rainbow. Following the competition, she recorded an album featuring some of her favorite songs. I’ve posted two, but you can hear more, including her new single, Three Little Birds, on Connie’s web site.

I have to admit that I’m a little disoriented; I’m talking about a recording artist, her album, her new single, her web site… and she’s only six!? But no matter; she’s definitely got talent!

If you’re in the Sacramento area tonight or tomorrow night, drop by The Wrangler in Elk Grove and catch these guys…

Listen to a track or two on their site; I especially like the cut, “Whiskey Dawn”…

It’s Saturday and I’m sipping my first cup of Illy Italian coffee. I should be processing vacation photos, but I just can’t seem to get enthused about it on my crappy computer. Besides, it’s a beautiful day and I want to be out in it! So instead, I’ll momentarily indulge another interest: music.

Those who know me know I enjoy a wide variety, from classical to jazz to reggae to blues to country. Shortbus put me on to this group - Cross Canadian Ragweed - adding, “If you don’t like these guys, you ain’t right.”

I like ‘em! Give a listen!

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Cousin Mike sent the .wmv version of this, and if it doesn’t make you stand up and cheer, nothing will! It’s our National Anthem sung by five young girls — Andi, Baylee, Blaire, Madeline and Tatum — ages 8-13 at the time and known as “The Cactus Cuties” after the Cactus Theater in Lubbock, Texas. This performance was at the Texas Tech vs Texas basketball game, January 20, 2008, before a crowd of more than 11,000 spectators.

Having become something of a YouTube phenomenon, their studio recording of the National Anthem is available on iTunes. I don’t know about you, but whenever I see and hear something like this, my chest swells, my throat tightens and my faith in our future is renewed. And yes, sometimes I get a little teary-eyed.

This is a Patriot’s Journey post. You may also enjoy visiting the other journeyers: Drumwaster, Larry at The Bastage, the folks at The Line Is Here and Shortbus from The Edge of Reason…

Today marks the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, affectionately known as the Run For the Roses and considered by many to be “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

The classic American horse race, the Derby is the oldest consecutively run Thoroughbred race in America. It is run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Preceding the Preakness in mid-May and the Belmont in early June, it’s the first jewel of the coveted Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing. Won by only eleven horses since 1919, Triple Crown winners include memorable names like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Whirlaway and Affirmed.

The first Kentucky Derby was run May 17, 1875, before a crowd of 10,000 from around the city, state and surrounding areas. A field of fifteen three-year-olds ran a one and a half mile course with the race won by H.P. McGrath’s Aristides. The following year, the distance was shortened to the present mile and a quarter…

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Here’s your chance, music lovers, to own the purported “world’s largest record collection” — more than 6 million songs on 3 million records and 300,000 compact discs — being auctioned on eBay with a minimum reserve bid of $3 million.

Paul Mawhinney, the Pittsburgh-based publisher of the Music Master record price guide, started the collection about 50 years ago with a Frankie Lane record. His plan hit a rough patch as the collection passed the 160,000 mark: His wife told him that either he had to go or the records did. He stayed, and the records went into a climate-controlled warehouse.

Mawhinney is seeking a buyer such as “a museum, library, university or charitable foundation” that can keep the whole collection together, saying that “cleverly arranged and displayed, and surrounded by additional cultural memorabilia, the collection could even become a tourist attraction.” That could be especially true in 10 years or so, when only hard-core music fans listen to physical music formats.

More on Mawhinney’s website.

…Peanuts! Linus sings The Police.

Thanks Rich!

Dawn pointed me to this. She’d heard the song on one of our local country stations (I’d re-programmed the radio in her car) and told me I had to hear it. It was written and produced by The Song Trust (Rory Feek and Tim Johnson) and sung by a six-year-old in Nashville who says she doesn’t want to be famous. It’s a poignant reminder that there are still troops serving away from home and that they and their families are sacrificing much this Christmas.

You can purchase a copy of the song and know that half of all profits goes to St. Judes Children’s Hospital.

Christmas is a magical time of the year, especially for children. We all have wonderful childhood memories of Christmases long past and, as parents, we were again filled with wonder and magic through the eyes of our own children. Well, it’s Christmas season once again and magic fills the air. Do you feel it?

If you saw the movie Polar Express, you’ll recognize this song, beautifully performed live at the Greek by Josh Groban. It allows us, once again, to see Christmas through the eyes of children… if we just believe.

This video was produced using a technology called Spc X Drive II XD Coded Sound, designed to enhance the audio quality of the video and defeat the usual “tinny” sound associated with heavily compressed live performance recordings. It sounds best with a sub-woofer.

Remember doo wop? Then you’ll enjoy this fun Joshua Held Flash animation from Mike featuring Irving Berlin’s Christmas classic, White Christmas…

This video should help ignite your Christmas spirit. It features the original members of Straight No Chaser, Indiana University’s premier men’s a cappella group, performing their comedic version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana, December 7th, 1998. Since its founding in 1996, the group has performed at universities and auditoriums all across the country.

I’d been hearing this song on the radio every now and then while driving and found it really catchy. Trouble is, except for the title and a random word every now and then, I’ve had no idea what LeAnn is singing. I even heard one of the radio DJs say the same thing, so I know it wasn’t just me. So I finally got annoyed enough to look up the lyrics. Now I can understand (most of) it… and I like it even more! Give it a listen. It’s actually a little easier to understand in this live performance on David Letterman’s show…

I should probably mention that the race car driving in Las Vegas a few weeks ago was Sisko’s birthday gift from Michael last year. This year, on the heals of the dinner celebration at Marrakesh, he procured a limousine and whisked us all — he and Sisko, friends Larry and Pat, and Dawn and me — off to Arco Arena to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. To make the evening even more special, we had the use of a suite, and Dawn and I provided food and wine services. So we nibbled, sipped wine and enjoyed the performance in grand style and supreme comfort!

Of course, we enjoyed champagne in the limo to and from the stadium, even snapped photos of one another (ours didn’t come out too well) during the drive. This is definitely the way to go to a concert! Our driver dropped us at the door and returned after the concert to pick us up. Doesn’t get any more convenient than that.

If you’re not familiar with Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), it was formed in 1996 by composers Paul O’Neill and Robert Kinkel, and Savatage lead singer Jon Oliva, not as another progressive metal band but more as a rock opera orchestra. It transcends the term “concert” by combining great musicians and writers into a seasonal musical journey. It tells a story and keeps the audience mesmerized and amazed as it builds to its dramatic conclusion. A laser show, smoke and pyrotechnics serve to emphasize parts of the story rather than simply provide visual and sound effects. It’s a highly orchestrated and coordinated movement that can only be described as an amazing experience. And perhaps that’s what separates TSO from traditional rock and metal bands. You don’t go to a TSO concert; you experience TSO!

The production company was very specific about cameras. They’re not allowed, and they check before allowing you entry so we left ours in the limo. It’s not surprising; they don’t want you using images of their performances for commercial purposes and this is the only way to assure that control. They do allow cell phones, though. I guess they recognize that little 2-megapixel cell phone cameras won’t produce commercial quality images. So I grabbed this one with Dawn’s iPhone. It’s not great, of course, but tit gives you an idea of the scale and spectacle of the performance.

This is our second concert - Michael and Sisko go every year - and we hope to make it an annual outing as well. It’s a one night annual gig in Sacramento and sort of kicks off the holiday season for us. Catch it next year if you get the chance!

Good friends and good times. It’s a good life!

This chalk drawing video is actually an advertisement by Sony BMG (Canada) for Alicia Keys’ latest CD album. Drawn by Victor Fraser in the heart of Downtown Toronto, it took about six hours to complete.

It’s Friday and I feel the need…the need to boogie!!!

This session was filmed live at Storyville Hall in New Orleans, June 5, 1986, and features Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. That’s Late Night’s musical director, Paul Shaffer (with hair!) running things and Ron Wood on guitar. And if you look closely, I think you’ll spot Carl Perkins on guitar, drummer Steve Jordan and Buck Dunn on bass. If this doesn’t get your feet tapping, there’s just no hope for you! Sit back, turn up your speakers and enjoy a jam session with some legendary performers.