JFK’s Death and The Beatles

Joey Gee and The Bluetones
Battle of the Bands

This is a remembered experience after the death of John F. Kennedy and how his death affected us. 

I had a rock ‘n’ roll band at that time in the Iron Mountain, Michigan area.

We performed at the Armory and other dance places. 

This is my story… (see below)

Joe

JFK’s Death and The Beatles

President Kennedy's Family
Left to Right:  Caroline, John-John, Jacqueline, and President John "Jack" Kennedy

The whole nation, and the world, was shocked.  Those of us, who were teens at that time, felt helpless and depressed.

How could our beloved President -- so young with a beautiful family and so optimistic -- be gunned down by one man? It just could not happen!

That day, November 22, 1963 still brings out sadness in many of us. Our innocence had been taken.
 

I had a local rock ‘n’ roll band at that time. We performed that following weekend. Not many young people showed up and the ones that did seemed so down and only a handful danced.
 

The Beatles, already a sensation in the UK, released "Please, Please Me," in December 1963 and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in America.  The songs and The Beatles became instant hits.

It seemed to get us out of the doldrums.
 

We now had music that related to us and that we could relate to, as well. 

It felt good to see the teens dancing again and talking about The Beatles who, on February 7, 1964, landed at JFK International Airport with thousands of people wanting to see them.
 

The Ed Sullivan show was next.  We were all glued to our TV sets to see them.

The British rock ‘n’ roll invasion continued with other bands coming our way.
 

I can understand what the teens and young people are going through today after the shock of the presidential election outcome.

I noticed the next day after Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump the young kids were blue again wondering and ‘how could this have happened?’

Almost like grieving a death in some ways and many not old enough to vote.

Of course, death is final.

But electing a President happens every four years so they will learn from this.

I hope they can keep their spirits up.  We all have to do this.

This is still the United States of America.

Veterans Day tribute to "Butchy" Eugene Giannunzio

Honoring all Veterans today!

This is a photo of my brother, Eugene Giannunzio.  

In the family, we called him "Butchy" when he was a kid.  

This is a letter signed by President Obama.  I have a copy of it on my wall. 

Eugene was always full of fun.  He was left-handed.  He was very intelligent. And he served our country . 

He was wounded in Vietnam by the Viet Kong.  He was left for dead, but survived.

He lived until he was 59, but had a a permanent disability from having served in the war.

God Bless, Eugene,

Brother Joe

Remembering Julius La Rosa and Eh Cumpari

This was a huge hit in 1953.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsg73N0eUZk&feature=em-share_video_user

I remember my father singing this all the time. 

Julius, born in Brooklyn (most thought he was from Italy) joined the Navy when he was 17, sang at officerss' clubs and bars for free drinks. 

He once said the reason he sang was he was very egotistical (like a lot of Italians) but felt so good when he was singing and hoped others liked it.

Julius passed away May 12th 2016.  He was 86.  He and his wife of over 40 years lived in Crivitz, Wisconsin (population 9834). She predeceased him.

Not sure, but I seem to remember this song was sung at a wedding in the "Godfather" movie.

Joe