Memories Of Spring

When Michael and I lived in Chicago around 1950 we were in walking distance of Belmont Harbor. We would get our bicycles out of storage at the building and ride through a park and then an underpass to the harbor proper. The park was in bloom with hundreds of flowering trees and the petals completely covered the path. The scent of Lake Michigan was sweet and clean at this time of year and the water lapped against the hulls of the boats. The simple connection to the sun, breeze, and water
allowed this recollection to survive and inspire me to find my way back to that absolutely natural state of Grace.

Family Vacations

When Michael and I were in our early teens we went with our parents on car trips to the west. Our father was the Captain and did all the driving. Our mother was the social director and was responsible for keeping us quiet by playing geography, sign reading and feeding us. The morning of the start of the vacation, after loading up, Mom brought out the wicker basket of fried chicken, potato salad and the likes. We left Chicago proper and about a half hour later, Michael and I were hungry again. Our Dad who was capable of moving to the red zone in an instant imparted these loving words, "shut up and sit back." This was a man who respected his Mark lV Lincoln and would not tolerate greasy fingerprints anywhere. He was determined to put at least 500 miles on each day and stopping to use a gas station bath room was met with disdain. Michael and I read all the signs; Wild root Hair Tonic, Red Man Chew, Burma shave and the like. When we learned of a Reptile Zoo 60 miles away we began the chant, " Let's stop there, huh dad, huh?" Tirelessly we asked, pleaded, and begged to stop and see the zoo. We were ignored in the beginning, but when we were with in 5 miles of the Reptile Zoo our Mom would add to our cause and say," come on Harold let the boys see the zoo it's their vacation too."
This was how we rolled, a challenge at every stop. One I cannot forget was in the mountains somewhere and they had the Seven Colored Falls and Indian Relics. The falls were beautiful and when the sun set they were illuminated in different colors and sight seeing boat rides took you into caves and underwater lakes. After you saw what was to be seen as if by magic one ended up in the general store with Indian Relics. If our Father was tough on stopping the car, asking for a souvenir was unthinkable. While I was messing around with the cedar boxes holding sharpened pencils I hear a, "Psst, psst Allie?" I turn around and there is Michael in a full Indian Chieftain's headdress, feathers reaching down to the ground, and Michael's shining face beaming at me. My reaction was taken as encouragement and Michael started to do an Indian dance yips and all. The store manager saw us and snatched the headdress off and returned it to prominent display case. He then took each one of us by the hand and out of the building. In the next inspired moment Michael announces he has to go to the bathroom. The manager releases our arms and begins wiping his face with a hanky. Michael returns to his native dancing to hold back his swollen bladder. The manger wants to know if he can hold it and Michael asks if he would like to hold it? Back we go to the store Michael yipping along the way. Hustling us to the Men's room, the manger starts calling out, " I have 2 boys here that have lost their parents, please take them." "Boys, boys where have you been? Your father is furious." Like we couldn't guess that.
Back in the car empty handed awaiting our next adventure.

Michael Bloomfield"s Birthday Surprise

Make no mistake about it the finest tribute to Michael Bloomfield has been created by David Dann. David's new site and and the link are michaelbloomfieldamericanmusic.com, also the link can be found on the front page of the official Mikebloomfield.com site.
David Dann has created a moving tapestry of Michael's life. Videos, interviews, Michael being Michael. Sort of like high style home movies and a selected short, and so much more. It would be near impossible to find a Bloomfield fan that would be disappointed after seeing this.
David Dann in his quiet way delivers time and again the essence and heart of my brother. On behalf of the family we are deeply grateful for your friendship and talent.
I am always amazed to find new and unexpected material on Michael. Be it a video or his voice time stands still and I reenter a world long gone. David "thanks" hardly seems to express the joy you have given to all of us. With profound appreciation, Allen Bloomfield

What makes a hit movie?

I heard a head of a large movie marketing company speak about how a movie becomes a hit. When the audience is familiar with the actors, or the story line continuing from a past release which was successful, there is a good chance that the audience will want to repeat the experience. In the case of Bruno, they had that link and then had a massive advertising campaign to pump it even more. Critics were reviewing the movie as well. The first night it opened they had healthy ticket sales. Now here is the interesting part, once the initial audience was leaving out came the cell phones, and twitters, and text messaging and they called all their friends and family and reported that the movie was mediocre. The next night sales dropped by 40%. What this clearly shows is the power to influence another that overrides the advertising, critics or any type of hype. The speed that this electronic communication moved was astonishing. This phenomenon is unprecedented. This is truly power to the people.

Allen B.

What's on your mind?

I need your thoughts and questions in order for this Blog to be of value. Do you want more of my recollections and experiences living with Michael? There seems to be an interest in the equipment he played. I will get that technical stuff if you want. If you find that I am not addressing what you wish to explore I will try my utmost to stay on point. Do you want music streamed on this site? Would you like me to make available some of Michael's writings?
This can only work if you the reader participate. We share a common interest in Michael and together new insights can be brought forth. This Blog is really for you please take advantage of it.
Anxious to please,
Allen

BE HAPPY!

No one loved to laugh more than Michael. Be it Red Foxx, Rodney Dangerfield, Oscar Levant. Johnathan Winter, Lenny Bruce, they were all a joy to him. In the written form Bruce Jay Friedman, Patrick Dennis, Mark Twain, Evelyn Waugh, Kingsly Amos, Thurber,
Terry Southern and many more. What stuff really makes you laugh out loud? Be it stand up, a TV show, or a book? Humor was so much a part of Michael.

OVER THESE WALLS I SHALL FLY

It is with profound sorrow that my friend David R. Shorey AKA Gashouse Dave passed away on Friday May 8Th, 2009. He had level four cancer which finally took it's toll.
David played bass on several of the latter albums with my brother. He was also a exceptional guitarist and fronted the, "Gashouse Dave and the Hardtails." I suggest that you Google him, check youtube.com and enjoy the great talent he had.
David was incredibly gifted not only in music but he had written and published an impressive array of books. Gashouse could draw and paint and was one of the best Literature Teachers I have ever known. His sense of humor was only second to Michael's.
I had the pleasure of his company two years ago when we went down to Clarksdale, Mississippi for The Paul Butterfield Reunion. We spent a week together and soaked up the rural south, the home of Robert Johnson, the Big Muddy, and the cotton fields at night. We read to each other our favorite southern writers and David played at all the jukes and clubs we could find.
My brother David, was incredibly kind, sweet natured, generous, and lived through his heart. Once I went with him to a barrio in LA where he taught disadvantaged children how to play music. The children loved David, climbed all over him and played with the utmost passion. I will never forget the joy he brought them.
As he loved my brother so did I love him. May peace and peace and peace surround him always. My deepest sympathy and condolences to Olga for her loss.

Allen B.