rock and roll hootchie koo

St. Louis Arch

I have finally recuperated from my trip to St. Louis! However, I am definitely not unpacked nor caught up on all my work. I have a feeling neither of those will happen till I leave for Spring Break. ; ) The five days I spent in St. Louis were some of the best experiences of my life. By attending this conference called NACA (National Association for Campus Activities), I had the opportunity to meet so many people and engage in so many forms of entertainment. As a member of the GIANT entertainment group on campus, I (along with the other four members who attended the conference) had the responsibility of seeking out bands, comedians, magicians, etc. to bring to our campus next year. It was insane how many of the acts there were to perform and then furthermore, how many we enjoyed and want to bring here at Mary Wash.

This conference was, quoted from someone in my group, a “surreal” experience. Not only did I get to see DMC (stayed three rooms down from our group’s room…met him in the hallway!), Lance Bass, Caroline Rhea, Mr. Belding (from “Saved by the Bell”), Finesse Mitchell, Howie Day, Alex Thomas, etc., I had the opportunity to engage in all different kinds of music with all different kinds of people. Music was just beaming from every direction at this conference and it truly had an effect on all of the attendees and performers. I recommend the experience…especially since next year it will be in Nashville…The Music City.

Here are couple clips of music from two musicians that performed at NACA…my favorites:

Jessica Sonner “Rescue Me”

Last night, I attended the Great Lives lecture on Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996). Douglas Gately, who is part of the Music Department here at Mary Washington, presented the lecture. Many came out from the community and there were also several UMW students. I even saw Magan from our class….and from talking to her, she seemed to have loved it as much as I did. Gateley was very informative and his Powerpoint presentation really helped me gain some insight and details into the life of Fitzgerald (Who knew she was actually part of the Mafia?). I did some further research on my own and found that she was actually nicknamed “The First Lady of Song” and “Lady Ella.” Additionally, I found that she is from Newport News, Virginia. I find that very interesting since that city is actually right beside my hometown: Smithfield, Virginia.

I first discovered Ella Fitzgerald in Girl Scouts when I had to do a project for Black History Month. I found her music so relaxing and easygoing…especially that “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” song (her first number one song). Since my encounter with her music a few years ago, I have really opened to the swing and jazz genres. I would truly just love to sit on my back porch on a gorgeous spring day and listen to the voice and song of Fitzgerald. As I stated earlier, her music is incredibly relaxing.

I think this quote really relates to what we have been discussing in class lately…..

“Coming through the years, and finding that I not only have just the fans of my day, but the young ones of today — that’s what it means, it means it was worth all of it.” –Ella Fitzgerald

……seemed like she really had a mission.

Here is a bit of music trivia I read in University of Mary Washington’s newspaper, The Bullet (just in case you all did not have a chance to read it):

Van Halen’s concert contract demanded that they always have a bowl of M&Ms backstage with all of the brown candies removed.  If there was one brown M&M in the bowl, it was sufficient legal cause for Van Halen to cancel a scheduled appearance.  The clause was in the contract to determine whether the technical specifications had been thoroughly read.

: )