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CHARITIES
As a professional musician, I have played for many fund-raising events over the years. I would like to recognize
a few of the organizations that do good work regarding issues that have affected me or my family directly:
1.
The Alzheimer's Association - Most of the advancements in medication and therapy have been made in the past fifteen years.
A cure is now no longer out of reach.
2. The American Cancer Society - Some forms of cancer that were certain
death sentences a generation ago are now treatable, especially with early detection.
3. Hospice of the Bluegrass
- In my area--and probably around the country--a frequently designated charity listed in obituaries is the local hospice,
mainly because of the high quality of compassionate care provided for terminal patients at end of life.
4. Jessamine
Humane Society - My wife Marianne is the organizer of Skelter for the Shelter, which benefits this organization.
5. ITNAmerica (& ITNBluegrass) - Low-cost, convenient transportation is provided for seniors and the visually-impaired.
6. FAITH IN ACTION: Elder Outreach - As the name suggests, this is a (nondenominational) faith-based group that
assists seniors.
HS MUSIC MOMENTS
When I was in high school, I played in a local rock band. We
practiced in the guitar player’s basement. In that neighborhood, there was a younger band made up of junior high school
students. I just knew these kids were a bunch of losers. One member of the group was a kid named Mike Wanchic. He went
on to become John Mellencamp’s lead guitar player and co-producer.
My favorite Jackson 5 song was "Never
Can Say Goodbye." Several years ago, I played a charity event where one of the musical guests was Clifton Davis, the
composer of that song. (He starred as the preacher in the sitcom AMEN, a show that also featured Sherman Hemsley, previously
of THE JEFFERSONS.) My group accompanied him on the song.
I grew up in an NBC house, so the news anchors I knew
were Huntley & Brinkley. But one of my favorite shows was a documentary series on CBS called THE 20th CENTURY, hosted
by Walter Cronkite (now recognized by many--including me--to be the greatest news anchor in television history). It was probably
during my adolescent years that my dad brought home a Spike Jones album (you know, vinyl) that included a song called "Gesundheit
Polka." I seem to recall the first line, complete with sneezes: "Do the Gesundheit Polka, better than Krankheit
Polka." My mom, fluent in several languages (including German), explained that "krankheit" meant bad health.
I can't hear Walter Cronkite's name without thinking of that. That's the way it is.
BUCKBLOG
Observations
& Words of Wisdom from Buck Markowitz
Growing up in South Jersey, I would always look forward to summers when
the Good Humor man would make his way down our street. I used to buy the grape popsicles. But, being the double treat on
two sticks, my parents would only let me get one every other day. I would have to break it in half and put the half I wasn’t
allowed to eat that day in the freezer for the next day.
When I was six, I got engaged to the girl down the street.
Her name was Shelley Morgenstern. Now, this wasn’t an arranged marriage. We just believed in long engagements. When
we grew up, we were going to be like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and ride off into the sunset together.
One very
hot day, while sitting with Shelley on her front porch, I decided I wanted a popsicle. This particular day was freezer day.
I announced that I was going home to get my second half, saved from the day before. Shelley got very upset that I was going
to enjoy a grape popsicle without offering to share. I tried to explain that it had already been divided and that I couldn’t
divide it any further--and also, that she (like all the other kids in the neighborhood except for me) had already had her
full two-stick popsicle today. This argument fell on deaf ears. She declared that, if I ate that refreshing half-popsicle
in front of her without offering to share, our engagement was off. For better or worse, I chose the popsicle.
What
did I learn from this? Well, the best way to answer that is by first asking, What would Roy Rogers have done? I believe
you all know that answer to that one: He would have offered Dale the half-popsicle and gone without for that day. That’s
the kind of guy he was, and I’m sure Dale showed her appreciation for all the little sacrifices he made.
Happy
Trails,
Brother Buck Markowitz
© 2009 Harold Sherman - All rights reserved
BUCK is in
TROUBLE : Dec. 10, 2008 at Natasha's
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HAROLD SHERMAN DRESSED FOR WORK
PHOTO by
LARRY NEUZEL - www.larryneuzelphotography.com/
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