Fork, Knife and Spoon

Recently, I ran into a friend who was once a really good musician. As things happen, he at some point gave up his dream of playing, and began ernestly working full time at a "regular" job.
It always made me kinda sad because, I knew that given the right set of circumstances, plus a little bit of diligence on his part would have allowed him to stay in the game...but as the saying goes, some things are just not meant to be.
Anyway, the evening that I saw him last, he was at the club, and he was sitting with another gentleman and lady, whom I did not know...at first.
As we all sat there chatting, the "gentleman" began regalling me with stories of where he's from, and what he's now doing here in town. He explained that he was from another country originally, but has lived here in the U.S. for quite some time now, and that prior to this he resided in Canada.
More small talk than anything, but it was leading up to the big question."So Charlie, what do you do? When I told him that I was the lead singer in the bad that would be appearing later (...here it comes, folks), his ears perked up, and now he begins to tell me that he is a great singer, and that he knows every Motown song ever written, and that he also plays the guitar probably better than my guitar player (someone he has not only even heard before, but also doesn't even know), and that he can surely out sing me.
Now let's get one thing straight right here and now. I don't consider myself in any way shape or form to be the greateast singer who ever lived, but I will say that I have worked damn hard at being effecient with what I do have. I've worked my ass off to be the kind of entertainer overall that would try to make an audience of one or one million have a great night of music, and feel as though their time spent coming to see me and my band was well worth it. We may not always hit the mark, but doggone it we've tried.
At this point, I truly felt sorry for my friend who not only had to sit through this crap, but also got roped into a false hope of starting a band with this guy. My friend actually believed that this guy was gonna do something worthwhile with him.
Call me a skeptic, or maybe even a cynic, but if my friend was foolish enough to fall for that garbage,then he didn't need to play anymore.
I'm sorry, but there are real people out there chasing real dreams, and are doing real work at achiving those dreams. I'm not one to step on anybody's dream, but I do know the difference between that and the nightmare I saw coming my friends way.
For all of my fellow musicians and for that matter, anyone in any profession, when man speak with forked tongue, grab your knife, cut it off, and spoon it to the trash.
Watch who you deal with, your time is too valuable to waste on fools with pie in the sky. That pie is best served when you create it.
By the way, after other musicians arrived at the club that evening, "Mr.Wonderful " was seen for who he really is and left the building. No one has seen him since.
At this point, I don't need to say anything else...do I.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Diabetes and Me

I've said before in this forum and I'll say many more times. If you don't take care fo your health , you won't be around to play or to sing or act or dance or anything...
With that strong message in mind, I am proud to tell you about a film and and blog that is being finished up right now by one of my closest friends, Florence Regina.
If you've seen the American Express commercial with funny lady Ellen De Generes dancing all over the place, then believe me you've seen my sister Florence. She is the African American lady on the elevator who looks at Ellen as though she's lost her mind, only to exit the space dancing right along with her.
Back in my New York days Florence, myself and our other sister Angela were like 3 peas in a pod, we'd all support each others efforts in making the arts our careers, Florence went into acting which she does best and Angie and I pursued music together.
So far Florence is the huge success story, as I've seen her everywhere; in movies TV, and now in the blogesphere.
Florence developed  Daibetes at a young age  and for years struggled with being accepted because of it. When you're youngster and you want to fit in it can be really difficult. Couple that with the fact the Florence was a newly arrived Haitian immigrant to this land of wonder.
Honestly though, I can't see her not fitting in anywhere that she goes, because this lady if ever there was one, has a serious winning spirit, but truthfully, I can certainly understand what she went through.
Looking at her today made me realize that no matter what you can't let things stop you from your life goals. Florence is now, along with being an accomplished actress, an accomplished producer as well.
So I now want to direct your attention to her blog, which is aptly entitled Diabetes and Me: Florence's Story.She tells us of her journey through the mire of reality to acceptance of this debilating disease, and she gives us insight on what that life is for the not only herself, but the thousands of individuals who suffer from it...and I know, because I'm one of them.For all the years that I've know her Florence has lifted my spirit through our frinedship, she along with Angie, have been 2 of my dearest friends forever, and my life is so much richer for knowing her.So please join me and get the word out about this amazing film and the wonderful lady that tells her story, and realize that it's not just daibetes and me, but diabetes and all of us.
Nuff said.
Before I go, I want to mention that you can reach Florence at info@soleilfilms.com

Support Live music and healthy lifestyles today tomorrow and always.

The Carpenter Ants

These are my bandmates: from the left: Ted Harrison ( bass and vocals), Charlie Tee (lead vocals and saxophone), Michael Lipton (guitar and vocals, and James "Jupiter" Little (drums and vocals).

For 24 years now, these guys have been going at it entertaining and enthralling many with our music. I have been lucky enough to be a part of them for 18 years and counting now.
There's a saying that says sometimes bands are better than marriages ( and they last longer...). I don't know how true that statement is, but I know that I have deep love for my brothers that is almost as deep as my marriage.
When I lived in New York, for years I tried to put together similar situations with musicians that I thought were great, but the one thing that mostly all of those people lacked was a drive that kept us together.
Like most brothers, at times we've had our differences, but the respect that each of has brought to the table seems to transcend every arguement. To me the Ants are the best band that I've ever played in, and believe me, I've been in many.
Michael is just a great guitar player who has made us all step up our game. he's one of the best on the spot arrangers that I've ever known, and when his mind goes to work it's all over for me. I just start moving. Jupie can make me laugh without even trying hard and his voice is phenomenal to me. Although I get most of the credit for being the singer, Jupiter really is the better singer of the 2 of us. Generally these days, he plays using just one snare drum, but what he does with it still rocks.
Ted, as I've written and stated on other occasions reminds me of a cross between James Jamerson and Chuck Rainey ( 2 of the best studio players...). Theo as we affectionately call him, is our shy side, that is until you start talking Detroit Tigers or West Virginia University football, then you'll be greatly surprised at his vast knowledge of a great many things. Theo in reality is my little brother ( the one I always wished for at least...)

It's really hard for me to put into this forum how much these guys have meant to my life, how much they've added to my musical palatte, but what I will say is that I may not be able to put into words, but come and see us live and experience what I've been privy to for 18 years.

It has been life changing for me, and one show is all you need to convince you the same way.
Come see us soon, won't you.

You can check us out on the web at the following places:

www.myspace.com/carpenterants

www.myspace.com/carpenterantsfan

www.wvmusichalloffame.com/carpenterants

http://www.youtube.com/carpenterants:  Carpenter Ants at the Acoustic Coffee House

Support Live music today tomorrow and always

Just Chillin' Today

Ahhh Saturday, it's rainy and a little gloomy out but it is a day off, and I'm gonna make the most of it.
I was telling my wife this morning that when I was a kid, rainy days never stopped my enthusiasm. I enjoyed myself none the less.
I had such a great imagination that I always found something fun to do. Whether drawing pictures, playing my saxophone, terrorizing my sister ( or getting terrorized back...), I had something worthwhile to do.
Today, I'm sorry to say that many youngsters seemed to be lost without the sun, or their cell phones or their computer screens or TV, and I feel just a hint of sadness for them. I did things with my parents to be sure, but mostly I depended on my own imagination to dictate the course of the day.
Which brings me to the point of the this post...
Right now at least since I'm unable to hit the stage with my band mates, I can't let too much grass grow under my feet and fret about what I can't do. I don't happen to think that my time on the stage has completely come to an end ,but because of my vocal cord problem it seriously limits what I can do as a singer.
So, just like on those rainy days, I'm letting my imagination take the helm a little and move me into something useful.
Last weekend thanks to friend and fellow blogger Scarlet Tanager, I've finally learned how to place pictures and videos on my blog. So the first thing that I'm gonna attemp today is to post a few pictures of the Carpenter Ants and me, so you can begin to know some of the folks that I've been telling you about lo these many years now.
Also, I'm gonna add a few new links to my sidebar and start to zero in on a theme here.
Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that although it's kinda nasty out, I'm keeping my sunny attitude and plow through the day, and make the most of it. But along the way there'll be breakfast, a little TV (Food Network, NYPD Blue...) a couple of books that I started, and most importantly, hanging out with Mrs Tee.
I do hope that everyone has a wonderful fun filled weekend, and that it's sunny where you are (even if it's just sunny in your mind...), and that your time is filled with love. Have a good one y'all, and eat an extra pancake for me.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Harlem and the Bronx ( the making of Charlie Tee) #8

In this post I'm going to tell you a story about punctuation and why its important...

When I was in the seventh grade and in junior high school, like many youngsters I wanted to be with the "in crowd," the hip and cool guys, you know what I mean. Anyway, hanging with my buddies we would be notoriusly late for school almost routinely.
All of that came to a screeching halt when unbeknownst to me I got a letter at home telling my Mother that I was being very tardy and could be suspended.
What did my Mom do? She told my Dad. Now let me explain something that will help you to see the point of all this. Although my Mom and Dad were divorced when I was 7 years old, they remained best friends until my Dad passed away at 77 in the 1991. I mean the best of friends, they hung out together, we did family functions of all kinds, my Dad even gave my sister away at her wedding, so you get the picture.
Getting back to the letter from school, so Daddy gets this notice and decides to see just what young Charlie is up to.
My Dad was a New York city fire fighter, and that status allowed him to have shield ( a shield is a badge that city workers of that nature, such as policeman  wear, which allows access to places such as the subway etc.).
At the time, Mom and I lived in the south Bronx, and  through her connections at the District Attorney's office she fanagled a way for me to go to school out of my district, and go to the school near where we used to live (in the north Bronx...), so I had to take the subway to school each day. The distance in fact was roughly 10 miles, and a trip that should have taken me all of 20 minutes turned into and hour or so (you see where I'm going with this ?).What I didn't know as I boarded the train one day was that Dad had followed me down the stairs to be sure I was actually on the train. He then would drive to the stop where I exited, and would surveil my activity. This went on for about a week every day. Then he made his move, as I got off the train this particular day with my friends, all of us yelling and being completely stupid, we go to a diner to get food although most of us had already eaten breakfast, mostly junk. I come out and I hear HONK HONK HONK !!! Imagine my total surprise...It's my Pop, and he don't look none to happy. I get in the car and he says "so how long have been being late for school? " PANIC***I say oh Dad, this just happened today, I was running late...SWEATING*** He says, I've  been following you for a week!!! Surely I knew at that point death was imminent. Dad says "if you're late one more time, I'm going to come to school, come to your classroom, put you in front of the class, pull down your pants and whip you good. " I'VE NEVER BEEN LATE AGAIN TO THIS DAY.
You can ask anyone my wife, my bandmates, my boss, anyone. I learned a valuable lesson that day  about being punctual.
Nowadays when I'm going to play music somewhere, or I'm going to work, I make it my business to be on time, Why go to this trouble, because I've found that people will take you much more seriously when you don't waste their time. Even if you fail at something, it's more likely that you'll be given a second chance, because you made the effort.
I've seen many musicians and bands who make that mistake thinking that it's no big deal,only to find that the people that hire them start to take an indifferent attitude about dealing with them, thereby at times costing them gigs.
Now that's the shorter version of that story...
So my fellow travelers, take heed of the words here, it's not just the early bird who gets the worm, it's the bird who is the hungriest, and most timely, who makes the 20 minute trip in 20 minutes.

Be on time...Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

That Yankee Drive

Probably before the ink dries on this post, I'm gonna catch hell for what I'm about to say...
I am a New York Yankee fan(atic).
What makes me this way you ask, well, a couple of things:
I of course for many who may not already know, grew up in the Bronx (born and raised...), I lived 2 blocks east of the old Yankee Stadium, close enough to smell the hot dogs mustard and relish (did I mention the sauerkraut...).
Beside music the only other thing that completely kept my attention was the Yankees. As I grew into manhood, one of the things that stood out to me was that Yankee drive.
Now don't get me wrong, I've heard every argument there is about them..."they're best team money can buy, it's easy to be champs when you have a trillion dollar payroll," and so on and so on.
Yeah, I've heard it all, but even you naysayers can't deny that my team will fight you to the death to win.Even when they lose.
Herein lies the subject of my post for today.
As a musician, I have learned to fight tooth and nail for my band. Although I consider myself overweight, when I'm in the company of the Carpenter Ants, something just changes me, or better yet, something transforms me. At times I feel like I'm coming from a Miles Davis bag where I want a performance to be cool and sexy, and groovin', other times I come from a Hang "em High slick standpoint, and still other times I come to blow the room away ( in the same way that Paul Simon says in the song "Late in the Evening...")
I wonder myself now and again what's the purpose of me doing that. I tend to think that if people are nice enough to venture out in all types of weather, with all types of problems (economy as well as personal), the very least I can do is entertain the hell out of  'em.
Every band, just like every team has days when they're not at their best, but I still want you to walk away and say, DAMN, those guys really tried it tonight man, or even better, that band slayed 'em tonight.
Musicians sometimes get frustrated because they look out and only see a sparse amount of people sitting out there in the audience, and I have to admit that it can be very discouraging ( in baseball terms, think of what it must be like for some teams to look in the bleachers and  not see fans...), but I'm sorry you gotta work through it. You have to push forward, change direction if necessary, you've got to bite the bullet and do Mustang Sally for the umpteenth time, but most of all you have to keep playing like your life depended on it.
Then one day you'll be able to look up, and that same audience who wasn't there yesterday, is there today telling you how great you are and hanging on your every note.
People are funny, they like to see us with drive, they like to know that we feel them, it's crazy how that works, but it can be even crazier if you don't try. I know first hand how it can be, but believe whether there are 2 or 2, 000 I'm coming to play.
So when you start watching your favorite team this season, remember, that in your own professions, and in your own performance you gotta grab that Yankee drive.
I'll be rootin' for ya...

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.