tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post4546222942327525582..comments2024-02-14T11:00:03.180-05:00Comments on Tom McLaughlin: Recognizing Talent And Lack Of ItTom McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-53787106347113065372020-01-31T11:00:59.309-05:002020-01-31T11:00:59.309-05:00In a private email, I received the following comme...In a private email, I received the following comment from Joanne Kanarkiewicz. I post it here with her permission:<br /><br />"I always read articles that I come across that mention Jack Kerouac. It's always interesting and/or amusing to see how people analyze and dissect his persona, writing and anything else they can find. My father grew up with Jack, and was his friend for many years. Their friendship was strained when Jack began his descent into alcoholism and drugs. I remember all the people coming to our house and interviewing my father. Book after book, my father was quoted. And in Jack's stories, he was known as Lousy. It was quite funny since whenever my father was asked about how he felt, his response was always "Lousy."<br /><br />Jack used to call our house extremely drunk and my mother would hang up. I think it made my father sad to see his friend in such condition. He never read Jack's writing and when I did, I saw talent, passion and dysfunction. Imagine what he might have written had he been sober. I can't say that I understood any of it. It was French Canadian Catholic Lowell - and at the time I was born, the neighborhoods had disappeared. But you could understand the culture only if you grew up there.<br /><br />So, talented? Definitely. But his talent was distorted, cheapened and twisted by his addictions. He lost sight of the religion he chased. He showcased a "beatnik" culture that hadn't been seen. It was new - and it wasn't. <br /><br />My father went to his grave never saying a bad word about his friend. He didn't attend his funeral, although I know he was saddened by Jack's death. More so, I think he was saddened by the loss of their friendship and what might have been."Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-49803011983724692112020-01-09T15:01:55.893-05:002020-01-09T15:01:55.893-05:00I’m fortunate to be out of the cold Maine winters ...I’m fortunate to be out of the cold Maine winters for several months in Fort Lauderdale. Right across the street there are a number of bars/restaurants which have live music daily such as Blue Jean Blues, Fishtales, Nick’s, etc. it’s kind of a mini Nashville scene.<br /><br />The majority of the musicians are older who have played in clubs up north. They are extremely talented, real musicians. One, Anthony Corrado, plays 12 instruments and has a voice like Frank Sinatra. He’s also a triathlete who was struck by a car while on his bicycle.<br /><br />Jimmy Cavallo would play a full 3 hour set with his quartet with only one short break. He just died recently at the age of 92. <br /><br />There are others, Valerie Tyson, Uptown Express, the Fabulons, Suzi and Steve Cruz, who all do the circuit. Then, there are the tribute bands who play at the block parties. All very talented but never made it “big”. Makes me wonder why, too.<br /><br />As an English major in the early 70’s, I gave up pretending poetry mattered. I appreciated art in all its various forms but not bananas duct taped to a wall.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kafirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10663195095750630774noreply@blogger.com