tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post4478399621906560920..comments2023-09-24T17:51:23.550+01:00Comments on Ceci N'est Pas un Blog: Not talked about nearly enough: Ted HawkinsDivinylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17714248849968506687noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-25994618611690682632009-08-08T00:28:00.245+01:002009-08-08T00:28:00.245+01:00In the early 90s I stumbled upon this man performi...In the early 90s I stumbled upon this man performing Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay" on a sidewalk near the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park. At the time I didn't catch his name, but his face and voice made quite an impression on me. Months later I received a CompuServe CDROM in the mail. I popped it into my 386/33Mhz beast and up popped the cover art from Ted Hawkins' "The Next Hundred Years". The sample song was "Strange Conversation" and immediately I knew it was the same guy. It made all of the hair on my arms and neck stand up! I scrambled to purchase every CD of his that I could find. I ended up with seven of the best CDs in my collection: Happy Hour, Songs from Venice Beach, The Kershaw Sessions, Love You Most of All (More Songs from Venice Beach), The Final Tour (live), Suffer No More and The Next Hundred Years.<br /><br />Before I discovered Ted Hawkins' music, I had been learning a few chords on the guitar and played only for close friends. Ted Hawkins music and the way he played inspired me to pursue learning more of the guitar and to perform live. Eventually I hosted an open mic for a few years, played with a couple of bands and even did some solo gigs. <br /><br />Now I live in the Caribbean and play solo gigs a few nights a week. Once in a while I even play Ted Hawkins' "Sorry You're Sick". I must say it feels incredible to be fulfilling a dream; playing music on an island and performing songs by those who inspired me.<br /><br />Recently I was told by a friend of mine (retired touring country/western singer) that he knew Ted Hawkins before he died. He met him at the Playboy Club in Chicago with Shel Silverstein (famous writer of children's books). My friend made a point to tell me that Ted Hawkins confessed to him that he was a pedophile and he did some time in prison for it. Immediately lyrics such as "Sit on your daddy's knee" and "You're my ice cream and I'm your candy" took on a completely different meaning for me. Needless to say I was very disappointed to learn that Ted Hawkins, one of my biggest musical influences, was a convicted pedophile.<br /><br />I thought I'd share this crazy, ironic story with my fellow Ted Hawkins fans. I still love his music, but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't change my view about him as a person.Anonymoushttp://www.stjohnrocks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-79965141932767553732008-09-20T08:21:00.000+01:002008-09-20T08:21:00.000+01:00This is absolutely a true story, which I feel need...This is absolutely a true story, which I feel needs to be told. I love Ted Hawkin's album Watch your Step and had been a fan in the 80's since Andy Kershaw played him on Radio 1 in the UK. My friend Alison actually met him on a train to Bridlington and he gave her his phone number. When she told me, we arranged to go to his house. My brother cooked him a fish pie and Ted sang some songs. The kitchen cupboards were full of nothing but Vesta Dried Chicken Curry! Ted was very quiet, but it soon became clear that Ted was trying it on with my friend Alison, a beautiful 22 year old red head. I gave him a copy of Van Morrison's Astral Weeks as I thought he would like it and he signed all of my albums. When I went upstairs to the toilet, Ted's bedroom door was wide open. He had a large video camera pointing at the bed and all the videos near the TV were porn films. We left. A few years later, I heard he had been arrested for paedophile-related crimes and deported to the US. Sad but true. Sometimes it's best just to appreciate the music, which I still love.AngusBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00860527524026608842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-42689699436860116022008-06-28T06:34:00.000+01:002008-06-28T06:34:00.000+01:00Hi Brad, and welcome :o)Glad you liked the post. Y...Hi Brad, and welcome :o)<BR/><BR/>Glad you liked the post. You are right, too few people have heard this wonderful music...the whole reason that I blog is due to my enthusiasm about sharing my love of music with others. Kind of a larger scale 'you have <I>got</I> to hear this!' as you slip an LP on for a friend.<BR/><BR/>I'm not talking sharing re: any mp3s I host, more <I>introducing</I> people to music that they may not have heard.<BR/><BR/>I really hope that you do find more on this blog that is of interest to you. Be sure to check back, as 'Not talked about nearly enough' is going to be a series of posts...I'm already working on the next, but it may be some time coming (Ted had been sitting in my draft posts for months, unfinished!)...and have a good few ideas re: people I want to post about and make sure people hear!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for commenting :o)Divinylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17714248849968506687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-6725135517681293182008-06-28T03:05:00.000+01:002008-06-28T03:05:00.000+01:00Thanks for fulfilling your "duty"--I agree, you ha...Thanks for fulfilling your "duty"--I agree, you had one! I bought The Next Hundred Years when it came out, and have followed him since. What a short time we had with him. Sadly, we are in a small group of his fans, but we all have the duty to play his stuff wherever it will be heard. <BR/><BR/>Just found your blog, and haven't had time to explore much, but somehow I feel safe predicting I'll find lots to listen to here. After nailing this one, your other recommendations will have quite a bit more pull than they otherwise might. Tahnks again!<BR/><BR/>BradAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-1777635375732439982008-06-27T18:18:00.000+01:002008-06-27T18:18:00.000+01:00Thanks Gary :o) You can get 'The Kershaw Sessions'...Thanks Gary :o) You can get 'The Kershaw Sessions' on CD too if you want to reminisce!<BR/><BR/>I haven't heard (or even heard of) James Hunter, but will definitely check him out if you reckon he ranks up there with Ted!<BR/><BR/>Looks, from your profile, like you're in my neck of the woods too! :o)<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment.Divinylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17714248849968506687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-12146393616889822492008-06-27T16:45:00.000+01:002008-06-27T16:45:00.000+01:00Fantastic stuff! I heard those original Kershaw se...Fantastic stuff! I heard those original Kershaw sessions - still got some on cassette somewhere - fab stuff. Well done for bringing him back to us!<BR/>Speaking of great voices, have you heard James Hunter?Gary Graingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03108300443420146577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-74602418593756175692008-06-27T02:33:00.000+01:002008-06-27T02:33:00.000+01:00Thank you very much, Anonymous :o) I'm glad you li...Thank you very much, Anonymous :o) I'm glad you liked it. I can't see how one could fail to be moved by the raw emotion in his voice...and your story proves it!Divinylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17714248849968506687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416194131066658491.post-80730361448554606622008-06-27T00:59:00.000+01:002008-06-27T00:59:00.000+01:00Everytime I played Ted Hawkins at my cafe, people ...Everytime I played Ted Hawkins at my cafe, people would always ask who it was more than anything else I played. Great PostAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com