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Lifetime achievement award goes to Chinese label industry’s founding father
Young people are the future of the sign industry in the UK
HP to showcase new business growth opportunities at photokina 2016
VersaUV Experience Day by Roland DG was successful
First Appearance Of MTEX 5032HS In UK
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And so, This is Christmas – part Three
Christmas Miracle for Lily-Mae
and
The Rocket Man’s Tiny Dancer
This week I’m taking a small departure from Christmas hits. Yes, you can see them below, but before that I want to ask you for money. Not for me, I hasten to add, but for little Lily-Mae. Lily-Mae Morrison is a four year old girl from Claregalway in Co. Galway who was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma last summer - a very dangerous form of cancer which affects one in every 100,000 kids here. At this stage the disease has spread to other parts of the body such as distant lymph nodes, the skin, including bone marrow, as was the case with Lily-Mae at the time.
Lily-Mae went through a five hour operation in late November to remove seven tumours from around her kidney. Initially it was to remove a large tumour that was twisted around her kidneys, but during the operation surgeons discovered six more tumours.
Four year old Lily-Mae only developed the disease this year and it has developed so fast that she now has stage four. Her chance of survival is at best 30% to 40%. Further treatment however is available in Europe and also in the US where it comes with a very expensive price tag!
After the operation she will now be placed in isolation for up to 10 weeks as she undergoes punishing periods of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Just imagine your four year old child being put in isolation for that length of time. Unconceivable!
Her mum Judith Sibley told of her delight at the success of the operation, which saw 97% of the main tumour removed. However, she said that the battle was only beginning. Even after treatment, the cancer returns in 70% of cases, at which stage it is generally considered untreatable.
Lily-Mae’s parents, Mum Judith and Dad Leighton, are both self-employed ballet dancers and choreographers who also have a two-year-old son Evan. But they can no longer work as they must bring their little girl into Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin every seven days for treatment.
The Sunni-Mae Trust was launched to raise funds for Lily-Mae’s treatment in July - and has already raised €80,000 to date. Close family friend and RTE cameraman, Stephen Macken, stepped in. He convinced a huge array of Irish stars to record a song for Lily-Mae, Elton John’s 1971 Classic hit, Tiny Dancer.
Paddy Casey, Declan O’Rourke, Gari Deegan, Mary Black, The Reverse, Rob Vickers, Shane O’Reilly (Bipolar Empire), Mal Touhy (The Riptide Movement), Mundy, Matthew Devereux & Shane Wearan (The Pale), John Spillane, Brian Hogan (Kila & Preacher’s Son), Mickey Joe Harte, Naymedici, Tom Dunne (Something Happens), Paddy McKenna & Lindsey Hogan (Storyfold), Conor Quinn, Gavin James, Arrow in the Sky, Aoife Scott, Laura Sheeran (Nanu Nanu), Camille O’Sullivan, Richie Hayes, Adela Meally & Ros O’Meara (Adela and the Meanits), Sandra Dolan (Strange Frootz), Monica & Anne Brennan, Lucia Evans, Louise Colohan, Emily Macken, Ashley Tubridy, Alan Greaney, Stephen Macken, Cian McSweeney, Monica Fitzgerald, Brian Flanagan, Frank Naughton, Robb Murphy, Declan & Noel O’Farrell, Schira & Mimi Lane, Megan Walsh, and a very special guest singer, Lily-Mae’s father, Leighton Morrison. The photo above shows the over 300 strong choir to record the song in October last and it has already become a YouTube hit.
Next, in stepped the Rocket Man himself. He started tweeting about it, added it to Youtube and created a link to his own website and his Facebook channel. He encouraged people to buy the single and make it a number one hit for Christmas. It is now a number one hit, but in order to be a Christmas number one it has to stay at number one until Christmas. And this is where you come in. Please buy the single and keep it there.
Lily-Mae’s parents hope to raise €1million. You can follow this brave little girl’s progress on her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/asongforlilymae and also on http://www.asongforlilymae.org/
As a father of two great kids (who are now grown up), my heart goes out to Judith and Leighton. I never heard of Neuroblastoma and I want to make people aware of it and Lily-Mae.
Lily-Mae likes the colour purple and dinosaurs, and particularly likes purple dinosaurs. She also likes fairies and, more often than not, imagines herself as one. She would like to 'magic' the pain away but there's no magic in the real world and as a trainee fairy, she finds this a little bit confusing.
Let’s see if we can knock the X Factor winner off the top spot this Christmas. Simon Cowel’s made-up plastic pop stars will live for another day. Lily-Mae may not. We have to bring Lily-Mae and Neuroblastoma to world attention and raise €1 million for the Sunni-Mae Trust and the Neuroblastoma foundation.
You can buy the single here https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/tiny-dancer/id576441815?i=576441894.
It’ll cost you just €0.99.
Now, lets move on to this weeks Christmas songs.
Kimberly at Ingersol Rand in Dublin and Marion at Global Competence asked me to include The Coventry Carol by Alison Moyet. This carol goes back to the 16th century and the composer is unknown. However, writings have been found by Robert Croo dating back to 1534 and the melody dates to 1591. Alison has accompaniment on her version and it is also sung a cappella.
John O from Sydney asked me to put up The Merry Christmas Polka by Jim Reeves. I couldn’t find any background information on this song, so here is the video.
Dick mentioned a song that irritates him and I have to say I agree. ‘I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ is one to be avoided, but you decide.
Jean suggested Frank Kelly’s 12 Days of Christmas. I have to agree, it’s a brilliant parody.
Marian suggested another annoying song by Frank Sinatra, ‘Oh, by gosh, by golly / It's time for mistletoe and holly’
Tim suggested one for his wife, "Mary Did You Know?"
Tom in New York suggested ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole. You will recognise it by the opening words ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’. This song was written in 1944 by Bob Wells and Mel Torme aka The Velvet Frog. The song was written in just 40 minutes. NKC recorded it in 1946.
Tom T asked for ‘Oh Holy Night’, which we did last week.
Colleen in New York asked for ‘How Great Thou Art’. This was written in Sweden in 1885 as a folk song and turned into a hymn when it was played on the BBCs Songs of Praise. It was translated into German, Russian and English.
Brian in Atlanta asked for Sleigh Ride. This was written between 1946 and 1948 as an orchestral piece and was first recorded in 1949 as a 78rpm. Can anyone remember them?
BY Bob Tallent
Copyright © 2012, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved
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And so this is Christmas – number two.
Your all-time favourite songs, carols and hymns as voted by you.
This is number 2 in the series of articles on Christmas songs. I’ve got a lot of responses. Thank you one and all. I’ll try to include one from everyone.
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All-time favourite Christmas tunes,
yours and mine!
I’ve decided to do a list of my all time favourite Christmas songs over the coming weeks complete with videos. This week consists of some of them and others are from friends and people I’ve asked.
Over the next three weeks I’ll be giving you more Christmas lists which will include children’s songs, humorous songs and different types of music. If you have any suggestions for any list or indeed a new list, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
So, you can come back here and look at the videos any time you want
This was THE most popular song from everyone Fairytale Of New York (The Pogues featuring Kristy MacColl, 1987) | |
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John and Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band, 1971) | |
White Christmas (Bing Crosby, | |
Last Christmas George Michael | |
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey | |
Driving home Chris Rea | |
Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley | |
Christmas Everybody Slade Merry | |
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) | |
Do They Know It’s Christmas (Band Aid, | |
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer | |
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (U2 | |
Do You Hear What I Hear? Whitney Houston, 1987) | |
Do You Hear What I Hear? (Bing Crosby, 1963; | |
A Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives, 1964) | |
The Little Drummer Boy | |
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (1961) |
|
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland |
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"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - Bruce Springsteen |
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12 days of Christmas frank kelly |
|
Lonely this Christmas Mud |
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The man who mitched from school to play music
and turned into a world known name
as a musician and actor.
Article By Bob Tallent
Videos by Frazer McMenzie
This American man missed a lot of school so that he could practice music. Both his parents were US Marines. His cousin, Tony, owned the famous New York recording studio, the Power Station, where he made a few demos after he left school. When he was 16 he was playing clubs and joined up with David Bryan who played with him in a ten-piece rhythm and blues band called Atlantic City Expressway. He also performed with bands like The Rest, The Lechers and Wild Ones. He is an actor as well as a singer and now heads up his own band. His nickname is Captain Kidd and his mother was one of the first Playboy bunnies. He once said “Success is falling nine times and getting up ten.” The man has won seven awards, is a record producer, has four children and two brothers, has acted in 15 films, wrote the music for Young Guns and has a string of hits to his name.
I’m talking about Jon Bon Jovi.
He was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. on 2nd March 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to John Francis Bongiovi and Carol Sharkey. His father was of Slovak and Italian descent (from Sciacca in Sicily) and his mother was of German and Russian descent. He said that he is a blood relative of singer Frank Sinatra. Jon Bon Jovi was raised Catholic. His grandfather was a mortician; he owned Bongiovi funeral home in Raritan, New Jersey.
Jon Bon Jovi knew in his early teens that he wanted to be a rock star. In 1979, when he left school at 17, he worked in Tony Bongiovi’s recording studio sweeping floors. In 1980, when Meco was there recording Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album, Tony recommended him for the song "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas." This was his first professional recording.
In 1982, at the age of 20, he recorded his first single, Runaway, at The Power Station. After he was turned down by many record companies, he was lucky to get the radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" in New York to play his song. This got him noticed and then he realised that he would have to form a proper band and not just have session players. At this point, he was still known as John Bongiovi.
In order to promote the single, he convinced Mercury/Polygram Records to take him on and he got a recording contract in 1983. So that he could form his own band, he enlisted David Bryan who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres. He also contacted his neighbour, Dave Sabo who later formed the group Skid Row (not the Irish Skid Row with Brush Shiels and Phil Lynott). Sabo was eventually replaced by Richie Sambora. It was around this time that they came up with the name Bon Jovi.
The band became popular for its power ballads, soaring guitar riffs, and well-crafted melodies. On 21st January 1984, they released their first album which went gold. It was around this time that Jon’s cousin Tony apparently sued Jon and the band by claiming that he’d been responsible for their creation and unique sound. The case was reportedly settled out of court in 1986.
In 1985, the band’s second album 7800 Fahrenheit was released and also gained a gold record sale status, but the critics weren’t impressed. They wanted to aim higher.
So they toured as opening acts for the Scorpions, Kiss and Judas Priest. This helped Bon Jovi build up a considerable fan base that appreciated the group's rugged, soulful collection of songs about how tough it was to be a teenager. But it still wasn’t enough. They had to aim even higher. But how to do it was the question?
Jon’s strategy was to enlist the help of professional songwriter Desmond Child to work on their sound for their next album, Slippery When Wet. The group wrote a total of 30 songs. As a brand-new approach (the second part of the strategy) they auditioned the songs for local teenagers in New Jersey and New York to enable them to base the final running order of the album based on their opinions.
This album was released in 1986 and it became the huge hit they wanted. Slippery When Wet sold nine million albums in the USA and 14 million around the world. This put it in the same league as Michael Jacksons Thriller. Two songs in particular, You Give Love A Bad Name and Livin’ On A Prayer hit the number one slot in the singles chart. They were now becoming worldwide musical superstars. This was the start of it and they were getting recognition. The world wanted more.
Richie dated Cher for a while and Jon and Richie were asked to assist in producing Cher’s ‘comeback’ album, Cher. He co-wrote and sang backing vocals on her single We All Sleep Alone and also produced several other tracks on the album. Jon also co-produced Cher’s best-selling multi-platinum album Heart of Stone in 1987.
In 1987, they had the Slippery When Wet Tour. Jon gave it his all during live shows and the tour's exhausting schedule greatly strained his vocal cords. His medical treatment put him on steroid shots to help him sing. He also enlisted the help of a vocal coach, which helped him to continue the tour. Despite the band achieving massive success with Slippery When Wet and New Jersey (his fourth album that hit number 1 in 1988), living on the road almost destroyed the strong bond between the band members who at this stage were exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. In 1990, after 232 shows on 5 continents each band member went their separate way, even departing in separate jets after the New Jersey Tour.
In 1988, Jon started his acting career by appearing in The Return of Bruno.
In 1989, he married his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley, who was also a karate champion, and the couple remain married today, with four children, Stephanie Rose, Jesse James, Jacob Hurley and Romeo Jon.
In 1990, Jon recorded a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns II also known as Blaze of Glory. This came about because his friend Emilio Estevez asked him for "Wanted Dead Or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming sequel to Billy The Kid. Jon ended up composing a new theme song for the film's soundtrack which became his first solo album. The album featured high profile guests such as Little Richard, Elton John and Jeff Beck. The title track, "Blaze of Glory" peaked at number one the Billboard Hot 100. In 1991 "Blaze of Glory" won an award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single at the American Music Awards and was also awarded a Golden Globe. The song also gained him an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy nomination.
"I had no intention of ever getting into the movies," Jon said. "But I was driven by the music I wrote for Young Guns. The next thing I know, I win a Golden Globe, I'm nominated for an Oscar [for his song Blaze of Glory] and performing at the Academy Awards. I'm looking out at the audience and I go: 'This doesn't suck.' So I wanted to do it again."
The band was now gone, so he started his own label Jambco Records which didn’t do much. He began to lose heart in the music business and took time out by doing a two week cross country tour across the US on a motorbike.
But the band wasn’t fully gone. They recorded Keep the Faith (Number Five, 1992), which produced hit singles in the title track (Number 27, 1993) and "Bed of Roses" (Number 10, 1993). Another hit, "Always" (Number Four, 1994), emerged from Bon Jovi's 1994 anthology, Cross Road (Number Eight). In 1995 the band released These Days (Number Nine). After a full-scale world tour, the band took time out.
In 1993 Bon Jovi played the Soviet Union in the Moscow Music Peace Festival — arranged as part of a community-service sentence on Bon Jovi's manager Doc McGhee, who in 1988 had pleaded guilty to drug-smuggling charges from a 1982 arrest.
In 1994, Bon Jovi released a greatest hits album, Cross Road. The collection featured two new songs, Always and These Days which both were successful single releases, most notably throughout Europe and in Britain than the US.
Jon Bon Jovi has also acted in such films as The Leading Man and was a recurring character on TV's Ally McBeal (stepping in for Robert Downey Jr who was arrested on drugs charges) and also acted in Sex and the City. He took a role in the 1995 film Moonlight and Valentino, and continued acting throughout the Nineties, appearing in Ed Burns' No Looking Back and the World War II submarine adventure U-571.
In 1997 he released his first official non-soundtrack solo album, Destination Anywhere (Number 31, 1997). A short movie of the same name was recorded around the record's release, based entirely on the songs from the record and starring Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Whoopi Goldberg.
The band regrouped in 1999 and recorded Real Life. In 2000, they released their seventh studio album, Crush. The lead single, "It's My Life" helped introduce the band to a new, younger fan base. Demand for Bon Jovi's old-style pop-metal turned out to be so big that, since the reunion, the band has gone on to release more successful albums than it did even during its pin-up prime. Crush went double platinum in the U.S. and sold 8 million copies worldwide. After a successful tour, Bon Jovi returned with Bounce (Number Two, 2002).
Jon was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001.
In 2005, Bon Jovi returned with an album of new material, Have a Nice Day (Number Two), which produced not only a pop single in the title track (Number 53) but also the band's first country crossover hit, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (Number One Hot Country, 2005; Number 23 pop, 2006).
After releasing a live disc and comprehensive greatest-hits package in 2006, Bon Jovi's next album of new material, Lost Highway (Number One, 2007), was marketed more directly to the country audience, with country-charting singles "(You Want to) Make a Memory" (Number 27 pop, Number 35 Hot Country, 2007) and "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (Number 47 Hot Country, 2007), a duet with LeAnn Rimes.
The band's next album, The Circle, was more rock than country; it debuted at Number One on Billboard in November 2009, five months after Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora's induction into the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame.
Bon Jovi will be playing in Slane on 15th June 2013 to 80,000 fans priced from €79.50. Jon said “This was always the goal, to play Slane.” They will be in the middle of their “Because we can” tour. But will they sell 80,000 tickets?
Article By Bob Tallent
Videos by Frazer McMenzieCopyright © 2012, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved
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The Space Oddity who went from music to acting and back to music!
This Londoner has been on the scene for over 40 years and is still going strong today. He played saxophone when he was 13 and was influenced by his older brother Terry - who developed a mental illness, was committed to an institution and committed suicide in 1985. That tragedy haunted our Londoner for many years and caused him to write “Jump they Say”. At 16, he started a career as a commercial artist, singing and playing with rock bands in his spare time. By 1966, he had recorded singles with three different groups and decided to set out on his own as a solo act. He is a musical chameleon, was a folksinger, androgyne, alien, decadent blue-eyed soul man, art-rocker and a modern pop star, with each persona spawning a new league of imitators. He used the saying “Everyone finds empathy in a nutty family.”
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