by David Meyers (book & lyrics) & Scott Michal (music)
A guide to our various endeavors
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“Prisons book author knows the nitty gritty,” writes Mike Harden in The Columbus Dispatch. “Although Historic Prisons is, by its nature, largely anecdotal, its twisted little vignettes present a wickedly delicious tray of canapes."
"Rich heritage of music, musicians in Columbus strikes a chord," writes Aaron BeckinThe Columbus Dispatch."With Columbus, The Musical Crossroads, David Meyers has compiled a tidy overview of players whose music spanned jazz, country and rock from 1900 to 1970." .
"It's exactly what we need here on the South Side with its perfect combination of family tradition and inventive hilarity," writes Mike Nix in the [Chicago] Daily Southtown, ". . . a brilliantly funny version that just pokes a little fun our way."
"Play promise laughs, fanciful characters," David S. Owen writes in The Pickerington Times. Quoting director Mel Spring, "Bring your seat belt, because you are going to laugh yourself silly."
Founded in 1994 by Robert D. Thomas and David W. Meyers, the CSMHOF recognizes Columbus area musicians whose careers have significantly enriched our musical heritage. To be considered for the Hall of Fame, a musician must have been born at least 60 years ago and have lived in Central Ohio.
This started out to be a blog about movies I have worked on or contributed to in some fashion (and I still may get around to that), but for now I am using it to look back on some of the people, places, and events that shaped my life.
"The unexamined life is not worth living," as Socrates observed.
Frankly, I'm not sure what this is going to become. There's just some stuff that relates to my being a Christian that I want to put out there for those who might be interested. Eventually, I hope to get around to doing a novel that will out-Harry . . . Potter. (I had a little trouble with the punctuation, there. It sounded like I was "outting" Harry Potter, which wasn't my intent.)
Did you know that true crime is the most popular section of the library? At least it is in Columbus and we are hoping that readers will find these stories as interesting as we did.
“There are 500 woodcarvers working today in the United States who are technically as proficient as Pierce, but none can equal the power of Pierce’s personal vision,” said Bob Bishop of the Museum of American Folk Art. A Columbus folk artist, Elijah viewed the world through the prism of his Long Street barber shop and the Bible. I was inspired to write this song after seeing a major exhibit of his art and talked my buddy, Arnett, into supplying the music. If you go to see him perform, shock him by requesting the song!
They called the boy Elijah
And Elijah had the call
To be a faithful servant
And preach God's word to all
But Elijah was hardheaded
Didn't do the things he should
So God declared he'd have to turn
His sermons into wood
And ev'ry text he didn't preach
He whittled out of pine or beech
Then painted them in colors bold
For all his neighbors to behold
Soon folks from all around would stop
Inside his humble barber shop
To ask if they might take a look
At Elijah's wooden book
By trade he was a barber
He worked hard all his life
A skilled man with a razor
An artist with his knife
For when he wasn't cutting hair
Then you’d be sure to find
Elijah setting down in wood
The pictures in his mind
And in a garden make-believe
He put Adam and his Eve
While animals by twos embark
With faithful Noah on the ark
Zacheus climbing up a tree
And our Lord's nativity
Are gathered here for all who look
In Elijah's wooden book
God called Elijah to him
When he was ninety-two
And welcomed him to paradise
With the usual ballyhoo
Rewarding him for his great faith
Throughout his earthly strife
By giving him a pair of wings
And a brand new pocket knife
Elijah thanked God with a grin
And knew right where he would begin
He set about to decorate
The posts which hold the pearly gate
Now, when in heaven you must stop
Inside Elijah's barber shop
And ask if you might have a look
At Elijah's wooden book
There is a nice statue of Elijah Pierce by Steven Weitzman on the Columbus State Community College campus at the corner of Long and Washington Streets next to the parking garage.
"You can always take it back to Lazarus -- no questions asked." That was their policy, that was their practice, and that's what made F&R Lazarus & Co. one of the greatest stores in the United States for over 150 years. Here's the whole story of "the first family of American retailing" and the grand emporium that was once the heart of Columbus, Ohio.
We're back! The gang that gave you Columbus, The Musical Crossroad, has a new book. This time our focus is this history of jazz in Ohio since before it had a name to now. It includes 60 mini-biographies of some of the major players who called the Buckeye State home. Available May 1, 2012, from The History Press and all major booksellers.
