Category: Billy Joel
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Where Time’s Winds Blow: The Scene That Started It All
Every story has a beginning. Sometimes, that beginning is clear and deliberate—a spark of inspiration that feels undeniable. Other times, it sneaks up on you, a seemingly small moment that quietly takes root, only revealing its true significance years later. For Reunion: A Story, that moment came in the late 1980s when I was a…
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More Musings for Mother’s Day 2025: Of Mothers, Sons…and Music
Evening, Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Miami, Florida Mother’s Day always brings a mix of emotions. The ache of missing my mother is ever-present, but today, I choose to celebrate the memories—the quiet, joyful moments that defined our bond. Mom and I shared an unspoken connection through the things we loved: books, films, dogs, and…
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Saturday Serenade: Some of My Favorite Piano Pieces*
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, January 4, 2025, Miami, Florida * Including piano transcriptions of orchestral compositions. Hi, everyone. I’m feeling a bit better today, but still dealing with a persistent cold. I’m exhausted from the symptoms and medication. Instead of my usual long blog post, here are some of my favorite piano performances. Enjoy!
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Narrative Threads: A Conversation on Crafting the Reunion Duology, Part the Fourteenth
Music and Emotion: Maddie is a concert pianist for the New York Philharmonic. How did you use music to enhance the emotional depth of the story? Are there specific pieces of music that played a significant role in the narrative? Music is a huge deal in the Reunion Duology, and it shapes the story in…
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Narrative Threads: A Conversation on Crafting the Reunion Duology, Part the Thirteenth
The author of “Reunion: Coda” drew inspiration from Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” to implement a dual timeline approach. This allowed for a seamless transition between early 1980s South Florida and early 2000s New York City. The story features Jim and Marty’s high school journey and Jim’s romance with Maddie, presented through alternating…
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More of My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five ‘Favorites’ Lists
More of My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five ‘Favorites’ Lists For my friend Patti Aliventi. Music Albums – Movie Soundtracks Music Albums – Classical Music Albums – Pop/Rock Music Albums – Jazz/Standards Music Albums – Miscellaneous
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My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five ‘Favorites’ Lists
My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five “Favorites” Lists Movies Books (Non-fiction) Books (Fiction) Computer/Video Games Songs (Standards, Mostly)
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Musings & Thoughts for Tuesday, July 4, 2023, or: Weekend Update, Part the Fifth (Independence Day Edition)
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in 4K UHD Blu-rays, Adults-Only Games, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium, June 22 & 23, 1990, Blu-ray Collection, Cold War-Turns-Hot Games, Cold Waters, Creative Writing, Groundhog Day (1993), John Williams (Composer), John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Leap of Faith, M1 Tank Platoon (1989 PC Game), Movies, Music Reviews, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaIt’s late morning here in Lithia, Florida, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Even though noon is – as I begin this post, anyway – less than two hours away, it’s already 87°F/31°C under mostly sunny conditions, and it’s going to be hotter still. Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 96°F/35°C.…
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On Writing & Storytelling: Monday, Music, and Waiting for My Muses
“So. Monday. We meet again. We will never be friends—but maybe we can move past our mutual enmity toward a more-positive partnership.”― Julio-Alexi Genao Late morning – at least in what is, for now, my room in Lithia, Florida – on Monday, April 10, 2023: Curtains cracked open, but the blinds are closed to prevent…
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Music Album Review: ‘Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium, June 22 & 23, 1990’ (2022)
Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium, June 22 & 23, 1990 (2022) Produced & Directed by: Jon Small Producers: Steve Cohen & John Jackson Starring: Billy Joel, David Brown, Tommy Byrnes, Schuyler Deale, Mark Rivera, Liberty DeVitto, Jeffrey Jacobs, Crystal Taliefero Release Date: November 4, 2022 The Piano Man Comes Home to The Bronx! Billy…
A Certain Point of View, Too 