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1. A Valentine's story: Elton & Betty White

I've often touted the annual Oxford American Music Issue for its excellent coverage of Southern American music. One of the highlights of last fall's issue is a lengthy profile of Elton & Betty White, "the second most recognizable couple in Little Rock" in the 1980's (after Bill & Hillary). Unfortunately, that article isn't one available online, and it's likely the issue is now sold out on local newsstands. (But it and other past issues are available to order online).

Betty and Elton were indeed a unique couple in every way, and performed their (very) personal, romantic and erotic songs for each other on the streets of Little Rock, and later Venice Beach, California. Betty was 30 years Elton's senior, and their lives had gone through through numerous twists and struggles, both living on the edge of society before they met at a Mission dinner, and as Betty said, "It was love at first sight". One day in 1986, in their job delivering newspapers, they met one of the program hosts of a Little Rock community radio station, who wondered about the odd couple who wore ukuleles strung over their backs. Do you play music? he asked them? They certainly did, and they were soon singing "The Best Love-Maker in the World" on KABF.

Before too long, they were recorded (their best-selling album was Sex Beyond the Door). Some of their "Greatest Hits" included "Climaxation", "I'm In Love With Your Behind", "Foreplay Before Love" and "Little Dicks Fit Me Best".

They became well enough known in Arkansas that they both made political runs. Betty ran for Governor against Bill Clinton, but collected only 81 votes. (Four years later, she received 832 votes running for the US Senate).

In the early 90's, encouraged by Arsenio Hall playing one of their songs, they moved to Los Angeles, where they lived on street tips, and Elton's income recycling cans and bottles. They were noticed (was it Betty's beaded bikinis or Elton's "apocalyptically bulging [socks] Speedo"?). L.A. Weekly named them the sexiest couple in Los Angeles. Fame may have been tempting, but as one person who knew them from the boardwalk said, "All they cared about was each other, and that was it."

In August of 2003, Betty passed away at the age of 76. Elton still lives in Venice Beach, still earning money from collecting and selling aluminum cans, cradling Betty's ukulele when he misses her.

Apparently there is some work toward assembling their many songs on a proper CD release, and there are stories of a film documentary in the works. There is a MySpace page (of course): http://www.myspace.com/officialeltonandbettywhite ... check the initial NPR sound clip. Most of their songs are collected on the WFMU website. Part 1 and Part 2. (where the photo came from).

A Happy Valentine's Day to Elton and Betty.

 

Feb. 15: Gospel with Mighty Popo
African Guitar Summit member Mighty Popo joins Ken Whiteley's Gospel lunch series today, 2pm at Hugh's Room. Other guests include Rebecca Campbell who will be honouring Willie P. Bennett on the first anniversary of his death.

Feb. 15: Kuumba continues at Harbourfront featuring Ijo Vudu/Sani Abu, a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Muhtadi Drum Festival and Aché Brasil

Feb. 24: K'Naan does a relatively rare local concert at the Mod Club.

Music Africa/Gladstone: Black History Month continues:

Feb. 20: Fela Kuti Tribute
A tribute to the king of Afrobeat, with Canada's Afrobeat king, Femi Abosede and Culture Force. In the Ballroom; $15. A free show with young Afrobeat Stars opens in the Melody Bar.

Feb. 27: Miriam Makeba Tribute
With Katenenen "Cheka" Dioubaté, Ruth Mathiang, Jabulani, Lizzy Mahashe and guest appearance by Zaki Ibrahim. $15 in the ballroom. Earlier, a free show of traditional Zimbabwean music and dance from Masaisai.

More African music & dance: Feb 20: Isaac Akrong & African Dance Ensemble at the Lula, Feb. 28: Billy Hankouma Konaté and Sani Abu at York University; Feb. 27: Mohammed Diaby and Manding Foli Kan Don at the Teranga Restaurant.

Other shows this month include Waleed Kush continuing the Nubian Messenger series at The Trane; the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, back from performing at the Presidential Inauguration with two shows at the Glenn Gould Studio; John Hammond with two nights at Hugh's Room; Jane Bunnett with Elizabeth Sheppard and Telmary Diaz at Hugh's; and Samba Squad at the Lula.

Some shows to watch for in early March: "Routes to Peace" with Mel M'rabet and others at the Lula; Bettye LaVette at the Bathurst Theatre
 

Small World Music has three shows this month: 17th: Latin pop from Pacificka at the Lula; 19th: The Kamkars - Kurdish music from Iran at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, and on the 26th, the unique Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan with music, dance, poetry, and more at the Revival.

That night, Small World will also be holding their first-ever fundraiser: a VIP reception for and performance by the Gypsies. SWM has been bringing the music of the world to Toronto for 12 years, and established itself as an utterly indispensable part of the Toronto music scene with its varied and ambitious programs throughout the year, including extensive Persian and South Asian festivals, and the annual Small World Music Festival in the fall. The VIP tickets are $100; the public show later that evening is $25.

See the SWM website linked above for details of that and all events.

3. Notes:

a) Ballaké Sissoko:
Earlier this month, Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko put on a beautiful solo performance at York University. He came here specifically for the show (and a Q&A the day before). It was a rare event -- he said it was his first time playing in Canada -- and so it was disappointing that the small theatre was half empty, however the organizers filmed and recorded the show, and may be producing a CD from it.

He finished the show doing three songs by Toronto's Katenenen "Cheka" Dioubaté, a griot from Guinea. There was no photography during the show, so the shot on the left, backstage with Cheka, will have to do.

Watch for Ballaké's latest CD, 3MA, a project with other musicians from Morocco and Madagascar that has earned rave reviews in Europe but is not released here yet.

b) Award updates:
On my page listing awards and critics' picks for 2008, updates from the Junos of world and other roots categories. Among the nominees, are two of my picks for best of the year: Jason Wilson's impressive and ambitious double CD, Peacemaker's Chauffeur in the reggae category, and Jayme Stone and Mansa Sissoko's beautiful Africa to Appalachia, that is also receiving great reviews internationally. In the newest issue of Songlines magazine from the UK, it's selected as one of the "Top of the World" picks. We hope it gets the international success it deserves.

c) Toumani Diabaté & Béla Fleck
And Jayme and Mansa now aren't the only ones working together with banjo and kora. Toumani Diabaté and Béla Fleck -- each seen by many as the best in the world on their instruments -- have been collaborating, and doing some shows together in the U.S. this spring. Fleck recently travelled in various countries in Africa, meeting and playing with a variety of musicians. His travels were captured in a documentary, Throw Down Your World. You can also hear Béla discussing his travels and music stories on NPR radio in three parts: Uganda: Tanzania; Gambia/Mali.   

d) Good news
Good news everywhere ... February is more than half-over, it's a beautiful, sunny, relatively warm day and Muzak has gone bankrupt. Enjoy!

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca