American culture has come to accept that "celebrity deaths" mysteriously always happen in "three's." I clearly recall my parents and relatives saying it back in the late 50's and early 60's when a famous person passed on.  Over the past decade or so I've noticed that technology has enabled us to up the ante on this "expire in trio" phenomenon applying it to the individual areas or categories of celebrity. In my particular (or peculiar for that matter) world it has happened again.  Scott Miller last week and a pair yesterday... Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls was the first one in the news and while I'm not a fan (and never want to hear "I Touch Myself" again) they weren't hacks. They were huge in their homeland (Australia) and she had plenty of talent. Like Scott she was way too young at only 53 and certainly didn't have an easy exit... MS and breast cancer which she couldn't be treated for due to the MS. Very sad.  

When the passing of Richie Havens reached me I immediately thought of my friend Pete Fornatale, who sadly is also gone and of meeting Mr. Havens once and how kind, genuine, warm and real he was.  I've been around some fairly famous people throughout the years and some of them have what can only be described as a glow or aura that goes beyond mere presence in a room or space.  Harry Belafonte had it and so did Richie Havens.  Richie continued to make some very good records throughout his 40 year career but at a time like this let's visit with some old friends.   

I became a fan within the first 30 seconds of Judy Mallen playing me "9 Lives To Rigel 5" while visiting her wonderful record store in New Brunswick, N.J., Music In A Different Kitchen.  I played "Rigel" that afternoon on WHTG and pretty much every thing he released since at every radio station I've ever "lived" at... from FM106.3 in Asbury Park, NJ to Coyote Radio in Santa Fe, NM and to this day in The Loft.  I don't know how or why he died but I feel a true sadness.  I loved his music and will listen to it for the rest of my life.  Here's some of my personal favorites.

It's been a rough 2013 so far mediacally speaking but everything now appears to be properly diagnosed and treatment is commencing with encouraging results.  Feeling a little better every day and trying to keep up with the never ending deluge of new music.  Here's a few things that have stood out recently.