Re-Appearing SOON!

Yulee Diddley Day in Archer, FL 6-6-09

Archer, FL, population 1302, celebrates people!

David Yulee, was an imaginative entrepreneur, wily politician, brilliant orator, and man of great charm and charisma. FL's first US Senator.

Bo Diddley, born Ellas Otha Bates, was an original and influential American rock & roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was known as "The Originator" because of his key role in the transition from blues music to rock & roll. As Tom Petty says, "Elvis was King, but Diddley his Daddy."

Both lived in Archer.

A local couple has refurbished their home into the U.S. Victory Museum from donated artifacts including seldom seen health posters. Civil War Reenactors also participate.

Proof positive PEACE and LOVE are the only answer and we CAN all get along.

Comments welcome!

Bo Diddley Day?!?!?!

I live in Archer and am looking forward to this. I ran into Bo at the airport on occasion and am I glad I had the nerve to chat him up. He was the nicest guy and when asked what advice he would give to fellow musicians he encourged them to follow their own muse and do it their own way. Worked for him.

From the Gainesville Sun

Diddley was incredibly visible and involved in the Archer community during his lifetime said Faith Fusillo, Diddley's former business manager who now helps oversee part of his estate. If an organization needed help raising money, Diddley would be there with a guitar and amp, ready to perform, she added.

"He was a very common man. Bo wasn't about limousines and tuxedos, he was more about tractors and overalls," she said.

Fusillo likens the memorabilia exhibition to a mini-Graceland. It includes some of Diddley's stage costumes, a guitar he used up until his last performances, his leather cowboy hat and many awards, including his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Diddley's estate managers had countless offers to display his memorabilia in large cities, but waited for the opportunity to show it in Archer because of Diddley's connection to the area, Fusillo said.

"Bo lived and died in Archer," she said. "He traveled the world, but always chose to come home to Archer."

FL State Fair Tampa 09

That's right folks, "Step right up for the chocolate dipped bacon!" Fair food is the best food you'll find once a year, and everything can be fried. Had a lovely time and the weather was awesome. First stop the WELDES BIG BEAR SHOW getting an up close peek at this cute family and their commitment to animals of the furry kind. Next the HAAI LIVE SHARK ENCOUNTER presented by Phillip Peters, friend from Ringling back in the day. He's quite the comedian and engages the crowd with his personality, playing on our fears keeping peeps on the edge of their seats while slipping in interesting facts about sharks and their habits. Altogether a great way to encourage understanding and thus respect and responsibility for them, both captive and ocean side.
It was a packed house at CIRCUS HOLLYWOOD next. A fine free show in a tent, a bit warm for everyone, but the acts were hot. I especially liked the horses and silks done beautifully.

Altogether a fun day at the fair. It's over for now, try to catch it next year.

Hot and Wet

aka summer in Florida.

It's been raining nearly everyday in the afternoon. Sometimes drenching the earth throughout the night. The grass is growing right in front of me and the mower is broken. The wild rabbit eats breakfast on the front lawn. The armadillo visited the studio and left without a forwarding address. The toads are rampant under the deck and banana spiders are setting sticky, yellow, silken traps. The cidadas hum incessantly and the trees are here to comfort me. Step outside and begin to sweat. The only thing left to do is get in the pool, get in the pool.