Brad's Music Room

Have you been enjoying the democratic debates? Although I watched the first round on NBC, I missed out this week because I no longer have satellite or cable TV. Consequently, I don’t get CNN. However, I have been enjoying the summaries provided by the late-night hosts. Particularly entertaining is this Motown inspired musical summary from Thursday night’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

I saw Crosby, Stills and Nash in the early 90s. By that time, David Crosby had already lived a full and colorful life. He began his recording career in the early nineteen-sixties, as a founding member of the folk-rock band the Byrds. However, I remember him primarily during his Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young days.

Crosby just released a new documentary, “Remember My Name.” Essentially, the film is a brutally honest self-examination, covering his 50-year journey as a musician and activist.

From Sony pictures: A revealing and deeply personal documentary exploring the life and creative renaissance of music icon David Crosby. A cultural force for over fifty years, Crosby faced uncertain future after the 2015 dissolution of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Racked with health issues and personal obstacles, Crosby forged a new path at the age of 77.

Crosby now sets out to make a mark in a world now so different from the generation he came to define in the 60’s. Crosby shares his often-challenging journey with humor and bite. You thought you knew him. Meet David Crosby now in this portrait of a man still tilting against every windmill, with everything but an easy retirement on his mind. This inspirational story, filled with music, will speak to loyal fans, and legions of new ones. Currently playing in New York and California.

Finally, to promote his new documentary, David Crosby performed a medley of “Long Time Gone” for the Tonight Show audience.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of this historic day.

At 9:32 a.m. on July 16, with the world watching, Apollo 11 took off from Kennedy Space Center. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins were aboard. Armstrong, a 38-year-old civilian research pilot, was the commander of the mission. After traveling 240,000 miles in 76 hours, Apollo 11 entered into a lunar orbit on July 19. The next day, at 1:46 p.m., the lunar module Eagle, manned by Armstrong and Aldrin, separated from the command module, where Collins remained. Two hours later, the Eagle began its descent to the lunar surface. At 4:18 p.m. the craft touched down on the southwestern edge of the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong immediately radioed to Mission Control in Houston, Texas, a famous message: “The Eagle has landed.”

To celebrate this celestial milestone here are my top 10 favorite “Moon Tunes”. What are yours?

• Brain Damage / Eclipse – Pink Floyd
• Moondance – Van Morrison
• Rocket Man – Elton John
• Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Harvest Moon – Neil Young
• Pink Moon – Nick Drake
• Mr. Moonlight – Beatles
• Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
• Man On the Moon – R.E.M.
• Shame On the Moon – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band