30 years since my first home video recording! July 27, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Video.add a comment
Thursday marked 30 years since my father Bill replaced his Hitachi VHS camcorder for a JVC VHS-C camcorder. The date was Monday, July 25, 1994.
To quote the 25th anniversary post:
The Hitachi had been used for much of the previous nine years to record me and my sister Lauren. Unfortunately, I didn’t like seeing myself on video. I still can’t bear to watch those early recordings. I wasn’t in control and appeared awkward. On two occasions, Dad convinced me that he wasn’t really recording me. The first time, he said the tape was a soap opera; the second time, he said it was a special camera that didn’t tape Michael (as I was known at the time) Chimeri. Of course, he really was recording me.
With this new JVC “Palmcorder,” I was in control. I went into greater detail about that first evening of recording – and the days and years to follow – on the 20th anniversary, …
For the 30th anniversary, I AI upscaled and deinterlaced the first 50 seconds of video recorded on that Monday night in 1994.
As with the 20th and 25th anniversaries, I retraced my steps. I even used the timestamp feature of my 4K, 60 frames per second Panasonic HC-X1500 – a 24-hour clock, not the 12-hour AM/PM clock. I also blurred out the license plates in Adobe Premiere Pro. Enjoy.
I sold the JVC Everio and Panasonic HC-V770 camcorders on eBay in 2022 after getting the HC-X1500, but I still have the Takstar SGC-598 shotgun mic. I’ve noted in prior posts that the HC-X1500 includes a VW-HU1 handle attachment and Rode VideoMic GO II shotgun mic. Earlier this month, I bought a second HC-X1500 for use in my event videography. Of course, that was after buying a 4K30 camcorder last month – the Canon VIXIA HF G70 – and selling it when I was dissatisfied with test video I shot.
I posted my G70 test videos to YouTube, as well, for anyone interested in buying.
I guess I’ll retrace my steps again at the 35-year mark in 2029.
2023 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony, tour of renovated Abrams Communications Center June 6, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Baseball, Basketball, Comedy, Education, History, Internet, Media, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Politics, Radio, Rock, Sports, Technology, TV, Video.add a comment
Other Hall of Fame ceremony recaps: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2022
7/17 UPDATE: A formatting error with this blog post unbeknownst to me until this morning has been resolved.
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the WCWP Hall of Fame’s 2023 class was inducted in a ceremony at LIU Post‘s Alumni Hall.
This time, there were three inductees (listed in order of introduction):
- Joel Feltman, 1974
- Phil Lebowitz, 1974
- Mike Maimone, 1981
(In full disclosure, I once again served on the Hall of Fame Committee.)
I was under no stress coming into Saturday’s ceremony. I owe that to a lack of weekly radio shows to record in advance and my hiatus from Twitch streaming (I return this Sunday).
WCWP station manager Pete Bellotti contacted me three weeks beforehand to confirm if I would be shooting photos and video. For the first time since 2019, I would handle all of that, not supplementing the station’s video as for the 2020-21 and ’22 ceremonies. The only video I needed was of Phil Lebowitz’s prerecorded acceptance speech. (Joel Feltman and Mike Maimone would be present.)
I have three cameras capable of shooting 4K video at 60 FPS (frames per second): a Panasonic HC-X1500 camcorder, a GoPro HERO7 (with YOLOtek Juicebank for extra battery life), and a Canon EOS R7. The R7 replaced my Nikon D5500 as my exclusive photo camera. Needing the R7 for video meant going back to the D5500 for the first time since after Homecoming Weekend in 2022. (Click here to read about my early days with the R7.) For audio to sync with the video, I would use a TASCAM DR-05X audio recorder connected to the podium mixer via 3.5mm cable.
On the afternoon of Friday, May 31, students and alumni, myself included, were shocked by the news that Long Island University had dismissed Pete Bellotti as WCWP station manager. Fears were allayed by evening when Dan Cox, who otherwise would M.C. Saturday’s ceremony, came out of retirement to return as station manager.
Dan briefly addressed the situation in his opening remarks:
For those of you who may not know me, my name is Dan Cox, and I am the Director of Broadcasting at WCWP Radio. Unfortunately, that appointment came less than 24 hours ago. (applause) Unfortunately, the university parted ways with Pete [Bellotti]. Pete was one of my students. He is a good friend, and I wish him well. I think he did an outstanding job during a very difficult time over the last two years, with the renovation and everything that was happening. So, I won’t belabor that point. But I will say, for those of you in the room who probably stretch back as far as the 1960s through the 2000s, there’s never a dull moment at WCWP, is there? So, let’s not make this a dull moment by me talking too much. What I’d like to do right now is to bring up my good friend Jeff Kroll, who’s gonna induct our first inductee [Joel Feltman].
I’m choosing to save the journal portion (i.e. when I arrived, further technical details) for the end of this post before video of the ceremony and renovated station tour.
As Dan said, 2015 inductee Jeff Kroll presented Joel Feltman for induction:
Joel’s acceptance speech, with Jeff present to his right (out of view), dovetailed somewhat into discussion of the next inductee.
But first, Joel and Jeff posed for a photo:
The second inductee, also presented by Jeff Kroll, was Phil Lebowitz, Joel Feltman’s fellow 1974 alumnus.
Phil could not make the ceremony, but he did record an acceptance speech from his home in Surprise, Arizona.
After the video was shown, Jeff Kroll showed off his WCWP press card and shared how Phil’s “gift of gab” allowed the two of them access to a Philadelphia 76ers home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. (They were in Philly to cover a C.W. Post Pioneers football road game against Drexel University.)
Jeff then posed with Phil’s plaque:
Before the third inductee, Dan Cox acknowledged the informal ribbon cutting earlier in the week for the renovated Abrams Communications Center, attended by Marjorie Abrams Hyman and fellow descendants of Benjamin Abrams.
Then, Dan introduced Tim Ernandes to present Mike Maimone.
Tim was a laugh riot, chock full of impressions and stories of from his and Mike’s days working on WCWP comedy series Post Serial, a pun on the university’s Post Cereal roots.
Tim stayed at the podium for repartee during Mike’s acceptance speech.
A photo with the plaque:
After closing remarks from Dan Cox, the 2023 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony was complete. There was a bit of business to tend to before we all made the trek to the Abrams Communications Center.
First, a photo of inductees Joel Feltman and Mike Maimone with presenters Jeff Kroll and Tim Ernandes:
It was Dan who said in his 2022 induction speech (in ’23) that Mike deserved a spot in the Hall of Fame, and he rightfully earned that spot this year.
A candid shot before departing:
Joel Feltman and his wife Michelle offered to drive me down to the Abrams Communications Center. Cars were the only feasible option since Hillwood Commons was itself closed for renovations. If I were to walk from Alumni Hall, I’d have to go around Hillwood.
We parked in the lot, I took out my equipment, and put it all down in the lobby. I shot continuous video (except for a part I couldn’t record) and a dozen photos inside and out. You’ll see the video later, but here are the photos:
The highlight of the tour was an impromptu speech from (and discussion with) station manager Dan Cox in studio 3:
Before I left for home, Dan took a photo of me with Mike Maimone.
Now, the journal portion:
My dad Bill dropped me off at Alumni Hall at around 12:30, if not 12:40. (Surprisingly, I don’t remember the exact time.) Last Sunday, I bought an Amazon Basics 60″ tripod for use with the R7 in addition to the tripods I already had for the GoPro and HC-X1500. As you’ll see in the video at the end of this post, I had to tweak the R7’s color balance, along with brightness and contrast. The HC-X1500 video quality is untouched. The GoPro footage didn’t make the final video as the best shots came from the other two sources. Working from my knowledge of Twitch overlays, I made special overlays for the video:
The R7 video experiment yielded mixed results. I got a lot to work with, but I had to stop recording 55 minutes in to change batteries. After eight minutes on the new battery, the camera stopped recording due to overheating. Once it cooled down, I resumed, only for the SD card in slot 1 to reach capacity. I had to manually change to slot 2 for the last six minutes. Clearly, another camcorder is the only way to go in the future. From Saturday afternoon through Tuesday night, I considered my options: another Panasonic HC-X1500 without VW-HU1 and Rode VideoMic GO II attached or, staying in the Canon family, the Canon VIXIA HF G70. It’s cheaper than the HC-X1500, but goes no higher than 30 FPS in 4K. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make, springing for an open box eBay listing on Tuesday night. So, if secondary camera cutaways look cinematic at future events (i.e. Homecoming Weekend), you’ll know why. (6/14 UPDATE: I was dissatisfied with the G70 and am selling it. I’ll just get another HC-X1500 after it sells.)
One last thing: the podium audio was blown out, and I did my best to fix that in Adobe Audition, along with using the click/pop eliminator where necessary.
So, then, here is the finished ceremony/station tour video. Enjoy.
Congratulations to Joel Feltman, Phil Lebowitz, and Mike Maimone. We reconvene in 2025 to induct the 2024 WCWP Hall of Fame class.
Special thanks to 2014 inductee Ted David for curating the photos and for advice on further edits.
SJFS 2024 Night 2 recap May 2, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Classical, Health, Internet, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Livestream, Music, Personal, Pets, Photography, Pop, Radio, smooth jazz, Travel, Video.add a comment
The night of Saturday, April 20, would bring the second set of Jay Rowe‘s 20th Smooth Jazz for Scholars, benefiting the Milford Public Schools music department. Before I recap that, I have another long preamble listing how my day went before the show itself. (Scroll down to Kevin McCabe’s first photo if you don’t want to read it.)
I got six hours of sleep, waking up around 7:30 AM. I neglected to pack mouthwash and could only rinse with warm water on Friday evening. My room at Hampton Inn – room 144 – lacked a bottle of complimentary mouthwash. Upon returning to the hotel from Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Parsons Complex, I asked the front desk if they had any, since a message in my bathroom said to ask there. The clerk had bad news: no mouthwash there, either. Thus, upon waking up Saturday morning and doing a few sets of push-ups, I got dressed, put on my jacket with a sun visor to keep the jacket’s hood from drooping below my forehead, and walked to a nearby supermarket on Boston Post Road (U.S. 1). The approximately quarter-mile walk took me across Plains Road, through a shopping center that featured an Aldi, and to Big Y. Once inside Big Y, I bought pairs of Cool Mint and Total Care Listerine travel-size bottles, a three-pack of ChapStick Medicated (the tube I had was almost finished), and a $1 reusable bag. That should hold me over for the next year or so.
Once back at Hampton Inn, I entered from the south side with my key card and went back to my room. I showered, got dressed in clean clothes, and brought my laptop to the lobby for breakfast and mingling with any musicians or fans I happened to see. Estella Taylor-Greene and Norma Rohadfox were there, Rob and Mel Hoogenboom were there with their dog Olive (third photo below), Mark and Phyllis Abrams had their dog Cody (first and second photos), and Friday night headliner Althea René was there (fourth and fifth photos with Rob, Mel, and Estella).
All the while, I sat at the elevated table with my laptop, eating banana muffins and drinking apple juice. (I didn’t feel like eggs or waffles and it was too late for cereal.) On the laptop, I went through the 401 photos I kept from Friday night, deleting anything overly blurry or where Althea wasn’t blowing into her flute’s lip plate or fellow headliner Marcus Anderson wasn’t on his alto saxophone’s mouthpiece. I struck up a conversation with a young couple who were in town for a friend’s wedding as the boyfriend marveled at the photos I was going through. Diane Roth and her partner Rich said hello and I spoke them for a bit, as I did with John and Theresa Monteverde. I’ve seen John and Theresa since the Houndstooth Pub shows in the early 2010s. They live in Merrick here on Long Island and John was retired from working at the Citibank in Freeport, near my day job. There wasn’t any caffeine free tea available in the lobby; only black tea, which has caffeine. So, John offered a green tea bag from his room and I drank from that instead.
My parents Lisa and Bill came down to check out of their room around 9:30 and said goodbye before driving back to Long Island. My dad is in the Freeport Fire Department (in Truck Co. 1) and they were holding their annual installation dinner Saturday night at a hotel in Melville. It was there that fellow Truck 1 member Joe Falco was named honorary chief for his 50 years of service. (Joe is a 9/11 survivor, and was the focus of a documentary that served as my college senior project.)
Saturday headliner Steve Cole came down to the lobby at one point and I struck up a conversation with him and another fan that was seated next to him.
By 11:30, the lobby began to thin out, so I brought my laptop back to my room. Before finishing up winnowing Friday’s photos, I walked to the fitness center to lift weights. As I exercised, I listened (on my phone) to the remaining “from the vault” tracks on the redone 1989 (Taylor’s Version), one of the CDs I bought when building my Taylor Swift studio album collection earlier in April. “Is It Over Now?” accompanied me back to my room where I completed the winnowing process. 280 of the 401 photos remained.
After eating a protein bar, I used a newly discovered time-saving tool to easily rename the photos from my Canon EOS R7‘s filename system to my date specific names. The old way was long and tedious. Since these photos were taken April 19, 2024, the filenames would begin with “MC41924” and follow with 001 and beyond. A My Life in Gaming video (released exactly two months earlier) introduced me to Advanced Renamer. Thankfully, my task did not require paying for registration. I imported the files, typed “MC41924” in the “new name” section, clicked on “<Inc Nr> – Incrementing Number,” clicked “start batch,” and “start” in the prompt. Immediately, all photos were renamed, from MC41924001 to MC41924280. The process was just as easy for renaming the watermarked photos chosen for the blog posts. Watch this clip from my April 27 photo editing Twitch stream to see how that went. (I streamed most of the photo editing process on my Twitch channel over a seven-day period before going back to video games.)
With the renaming taken care of, I began editing Friday’s remaining 280 photos. I wasn’t going to get them all done, but I did as much as I could. I also jumped ahead to the meet and greet photos since they’d be easier to edit. I listened to various tracks in iTunes by Casiopea, the Chick Corea Elektric Band, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet until around 2:00 when Courtney Visser and Cerian (“kerry ann”) began their Twitch streams. They guided me through the next two hours (and 85 photos) until a second shower and a walk back to Pasquale Pizza for another pasta dinner. I went from rigatoni with meat sauce on Friday to tortellini with meat sauce on Saturday. After paying the check, I went to Cumberland Farms for the same ice cream pints as Friday: Twix Cookie Dough and Snickers. Approaching Hampton Inn’s south entrance, I thought about a line in Taylor Swift’s “Is It Over Now?”: “you search in every model’s bed for something greater.” I joked to myself, yeah, like I have access to models – model cars I made when I was a teenager. (I showed off those cars in the second SJFS photo editing stream.)
My friend Kelly Dacey arrived in the parking lot at 7:00 to drive me to the auditorium. I carried all my gear from my room to her Kia Sportage and put them in the front seat with me. That gear again:
- Canon EOS R7 with RF-S 18-150mm lens
- Panasonic HC-X1500 with VW-HU1 and Rode VideoMic GO II
- GoPro HERO7 with YOLOtek Juicebank
- Magnus VT-300 tripod
- Targus tripod (model number unknown; yes, I said “model”)
We briefly spoke to Steve Cole as he stood outside before his trip to the auditorium. He remembered Kelly from a 2013 Houndstooth Pub gig where she brought her saxophone lesson book with her. After one song, he joked to her “that’s page [I forget the number] in your book.”
Kelly parked in the lot adjacent to Wasson Field, a baseball field where a game was in progress. We walked in to Veterans Memorial Auditorium and I set up my equipment in the orchestra pit. Then, I went back to the lobby to buy a copy of Saturday headliner Blake Aaron‘s latest CD, Love and Rhythm, from Michelle at the merchandise table. I said hello to Jay Rowe’s mother Mia DiStasi who stood at a table next to the 50/50 raffle table. It was there that I bought three tickets for $10. I didn’t expect to win, but I figured I’d take a chance.
On my way back in, I said hello to usher Steve Lewis and his daughter Jen, and to Paul, another usher.
I saw Kevin McCabe and asked if he had a set list for that night, he said no and quickly moved on. There were a lot of things to take care of before the show, after all. Fortunately, I came across Jay Rowe who was able to forward me his e-mail to Kevin with both night’s set lists. So, in the pit, I wrote down the songs on my stenographer pad.
As I was copying the set list, John Monteverde approached me to ask if he and Theresa could drive me back to Wantagh on Sunday morning so my parents wouldn’t have to drive back from Melville to get me in the afternoon. After talking it over with my mom, I agreed. It was set: John, Theresa, and I would check out of our rooms around 9AM, they’d drive me to Wantagh and then drive to their home in Merrick. And that’s why my photo editing streams began Sunday afternoon at my usual approximate 2:00 start time instead of Monday afternoon at around 5:30.
Most of the photographers were the same as Friday night: me, Katherine Gilraine, and Kenny Combs. Dolly Moye’s friend Rick joined us in the pit along with Bill, a friend of Saturday headliner Marion Meadows. Andrew James could only make the sound check, while Ron Hancox couldn’t make it at all. He and his wife Nydia were flying to Greece at midnight.
8:00 finally came, and Kevin McCabe walked on stage to greet the audience:
He introduced the Jonathan Law High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dave Pelaggi. Mr. P’s ensemble performed “Blue Moon” and “Cry Me a River.”
Like Friday night, after the crew removed the chairs for the student performers, Kevin returned to thank sponsors and Milford officials…
…and again, showed off a work of art by Marion Meadows.
Then, he introduced the house band, led by Jay Rowe. (Pardon the sheet music tablet.)
In order of appearance, Saturday’s headliners were Blake Aaron:
…and Alex Bugnon:
The four-piece house band was made up of Trever Somerville on drums:
Dave Anderson on bass:
Andy Abel on guitar:
And music director Jay Rowe on keyboards:
This time, I put my earplugs in sooner, during the ensemble performance, and took them out after the finale.
SET LIST (Updated with videos on 5/25/24)
1. City Groove (Jay Rowe)
2023 single
Featured musician: Jay Rowe (keyboards)
2. Groovers and Shakers (Blake Aaron)
Originally heard on: Color and Passion (2020)
Featured musicians: Blake Aaron (guitar), Steve Cole (tenor sax)
3. Crush (Blake Aaron)
Originally heard on: Love and Rhythm (2024)
Featured musicians: Blake Aaron (guitar), Steve Cole (tenor sax)
Blake and Steve both had their share of jokes, but Steve had me in stitches. Before the next song, he said “Alexa…play Steve Cole.”
4. C’mon Y’all (Steve Cole)
Originally heard on: Without a Doubt (2023)
Featured musician: Steve Cole (tenor sax)
Ahead of Steve’s second song, he went from Amazon to Apple: “Hey Siri! (pause) All your phones just went nuts, didn’t they? Play ‘Mirage’!”
5. Mirage (Steve Cole)
Originally heard on: Turn It Up (2016)
Featured musician: Steve Cole (tenor sax)
6. Something About You (Timmy Maia)
Featured musician: Timmy Maia (vocals)
7. Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing (Timmy Maia) (Stevie Wonder cover)
Featured musician: Timmy Maia (vocals)
8. Wishing on a Star (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: Player’s Club (2004)
Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax) (started in audience)
9. Marcosinho (Marion Meadows; Dave Valentin cover)
Originally heard on: Whisper (2013)
Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
10. Night Groove (Alex Bugnon)
Originally heard on: Soul Purpose (2001)
Featured musicians: Alex Bugnon (keyboards), Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
Jay Rowe did not play.
11. Spellbound (Alex Bugnon) (Joe Sample cover)
Featured musician: Alex Bugnon (keyboards)
The story behind Alex’s cover of “Spellbound” involved filling in for an ailing Joe Sample at Yoshi’s in 2013. Spellbound was the first jazz album I ever bought, in the summer of 1998.
Jay Rowe did not play.
12. Europa (Blake Aaron) (Santana cover)
Originally heard on: Soul Stories (2015)
Featured musician: Blake Aaron (guitar) (played through audience at midpoint)
13. Attitude (Steve Cole)
Originally heard on: Without a Doubt (2023)
Featured musician: Steve Cole (tenor sax)
14. Southern Living (Alex Bugnon)
Originally heard on: Southern Living (2003)
Featured musician: Alex Bugnon (keyboards)
Jay Rowe did not play.
15. Romantica (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: Player’s Club (2004)
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Blake Aaron (guitar)
16. Can We Talk (Timmy Maia) (Tevin Campbell cover)
Featured musician: Timmy Maia (vocals)
17 (Finale). Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (The Jacksons cover)
Featured musicians: Everyone
Photo galleries of the headliners, starting with Blake Aaron:
On to the house band, beginning with drummer Trever Somerville:
Bassist Dave Anderson:
Guitarist Andy Abel:
And Jay Rowe on keyboards:
On to medium shots. First, Steve and Blake’s “Groovers and Shakers” call and response:
Blake and Andy:
Marion and Alex:
Marion and Blake:
Steve and Marion:
Wide shots, led by the end of “Don’t Your Worry ’bout a Thing”:
End of “Wishing on a Star”:
End of “Marcosinho”:
End of “Europa”:
The ovation after “Europa”:
More audience shots during “Marcosinho”…
…and the finale, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”:
There’ll be more finale photos after shots of the 50/50 raffle.
Saturday’s pot was $1,250, $400 higher than Friday. As noted earlier, I bought three tickets for $10.
The winner was a photographer in the orchestra pit, but not me. That honor went to my fellow photographer Kenny Combs.
I congratulated Kenny when he returned to the pit.
That leaves the finale, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” Coincidentally, that song closed the first Smooth Jazz for Scholars I attended in 2007, also featuring Timmy Maia as a headliner. Here are Saturday’s finale photos:
I balked at an opportunity to speak (and pose for photos) with Steve Cole and Alex Bugnon inside the auditorium, but did get a couple of photos in the lobby. Kelly was waiting for me there. She’d been talking to Jeff, a trombonist who got to play in a band with Steve Davis, another trombonist that Jeff considers his favorite.
As for the artists seen Saturday night, here I am with Blake Aaron:
I told Blake I’d played several tracks from his prior album, Color and Passion, on Instrumental Invasion. In turn, he noted he also hosted a radio show for a while.
The other photo taken in the lobby was with Marion Meadows:
Kevin McCabe finally got a copy of the set lists for both nights and handed it to me right before Kelly took the above photo.
My last photo of the night was a photo of a photo. Estella posed with Marion and his signed artwork (he signed the back of the print):
I briefly said hello to Timmy Maia before he left for the after party. I spoke to Jay Dobbins, Janet Abel, and Dolly Moye. Then, Kelly and I went back to the parking lot, into her SUV, and back to Hampton Inn. I hugged her goodbye until next year and thanked her for her friendship.
I was greeted in the lobby by Estella, Mark and Phyllis, Rob and Mel, their dogs Cody and Olive, and Bennett. Bennett is a loyal concertgoer who’s brought an acoustic guitar to all the shows he attends – including Smooth Jazz for Scholars – and has musicians sign that guitar. Taylor Swift is among those to sign his guitar!
Here is Bennett’s guitar, as seen Friday night:
To the chagrin of the hotel clerk at the front desk, Cody and Olive barked happily at their new friend Bennett. After she politely asked for the dogs to be quiet or brought back to their rooms, I bid everyone good night and went back to my room. I then repeated the process of unloading the photos and videos onto my laptop, and converting the RAW files to JPGs – 440 of them on Saturday – in Adobe Lightroom. All the while, Emily McVicker and her community kept me company on Twitch. For the second time that weekend, my stream viewership coincided with a resub; the start of my fourth month with Emily.
I’m not sure how much sleep I got, but it was at least four hours. I was awakened around 5:30 AM Sunday by chirping birds outside my room. It was too close to sunrise to bother putting in earplugs and trying to sleep a little more. So, I turned my laptop on and took a figurative machete to the 440 photos moved from my camera. 305 remained, and I swiftly (no pun intended) renamed them with Advanced Renamer.
I did not bother editing anymore photos. Instead, I backed up all photos and some videos to the portable hard drive I brought with me. I took a shower, got dressed, and packed up all but the laptop. Then, I went to the lobby for breakfast sans laptop. There was cereal this time, and I ate one small bowl each of Honey Nut Cheerios, Froot Loops, and Rice Krispies, adding a little milk for the first two. I had to eat very carefully because of my hand tremor, but eat I did. I complemented the cereal with two cups of apple juice. I spoke to Diane and Rich, Phyllis, and John and Theresa.
When I finished eating, I went back to my room. There, I packed up the laptop, gathered all my belongings, and trudged them all to the lobby for checkout. It was shortly after 9AM by then, but John and Theresa had yet to check out. So, I sat in the lobby behind the TV as CNN’s State of the Union aired. Within 15 or 20 minutes, they had checked out and we headed to the parking lot to load up their Toyota RAV4.
According to my watch, we left at 9:31. The ride flew by in time and conversation. With SiriusXM Watercolors on in the background, we spent the whole time talking about Smooth Jazz for Scholars, the other events we’ve attended (or they’ve attended), and other things in our lives. I forgot to check my watch when John pulled up to my house in Wantagh, but I assume at was around 10:51. It only took an hour and 20 minutes, shorter than any return trip from Milford since 2007. I recall fast return trips with my parents taking an hour and 50 minutes, but that’s because we would leave around 11AM. There was even less traffic earlier in the morning. I thanked John and Theresa for their generosity and we vowed to keep in touch. In fact, as I type this, I’m due to write back to John.
Now that I’m a Twitch streamer, I vowed to use my stream time to edit photos from Smooth Jazz for Scholars, and will do so again with later events like the WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony and Long Island Retro Gaming Expo. From Sunday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, April 21 to 27, I streamed 15 hours of editing and picking photos to watermark for use in these blog posts. Since I didn’t want to get copyright strikes, I downloaded classic video game soundtracks off YouTube and played those in the background. I talked about my experience in Milford, about my progress listening to Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, and anything else on my mind. I even picked up three photo editing stream followers along the way. I enjoyed sharing the process on Twitch and look forward to doing it again in June with my next event. Until then, it’s back to gaming.
I was in my element at Smooth Jazz for Scholars. I’m honored and privileged to document the event each year and to be surrounded by my fellow fans and musician acquaintances. Thank you very much to Jay Rowe, Kevin McCabe, the headliners, and all my friends. And thank you for reading one or both of my 20th Smooth Jazz for Scholars blog posts.
Until next year, I leave you with a montage of all seven photo editing streams at 100x speed, set to the Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra performance of Bach’s “Concerto in A minor, BWV 1044 for Flute, Violin, Harpischord and Basso continuo: Allegro.”
SJFS 2024 Night 1 recap May 2, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Health, Internet, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Livestream, Music, Personal, Photography, Pop, Rap, smooth jazz, Travel, Video.add a comment
Friday, April 19, was the first of two nights of the 2024 Smooth Jazz for Scholars, hosted by keyboardist Jay Rowe in his hometown of Milford, Connecticut. It was the 21st anniversary, but 20th overall (postponed by COVID in 2020 and ’21). Each year, this two-night event (one night prior to 2012) benefits the Milford Public Schools music department. And as with most years, each night opens with a performance by student musicians under the direction of their music teacher. The “smooth jazz” part comes from the four to five headliners each night. I’ll name Friday’s four headliners after my preamble. (Scroll down to Kevin McCabe’s first photo if you don’t want to read it.)
A lot has changed in my life since last year (night 1, night 2). A chance browse of Twitch on the evening of May 9 sent me down another rabbit hole: the wonderful world of music streamers. As if my horizons hadn’t been broadened enough by Japanese city pop, idol music, and anime thanks to the likes of Caitlin Myers, I was now exposed to female vocalists from the United States, Canada, and even the UK (England, Ireland). Most have written and performed original songs, but others just do covers. Those covers exposed me to the likes of Maisie Peters, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift. Over the last few months, I have become a Swiftie, and after buying her CDs, a savant that can name what album a given song appeared on. It’s weird looking in iTunes and seeing Taylor, Cerian (“kerry ann”), Katie Seto, and Steph La Rochelle juxtaposed with all my instrumentals. (I’ve been on a McCoy Tyner kick in recent months.)
On November 3, I joined the ranks of Twitch streamers, primarily playing video games, but occasionally breaking for media production. At first, that involved recording what part of what became the penultimate Instrumental Invasion show and then recording the finale. That was it until all of last week when I edited most of the photos from both nights of the 20th Smooth Jazz for Scholars, all while listening to video game music soundtracks. (I didn’t want to risk copyright strikes for playing music by the SJFS headliners.) Even though I’m not a music streamer, I raid out to (end by sending my audience to) music streams more often than any other category. My road as a streamer and a stream viewer has not been flawless. I’ve had my share of self-inflicted bumps and costly errors, which I won’t get into. On the whole, however, I’m satisfied with the path I’ve taken.
Unlike last year, I wasn’t the least bit anxious about the workload at the Parsons Complex Veterans Memorial Auditorium. I only feared having a meltdown while in Milford as I’d had at prior events like last year’s New York Comic Con (which I’ll never go to again) or various parties where I was out of my comfort zone. Miraculously, there were no meltdowns. I was in my comfort zone all throughout. Nothing broke me. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I spent parts of Thursday and Friday morning packing up for my journey to Milford. I would be staying at the Hampton Inn on Plains Road, I-95 exit 36. My parents Lisa and Bill would stay until Saturday morning, return to Long Island for the Freeport Fire Department installation dinner, and drive back to Connecticut to pick me up by Sunday afternoon. (SPOILER: They wouldn’t have to come back for me. Read about that in the Saturday recap.)
We left our house in Dad’s Ford Explorer at 1:02 PM Friday. Despite pockets of traffic on the Northern State Parkway, Lakeville Road, and the Throgs Neck Expressway (I-295), we reached the Hampton Inn parking lot at 3:19, only two hours and 17 minutes later. SiriusXM’s Watercolors smooth jazz channel was on the car stereo, but I watched Twitch streams on my phone with earbuds. I started with Gillian Hayek‘s fishing game stream, then moved on to Natalie Paige‘s last stream before moving to Connecticut (can’t say where) from the Seattle, Washington, area. The stream coincided with my six-month renewal, and I chose Norah Jones‘s sinister-sounding “Miriam” for Natalie to cover.
At check-in, I had my dad request rooms facing the parking lot rather than I-95. I was in room 144, near the south entrance accessible by key card. Once my laptop was unpacked and I’d paid for two days of guest Wi-Fi, I returned to Natalie Paige’s stream and put on Ellie Fier‘s stream after 4:00. Ellie is the reason I became a Swiftie in the first place. Friday was a big day for Taylor Swift fans: release day for the latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. I’d already bought Taylor’s prior albums on CD earlier in the month and would be sure to rip the tracks from my TTPD CD (The Manuscript Edition) once I got home. (Yes, there’s The Anthology. I accessed those additional 14 tracks via YouTube Music.) As noted in my photo editing Twitch streams, I wouldn’t listen to all 31 tracks until the following Tuesday, finishing on the treadmill three mornings later. My only exposure to any track prior to then was Ellie’s rendition of “So High School,” track 22 on The Anthology.
At 5:30, like last year, my parents and I drove a short distance to Pasquale Pizza for a pasta dinner, preceded by garlic knots. When I was finished, I left my parents and walked back to Hampton Inn, stopping at Cumberland Farms along the way to buy two low-calorie pints of Mars candy flavored ice cream to eat in my room. One was Twix Cookie Dough and the other was Snickers. By this time, I paired Natalie’s stream with Katie O’Flaherty. I watched until shortly before 7:00, at which I packed my equipment to bring to the auditorium.
The Canon EOS R7 with RF-S 18-150mm lens was in my backpack with a stenographer pad (the same one I bought at the Milford CVS a year ago) and battery charger with spare battery attached. I kept the Panasonic HC-X1500 with VW-HU1 and Rode VideoMic GO II in a travel bag along with a spare battery, but that wasn’t all. I decided to bring my GoPro HERO7 with YOLOtek Juicebank attached for wide cutaway shots when repositioning the HC-X1500. That meant I brought a second tripod, by Targus (I forget the model number), aside from the Magnus VT-300 for the camcorder.
My parents dropped me off adjacent to the auditorium and I lugged my equipment in. It was all surprisingly lightweight. In the lobby, I stopped at the merchandise table where I bought a CD of Friday headliner Althea René‘s Live in Detroit from Michelle. Then, I proceeded to the orchestra pit, limboed under the rope on the right side, and set up in the center. Jay Rowe didn’t e-mail me the set lists for each night beforehand. So, I had to rely on what was said on stage. I only blanked on one song out of 15, but figured out what it was Saturday morning.
As 8:00 approached, I mingled with fellow photographers Katherine Gilraine, Keith McDonald, Ron Hancox, and Andrew James, and with fellow fans like Robin Morin Stewart, Judy Raphael, Mary Jane Manna, Rob and Mel Hoogenboom, and Mark and Phyllis Abrams.
At last, it was time for the house lights to dim and Kevin McCabe bid us “good evening” (and have us repeat it louder):
He introduced the John F. Kennedy Elementary School Select Grade 4 Chorus, under the direction of Theresa Voss.
I saw a stack of jackets on right side of orchestra pit when I arrived. They belonged to members of the chorus.
Kevin returned to thank sponsors and Milford officials:
Showing off one of Marion Meadows’ artworks, on sale in lobby
(Marion Meadows would be one of Saturday’s headliners.)
Jay Rowe had opening remarks, then went into first track – “City Groove,” his latest single. (The full set list follows introductory photos.)
In order of appearance, Friday’s headliners were Vincent Ingala:
…and Marcus Anderson:
Steve Scales was absent this year, but the rest of Jay’s house band was intact from last year.
Trever Somerville on drums:
Dave Anderson on bass:
Andy Abel on guitar (rhythm during Steve Oliver songs):
And directing at all, Jay Rowe on keyboards:
I forgot to put in my earplugs until the first song below. I took them out when the house lights went up after the finale.
SET LIST (Updated with videos on 5/22/24)
1. City Groove (Jay Rowe)
2023 single
Featured musician: Jay Rowe (keyboards)
2. Rosemary’s Tune (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Live at Daniel Street (2011), Smooth Ride (2016)
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Vincent Ingala (tenor sax)
3. Snap, Crackle, Pop (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: Personal Touch (2018)
Featured musician: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax)
4. High Noon (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: Positive Energy (2002)
Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocal sounds)
5. Skyway (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: A New Light (2023)
Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocal sounds)
6. Pastel Leather (Althea René)
Originally heard on: Pastel Leather (2022)
Featured musician: Althea René (flute)
7. Life on Mars (Althea René) (Dexter Wansel cover)
Originally heard on: Flawsome (2019)
Featured musician: Althea René (flute, “flute talk” while playing through audience at midpoint)
8. Reverse (Marcus Anderson)
Originally heard on: Reverse (2022)
Featured musician: Marcus Anderson (alto sax)
9. Understanding (Marcus Anderson)
Originally heard on: Limited Edition (2017)
Featured musician: Marcus Anderson (alto sax)
10. Chips and Salsa (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: 3D (2004)
Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocal sounds)
11. GoGo Bootz (Althea René)
Originally heard on: Pastel Leather (2022)
Featured musicians: Althea René (flute), Marcus Anderson (alto sax)
12. Care for You (Marcus Anderson)
Originally heard on: Reverse (2022)
Featured musician: Marcus Anderson (alto sax, rap interlude)
13. Personal Touch (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: Personal Touch (2018)
Featured musician: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax)
14. On the Move (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: Fire & Desire (2021)
Featured musician: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax)
15 (Finale). Miss You (The Rolling Stones cover)
Featured musicians: Everyone; Steve Oliver (vocals, vocal sounds)
Here are photo galleries of the headliners, starting with Vincent Ingala:
Now, the house band, beginning with drummer Trever Somerville:
Bassist Dave Anderson’s “Life on Mars” solo:
Guitarist Andy Abel:
Finally, Jay Rowe on keyboards:
On to medium shots, starting with Vincent and Jay:
Vincent and Dave:
Vincent, Andy and Trever:
Marcus and Jay:
Althea and Marcus on “GoGo Bootz”:
Wide shots from the end of “Life on Mars”:
End of “Chips and Salsa”:
“GoGo Bootz”:
End of “Care for You”:
Audience dancing during “GoGo Bootz”:
After “Care for You,” Kevin McCabe presented the basket of 50/50 raffle tickets.
I didn’t buy tickets on Friday night, but would on Saturday. 
Jay revealed he was in between cataract surgeries and will no longer need glasses. 
Jay picked the winning ticket. 
The $850 winner was Karen Russillo.
The finale, “Miss You“:
As I packed up, Phyllis Abrams showed me the rose she caught from Marcus Anderson, going so far as putting up to my nose. I said it smelled like fabric softener, but I meant carpet cleaner. Then, I introduced myself to photographer Kenny Combs, and said hello to Jay Dobbins, Janet Abel (Andy’s sister), and Dolly Moye. Dolly introduced me to her high school friend Rick. My friend Kelly Dacey was there and we spoke briefly in the auditorium, but more in the lobby during the meet and greet. Below are photos from the meet and greet.
Estella and Steve reprising the “Chips and Salsa” vocal sounds:
The next two photos are by Andrew James: me with the headliners – Steve, Marcus, Vincent, Althea:
Then, Jay Rowe joined in:
Dolly Moye let me have a pair of dancing sunglasses, as seen in this selfie, my last photo of the night:
At least that was the last photo taken that night on the EOS R7. Andrew wanted photos with the headliners and Jay, and Mark (a different Mark) wanted a photo with Marcus.
Kelly helped me bring the equipment to her, then we drove back to Hampton Inn where she dropped me off. She went to the after party, and I went back to my room to unload the photos and videos onto my laptop, and convert all the RAW files to JPGs in Adobe Lightroom. I had SashiBOOM and her dog Perry keeping me company on Twitch until that process was complete. Then, off to sleep.
February 17 wet snow February 19, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Photography, Weather.add a comment
Saturday’s all snow event was bigger than I expected. Unlike Tuesday’s storm, I wasn’t blindsided until after the snow began to accumulate. I woke up around 6AM not just to lots of wet snow on the ground, but my dad’s Ford Explorer out of the driveway. He and Mom left earlier to drive my sister to the airport. I don’t know where, but I overheard a phone conversation Mom had in the afternoon. That indicated it was to a Central Time Zone location. (3/3 UPDATE: She went to Costa Rica for a week.)
Based on nearby snowfall reports, I again assume 6 inches fell in the Wantagh Woods section of Wantagh, though it could have been less.
With Dad at his office, the only option was to shovel, which I did after the snow had ended late in the morning. It took 38:34 to shovel it all. A purely photographic timeline follows below.
6:40 AM:
7:40 AM:
8:46 AM:
10:51 AM:
11:37 AM, before clearing Mom’s car and shoveling:
12:58 PM, after clearing and shoveling:
Thankfully, only rain is in the forecast in the next seven days, with that chance coming Thursday night into Friday.
3/15 UPDATE: We haven’t had any snow since. I finally put the shovels away one day last week.
February 13 wet snowstorm February 15, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Personal, Photography, Video, Weather.add a comment
The next snow event came nearly a month after the last one, on Tuesday, February 13. I didn’t even know about it until the day before when my mom said a storm was expected. I had not checked the weather forecast in days and was blindsided by what I saw on the National Weather Service website. 3 to 7 inches were expected! That meant I’d have to shovel. Yes, my dad got a snow blower in 2018, but I still need to shovel what he can’t get.
Despite reassurances from Facebook friends that the forecast was media hype and little to no snow would fall, it fell nonstop from about 6AM to about 1PM. I didn’t measure afterward, but going by the NWS snow report for neighboring Levittown, I figure my neighborhood in Wantagh got 6 inches.
Needing to get to his office, my dad used the snow blower at around 11AM. Thankfully, any snow that fell afterward did not accumulate, an upside to above freezing temperatures. Just before 2:30 PM, I went outside to shovel what was left. I shoveled the left side of the house up to the oil burner pipe, the corners of the driveway, the center of the driveway where snow had been cleared off my parents’ cars, the curb, and the sidewalk up to the property line. Aided by the first six tracks of McCoy Tyner’s Double Trios album on my iPhone and Beats Fit Pro earbuds, it took me 43:03 (timed on my watch) to do the job.
Skies cleared within an hour of returning inside.
The next chance of snow comes via a mix with rain tonight and then all snow early Saturday morning.
For now, a photographic timeline of Tuesday’s wet snow follows below. (There’s even a video.)
6:30 AM:
7:30 AM:
8:32 AM:
9:30 AM:
10:57 AM:
11:08 AM, as my Dad clears snow:
11:36 AM, starting with a brief video:
1:02 PM:
1:39 PM, before shoveling, as Mom drives out:
3:11 PM, after shoveling:
January 19 snow showers January 20, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography, Weather.add a comment
In my previous post, I wrote that 2 to 4 inches of snow were expected with the next storm. After publishing, the forecast changed to 1 to 3 inches, then 1 to 2 on Friday, and finally next to nothing (half an inch). The snow showers that fell from the late morning to mid-afternoon merely left a small coating at the edge of the driveway and on my parents’ SUVs. I’m relieved that was it.
I still have half a dozen photos to share from five different points on Friday. So, below is the photographic timeline.
11:39 AM:
12:58 PM:
2:50 PM:
5:12 PM:
6:20 PM:
Milder conditions arrive next week with rain in the forecast, but nothing wintry. It’s only mid-January, though; plenty of time for snow to shovel and blow. I’ll report back after the next snow event, if there is one.
January 15-16 winter storm, aftermath January 18, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography, Video, Weather.add a comment
It’s been about two years since Wantagh – and Long Island in general – got measurable snowfall, but that streak ended on the night of Monday, January 15. About 2.5 inches of snow fell in a 16-hour period before changing to sleet and then rain.
My dad Bill cleared his car and left for work during the changeover, and I went outside to shovel two hours after that. By then, the one inch of snow on the driveway pavement had turned to slush. However, with temperatures due to fall back below freezing at night, and stay there for a few days, it was necessary to clear the slush from the driveway and sidewalk. I also cleared the snow off my mom Lisa’s car. It took 43 minutes to do those tasks, which impressed my parents and friends when I posted about it on Facebook.
What follows is a photographic timeline from the snowfall before bed on Monday night through the cleared driveway and car after walking to and from my credit union to deposit coins (and bringing garbage pails to the curb for Wednesday morning pickup).
Monday, January 15
10:59 PM
Tuesday, January 16
6:34 AM
7:40 AM
8:10 AM
I even shot a brief video:
11:35 AM, before shoveling and clearing
1:19 PM, after shoveling and errands
It won’t be long before the next post-storm blog post. 2 to 4 inches of snow are expected tomorrow (Friday, January 19). Expecting that much from the storm earlier this week, I moved items around in the garage – including some heavy items – so that the snow blower could be by the door ready for use. We didn’t need it then, but might next time. Until that storm’s recap, thank you for reading.
1/23 UPDATE: Long Island was spared any snow from that storm. My parents’ cars and the edge of the driveway got a coating, but that was it. I still made a post that you can read here.
Smooth Jazz for Scholars 2024 dates/lineup January 16, 2024
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, smooth jazz, Travel.add a comment
I’ve been so busy with Twitch – as a streamer and a viewer (read about my setup here) – that I missed keyboardist Jay Rowe‘s January 4 announcement about this year’s Smooth Jazz for Scholars. It’s the 20th year and 21st anniversary. The two-night event in Jay’s hometown of Milford, Connecticut, benefits Milford Public Schools‘ music department.
With the exception of one night in 2015, I have documented every night of Smooth Jazz for Scholars since 2007, when it was only one night.
Below is Jay Rowe’s official announcement:
Appearing for the first time are Althea René (Friday) and Blake Aaron (Saturday). The rest are making return appearances, including Marion Meadows – who headlined the inaugural 2003 lineup – and vocalist Timmy Maia. This is Vincent Ingala‘s first planned appearance since 2015. He was a surprise guest in 2022.
Repeating the information in Jay’s announcement:
Friday, April 19
Vincent Ingala
Althea René
Steve Oliver
Marcus Anderson
Saturday, April 20
Marion Meadows
Steve Cole
Blake Aaron
Alex Bugnon
Timmy Maia
Location:
Veterans Memorial Auditorium in the Parsons Government Center
70 W. River St.
Milford, CT 06460
Tickets: $50 for one night, $85 for both nights
General admission tickets can be bought through Eventbrite, but reserved seating must be ordered by writing a check to:
Jay Rowe
P.O. Box 3723
Milford, CT 06460
I’ll end this promotional post with recaps of last year’s first night and second night.
5/2 UPDATE: Here are recaps of this year’s first night and second night.
My Twitch “Back After This” game show music cue mixes (plus radio jingles, sports TV themes) December 18, 2023
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Game Shows, Livestream, Media, Music, TV.add a comment
Rather than update my Twitch setup post, I’ve made this original post chronicling every cue in my game show music cue mix (mostly from The Price is Right). Per a TXT file compiled from my Adobe Audition multitrack sessions, the mixes currently in rotation are listed below. (NOTES: I tweaked the speed for some of the cues, so they vary from the original links. Not all cues have corresponding links.)
“BACK AFTER THIS” MUSIC CUE MIXES
- TPIRCueMix1 (10:52)
Tennis IUFB Cue (joined after opening note)
Computer IUFB Cue (Cue 71)
Chair/Recliner IUFB Cue (Cue 51)
Cue 89
Clock Cue (1972)
Country Fiddle Cue (Cue 61)
Living/Dining/Bed Room Cue (1) (Cue 87)
Tool IUFB Cue (Cue 26)
Second Thoughts (Most Expensive Cue) - TPIRCueMix2
(10:18)(9:17)
Motorcycle Cue (Cue 59) (careful speech volume leveler)
Cue 79 (edited)
Bhen (TPIR IUFB/Prize Cue) [Version #1]
Cue 19 (22A) (1974)
Bar Set/Ceiling Fan IUFB Cue (Cue 58)
08 Dig We Must - TPIRCueMix3 (11:30)
Grocery Cue (Cue 86)
Grocery Cue ’74
Grocery Cue (Concentration) (Cue 72)
Bhen (Grocery Cue)
Grocery/Small Prize Cue ’72 (2) (Cue 73)
Walking (Grocery/Temptation Cue #3)
Grocery/Keyboard IUFB Cue
Phone Home Game Grocery Cue - TPIRCueMix4 (10:51)
Showcase Cue 1 (Cue 54) (joined after opening note)
Showcase Cue 2 (Cue 56) (joined after opening note)
Calliope Showcase Cue (Family Feud 1994 Vamp)
Every Room in the House (Showcase Cue) (Yep Yep upload)
Family Feud Showcase Car Cue
Showcase Cue ’83
Showcase Cue ’03 (2) (mono) - ConcentrationCueMix1 (11:18)
Concentration 1973-78 Opening Stinger
Classic Concentration Opening Music (faded out early)
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 2
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 5
Classic Concentration Prize Description Music
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 6
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 8 - ConcentrationCueMix2 (11:17)
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 7
Classic Concentration Prize Cue (Piano & Horn)
Concentration 1973-78 Game Win Cue 1
Classic Concentration Game Win Music
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 10
Classic Concentration Puzzle Solve/Car Description Music
Concentration Car Cue (No Leads) (Cue 30)
Classic Concentration Bonus Win Music (see game win link)
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 3
Classic Concentration Closing Theme Music (loops removed) - TPIRCueMix5 (11:34)
Concentration Car Cue (Cue 18)
The Bean Stalker (Car Cue) (joined in progress)
The Big Banana (Car Cue) (joined in progress)ElegantLuxury Car Cue (Temptation Cue #5)
Truck/Van/Jeep Cue (edit) - TPIRCueMix6 (11:49)
21 Splendido!
03 Brioche
Eric (TPIR IUFB Cue) (Version #1)
13 Phaser
Amen, Brother Herbert - TPIRCueMix7 (11:52)
Ticket Plug/Consolation Prize Cue ’72
Ticket Plug/Consolation Prize Cue ’74
Sporting Goods IUFB Cue (Cue 65)
Sewing Machine IUFB Cue (Cue 29) (mono)
Plinko Cue #4 (Cue 62)
Spring Waltz SP (Plinko Cue #1)
Rye Bred
The Cats (PlutoTV Bumper Music) - TPIRCueMix8 (11:32)
Funk Penny Ante Cue (Cue 40)
Amen, Brother Herbert [Flute]
Outdoor/Greenhouse IUFB Cue (Cue 214)
Living/Dining/Bed Room Cue (2) (Cue 78)
Trip Cue ’83
Fortune Hunter/Clearance Sale Cue - TPIRCueMix9 (11:24)
Appliance Cue (Cue 52)
Appliance Cue ’83
Safe Crackers Cue (1995) (careful speech volume leveler)
Make Your Move (Cue 210A) (edit)
Race Game, Buy or Sell, Take Two Cue (edit)
Phone Home Game-Buy or Sell Cue - TPIRCueMix10 (12:13)
Jewelry IUFB Cue (Piano)
Grocery/Temptation Cue #4 (Cue 218A)ElegantLuxury Car Cue (Saxophone)
IUFB ’94/Closed Captioning Cue - TPIRCueMix11 (10:10)
Starcrossed (Credit Card Cue)
Compactor IUFB Cue (Cue 75) (Mono)
Cue 80
Range IUFB Cue (Cue 85) ([carefu] speech volume leveler)
Stemware Cue - TPIRCueMix12 (10:50)
Small Prize Cue ’72 (2) (Cue 0M01) (or Cue 27)
Cue 41
Car Slide
Showcase Cue 3 (Cue 22)
Golden Road Prize #2 (Cue 39)
Temptation Cue #2 (Cue 222) - TPIRCueMix13 (11:57)
Cue 38
Jewelry IUFB Cue
Grocery Cue ’03
Walk of Fame/Closed Captioning Cue
Small Prize Cue ’94
As a bonus, my starting soon/next time Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour cue mix combines these files:
2/8/24 UPDATE: Today, I worked on two more cue mixes – one for Match Game and MGHS, and the other for Wheel of Fortune.
- MatchGameCueMix (10:28)
Think Cue 2
Think Cue 3
Think Cue 4
Think Cue 5
Think Cue (MGHS)
Super Match Think Cue (MGHS)
Ticket Plug/Consolation Prize Cue - WOFCueMix (12:35)
Ticket Plug Cue, 1975
Prize Cue, 1975
Prize Cue, 1983 (Struttin’ on Sunset)
Shopping Cue, 1983 (Nightwalk)
Car Cue, 1987 (Buzzword) (Merv Griffin’s Crosswords Theme)
WoF – 1989-92 Opening Theme (100% CLEAN)
2/16/24 UPDATE: Another two music cue mixes have been added, but these are random and not tied to one show. The cues and themes are for Price, Concentration, Wheel, Family Feud, Hollywood Squares, Password Plus, Super Password, and Press Your Luck.
- RandomGameShowCueMix1 (12:07)
Family Feud – Intro/Faceoff Cue (1976)
Hollywood Squares Theme – Opening (1986)
TPIR – Temptation Cue #1
Family Feud – Ticket Plug/Faceoff Cue (1976)
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 11
TPIR – Showcase Cue 1 (No Leads) (Cue 53)
TPIR – Showcase Cue 2 (No Leads) (Cue 32)
TPIR – Oriental Rug Cue (Concentration) (Cue 70)
TPIR – Ceiling Fan/Pool Table/Bar Set Cue (1983) - RandomGameShowCueMix2 (12:04)
Password Plus Theme
The Feud (Family Feud Main Theme) (1976-85)
Press Your Luck (1983-1986) – Extended Closing Theme
Super Password Theme
Wheel of Fortune – Prize Cue, 1983 (Country Samba)
3/6/24 UPDATE: This morning, I added the 20th cue mix; the 14th of all Price is Right cues.
- TPIRCueMix14 (11:37)
Refrigerator/Freezer IUFB Cue
Jewelry/Gold IUFB Cue (Cue 77)
Luggage/Train Set IUFB Cue (Cue 74)
IUFB Cue ’72 (2) (Cue 34) (Moog-40)
Chair/Recliner IUFB Cue 2
IUFB Cue ’72 (1) (Cue 67)
Cue 35
Grocery/Small Prize Cue ’72 (1)
Artwork IUFB Cue
IUFB Cue ’72 (3)
Bhen (Electronics IUFB Cue)
12/28/24 UPDATE: I added a WCBS Newsradio 88 jingle demo shortly after the format switch in August.
21. wcbsradiopackage-morethanjusttheheadlines-adjoined2 (10:43) (Edited from package posted to Don Swaim’s tribute site)
And tonight, I made a mix of game show themes:
22. RandomGameShowThemeMix (11:41)
Card Sharks 1978-81 Theme
To Tell the Truth Theme (1980)
Body Language Theme
The All-New Let’s Make a Deal Theme (1984-86)
Hollywood Squares Theme (1986)
Card Sharks 1986-89 Theme (slowed down to original speed)
4/17/25 UPDATE: After Wink Martindale died, I found a set of music cues from Tic-Tac-Dough. I made an edit that ends before the trip description cues. (Replaced with edited version on 11/10/25.)
23. Tic-Tac-Dough Music Set (without gaps) (no trip cues) (edit) (10:37)
Descriptions are taken from the YouTube video’s description:
Opening theme
Closing theme (loops removed)
Short Trumpet Cue
Contestant Introduction Cue
Regular Game Win Cue
Longer Game Win Cue used when a contestant wins a car with every 5 games (edited out)
Shorter Version of Regular game Win Cue in a higher key signature
Think Music Cue for extra time on center box category as they were always two part questions to earn that center box which Wink Martindale always called them a two-parter
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Win Cue which is also the same as the Win Cue used when a contestant wins a car with every 5 games except that it plays once instead of twice
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Cue when a contestant comes on over to play their Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon)
Consolation Prize Cue
Car Description Cue
Contestant Ticket Plug Cue
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Prize Cue 1
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Prize Cue 2
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Prize Cue 3
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Prize Cue 4
Bonus Game (Beat The Dragon) Prize Cue 5
4/29/25 UPDATE: I added a 24th mix yesterday with a Jeopardy! theme. (Replaced with edited version after 11/13/25 stream.)
24. JeopardyMusicMix-Edit (8:34)
1978-79 Opening Theme – Jeopardy! (“January February March”)
Wheel of Fortune – Prize Cue, 1983 (“Frisco Disco”) (1978-79 Jeopardy commercial/closing cue)Jeopardy – 1992-1997 (via Internet Archive)
1997-2001 Theme Song – Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy theme song (via Internet Archive)
8/25/25 UPDATE: I neglected to note the addition of four recycled cue mixes. I made them since I rarely take breaks long enough to hear the cues below.
25. RecycledCueMix1 (8:13)
Second Thoughts (Most Expensive Cue)
Phone Home Game Grocery Cue
08 Dig We Must
Showcase Cue ’03 (2) (mono)
26. RecycledCueMix2 (8:56)
Concentration 1973-78 Prize Cue 8
Classic Concentration Closing Theme Music (loops removed)
Amen, Brother Herbert
Truck-Van-Jeep Cue (edit)
27. RecycledCueMix3 (8:18)
The Cats (PlutoTV Bumper Music)
Race Game, Buy or Sell, Take Two Cue (edit)
Fortune Hunter-Clearance Sale Cue
Temptation Cue #2 (Cue 222)
28. RecycledCueMix4 (10:48)
Ticket Plug/Consolation Prize Cue (Match Game)
WoF – 1989-92 Opening Theme (100% CLEAN)
TPIR – Ceiling Fan/Pool Table/Bar Set Cue (1983)
Bhen (Electronics IUFB Cue)
Wheel of Fortune – Prize Cue, 1983 (Country Samba)
11/9/25 UPDATE: I’m up to 29 cue mixes, 5 of which are recycled cue mixes. (First two cues swapped on 11/15/25.)
29. RecycledCueMix5 (9:03)
Trip Cue ’83 (careful speech volume leveler)
Car Cue, 1987 (Buzzword) (Merv Griffin’s Crosswords Theme)
Make Your Move (Cue 210A) (edit)
Super Password Theme
11/14/25 UPDATE:
30. RecycledCueMix6 (8:06)Elegant Luxury Car Cue (Temptation Cue #5)
Spring Waltz SP (Plinko Cue #1)
Living-Dining-Bed Room Cue (1) (Cue 87)
Family Feud Showcase Car Cue
1/27/26 3/13/26 UPDATE:
31. NFLThemeSongMix1a (10:36)NFL on NBC – 1973 (via Obsolete Video restoration of 1974 KNBC video tape)
NBC MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL (DON’T TURN AWAY) – Kevin Gavin (pitch corrected intro) (hard limit)
Superbowl XVII and NFL Basic – Long (NFL 83)
ABC Monday Night Football Alternate Theme (1989-2005)
NFL on CBS – 1986-1988
NFL Live – NBC – 1994
NFL on CBS- 1998 – Full
3/7/26 UPDATE
32. NFLThemeSongMix2 (6:49)
NFL on NBC Theme (1980 & 1981 Seasons) (Edit of “Don’t Turn Away” vocal disco version)
NBC Sports ‘SUPERBOWL 17’ NFL on NBC Theme (1986-1989) – 2 MIN 30 SEC Extended Cut
NBC Sports ‘GRIDIRON 2’ NFL on NBC Theme (1994) – AN1 2020 Mix
‘NFL on FOX’ Theme Song
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