FRANKIE RANDALL “As Long As She Needs Me.” This ballad was sung by a woman in the film version of Oliver.
Frankie Randall (1938-2014) was a Passaic, New Jersey born singer and jazz pianist.
When I was a senior at Rutherford High School, across the river from Passaic, Randall performed with his trio. He was about 20 years old then, and the boys in our jazz band were thrilled because he was using the “cool jazz” style which had just come into vogue. I don’t recall that he sang. His bio. says that he was known only for his piano playing early in his career.
A neighbor who is an artist told us that he was getting married and that he was going to have the ceremony on Sunday, July 13, at the former Pine Tree Inn, now a private home, on the beach block of Main Avenue. He said that he was personally going to decorate the building. He asked if I would take a photograph of the finished design. Having obtained 400 yards of metallic strips, he personally hung them from the house. He didn’t want his name mentioned and he didn’t want us to take any photos at the wedding—just the house.
At first it seemed a bit odd, but I quickly understood that my photograph would be about the design. Period. It was also apparent that my photo would only work in the right light. When I first saw the finished design on Saturday evening, the challenge was evident, and I told him that sunrise might work to bring life to the situation. We also would need a breeze to add oxygen to the composition. We concluded that sunrise would offer the best light—- many hours before the ceremony would take place.
I arrived on the morning of July 13 at about 5:30 am. The light was flat but it was rapidly changing. Technically, an underexposed image would work best to bring out the brilliance of the metal strips. An occasional breeze would set it all into motion.
The photograph above was one of about 80 pictures with different compositions, motion and light. This one met all the criteria.
We hope he likes it. It was shot at 6:17 a.m. on the morning of his wedding—probably the first photo of his wedding day.
For the music it would be a love song without words in English and would have a rhythm to match the motion of the swaying sensual design as it moved with the sea breeze.
EDMUNDO ROS AND HIS RHUMBA BAND: “Te Quiero Dijiste” (“I love you, you said.”)
Every year we try to find the southwest Florida’s equivalent of a Jersey tomato, but, although these look great, they fall down in the taste and texture department. The flavor is flat, and the texture is mealy. So, we will have to wait for those Jersey beefsteaks to make their debut next August.
Eileen has two of these colorful hats from Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Mozambique (south Africa.) Today we were at that shop, and here is the true conversation:
Me: (being polite, but not actually wanting another $50 hat.) “Do you want another hat?”
Eileen: “That would be 3. I only have one head.”
Me: “OK. There is some truth in what you say.”
E: “Let’s go the mushroom lady.” She leads me there. Around here the merchants are specialists.
E: “They want $5.00 for a few small portobellos; Publix charges $3.69 for a bigger box. And let’s skip the bananas. I’ll get them at Publix also.”
Me: I thought farmers markets are supposed to be cheaper than super markets. (true disclosure: Publix is a weak second to Wegmans. We miss the W man.)
E: “Would you please carry this:” She hands me a Wegman’s bag which we brought from Jersey. It is colorful, the best bag in town. It’s filled with produce and it is pretty heavy. She bought three baby bok choys which I suggested, but now I’m not sure why.
Me: “Here’s fresh dill. We can have chicken soup.”
E: “OK”
Me: (whining) “How can I take pictures carrying this?”
E: I’ve had enough. Let’s go.
RODNEY CROWELL: From his album Boots, Buckles, and Spurs
We met this lovely young woman gliding around the Farmer’s Market today. She stood out in that bright and alluring dress. When I asked her to pose for our Blogfinger series on the Market, I departed from my usual candid style because she was so beautiful with a brilliant smile to match her friendly demeanor, and I wanted the photo to be successful without someone getting in the way. But it had to be in a setting that revealed her amongst the Market denizens. She said that she was from Chicago and she would be delighted to be in the photo.
Over her shoulder I spotted the Chicago hot dog king. She readily agreed to pose, and I gave her a Blogfinger card. We headed over to hotdog heaven. Once there, she immediately set about reminiscing about Chicago with George on his shirt who had the best Polish dogs in town. I asked them to turn around, and two clicks later, we were done. I don’t ask names for my Market series, because the story is in the photos.
For the music, I thought that this song, written by George Harrison, which I just discovered, called “For You Blue” caught the mood of our mystery model. The Beatles released it in 1970, but this recording is by George Harrison’s only child Dhani Harrison.
Lakes Park Farmers Market, Ft. Myers, Fla. Paul Goldfinger photo © Click to enlarge.
