A View from the Front Porch

"A View from the Front Porch" is a memoir of my life growing up in rural South Carolina in the groovy 1970's. Or at least the way my 2020's brain remembers it! From the old, green, creaky wooden swing on my Grandaddy's front porch to the barnyard of un-rideable pigs, unfriendly wasps, and perilous cow-poop, this is the hilarious tale of a pre-teen farm boy with way too much time on his hands and too little common sense to know any better. All at once heartwarming, hysterical, and embarrassingly true, "A View from the Front Porch" will remind you of a simpler time, when sittin', swingin' and growin' up were just a part of everyday life!

A true labor of love to write, "A View from the Front Porch" is available now.

While "A View from the Front Porch" is all about the 1970s, I am a humongous fan of the 1980s! And there's nothing I like more than 80s music and pretty much everything about it. So let's have some fun. Every two weeks, we will add some fun fact or trivia question centered around the best era of music EVER. If it's a question, we'll post the answer on Sunday. If it's just a fun fact, you'll have a chance to respond with your thoughts. So, have at it, get excited, and, by order of the Dean, HAVE FUN!

Previous FUN-filled question (weeks of November 2 & 9):         

Everyone loves a good duet, especially when it features both a male and a female on lead vocals, right? The 1980s were full of big hits like this, featuring solo artists who were stars in their own right, but made beautiful music together as a duo. All of the following duos had #1 hits in the 80s EXCEPT ONE; name that duo and the song that made them (in)famous (hint: it hit #2)! 

A. Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald

B. Linda Rondstadt & James Ingram

C. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

D. Patti Austin & James Ingram

ANSWER: (B) Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville spent two weeks at #2 in late 1989 with “Don’t Know Much,” a truly syrupy ballad that was held out of the #1 spot by the last #1 song of the decade, “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins. Ironically, two years prior, Ronstadt also peaked at #2, partnering with James Ingram on “Somewhere Out There” from “An American Tail.” Austin & Ingram topped the charts for two weeks in 1983 with “Baby, Come to Me;” Dolly & Kenny also hit #1 for two weeks in 1983 with “Islands in the Stream” (also a #1 country hit); and LaBelle & McDonald spent three weeks at #1 in 1986 with “On My Own,” which was also a #1 R&B hit. 

New fun-filled question (weeks of November 16 & 23):         

Which of the following male solo rock and roll legends, despite all their critical and commercial success, did not have a #1 hit in the 1980’s?

A. Bruce Springsteen

B. Bob Seger

C. Elton John

D. George Harrison

Without searching the internet, see if your 80s music knowledge is as good as you think it Is, and we will celebrate those who got it right next time! And like I said...have fun!