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!

Fun-filled question for the weeks of May 4 & 11:

Olivia Newton-John had amazing, chart-smashing success with “Physical,” rewriting chart history (10 weeks at the top) and spicing up ONJ’s image at the same time. But Newton-John had one other very successful chart-topper in the 80’s, spending four weeks at #1. Name that song.

A. Make a Move on Me

B. Xanadu

C. Magic

D. Heart Attack

ANSWER: (C) “Magic,” which was actually from the soundtrack for the movie, “Xanadu,” topped the charts even before “Physical,” hitting #1 in mid-1980, and sadly, ONJ would not have another hit to top the charts. “Xanadu” hit #8 in 1980, while “Make a Move on Me” peaked at #5 and “Heart Attack” topped out at #3 in 1982.

New fun-filled question for the weeks of May 18 & 25:         

Raspy-voiced female solo singers made us all feel like popular music was in good hands during the 80s and for the future. Who didn’t get chills the first time they heard, “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” with its throaty vocals and haunting chorus? Name the singer who made bright eyes turn around while falling apart every now and then. 

A. Kim Carnes

B. Bonnie Raitt

C. Tina Turner

D. Bonnie Tyler

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!