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 several 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:         

Indulge me here: in my most humble opinion, 1982 was the greatest year for music in history, hands down. The other years were REALLY good, but ‘82 was simply spectacular. What was the biggest hit on the Billboard Pop Chart that year?

A. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

B. “Ebony and Ivory,” Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder

C. “Centerfold” J. Geils Band

D. “Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor

  ANSWER: (A) And the winner, eking it out over McCartney and Wonder by just a smidge, is our friend, Ms. Jett, and her blackhearted band! While both songs spent 7 weeks at #1 and 12 weeks in the top 10 in 1982, ironically separated by only one week (by Vangelis with “Chariots of Fire”), Jett and company spent 1 more week in the top 40 and 1 more week on the Hot 100 than the dynamic duo. What a nail biter! By the way, Geils and Survivor both spent 6 weeks in the top spot, so not too shabby there, either. What a year! If only we hadn’t had to put up with “Mickey” that year…!

New fun-filled question (posted on April 12, 2026):         

Winning the Best New Artist Grammy in 1981, Sheena Easton made a huge splash on the American charts with her wholesome, girl-next-door image, before replacing that image mid-decade while working with Prince. What was her biggest hit?

A. For Your Eyes Only

B. Morning Train (Nine to Five)

C. Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)

D. Strut

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!