The Day the Music Died #25YearsAgo

We all have singers whose music touches us so deeply that when they pass away it feels like a personal loss. For me, that loss occurred 25 years ago today - Saturday morning, June 5, 1993 - when I heard the shocking news on the radio that Conway Twitty had died of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm at only 59. I think my own heart stopped in disbelief. Knowing I wouldn't be seeing him in concert 3 months later as I'd planned was devastating, and what made it even more hard to comprehend is the fact that I had lost an aunt to the exact same thing a mere 2 weeks before on May 22. (Then on July 4th my dad had his first heart attack. Let's just say 1993 was a really bad year.)

I've been feeling incredibly emotional about this somber anniversary for a number of weeks now in a way that's caught me off guard. I remember that horrible day as though it were yesterday, and I just can't believe he's been gone for so long. I've been in love with Conway since the very first time I heard him as a little girl. His voice gives me goosebumps - always has, always will. From a throaty growl to a sensual whisper to a throbbing crescendo, there's isn't anything he couldn't do. In my eyes, he's pure perfection in every way.

I found it very appropriate that the theme of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is the hit songs of crossover artists, because Conway was the ultimate crossover artist. He didn't "cross over" with a song or two, he crossed over his entire career! Many people might not know or remember that for his first 10 years in the music business he was a teen idol on the rock scene! It's Only Make Believe was by far his biggest single during this time, becoming a hit in 22 different countries and selling over 8 million copies. (Fun fact: many people thought Elvis was singing the song under an alias!)

This is my favorite version of It's Only Make Believe from a TV show in 1990. His voice just got better with age. (I could listen to him talk all day too, but the song starts at 3:20.)

By 1965 Conway decided to follow his heart and venture into the world of country music even though he was told he was crazy attempting to start his career over from scratch. Many country radio stations refused to play him because he was known as a rock singer but in July 1968 he had his first top 5 country hit, The Image of Me, followed closely by his first #1 country song, Next in Line, in November. 1969 brought a string of more top 5's and #1's, and then in 1970 came Conway's signature song and one of country music's most recognized masterpieces, Hello Darlin'...

In 1973 Conway stirred up a bit of controversy with the steamy (for it's time) You've Never Been This Far Before. In spite of being banned by many radio stations due to its "racy" lyrics it ended up being his only country song to cross over onto the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 22.

After firmly establishing himself as a country music superstar he showed his incredibly versatility by regularly crossing back over, taking well-known pop songs and turning them into country smashes, including The Eagles' Heartache Tonight, Bette Midler's The Rose, Lionel Ritchie's Three Times A Lady, and the Pointer Sisters' Slow Hand...

So did Conway make the right decision by crossing over from rock to country? Over the course of his country career that spanned 28 years he earned 55 #1 hits, putting him second on the all-time list in all genres of music behind only George Strait. That's more #1's than Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Sinatra, Madonna, anyone. He had #1 records in 5 different decades, from the '50s to the '90s...who else can claim that? Who would ever be able to do that today? His level of greatness will never be seen again.

In the years since he's been gone his legend has only grown, being posthumously inducted into both the Rockabilly and Country Music Hall of Fame. He has even been introduced to a new generation of fans thanks to Family Guy!

His peers honored him with the title "High Priest of Country Music." He was called "the best friend a song ever had." And he will always hold the key to this country girl's heart.

Tortie Shorties Book Reviews: Cat Wisdom & Seafurrers

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we're reviewing a pair of newly released cat books. We hope you enjoy our choices!

Cat Wisdom: 60 great lessons you can learn from a cat by Neil Somerville

From the publisher: Many a domestic cat leads a good life. Pampered, well-fed and often the centre of much attention, the cat is skilful in getting its own way.

In this fascinating and fun book, you can discover many of the cats’ secrets, which you too can use to great effect.
Discover how to…
make the most of chances
create a good impression
be more persuasive
make better use of strengths
as well as get more pleasure out of your day…and life.
6o entries with bite-sized explanations accompanied by simple yet evocative line illustration makes this the ideal gift.

Tortie Shorties Review: This sweet little gift book will look right at home on any cat lover's bookshelf, filled with words of wisdom about how to better your own life by taking lessons from your cat. Anyone who shares their home with a feline friend will recognize the wisdom contained within its pages, but with the crazy lives we humans lead a refresher course is always welcome! I especially enjoyed the darling illustrations and famous cat quote on each page. Each one would be suitable for framing! 

Seafurrers: The Ships' Cats Who Lapped and Mapped the World by Philippa Sandall

From the publisher: We remember the bold seafarers of yore—from Magellan to Shackleton—for their extraordinary exploits: new lands discovered, storms weathered, and battles won. But somehow history has neglected the stalwart, hardworking species who made it all possible . . . yes, the noble cat!

In Seafurrers, able sea cat Bart sets the record straight at last. “Fear of water” aside, cats were indispensable at sea—both as pest controllers and as beloved mascots. Thirty–eight tales recount the adventures of Trim (who circumnavigated Australia), Tom (the sole feline survivor of the sinking of the USS Maine), celebrity cat Simon (a veteran of the Yangtze Incident), and other furry heroes.

Filled with nautical trivia, rare photographs, and whimsical illustrations, this deft genealogy of human–feline friendship will stir your regard for the incomparable cat—whether on the couch or in the crow’s nest!

Tortie Shorties Review: A fun look inside the history of a seaman's best friend - the cat! Each section begins with a journal entry or news article about a ship's cat, sometimes accompanied by a photo, and then transitions into a narrative related in some way to the excerpt. My favorite passages included stories on ghost ships and a group of penguins that befriended some seafurrers, although in some places I found the maritime history not related to cats to be a bit dry causing me to do a little skimming. Lots of fascinating information presented in a creative way.

Disclaimer: I received free copies of these books from the authors and publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!

Bedraggled #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

I'm so embarrassed by my Sunday Selfie this week that I couldn't even look at the camera.

Mommy is brushing me every day, twice a day, and I'm still shedding so much that she can't get a picture of me without loose furs showing. I feel so bedraggled!!!

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Vinyl Vixen #CaturdayArt

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mommy's answers:

1. My neighbors are fairly quiet. I have some new ones across the street that moved in last fall and while they were sorting stuff in their garage pounding music was a constant. Thankfully it hasn't started up again now that the warmer weather is here.

2. The last thing I purchased online was 25 records from Amazon, Etsy and Ebay. Even though the majority of his catalog is available to download, I'm determined to complete my collection of Conway Twitty albums (of course - who else?). I have everything that has been released on CD, but so much never made it past vinyl (and cassette). Needless to say, this has been quite a challenge with such a prolific career. So far I have close to 50 of his albums (CD and vinyl) and I'm only halfway complete! I'm so in love with all the cover art too.

Do I have a working record player? Nope. I'm planning to treat myself to this one as an early birthday gift :) I'm super excited about it!

Mudpie's answers:

3. I have never been outside in my yard. Mommy would love to take me out on a harness but she's afraid if I run into a neighbor kitty I'll cause a scene. She's probably right. MOL

4. Anything is possible if you're loved.

Seafood Favorites For A Pro Plan Girl #ChewyInfluencer

Meows from Mudpie!

Last month our nice friends at Chewy sent me a Seafood Favorites variety pack of wet food from one of my favorite brands, Pro Plan. Before I share my thoughts on the food I'm going to let Mommy tell you a funny story about Pro Plan and one of my predecessors...

Up until Mudpie the fussiest cat I've ever known was Angel Sashi. When she decided to eat the entire house would sit silently, barely daring to breathe. In her later years she had loads of tummy troubles which didn't help matters any, so when we found a food that she loved and was gentle on her stomach, I was ecstatic. For Sashi that food was Pro Plan chicken and rice, and salmon and rice in gravy.

Then came another problem. Sashi wanted cans filled with loads of gravy and meat pieces as small as possible. Some batches met her criteria more than others, so at each shopping trip I would stand in the aisle and shake cans to try to gauge the amount of gravy inside. (I'm sure I received more than my share of suspicious glances from fellow shoppers.) The most promising cans would come home with me, and once we found out the ones that earned Sashi's seal of approval, I'd jot down the lot number on the bottom of the can, go back to the store and buy a case (or two). One particular batch was such a smash hit that I was ecstatic to find more of that lot on the shelf when I stopped into a pet store while on vacation in a different state!

Sashi has been gone for more than 10 years now, but Pro Plan has remained a staple in my home. Every day Mudpie eats their treats and kibble, but will their wet food hit a home run? Let's find out!

Key Benefits

• 100% complete and balanced diet is specifically formulated to support a healthy, active lifestyle for adult cats.
• Features real fish in a savory sauce for the ultimate in taste and texture; optimal protein and fat levels help promote an ideal body condition.
• Powerful antioxidants support a strong immune system, while omega-6 fatty acids help maintain healthy skin and a smooth, lustrous coat.
• Proudly manufactured in Purina-owned U.S. facilities without the use of any added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
• Variety Pack includes eight cans each of Seafood Stew Entree in Sauce, Salmon & Rice Entree in Sauce, and Tuna Entree in Sauce.

So do I like Pro Plan canned food? Well, I love the gravy in the Salmon & Rice and Tuna Entree - I lick it clean and leave the meat, of course. I haven't had a chance to try the Seafood Stew yet. Mommy was hopeful that since I'm such a Pro Plan girl I would gravitate towards their wet food, but I'm really not any more excited about it than I am any other wet food. What can I say...I'm predictable!

The Purina Pro Plan Seafood Favorites variety pack is currently on sale at Chewy for $22.40. Chewy offers FREE 1-2 day shipping for orders over $49, and with over 500 brands in stock they have something sure to make every cat or dog happy. Tell them Mudpie sent you!

Disclaimer: We received product compensation from Chewy.com as part of their Blogger Outreach Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own and we never recommend a product we don’t fully believe in.

Wordless Wednesday: Curious Kitty

Tortie Shorties On Tuesday

 

Purrfect Crime (The Mysteries of Max Book 5): When former actress and lifestyle guru Donna Bruce is found murdered in her sauna cabin, stung to death by bees, Odelia and Chase are on the case. Meanwhile Odelia’s tabby Max has his own issues to deal with. The vet has decided the flabby tabby is too flabby and has put Max on a strict diet. Feeling weak and out of sorts, the blorange cat has a hard time coming up with original ideas to solve the crime his human is grappling with. And then there’s the fact that Odelia has decided that this time Harriet, her mother’s white Persian, is in charge of the case, leading the feline sleuths even further astray.

Harriet’s idea of investigating a crime is surfing the web and sifting through Internet gossip, and since Odelia doesn’t seem to be making any headway in the case it’s up to Max and Dooley to save the day and find that telling clue that will lead them to Donna’s killer. Will Max be able to stick to his diet? Will Gran be able to control her online shopping habits? And will Odelia and Chase finally go on their first date? Find out in Purrfect Crime, the fifth installment in the funny cozy cat mystery series The Mysteries of Max.

Purrfect Rivalry (The Mysteries of Max Book 6): When someone takes a shot at well-renowned pop star Charlie Dieber and kills one of his bodyguards instead, Odelia Poole, self-confessed Bedieber and big-time fan, is quick to offer her assistance to help find the shooter. Teaming up with Detective Chase Kingsley, she enters the world of the Dieber, and soon discovers not everything is as it seems.

Odelia’s cat menagerie, meanwhile, is in a state of shock when longtime rival Diego returns to Hampton Cove, and immediately starts stirring up trouble. Diego has one goal in mind: take over Max’s place in Odelia’s home and heart and get Max, Dooley and Brutus sent to the pound. The only one who can help them is Clarice, their feral friend. She got rid of Diego once, and they hope she will do it again. Unfortunately Clarice has been adopted. By Charlie Dieber.

Will Diego become Odelia’s new go-to feline sleuth or will Max strike back? Will they be able to stop the killer before he kills the world’s number-one pop star? And will Grandma move to Washington and go into politics? Find out in Purrfect Rivalry, a cozy cat mystery like no other.

This is a cat cozy series that just keeps getting better and better as its feline characters get cuter and cuter. The mysteries are always fun and not overly complicated, but it's the mini soap opera of the cats' lives that steals the show. In these two stories the fearless foursome of Max, Dooley, Harriet and Brutus deal with Max's diet, Harriet's former love making a return appearance, her addiction to online gossip sites, and Grandma's hysterical habit of buying sex toys from a lifestyle guru...oh, and murder too! It's impossible to not crack up while reading their antics, and while I love all the cats and their unique purrsonalities, it's sweet and innocent Dooley that has stolen my heart. I just want to scoop him up and protect him from the world. Put this whole series on your summer reading list. I promise you'll be eagerly awaiting each new release just as I do!

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