Until COVID-19, gentrification was the big enemy of live music venues.
Now many these of these venues have closed forever because of the pandemic.
Maybe it’s time to bring back the old fashion bandstand in public parks.
People getting together to experience live music is a necessary
part of developing and maintaining a sense of community.
— kenne
Blue Door Texas Ice House On A Sunday Afternoon In East Texas (10/26/01) — Photo-Essay by kenne
Gene Kelton at the Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Sunday at The Blue Door
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Gene Kelton at the Blue Door
Dancing to the Music of Gene Kelton and the Die Hards
(Gentrification Killed the Blue Door Years Ago.)
We first saw Gary Clark Jr. in Humble, Texas at the Cactus Moon at age sixteen (November 2000). The original image for the above art was taken the following September at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Houston where he appeared with Diunna Greenleaf.
Texas Johnny Brown at The Shakespeare Pub In Houston (11/15/09) Photo-Artistry by kenne
“We used to have guitars sessions,
guitar battles on Sunday out there at Club Matinee.
And there’d be about four or five of us there,
and man, guitars would be ringing like everything!
It was wild!”
— Texas Johnny Brown (Down in Houston: Bayou City Blues)
Sherman Robertson (Houston, TX, 05-11-04)– Image by kenne
All I have is a voice To undo the folded lie, The romantic lie in the brain Of the sensual man-in-the-street And the lie of Authority Whose buildings grope the sky: There is no such thing as the State And no one exists alone; Hunger allows no choice To the citizen or the police; We must love one another or die.
Defenseless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame.
“Original Pat Green” (2004)– Photo-Artistry by kenne
Like so many people the past St. Patrick’s Day, we were sheltered-in-place and missed celebrating the 17th the only way it should be, with friends. So I turned to the many photos of St. Patrick’s Day I have taken over the years, and I have many. At first, I was thinking about doing a collage, but then I found this one of a friend, Patrick A. Green. Starting in 1995, Pat and friends would meet on the Court House Square in Conroe, parade around the Square, and party at the Corner Pub on the Square.
Pat practiced law in Conroe for 43 years, retiring in 2015. A man of limitless generosity, the “Original Pat Green,” gave freely of whatever he had to whomever he met. With unbridled enthusiasm for his Irish and Cajun heritage, Pat could host a party unlike any other. Through his magnanimous spirit and disarming humor, he possessed an extraordinary ability to bring people together.
Pat died on July 12, 2016. He was an original, and I’m blessed to have known him. Somewhere in the universe, he is still partying!
Houston Blues Man, Sherman Robinson — Image by kenne
The blues are the roots and the other musics are the fruits. It’s better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will the blues.
Sprint for Life, May 2010 — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The last time I ran in Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center “Sprint for Life” fundraiser was May 2014. I ran the 5k in 30 minutes, coming third in the over 70 age group. For now, I have given up running, replacing it with walking and hiking. Whether I start running again or not, running will always be in my blood.
In case you are wondering, in the May 2010 run pictured above, I was 3rd in the 65-70 age group. Also, I no longer wear white crew socks!
— kenne
“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.”
Katelyn Turner, Janie Turner, Joy Otrey, Kenne D. Turner, Mary Ann Turner-McCloud, Buddy McCloud, Katie Turner-Bailey and Kenne G. Turner (Lupe Tortilla’s in The Woodlands, Texas, July 27, 2018) — Image by waiter, Saul
We have been planning Joy’s 70th birthday for several months. We knew Kate and her Family who now lives in New Hampshire would not be able to make it to the beach house gathering in Galveston this weekend. We also knew that Katelyn, Janie and Kenne D. would be camping in Central Texas.
Then, a couple of weeks ago we learned Kate would be attending a conference in Houston this week, so plans were quickly made to have dinner on the 27th — Kate was very pleased. We arrived in Houston at 3:30 pm with plenty of time for dinner at 6:30 pm in The Woodlands.
At a February of 2009 fundraiser
for Diunna Greenleaf, Mean Gene Kelton
was one of several musicians playing for the cause.
In addition to being a great musician,
Mean Gene is a master storyteller
in the oral tradition of what I refer to as
“Rural Mississippi Backporch” style — I love it!
In this video, Mean Gene shares a Dallas Texas gig experience
he and his band had traveled with Diunna, before going into
playing, “I Play the Blues for a Livin’.”
Industrial waste is left behind when the Harvey flood waters move on in the Houston, Texas area. Plus, there’s plenty of human plastic trash not included in this picture. — Image by kenne
We continue to destroyed nature with our industrial waste more than any other nation in history. Despite this, we have now backed out on the Paris Climate Change Accord. Hospitals in the Houston area are now beginning to deal with health issues related to the Harvey flood waters — breathing problems; skin problems; intestinal problems, just to name a few.
Time To Rest The Feet (FotoFest 10/24/02) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Blue Door Texas Ice House On A Sunday Afternoon In East Texas (10/26/01) — Photo-Essay by kenne
Texas Johnny Brown at The 
“Original Pat Green” (2004)– Photo-Artistry by kenne
Katelyn Turner, December 21, 2005 — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Chase Morris, December 24, 2004 — Image by kenne
Houston Blues Man, Sherman Robinson — Image by kenne
Sprint for Life, May 2010 — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Katelyn Turner, Janie Turner, Joy Otrey, Kenne D. Turner, Mary Ann Turner-McCloud, Buddy McCloud, Katie Turner-Bailey and Kenne G. Turner (Lupe Tortilla’s in The Woodlands, Texas, July 27, 2018) — Image by waiter, Saul
Granddad with New Born Granddaughter, Katelyn (September 24, 2003) 
Computer Art by kenne
Industrial waste is left behind when the Harvey flood waters move on in the Houston, Texas area. Plus, there’s plenty of human plastic trash not included in this picture. — Image by kenne
