Photo Focus Plus:: Taylor Hicks Covers His Idol
By Louise Uznanski for Ontapblog.
©2013 Ontapblog All Rights Reserved

Before Bally’s, and before his current residency at Paris Las Vegas, Taylor Hicks toured the country for long stretches of time in a Prevost bus. One of those May 2011 road shows stands out for me. Taylor covered a song by Irish singer-songwriter and musician Van Morrison, and at the end of the performance had a story to tell. He recalled a scheduled appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly, and why his performance was canceled. Watch to the end of the video below to hear Taylor share the story of being ‘bumped’ for his idol, Van Morrison.
As a fan who was fortunate enough to have tickets for Regis and Kelly that day, I will long remember the look on Taylor’s face as he watched his ultimate idol sing “Brown Eyed Girl”. Taylor’s performance of “What’s Right Is Right” was then taped; Van Morrison and band watched from the wings. How lucky was I to see both of these events, a television show and concert connected by Taylor Hicks’ passion for the blues and the music of Van Morrison? The Glens Falls, New York show took place two years ago this month. Taylor performed the following acoustic rendition of Van Morrison’s “Rough God Goes Riding”. It remains a favorite.
All-Star Celebrity Apprentice draws to a close next weekend and Las Vegas headliner, magician and entertainer Penn Jillette is one of two finalists who remain in the competition. Jillette has been tasked with creating and marketing a new flavor of Walgreens Good & Delish premium ice cream. If “Vanilla and Chocolate Magic Swirtle” sells more units than his competitor’s product between now and Friday, then Las Vegas charity 





by Holley Dey ©2013 OnTapBlog all rights reserved
lobby running smoothly and customers happy while doing his utmost to minimize on-the-job frustration and maximize the twenty dollar tips in his pocket. He went from sneakers to dress shoes, Dr. Pepper to whiskey, newbie to hustler in the space of several years and some 250 pages, never losing his humanity or his union card.
by Holley Dey ©2013 OnTapBlog all rights reserved
by Holley Dey ©2013 OnTapBlog all rights reserved

What he is: Andrew Jenks is a filmmaker, a thinker, a dreamer with his feet firmly planted on the ground. He is young, driven, good looking and well-spoken. At twenty-seven, he has written, directed and starred on television and in film. His new book, Andrew Jenks: My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker, chronicles these experiences in words and photographs.
When he was nineteen and a college freshman, Andrew realized that he and his grandfather faced similar challenges, but on opposite ends of the life spectrum. His grandfather suffered from dementia and lived in a nursing home. The 300 other nursing home residents were strangers to him. Andrew was a poor fit for the college dormitory where he also lived with 300 strangers. To understand and document the kinds of challenges facing his grandfather, Jenks decided to spend his freshman summer as a nursing home resident. With cameras purchased on eBay, borrowed audio equipment and good intentions, Andrew drove to Port St. Lucie, Florida where he checked into room 335 of the Harbor Place assisted living facility. He and two friends spent five weeks getting to know Tammy, age 96, Libby, age 84, and Bill, age 80. The experience went smoothly once the students learned the importance of being on time for dinner at 4:00 pm, and of playing a competitive game of Bingo. In the end, 240 hours of film became an award winning 90 minute HBO documentary that makes clear the importance of friendship, compassion and trust both early and near the end of life.