06/30/2007
The Ninth Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball

You know him as a singer/songwriter/ entertainer/composer, but he is also a humanitarian in the global effort to end the AIDS epidemic. For the last nine years Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish have hosted a hoot of a party for the AIDS foundation called The White Tie & Tiara Ball. This year the Ball took place at Elton and David's home in Windsor, England on Thursday, June 28. The musical guests were Sir Tom Jones and Dame Shirley Bassey. The Tom Jones Band along with additional horns, keyboards and a conductor served as the house band.  We were banned from taking pictures of the event and even the rehearsal, so I'm not going to show you the photos I took before security wrestled me to the floor, and took the film out of the small Kodak camera I had purchased at the hotel gift shop. I'm kidding of course!
 It has been reported that the party raised about 6.1 million pounds proving to be the crown jewel in Sir Elton's tiara and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Way to go Sir Elton. For official news on the event click here.

06/26/2007
Windsor Castle
Hangin' out at the Castle...

63º and partly cloudy was the forecast for the…
I looked out of the front entrance of the hotel and to my surprise it was sunny.
So I decided to go to Windsor Castle. I had heard that the queen was there on this Monday June 25, 2007 so I figured I’d drop in and say howdy.
Windsor Castle for those that don’t know… is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The Queen hangs out there from time to time and when she’s in residence her personal standard or flag flies from the Round Tower. Windsor Castle along with Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh are the official residences of the British monarch. As soon as I arrived it started to pour… so it was typical English day weather wise. I did wonder though if the Queen minded us walking in her house with our shoes soaked and wet.
The history that this place holds is extraordinaire. I did manage to take many, many photos… some authorized and some not. I checked out Mary’s Dolls’ House, the most famous dolls house in the world and I toured through St. George’s Chapel. I tell ya’ folks it is incredible. If you are ever in London drop by Windsor Castle and tell the Queen I sent you.

-H

06/25/2007
The Millennium Stadium in Wales

Hanging at The Millennium Stadium in Wales

With the time off between shows and there’s quite a bit of it.
I got the chance to take a tour of The Millennium Stadium in Wales. This structure located in Cardiff is home to the Welsh Rugby Union Team. Yes, I know, I know… it’s just another stadium and I’ve seen a hell of a lot of stadiums but what's unique about this structure is that it has a retractable roof… only the second in Europe and the second largest in the world with this feature. The seating is just under 75,000 and is the host to many artists such as the The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and the much anticipated world tour of The Police.
Thank you Rach for the tour and taking this photo.

-H

06/24/2007
Tom Jones test-drives The 02 Arena...

Tom Jones test-drives The 02 Arena...
Prince, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bon Jovi, Barbra Streisand are all scheduled to play London's 02 Arena. BUT it was Sir Tom Jones that filled the 20,000-seat structure with his powerful voice. The big wigs at The 02 Arena invited Mr. Jones to entertain the workers, staff and sponsors of this massive structure that seemed to have an intimate setting. The volume of The O2 is equal to thirteen Albert Halls, ten St Paul’s Cathedrals or two old Wembley Stadiums. The organizers are hoping this will be THE place for big name acts and sporting events.
  The nights festivities opened with an ethnic dance and drum group and me being “The drummer from Texas” and a lover of dance… I ran out and took a quick photo.

-H

06/22/2007
The End Of The Night

Well… the show is over. Tom Jones has made his exit stage left escorted by his management. The band is quickly packing their immediate items so that the crew can breakdown and pack away the gear. This is marking the end of three wonderful nights at The Hampton Court Palace Festival. The final night was just a bit on the cool side, but the crowd quickly warm up when Tom hit the stage. On this night security was a bit kinder to the wild ones wanting to twist, jump and shout. The panties were being tossed from all over, even from the back rows. It’s very interesting watching the UK crowds as they stand and sing or yell the chorus to "Delilah” a soccer or football classic. It’s also touching when 2500 people are singing, and in good voice I might add, “The Green, Green Grass Of Home”. And when it was time for “It’s Not Unusual” Tom sang the first few lines of the song and then raised his hands then the crowd took over… singing the entire song, horn lines and all, that made Tom Jones, well... Tom Jones. A good time was had by all and I knew a homerun was hit when I saw out of the corner of my eye a woman dancing with a security guard and he was dancing back… night stick and all.

-H

06/21/2007
The Calm B4 The Storm

This photo was taken on the second night of the Hampton Court Palace Festival shows as the band walked out on stage and about 45 seconds before Tom Jones made his appearance. I call this shot “The Calm B4 The Storm.” In part because of the rains that came and went through out the concert but also because these folks as calm as they are in their seats at the moment. Went crazy over the soulful man from Wales. This event is held in the court area of the former home of Henry VIII and this years artists include Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Josh Groban, Brian Ferry, The Buana Vista Social Club and many more.

-H

06/20/2007
Hamptom Court Palace...

I'm always amazed at the beauty of the architecture in the UK.
Tom Jones is performing 3 nights at The Hampton Court Palace Festival. The palace was the riverside residence of Henry VIII. Let me tell ya’ Hank knew how to live. The sights, sounds and smells of the great Tudor kitchens where banquets were prepared for Henry’s court are still operating. I took a bit of an unauthorized tour and took a few photos inside the castle. I will share those photos with you in the coming weeks. The first night of shows, a show that was added due to overwhelming demand and a show that was supporting the Prince’s Trust was… now lets see, what would the English say? The show was absolutely brilliant. The 1500-seat area was overtaken by fans but only in the must proper of ways. I saw some familiar faces and the people as always went nuts over Sir Tom. The second night was a bit damp… it started raining off and on through out the show but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd. The people were dancing and singing, and one young lady even managed to make it up on stage only to be taken out but security. The enthusiasms of the crowds in England are pretty special.

Tom Jones Supporting the Princes Trust

06/19/2007
A Drummer from Texas In Moscow...

It’s 2:00 AM and I'm wide-awake and I'm in Moscow. What’s a drummer to do?
I had already checked out the mini-bar size of Pringles and a diet Coke to wash them down with. So… what’s next? I took a walk to Red Square. It was only three or four blocks away. The night was pleasant and people were still kinda crazy. I guess they were either coming or going to wherever but none-the-less they were having a great time.
As I wandered through the streets checking out the nightlife… armed guards, and construction sites. I turned the corner and there it was. The Museum Of History… Built in 1881, it is one of the biggest museums in Russia. The architects wanted the building to symbolize all the best from Russian traditional architecture, and it was amazin. But as I walked further into the square I saw the area that I had read about in the history books and had seen on film. The area where military parades were held. I was also amazed to see Lenin's Mausoleum, where the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union is displayed. But the one building that I recognized was at the end of the square. The elaborate bright-domed building of Saint Basil's Cathedral (pictured). I walked to the end of the square with my jaw dropped and started to shoot picture after picture. Moscow at 3:00 in the morning is pretty terrific.

-H

06/14/2007
Gia Ciambotti's CD release party!

Café Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, CA was boogalooin’ Wednesday night.
Gia Ciambotti was featured, celebrating the release of her new CD “Right As Rain”.
Gia played three sets to a full house playing cuts from her new CD and some soulful classics.
Pictured… Guitarist Miles Joseph (Aretha Franklin) singer Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Singer Gia Ciambotti and Drummer Herman Matthews (Tom Jones)

"Gia Ciambotti can stand up against anyone singing R&B today.
Among female 'blue-eyed' soul singers, Gia leads the pack!." - LUCINDA WILLIAMS

Click here to check out Gia's MySpace

06/13/2007
HOME AT LAST Get your copy now!

06/03/2007
"Home At Last" CD Baby... more in stock!

06/02/2007
PARTY AT THE PLAYBOY MANSION
May 31st, the Real Estate Investment Advisory Council (REIAC) once again hosted a star studded Memorial Day fundraiser for the National Veterans Foundation at the fabulous Playboy Mansion. REIAC’s 11th Annual “High Flyers Ball” featured exquisite food, an open premium bar, Playmate guided tours of the mansion grounds, and an all-star lineup of entertainers, Hollywood celebrities, Playboy Playmates, and music industry icons like Richard Marx, Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon) Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) and Lonnie Jordan and members of the band War, and Ali Woodson of the Temptations. Singer/songwriter Robbyn Kirmsee added her vocal spice and made sure this band she put together was running on time and groovin’. And playing drums for it all… ME, ME, ME!!!

-H