Hell's Kitchen Radio #502: A Tribute For My Father

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Well, here's a show I knew I would have to host eventually. I just didn't think it was going to be so soon. My dear father, Harvey Rosenberg passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, after over ten years surviving Parkinson's Disease. I was lucky to have spent a few days with him just before he passed. It was unexpected. He had been fairly stable and mobile just a few days before he passed on. Then something happened, that we're hoping to find out, and he took a serious turn for the worse; he never recovered.

To say I'm going to miss him is a massive understatement. 

I have spoken about my dad on this show numerous times over the years. There were a lot of dad-isms I have imparted to you, my kids and my students. So many great words to live by. Here are a few:

There's no reward without risk.

Always check the oil.

Pay your taxes.

And then there were the cars. My dad owned a lot of cars. It was his hobby: buy a car, fix it up, sell it. I think if he wasn't a watchmaker and in the jewelry business, he would have been a mechanic and race car driver. He must have owned at lease one Chevy model from 49 - 68, including four Corvettes: '60, '64, '66, and '68. I was lucky to be alive to enjoy the '66 and '68. I even snuck the '66 out a few time. Sorry dad.

Anyone who knew my dad liked him. He was a great guy. He never judged anyone, and never spoke ill of

anyone. If I needed advice, he would never tell me what to do, only what he would do. I lived with him through high school, after my parent's divorced. They gave me the choice, and it was the best choice to make for a young 13 year old boy, hungry for male energy only a dad can offer. I will always cherish our hours-long evening conversations about life. He was a great listener and a good storyteller. I'll miss those talks. They helped form who I am today. 

My love of music started with my dad. I don't think he was as interested in music as I came to be, but he was the first to play me music that wasn't on the pop radio stations. He enjoyed Chicago-style electric blues, bebop-era Jazz, 50s and 60s R&B and Rock & Roll. Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, and the Blues Brothers were always favorites. I feel like he handed me the baton and I kept it going.

Dad took me to some fun concerts in the 80s: Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA Tour), Bob Seger, Robert Plant, and the Doobie Brothers. I loved seeing music with him. He turned me onto great films too. The Godfather was our mutual favorite. We also loved Mel Brooks films, Abbott and Costello, and the Marx Brothers. So much of my humor is because of these films. Dad started me young. I am forever grateful. 

I was honored to host a tribute to him on Monday night. The music I chose is music he would have loved. I tell a bunch of stories about him, and was happy to have my sisters Julie and Tracy keeping me honest with the live fact checking, via text. Thanks to my step-sister Dayna (for whom I've known since she was five and consider her my sister) and her loving husband John for being in the studio with me. A huge thanks to my wonderful daughter, Lauson for being with me as well. It was so special to share this night with them and with everyone who tuned in. 

I don't believe in an afterlife, or religion, or any of that, so I can't tell you where dad is, or if he heard the

show. I'm hoping if there is something that comes after this, then he's living it up. I don't want dad to rest in peace, because he wouldn't want that either. I want him having fun, racing cars with his friends, watching a great football game, eating the juiciest steak and hanging out with the people that mean the most to him. I hosted this show in his memory, so those who are alive can feel the love that we felt for such a wonderful person.

I love you dad.

Your son.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Intro - Hey Bartender: Blues Brothers
Blazing Saddles Trailer
Mack The Knife: Louis Armstrong

Manish Boy: Muddy Waters
Shaving Cream: Benny Bell

Marx Brothers' Duck Soup Trailer

The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe

Birthday: The Beatles
It's Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis

Who's On First: Abbott and Costello

Bony Maronie: Larry Williams
Little Red Hen: Taj Mahal

The Godfather Trailer
Theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Ennio Morricone

My Sick Mind: The Roaches

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey: Paul McCartney

My Ding-A-Ling: Chuck Berry

Roll Over Beethoven: Rolling Stones

Boom Boom: John Lee Hooker
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #248: A New Dawn

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Happy New Year to all from Sir Hell. You didn't know that I'm a "Sir" now, did you? Well there ya go. How you like them apples? Did you have a glorious end of year celebration, or do you consider it to be trite and amateur hour? Either way, I hope you have set some positive intentions for 2016, or at the very least you call a friend and go out to see some live music. I plan on doing all of the above, and often in 2016.

For Monday's show I felt I should pay tribute to the recently fallen rock-comrade Lemmy Kilmister of the seminal metal band Motörhead. I remember first hearing the "hit" Ace of Spades in the early 80s, and knowing pretty much immediately that this band was no joke. I enjoyed Motörhead through the hair-raising glam metal years of the 80s and 90s, and loved that they kept true to their nature: raw and in-your-face loud. Monday I played mostly early tracks and a rare live track from my bootleg library.



Did you know Lemmy was a Joni Mitchell fan? Me either.

Monday also saw the 30th anniversary of the passing of legendary frontman Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. Damn, where does the time go? I did a little tribute to him as well, including a blistering live version of "The Rocker" live, with six guitarist rocking out on stage!!!

The remainder of the how was a genre grab-bag. Take a look at the playlist below.


I am also excited to introduce my 2016 "Run for the Lilies"! You come up with a list of 10 famous people you believe will be dead by 12-31-2016, and send that list to mrjohnhell@gmail.com by February 01, 2016. The only rule is that you may not participate in the demise of any of the persons on your list. The winner will get a prize to be determined.

This should be a great year for music. Go out and support your local music scene, wherever you live.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Sinnerman: Nina Simone
Big Log: Robert Plant

FFF: PIL
The Passenger: Iggy Pop
Court and Spark: Joni Mitchell
The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe

Little Girl in Bloom: Thin Lizzy
The Rocker: Thin Lizzy

Suicide: Thin Lizzy (05-14-76 Detroit, MI)
Time of No Reply: Nick Drake

Overkill: Motöhead
All The Aces: Motöhead
Killed By Death: Motöhead

Ace of Spades: Motöhead (March 22, 1982 Newcastle, England)
Truth: Alexander Ebert

Henry Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
It's A Man's World: James Brown and his Famous Flames
Little Child, Running Wild: Curtis Mayfield

That's Life: Frank Sinatra
Hello Dolly: Louis Armstrong
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett

Enjoy some live Motörhead from "Top of the Pops" in 1983

A Season in Hell #163: Sometimes It's Got To Rain

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Here's a show from February of 2014, that for some reason I neglected to post. What the hell is wrong with Hell? Anyway, just take a look at this amazing playlist? I was obviously in a folksy mood. This is PERFECT for your Saturday afternoon.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
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Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong
Gut Feeling: Devo
Ain't That A Kick in the Head: Dean Martin

A Change is Gonna Come: The Gits
Satisfaction: Cat Power
Dragonfly: My Brightest Diamond

The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe
Chase the Blues Away: Tim Buckley
I'll Be Your Lover Too: Van Morrison

***Set of the Night***
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings: Father John Misty
Love Fuzz: Ty Segall
Douchebags on Parade: Mudhoney
Fat Old Sun: Pink Floyd
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles

Sticks and Stones: Joe Cocker
Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Bob Dylan
Cocaine Blues: Johnny Cash
Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo

I Want to be  your Dog: Uncle Tupelo
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (Fleet Foxes cover): First Aid Kit
Time Has Told Me: Nick Drake
The Step and the Walk: The Duke Spirit
You Can't Catch Me: Chuck Berry

B Movie Boxcar Blues/Flip Flop and Fly: Blues Brothers