Neil Young is 79 years old today (11/12). Booker T jones would be 78

[JohnnyRingo]

The two are respectively the Godfather of and Originator of grunge music.

So happy he's still with us, and long may he run.
What's to say about Neil Young that isn't well known to anyone who... well.. just anyone?

I really fell for his music in between Buffalo Springfield and later works with Nils Lofgrin. I was a big fan of The Blue Notes, having seen the show a couple times. During that grunge phase he was going through at the time, there was a concert featured on MTV when they played music videos. It featrured the giant amps behind them and Ewoks prowling the stage. It was showman Neil's hey day when he still broke strings.

The sound is good on this rendition of "My My Hey Hey (Into The Black), but the video is typical '70s TV.

One other notable birthday is Booker T Jones, keyboards of the MGs with Steve Cropper on guitar. I was honored to see them once before he passed and the band tore it up like they were still kids trying to make a name for themselves.. Between Booker on the organ and Steve Cropper grunge noodling on guitar, it was an unforgettable show.

"Green Onions" began as a keyboard riff from Booker in the Stax studio with others falling in with the jam. The producer liked what he heard and recorded it. Steve Cropper took that demo to a local radio station and dropped it off with a DJ he knew. By the time he got home the phone was ringing off the hook from the DJ wanting to know the title because kids were calling in wanting to know where they could buy it. At least that's the story Steve Cropper tells on stage.

In this colorized live vid, Booker was a mere 18 years old and Cropper old enough to buy beer for the band at 21. Also in the clip is the legendary Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass.

[Docreed2003]

1. Booker T Jones is still very much alive

And he turned 80 today

[JohnnyRingo]

4. I thought he died of liver cancer.

I think I know who I confused him with.

[Keepthesoulalive]

2. Duck Dunn the bassist passed away a few years ago

[Dogdirt]

3. Happy Birthday Neil

Happy birthday. Long may you run!

[Ysabel]

5. Booker T is alive...

He was on my friend list at Facebook...

[JohnnyRingo]

6. I see that now.

A poster pointed out my mistake earlier.

It's the kind of thing that happens when I post an original piece largely from memory instead of doing a copy & paste wholesale.