CLINT WALTERS - HOPE YOU ARE IN PEACE DEAR FRIEND!

Back in 2000, after working for a commercial radio station all my career, I was approached by a new Record Company to join them and be general manager and in charge of A&R youth development. I had only been in charge a short while when one day I received a call from a young guy called Clint Walters, to see if we could assist him some fund raising for his Charity HIFY.

Yes I had heard of Clint but in the 10 years that followed I got to known him close and we were a support and strength for each other, sadly just over a week ago following a heart attack at the young age of 31, that Light in my Life and many others of Clint was taken away from us, leaving me devastated and still upset.

Clint had been diagnosed as HIV Positive just prior to his A Level exams at the tender age of 17, to be given such tragic news say with your Mother must have been devastating to Clint, but No he was determined to fight and also ensure that young people would have better access to information and health guidance that he felt he had. He immediately started to campaign and in no time he launched his Charity "Health Initiatives for the Young" HIFY - his Dream was to have a 24 Hour Clinic in central London which would be a place young people could go to and call for confidential advice and help. Even though Clint had his own health problems to compete with it did not stop his giving all his time for this important cause, at times when we would speak he would be so tired and you could tell he was not well, but that was not going to stop him.

In 2001 Clint was used in a poster campaign for World Aids Campaign with MTV, his image was used on posters and an advertising campaign. Clint spent time in the USA supported by The Winston Churchill Charity Trust, following the work being done with HIV so as to be able to bring it back and introduce it to the UK. However his health affected him he never stopped fund raising doing such as The London Marathon, a Challenge on TV which featured many fit athletes taking on some really big challenges of fitness around the world and being sponsored. Clint also did many tours visiting both Universities and Colleges and Schools in the UK to discuss HIV.

Clint and myself also shared a love for Soul Music, but he did also move into real Dance/Trance music and left me way behind at times. One project we discussed that many times was to write a book, I felt Clint was the complete right age and image that young people would be willing to read and listen, see what he had gone through, help raise awareness and at the same time give them strength to fight and be strong. But with Clint the book was always going to be started tomorrow, as he was always too busy, but tomorrow never came, something we laughed many times about.

So Sunday 4 April 2010 Clint was taken away from us, when I heard the news in an email I felt as I said as if a Light has been Turned Off in my Life and there was a real empty feeling. Never did I meet someone so genuine and dedicated to what they believed in, Clint was a True Inspiration and his passing will not affect this for many others and myself, it just saddens me that though Clint received so many big business promises and the 24 Hour Clinic got so close, it never did happen, neither the book!

I Hope Clint is in Peace now and that Light in my Life is an Angel looking down on us all, his Mother Wendy.

EASTER 2010

Maundy Thursday and the start of Easter 2010, tomorrow Good Friday and then the celebration with Easter Sunday.

But how many will take time out to remember the true meaning of Easter, will it just be Easter Eggs, a chance to visit a garden centre or go out to the shopping mall?

John II: 25-26 gives us real thought, inspiration and strength.

ANDREW LLOYD-WEBBER'S - AMOR NUMQUAM MORITUR

Amor Numquam Moritur - Love Never Dies

At one time if anyone had ever said to me I would like musical I would have laughed at them, in my huge music collection it was mainly Soul, Gospel and Chart Pop. The the radio station I worked for decided to run listeners Theatre/Hotel trips to London's West End and on tour someone had to represent the station.

My first visit was to see The Phantom of the Opera and I had such doubts, but I came away loving it and currently I have seen this magic show sixteen times more since, now I would love to see it in Las Vegas in the specially developed theatre. I did many more theatre trips with listeners, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon bit it was the music of Andrew Lloyd-Webber that always reached out and touched me of course Phantom, but also Sunset Boulevard and Aspects of Love.

Now the latest production from the pen of Andrew Lloyd-Webber is a sequel to The Phantom of The Opera and it opened with The Premiere in London's West End last week LOVE NEVER DIES with the story moving to New York and Coney Island.

Listening to the two CD soundtrack of the musical, which has just been released along with a bonus DVD showing both the studio production of the album and rehearsals, along with amazing footage of Coney Island. Two tunes are simply outstanding and says so much about the talent of Andrew Lloyd-Webber. I have managed to get hold of a copy of the souvenir programme and the sets look fantastic.

Some of the critics reviews are knocking this new production but many more also knocked The Phantom of The Opera and they were wrong then, now I want to get to see Love Never Dies as soon as I can, no way can I wait until it tours the provinces of the UK.

REFLECTED REVIEW!

YES! The debut album from DAVIS OSMOND - REFLECTED arrived at the weekend (Thanks Valerie) and it has never been off the CD player since!

It is as Good as I expected and knew it would be from David, I know of no one who puts so much "Soul" in their vocal and singing, you know that it comes from straight from the heart, the lyrics are so strong and mean so much, the album is full or warmth and sincerity, anyway a little about some of the tracks that stand out so far to me and I can tell you it is still growing more every day on me.

I have to be honest and admit that I am a typical Brit and we are not into some of the American rock produced music, but that does not deter from the quality of the tracks.

"You Wanted Me" this is David at his best for me and he lets the vocal do all the talking, I would dare anyone to doubt this can only come straight from the heart and every word in the lyric is truly meant.

"In My Life" once more the vocal is so strong and the lyrics so meaningful.

"Needle and Thread" just grows more on me with each play, the lyric just have to be listened to, no one could carry them through with such warmth and soul as David does.

"To a Girl" just has to be heard, the lyrics just roll of David's tongue and vocal.

You must now be tempted, go on order a copy of the CD today, from David's Online Exclusive Web Store, you can pay by PayPal and by the way the photo above is a full size poster of David also available.

http://www.davidosmondstore.com/

DAVID OSMOND - REFLECTED DEBUT SOLO CD

At last and after a lot of dedication both by David and his wife Valerie it is Great News to announce the release of DAVID OSMOND'S DEBUT SOLO CD - REFLECTED.

Many of you who read my Blog regular will know the respect I have for David and admiration for the amazing vocal full of soul and warmth that he has. Now everyone has the opportunity to listen to a full album of David's work.

You are not going to see it in your local record store at present and neither on music websites, but you can get a copy today straight from The Office David Osmond Store Website and here you can also get the CD autographed by David and even personalised if you wish, you will also find posters and photo's of David which again can be signed if you so wish.

http://www.davidosmondstore.com/index.html

My copy of the album was mailed from the USA, the moment David received the first copies in time for The Launch Party Concert that was held for both the media and fans in Utah on the 1 March. The moment I receive my copy, I will let you know more about the album and tracks, meanwhile if you want to listen to a sample of tracks from the "REFLECTED" album you can now on;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDjrEZPOoXY

Then go on order your copy today and I will let you into a secret there could be more good news from David in August!

Snow Cripples the UK

Just days in the new year and the news is that snow cripples the UK, each year so often we seem to face the same problem, we do not get enough snow to invest in equipment to keep the country moving as in the USA, but it does cause serious problems.

Schools in the small village I live in are closed again today, there is very little sound of traffic and the car park at the rear is completely blocked, cars can neither get in or out, and the forecast is for the temperature to drop even more tonight and over the next few days with more snow forecast for the weekend. It is about the most serious I have seen since I have lived here.

Now they are telling us that we are having to import even more gas from Europe as the calls for power to keep us warm increase. It's funny the long term weather forecast from the UK Meteorological Office was for a mild winter, but then again they told us we were were going to have a barbecue summer and that never really developed!

Blame it all on the Global Warming!

2010 - YEAR FOR CHANGE?

Well here we are at the start of a new decade and the end of what has become known as "The Noughties" and a chance to wish all who reads my blog a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

At the start of a new year it is always the time to reflect and look back and sadly many memories are sad, 9/11 - The Iraq War - Afghanistan and The Financial Collapse of the Banks worldwide! so perhaps it is better to instead look forward.

Here in the UK it is a General Election year and after a decade of so many missed chances and waste with public money is it the YEAR FOR CHANGE? - in 2009 it came to the USA with Barack Obama and though many people have expected far too much in his first year of office, only time will tell if he will deliver. Now perhaps is the right time for CHANGE, that we so badly need in the UK, far too many politicians in office look tired and weary with nothing to offer, so lets see what the UK voters decide. Let's just HOPE it does get better for everyone .