A Classic Fit For Taylor Hicks

New York, New York
"Start spreadin' the news"
The New York Times - The New York Post

Taylor Hicks joins the Broadway cast of 'Grease' on June 6th!
Playing the part of Teen Angel, Taylor plans to add "soulful flavor" to his performance of "Beauty School Dropout".
The flashy role, he said, is "a classic fit for a classic performer".

Affectionately known as The Big Apple, (Manhattan) is by many measures one of the most important cities in the world.

Today's featured song is "New York State Of Mind" and
'The Muppets Take Manhattan' is what popped into my mind!

Now you are probably wondering if I have suddenly become a big Muppet fan, considering my last blog Shades of Green featured a discussion between Taylor and Kermit.

The answer is no, it is just coincidence that the Muppets are a classic fit for this blog post!

In the movie "The Muppets Take Manhattan', Kermit and the gang decide to take their college variety act to New York and try to make it on Broadway.

In a nutshell, trials and tribulations abound, including a case of amnesia for Kermit, but in the end the show is a hit!

Wouldn't it be grand to read the words Taylor Hicks Takes Manhattan, afterall he is in a New York State of Mind!


Taylor Hicks ~ "New York State Of Mind"
From Boots, Blues and BBQ with Taylor Hicks
video capture: Ragsqueen
(Thank You Mandy!)

"New York State of Mind" is a song written by Billy Joel which initially appeared on the album Turnstiles in 1976.

While initially not a hit when it was first released, as the "B" side to the single "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", it has gotten much more frequent airplay in recent years.

"New York State of Mind" enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and radio airplay after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and is frequently played after New York Mets, New York Knicks and New York Rangers games.

Billy Joel performed "New York State Of Mind" at the 2001
"Tribute To Heroes" telethon to benefit victims of the terrorist attacks on the US.
To honor the rescue workers who lost their lives in the tragedy, Joel played with the helmet of one of the New York City Firefighters who died in The World Trade Center on his piano.



This is one of the most famous songs about New York City.
Some others are "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, "On Broadway" by The Drifters, and "New York City Serenade" by Bruce Springsteen.



The Muppets' Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem performed "New York State Of Mind" on the Season 2 episode of The Muppet Show featuring Madeline Kahn.
Floyd sings "New York State of Mind", backed by Dr. Teeth and Zoot.
(In Season 3 they performed it with Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge.)



Dr. Teeth on keyboards and vocals
Floyd Pepper on bass guitar and vocals
Zoot on saxophone
Janice on lead guitar, tambourine, and vocals
Animal on drums

"New York State Of Mind" was influenced by Ray Charles, who like Joel was a singer, songwriter and piano player.
Joel did a duet with Charles in 1986 on his song "Baby Grand".
Billy Joel has said he always hoped to play "New York State Of Mind with Ray Charles like he did with "Baby Grand".



Taylor Hicks never got a chance to perform with his Idol, Ray Charles, but he did have an "unbelievably magical experience" on a visit to the Ray Charles estate and Legacy Studio.
The result of that visit was an offer by Ray's managers to record a song in the room where so many of Ray's masterpieces were created when they said to Taylor,
"If Ray was still around, he would have loved the hell out of you."




Today's cup:
The world speaks to me in colors, my soul answers in music.