I almost hate to add this to the blog. It seems that I have posted more about the death of someone than music. But it would be wrong NOT to talk about a man who gave us (all of us) so much. Gordon Parks passed away this morning at the age of 93. Director, composer, writer, producer, photographer, poet. Many of the movies he directed, he would also write the score (although he was never classically trained). He was the first major black photographer to be published in Life and Vogue magazines. In addition to his music and photography, he was also an author, playwright, and poet. I was watching the news this morning and they showed an interview he did. In it he said that he was able to do so many different things simply because he tried. He went on to say that so many people only think about doing things and are often discouraged because it is not within their training or culturally acceptable.
As an artist myself, I have always looked up to Gordon Parks. I encourage everyone who reads this to spend a little time researching his accomplishments.
