Prayers for Reggie

I got a call from Reggie tonight about 30 minutes ago. that got me upset, He called to tell me he's had a heart attack and to inform everyone via his Facebook page. He's currently located in Dallas Tx at Methodist Hospital.  Reg told me he was in pain, It was obvious by his voice. because of his voice being hoarse  I knew something was wrong.  He said "Josh I need your help man, I've had a Heart attack and I want you to go on to my Facebook page and write this message to my friends asking them to pray for me."  I said, Will Do Reg, Hit me back when you can.

It' was scary to hear, but I did what he asked me to do, I hope his recovery is speedy and hopefully I'll hear from him tonight or in the AM.

Apparently I’m Irresponsible for not Watching My Cousin’s Every Move

My Mom comes in her going off on me because she was informed that My cousin had stolen my Brothers money. This was just as new to me as it is to her. My Brother told My Dad & I earlier today that his $200.00 and his bucket of change was missing.

My Dad Informed my mom on her ride from work. So she came in her yelling at me telling me to Stop what I was doing so she can tell my cousins mom, She also asked Why Did I Let him walk around this house, She also called me irresponsible for allowing it to happen.

My mom feels that I should have been walking around the house to see what my cousin was doing.  I told her that I didn’t realize he was in here until after he told me something.  Our home is technically a free to roam house.  I asked my mom, how do you expect me to see everything he is doing? because she blamed me for not being responsible. I told her that I had no clue he went in my brothers room because I didn’t  when he came IN the house.

This all happened while I was occupied with some things in my room,  While My Brother was sleeping. Suddenly My cousin came through here After leaving his job… I think he came through the front door because I had just looked the side and back doors.  But anyway, he came in  and saw me in my room and said  “Josh where you about to go” ,I’m like “Nowhere”. and he was like “I'm about to go wait for this bus” he had just gotten of work.  So I went to set back at the PC. At this point he must have roamed the house  then Left for the bus. Between the time he Saw me, and the time he left, He went in my brothers room while he was asleep and stole the money.

The Irony of this happening is that earlier that day My cousin came over and Because we know he Steals, I was asked to lock my brothers door. I did so because we didn’t want my cousin to go in my brothers room while he was not here.  Please note. this was at 2pm, my cousin didn’t have to go in for work till 6. he works till 10.  he came over 3 times that day. The last time  he saw  the opportunity to steal. so he did it.

My Mom called his mom, and and got that straightened out and he will be repaying my brother what he stole.  because he is wrong for what he did. My cousin has a job, my brother does not. Why do you have to steal money if you have a job?. it’s just wrong.

I Feel Basically that I should not have to keep my eye on Company of any kind. My cousin WAS welcomed here. The problem we have is that he’s over done his welcome once by using this as his Chill & break spot during work Hours. Now you steal? okay… bye

I started to go on his job and ask for the money. but I didn’t want to cause him no trouble in that way.. In fact I’d be the one going to jail for it LOL But I’m upset for that reason. What made it worse is that my mom accused me for being Irresponsible for Allowing him to come in and do what he wants.  The crazy part is. I didn’t Let him in the house.  Who did? I have no clue. but he shouldn't’ have been in here regardless It was 10pm he should have been at the bus stop heading home.

…..Looks like he wont be here for a while though.

Incriminating the victim is a crazy practice.

I totally understand Ronald Serpas’ reason for publishing rap sheets of those caught up in criminal activity. He likes the Idea that it gets the people talking. The problem with that is, The information release is not only of the person who committed the crime, but the victim  and their families as well.

Making us aware is one thing, but the way they go about doing it has the general public talking negatively about everybody rather than having sympathy for the victims. Which is why In my opinion, only the background information of violent criminals should be published.

I’ve Recently done it myself in reference to the Ainswoth profile.  Why? When I saw that his arrest record. and then looked at the photo they had of him. I wrote in a comment the first thing that came to my mind which was. He (Ainsworth) Looks “Crack Bound”  but they didn’t need to make it public.

On my part I should not have mentioned my thoughts on him looking “Crack bound” because it got me some feedback where I had to explain myself.  A Guy told me basically that It’s Not fair to judge someone based on a photo. (that wasn’t is exact words) but I totally understand. although I had also mentioned how I felt about the info released. my initial written response was based on the photo and the info from his rap sheet. I was wrong and I apologize for that.

With that said, IT’S THE EXACT REASON why they shouldn’t make a victims arrest record public.  What I Did there is also commonly done beneath articles on the Local News Sites. The big difference is that those commentators tend to blame the victims. Many also make general assumptions which incriminate the victim or blatantly refer to every  black man profiled as a Thug. That’s commonly done without seeing an arrest record.

No Doubt Most of the times the victims in these cases are Just as much a criminal as the person who killed them. But when there are case where the victim is a good Samaritan It makes no sense at all. That’s exactly why I feel that arrest records should only be made public If the victim was a violent criminal. That way we can have an idea of the Cycle of crime they were involved in. Otherwise when any other information about that person’s family should not be made public unless their family member directly contributed the crime.

At the end of the day, I’m advocate of what’s right and what’s good for the people. and I as one of these people. Think that releasing Ainsworth’s info was a bad move.

Crazy how everything looks when the Lights go out

There was an outage around here and everything was pitch black. yet with the reflection of the moon, it looked pretty much amazing in the darkness.
I called up my sister on the road to tell her to be careful, but the lights are back on now.

I really don’t have much to say other than the fact that The Scanner radio has come in handy too! lol

The Band Community’s Lost Another Legend

Southern University Long time assistant Director, Arranger, Composer & Professor. Mr. Carnell Knighten died yesterday In Southern University’s Music Building. Although it’s been said it was likely a Heart attack or Massive stroke, At this time the actual cause of his death is still unconfirmed (at least to my knowledge)

I received the news of his death via texts message prior the confirmation.  Along with that, seeing all the Facebook post about it had me at a loss for words. I got calls from a few friends who were his students who were still trying to figure out if it was true. and it’s sad for me to say that it is true.

It’s a Sad day in HBCU band history. Mr. Knighten was Legend, he Knew it but he was modest about it. I probably was among the many who have talked to him and told him that. I’ve played this man’s music, both written by hand and digitally and those tunes were some of the greatest I’d ever played. Starting with #1 Which was Paula Abdul’s Cold Hearted. That was the first tune I’d even Seen & Played in band. and to me, playing THAT was something big because I knew I was playing College music even though I didn’t quite understand it back then.

Knighten’s music Practically Defined 90’s era New Orleans bands. It makes me wonder if he Knew how big of a roll his music played on us. As Gerard Said, He Supplied us (New Orleans bands) with the Ammunition He was our Armory.

I spoke with G. Howard who had gotten confirmation from SU band director Mr. Jackson prior to calling me. Which led to conference call with Myself, G Howard and some others discussing the legend that was Carnell Knighten. Although We were all not Students of Knighten, We were among the many who have gotten a chance to p[lay his music. With what we knew of him we were able to express our thoughts about His impact on the Band community in our cities or just personally.

One of the guys Guys on the call was a formers student in the mid 90’s who had worked with and among Mr. Knghten in recent years  and You could hear it in his voice that he was sheading tears talking about it. I would be too if I was that close to him.  and That’s the wild part. Because as I said on twitter. Most of anyone who played the man’s music or Saw him direct or even got to briefly talk to him (such as myself) mainly knew him by his work. Yet His students and colleagues knew Him as a man, as family or even a father figure to many and My condolences are with them all.

It’s still unbelievable just sitting her talking about it.  I don’t think its going to sink in till I hear some of his tunes live and he’s not there directing them.

Once again, My Condolences to the Knighten Family, as well as the Southern University Bandsmen and woman.

Rest In Peace Mr. Carnell Knighten and Thank you for your contribution to music.

The Book