notesong

                                                                     Delores Fisher San Diego is an international port that draws all types of folks. Of course some of my favorites people are street entertainers--- buskers that perform all around the city including Sea Port Village and Balboa Park. One young man I interviewed almost four years ago had a dream to become a professional musician. His name is Manny. This is the photo his family took of our encounter. His mother emailed me almost six months later that Manny was still pursuing his dream, having endured several setbacks.           ...

Influences in our lives who changed the way the world perceives and believes . . . This is a reprint of an older post in a different section of the site a few years ago. At the time, it felt "right" to honor Maya Angelou. It feels "right" to re-visit that post today to acknowledge her death and to celebrate her life. Maya Angelou: Author, Poet, and Mother to Many of us . . .                                                          Maya Angelou If I were to write an open letter to a list of writers who have impacted my life since childhood, the list would start with Maya Angelou. In my old neighborhood, we had, "Play mommas." These were women approved by our parents who joined in the community goal of helping us reach a healthy, productive, and spirit...

On April 24th at 3PM, the Phi Kappa Phi San Diego State University chapter #96 (chapter of Excellence) held its student induction ceremonies in the new Conrad Preby's Aztec Student Union Montezuma Hall. Before the initiation, our Executive Board members reminisced about the life and contributions of recently deceased Dr. Henry L. Janssen, a scholar-gentleman who loved learning and nurtured the ethical scholarly maturation process in students. In his honor, we embraced our past and welcomed this year's inductees with a look to the future. http://pkp.sdsu.edu/dus/phi_kappa_phi/                                                             Montezuma Hall      ...

                                                                Delores Fisher This past week was an intense time of listening to music, resting, reading, and reflection. Spring semester is nearing its end and Spring break was very much needed to "refuel and re-tool." I caught up and chilled with a few friends. We sat in restaurants and talked about life, challenges, transitions, change. Our conversations touched on a variety of topics from social to political, from local to global. We talked about difficulties, painful life events, blessings, and  the desire to positively touch others'  lives.  One friend is Rev. Kelli Parrish Lucas. She is also a chap...

Its time for an update post. Yes my book is out with talks about a second book in progress. It's a compilation of essays on African American Music History with personal Interviews of a few San Diego Musicians.    Those of you familiar with the yearly recitals of San Diego music teacher Bobbie Hearns will appreciate an insight into this community minded music teacher's life. She teaches classical as well as how to stylize popular music for beginners to advanced pianists. She inspired me to resume my interest in piano performance after I decided to concentrate on teaching African American music history.   I also include an interview with the dynamic Danny King, percussionist extraordinaire. Danny and I have been friend for several years. We met when I was musical director for a local theatrical production in San Diego CA. during the early 2000s. We met recently onboard the San Diego Trolley ( you would be surprised how many musicians, artists, writers enjoy being "incognit...

            Delores Fisher and Barnes Bar-B Que owner Dante (2013) NEWS UPDATE:  THIS IS MY LAST POST FOR BARNES BAR B QUE IN LEMON GROVE!!!! . . .TAY HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. Yes, he warned me several months ago that he was leaving the business, and was waiting patiently for closure in his life before he closed Barnes Bar b Que. We talked at length and I think he is happy now with his decision before he closed shop last weekend. So officially------Goodbye Tay...your down home Southern Restaurent ambiance, your delicious food and especially your friendly southern gentleman conversations will be missed.  Last post on Barnes Bar B Que. Barnes Bar B Que at 7820 Broadway Ave in Lemon Grove, CA  is one of my favorite local soul food  eateries. I enjoy just chillin', eating greens, and hanging out  http://www.barnesbarbque.com/aboutus.htm When I'm up in LA, I prefer Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. But,...

 2022 Update Lena Evans, cross legged, guitar strumming a complex chordal accompaniment to her lilting comment on life and love, sits on dusty sidewalk by busy corner traffic lights, across the street from Ralph's supermarket, a few feet away from an empty bus stop in front of Horton Plaza's street level entrance. It was appropriate. I haven't seen her in a few years. It's now post COVID. Revisiting this brief glimpse into a struggling musician's life and artistry, I hope she is well.   She was supported for a while to complete her first album by Synergy   https://www.synergyarts.org/pr--media.html   2014 Lena Evans plays at First and G Street in San Diego I am restless this morning. This happens when music becomes my focus, when I am composing. Most of the songs I hear lately cause an internal shut off. I want to hear something fresh, something that will help me touch beyond what is seen, something to refresh my soul. My music is eclectic. I need . . . .to hear...

At times, when I sit and reflect, I am humbled by the many talented people with whom I have had the honor to work. Award winning playwright, director, educator Clarence Cuthbertson is one such talent. He has had plays premiered all over the nation. He taught at Yale. He often has shows running in San Francisco. In demand as an artist lecturer, Cuthbertson continues to conduct play writing workshops in San Diego. One day in late summer, he asked if I would like a role in an adaptation of his play"Faith Journey." He wanted me to play the role of Mother Genny, a cantankerous older churchgoer with a sassy streak. When he offered an additional opportunity to write an original song for my character, I immediately said yes!                                             Delores Fisher as Mother G...

A shout out to San Diego African American Writers & Artists Inc. (AAW&A) http://www.aawasd.org/FOUNDER-S-PROFILE.html   for their stand against bullying and strong support for facilitating recovery for victims and families. It was exciting to meet positive, solution seeking parents and many positive, community oriented youth. They openly expressed concern over the complexities of how to provide relief for those who are targets of bullying or those who know others who experience (cyber and real-time) bullying on a daily basis. Several performers and speakers engaged the audience in a lively discussion that also gave parents a safe space to voice frustration about which advocacy channels to use when bullying by adult staff or student peers seems to be condoned or overlooked by school site administrators. Bobbie Hearns, the lead musician for th AAW&A inc., was not in attendance,(see my profile on Bobbie Hearns: http://sonictapestry.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/bobbie-hear...

Thank you to the San Diego Comic Fest organizers for inviting me to present on one of my favorite topics: Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols in the role of Lt. Uhura. I thoroughly enjoyed the audience interaction after my presentation. They posed fascinating questions providing food for thought. Nichol's role is getting increasing attention not only from fans but from scholars as well. It was my maiden voyage into publicly speaking about my long time fascination with space and Sci. Fi.                                                           Nichelle Nichols Readers know how I enjoy meeting new talent and on Friday evening before my presentation, I walked past the graphic artists' room. A bit shy...