Popular humorist makes surprise visit to ASU

Gustavo Arellano
 
ASU Spanish professor Manuel Hernandez might be a tad nervous next week when he presents his lecture on the work of syndicated columnist Gustavo Arellano. That’s because the Mexican-American humorist, best-selling author and editor of the Orange County Weekly plans on being in the audience.

“When I heard there was going to be a lecture on my work, I did what any good Mexican would do: demanded I be allowed to sneak into the party for free,” Arellano said. “It’s an honor to have my work discussed at ASU, and muy, muy meta.”

Arellano’s surprise visit and Hernandez’s lecture, “The Humorist Gustavo Arellano’s Work and the Human Condition” kicks off the 2013 fall Project Humanities, a university-wide initiative to promote the importance of humanities within the higher education system and community. This year’s theme, “Humor…Seriously!”, is an examination of how humor plays an important role in our everyday lives, across disciplines, communities, cultures, professions, and generations.

Hernandez’s lecture is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, room 128.  Following Hernandez’s presentation, Arellano will speak and sign copies of his three books.

The lecture series, now in its sixth year, is open to the general public and is free.

Arellano’s sharp tongue-in-cheek humor combined with his historical storytelling abilities has opened up a captivating and intriguing dialogue among millions of Americans. Through his satire, he address issues such as Southwest Mexican and Mexican language, stereotypes, ethnic relations, immigration, cuisine, day labor and religion.

“Most interactions among whites, blacks and Latinos are usually very formal and surface-like but Arellano deconstructs and pulverizes misunderstandings and fears to reveal the fragility and strength of our human condition in forging, while anchored in local culture, an ever-changing national identity,” Hernandez said. “He (Arellano) isn’t afraid to take stereotypes by the horns and mixes it with both humor and history and does it most effectively.”

Arellano is a lifelong resident of Orange County, California, and is the son of two Mexican immigrants, one whom was illegal. His column “¡Ask a Mexican!” was started as a lark in 2004, and his politically incorrect humor proved so popular the Orange County Weekly made it a regular column. The column today has a weekly circulation of over 2 million in 39 newspapers across the United States, and won the 2006 and 2008 Association of Alternative Weeklies award for Best Column. He was also the recipient of the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2007 President’s Award and an Impacto Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and was recognized by the California Latino Legislative Caucus with a 2008 Spirit Award for his “exceptional vision, creativity, and work ethic.”

He was published in book form by Scribner Press in May 2007 with ¡Ask a Mexican!, followed by best-sellers Orange County: A Personal History (2010) and Taco USU: How Mexican Food Conquered America (2012). Arellano is also a lecturer with the Chicana and Chicano Studies department at California State University, Fullerton.

For more information on ASU’s Project Humanities, visit http://humanities.asu.edu/

Shane Evans to play and address youth at Alice Cooper's Rock Teen Center

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Photo courtesy of Michael Montes

Collective Soul’s former drummer Shane Evans is “Better Now”

Shane Evans, the former drummer of Collective Soul and a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, will play a mini-concert and discuss with Phoenix-area teens about the consequences of lifestyle choices, fame and his descent and eventual recovery from drug addiction.

Evans, 42, will play a handful of songs from Collective Soul and then address a group of youth at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 at The Rock Teen Center, 13625 N. 32^nd St, Phoenix. The event is sponsored by Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation, a Phoenix-based non-profit organization that allows teens to build confidence and discover their passion through music, dance, self-expression and creativity.   

Evans’ speech, “Rock, Recovery and Redemption” will touch upon the meteoric rise of Collective Soul, his departure from the group, his substance abuse problem and the long road to recovery.

“I've been clean and sober for three years and I'm finally at a point where I can discuss my triumphs and tragedies in public,” Evans said. “So if I am to tell my story, I want to tell it to someone who will listen and learn from my mistakes.”

Almost two decades ago, Evans was riding high as the drummer for Collective Soul. The Stockbridge-based quintet shot to international fame with their 1994 release “Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid”, and their mega-hit, “Shine.” In the span of seven years, they tallied a total seven #1 radio hits, 19 Top 40 singles, and sold more than 10 million albums and CDs worldwide. Evans says with fame came the spoils of success and lifestyle choices that almost killed him.

“It's nothing short of a miracle that I'm still alive. Drugs robbed me of almost everything including my family, friends, my home, and my dignity,” Evans said. “Through sobriety I've gained all of those things back and more. My life today is blessed and I want to share my experiences to help others.”

Evans said he was dismissed from the group in 2005 because of his excessive drug use. His mother's demise from complications of diabetes, the accidental death of a girlfriend and a pair of DUI arrests pushed him further into despair. Evans said he hit rock bottom while living on the run from police at a run-down motel in Atlanta, Ga. He says he was two days away from being homeless when he finally made the decision to get clean and sober in August 2009. Weeks after Evans’ sobriety anniversary, Collective Soul was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

“I still love all of the guys in Collective Soul because they are my brothers and we shared a lot of wonderful and life-changing experiences,” Evans said. “Me getting kicked out of the group was entirely my fault because of my addiction. It’s something I’ve finally come to terms with and must own up to in order to remain sober.”

After completing a yearlong recovery program at Waypoint Center in Dahlonega, Ga., Evans became a substance abuse counselor, helping others to overcome their addictions.

###

Solid Rock was founded in 1995 by long-time Arizona residents and devoted fathers Alice Cooper and Chuck Savale who envisioned a faith-based organization dedicated to make an everlasting difference in the lives of kids and teens in the community. Originally, Solid Rock existed to raise money for other organizations with like-minded missions, however, the dream went well beyond its original fundraising foundation. With the opening of The Rock Teen Center at 32nd Street in the Spring 2012, the dream has finally become a reality.

If you go:

What: “Rock, Redemption and Recovery” by Shane Evans

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013

Where: The Rock Teen Center, 13625 N. 32^nd St., Phoenix

Cost: Free to all local area teens

Information: 602-522-9200 or www.alicecoopersolidrock.com

David Cassidy appears at Scottsdale's Talking Stick Resort

David Cassidy’s role as Keith Partridge on “The Partridge Family” made him a teen idol in the 1970s. And his hits “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” “I Think I Love You” and “Cherish” made him a pop icon of the ages. Three decades later, he’s still winning fans around the globe through his thrilling and memorable performances. It’s your turn to see David Cassidy live when he takes the Talking Stick Resort Showroom stage on Friday, August 24.

Cassidy’s career has run the gamut in the entertainment industry, from television to recording and record-breaking concert tours to Broadway, London’s West End and Las Vegas production show. At each turn, Cassidy’s talent and creativity have shined, winning him nominations and awards in nearly every arena. Cassidy’s incredible one-night show will include singles from the Partridge Family best selling album such as “Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted” and ”I Woke Up In Love This Morning” plus hits from his solo career including “Could It Be Forever,” ”How Can I Be Sure,” ”Rock Me Baby” and “Lyin’ to Myself.”

For tickets, call the Box Office at 480-850-7734 or click on the link below.

Guitarmania to Beatlemania featuring Laurence Juber

Grammy guitarist Laurence Juber

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) and C. F. Martin & Co. are proud to present in August “Guitarmania to Beatlemania: The Evolution of the Acoustic Guitar,” featuring renowned Grammy Award-winning guitarist Laurence Juber. 

The show begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, at the MIM Music Theater, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Tickets range from $22.50 to $27.50 and can be purchased by calling 480.478.6000, visiting online at theMIM.org or visiting the MIM Ticket Office.

Acoustic guitar aficionados are in for a rare treat during an evening that will showcase one of America’s favorite instruments and feature a concert performance by a true guitar virtuoso. Presented by Dick Boak, Martin’s museum director and archivist, Juber will discuss his work composing, recording, and performing as the lead guitarist with Paul McCartney in his band Wings and Juber’s own successful solo career. 

LJ plays the Beatles' "Drive My Car"

“The Beatles inspired me play guitar. Martin build the guitar that I am inspired to play and it’s an honor that this historic company make my signature instrument,” Juber said. “I’ll look forward to performing my concert set at MIM and accompanying Dick Boak as he explores the history of the C.F.Martin company and of the acoustic guitar in America.” 

Juber embarked on a career as a solo artist, composer, and arranger after years spent playing lead guitar with Paul McCartney and Wings. Juber’s solo albums include "LJ Plays the Beatles", one of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s all-time top recordings. Boak, author of Martin Guitar Masterpieces and Martin Guitars: A History, is also a woodworker, draftsman, guitar designer and builder, Martin’s public relations liaison, guitarist, and is responsible for some of the most unique collaborations with top celebrity guitarists to design and build the finest instruments made at C. F. Martin & Co. 

LJ interviewed by Jim Deeming

This past April Juber released “Soul of Light” (Solid Air Records), his 20^th solo project. He recently contributed to “Chimes of Freedom”, an Amnesty International benefit disc on which he joins Seal and Jeff Beck for a version of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” Diablo 3, the latest version of the popular video game, features his music. An instructional app for the iPad is also in the works and he and his wife Hope, just inked a deal with a New York City producer bring “Gilligan’s Island: The Musical” to Broadway.

Mercury & Suns' Ann Meyers Drysdale to Host Book Signing

Phoenix Mercury and Suns Vice President Ann Meyers Drysdale will host a pre-game and halftime book signing of her autobiography You Let Some Girl Beat You? - at the Mercury - Seattle Storm game at US Airways Center on Friday, July 13. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Fans will have an opportunity to purchase the book for $16.95 and have it signed by Meyers Drysdale from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Casino Arizona Pavilion at US Airways Center and during the halftime in main concourse outside sections 119/120.

"You Let Some Girl Beat You - is a must-read for any basketball fan as it recounts her one-of-a-kind experiences that led her to becoming the Hall of Fame basketball player and broadcaster she is today. Meyers Drysdale opens up about the struggle to play sports in school, receiving the first full athletic scholarship awarded to a female by a Division I university and becoming the only woman to sign a contract with an NBA team. Plus, she shares intimate memories of falling in love with baseball great Don Drysdale and the heartache of being widowed with three children under the age of five.

The autobiography was released nationally on June 15 in time for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX passing into law.

"The book is about hopes and dreams. I've been blessed to be part of so many incredible experiences and I thought it was time to tell my story," said Meyers Drysdale. "I hope that the book serves as a reminder to people that anything can be accomplished if you set your mind to it. Plus, releasing the book in conjunction with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX is a perfect reminder of how far female athletics has come and to honor that I'll be donating a portion of the book proceeds to Phoenix Mercury Charities."

The book also features a forward by Julius Erving as well as photos from Meyers Drysdale's life.
The Mercury hosts the Seattle Storm on Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling 602-252-WNBA or visiting phoenixmercury.com.

Ann Meyers Drysdale signs new book at US Airways Center

You Let Some Girl Beat You? (Behler Publications, $15.95, 231 pages)


Ann Meyers Drysdale’s resume must be running out of space for there isn’t much she hasn’t conquered on or off the court in her 57 years. 
 
The basketball pioneer, college superstar, UCLA legend, Olympian, sports crusader, broadcaster and NBA and WNBA executive, has now added “author” to her long list of accomplishments. Meyers Drysdale recently penned You Let Some Girl Beat You? (Behler Publications, $15.95), her long-awaited autobiography. The 231-page book details her adversity, triumphs and ultimate acceptance in the sports and broadcasting world, and is timed for publication as the 40th anniversary of Title IX is being celebrated.

“When I was in the fourth grade I read a book on Babe Didrikson Zaharis, and it gave me my dream to be an Olympian,” Meyers Drysdale said. “So I’m hoping that my book will open up doors for other young girls and give them the dreams that they want.” 

Meyers Drysdale will sign her book 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 2012, at the US Airways Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. She will sign books preceding the Phoenix Mercury game against the Seattle Storm, and again at halftime in section 119-120 on the main concourse.    

Named by Time magazine as one of the Top 10 Female Sports Pioneers of all time, Meyers Drysdale is the only woman ever to play for an NBA team (the Indiana Pacers in 1979) and the only woman to sign a no-cut contract with the NBA. She was also the first woman ever to do color commentary of an NBA game, as well as the first woman to announce an NBA game on network television.

Meyers Drysdale was the first woman ever signed to a four-year athletic scholarship to UCLA, where she led the Women’s basketball team to their only National Championship in 1978. She was also a National Champion in Track & Field (both the pentathlon & high jump). To this day, she is the only four-time Bruin basketball All American, male or female. 

A key figure in challenging many of the stereotypes that had long limited women’s opportunities in sport, Meyers Drysdale defied convention upon graduating from UCLA when she accepted a $150,000 free agent contract with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. While the contract did not lead to a roster spot for Meyers Drysdale and was itself controversial at the time, she helped lay the foundation for women to play professional basketball in the United States.

After her athletic career she married Don Drysdale, legendary pitcher and announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, making them the first ever married couple enshrined in their respective sports’ Halls of Fame. In her role as WNBA General Manager of the Phoenix Mercury and the Vice President of the Phoenix Suns, she assembled championship basketball squads in 2007 and 2009. 

Today Meyers Drysdale continues to break barriers in her role as a broadcaster. She covered the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics for NBC and will be covering the 2012 Olympics in London this August. She also has an ongoing relationship with Fox, having just broadcast the Stanford vs. Cal Pac 10 men’s basketball finals in 2012.

If you go:
What: Ann Meyers Drysdale book signing, You Let Some Girl Beat You?
Where: US Airways Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2012
Information: www.annmeyersdrysdale.com

An Evening with Collective Soul in Tempe, Ariz.

Collective Soul comes to Tempe, Arizona, Wednesday, June 6 at The Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave.

Coffee Talk with Laurence Juber

Two-time Grammy-Award winning guitar artist Laurence Juber will make a rare and intimate appearance this weekend at the Cave Creek Coffee Company, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek, Arizona. The show starts 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Often considered most famous for playing lead guitar in Wings from 1978 to 1981, Juber, known as ‘LJ’, has since had a distinguished career as a solo finger-style guitarist.

LJ graciously granted me an interview to promote his upcoming Cave Creek appearance. As always, the virtuoso was in rare form.

Q: You’ve been on a mini-tour of our lovely state. What do you think of Arizona?

LJ: I enjoy Arizona, especially the northern portion. Last year I played in Flagstaff and right now I’m headed to Cottonwood. I like the audiences here, too, because they are not only enthusiastic but actually show up. That’s always a good thing!

Q: In between shows, you also do guitar workshops. What are those like?

LJ: They’re definitely more on the technical end of the spectrum of what I do. It’s usually a group lesson between eight and 20 people, showing them tips, tricks and ways to improve their playing. I also explain my process for arranging and playing the solo acoustic guitar, how to get sound, resonance and character from the instrument. I pass on my knowledge and experience on how to create a solid musical experience.

Q: It’s been a while since you’ve played at the Cave Creek Coffee Co.? How do you like the venue?

LJ: I remember it being a really cool place. When I first played there, it was a smallish coffee house and I played indoors. The last time I played they had moved the stage to the outside and there was a much bigger crowd. It’s a great vibe being outdoors and in the desert. It’s a great evening.

Q: At your concerts, you play all styles of music, including a nice sampling of the Beatles. Why are their songs so magical?

LJ: (laughs) Every time I hear a Beatles record I gain a new appreciation. Above and beyond the analytical part of it and creating the arrangements, when I start deconstructing Beatles songs, I find unexpected things. I can never listen to a Beatles record twice and hear exactly the same thing. There’s always something that I’ve missed, or a new discovery where you say, “Wow, what was that little guitar lick?” Or the way in which the backing vocals come in…there’s always something new to discover in their work.

Q: Did you hear that Cave Creek is hosting a running of the bulls hours before your gig?

LJ: I heard about it…No bull at my show.

For more information, call the Cave Creek Coffee Company at 480-488-0603 or visit www.cavecreekcoffee.com/


What: Laurence Juber
Where: Cave Creek Coffee Company, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15
Cost: $20 advance; $23 at the door
Information: 480-488-0633 or www.cavecreekcoffee.com

'King of Cool' lecture at ASU on April 7

Arizona State University Welcomes Steve McQueen's Widow and Marshall Terrill

By Jeremy Roberts
Steve McQueen Examiner

Steve McQueen's widow and his biographer, Marshall Terrill, are coming to Arizona State University's Downtown Phoenix campus to discuss and celebrate the life of the ‘King of Cool’ as part of a popular lecture series. This will mark the inaugural occasion Terrill has done an actual McQueen lecture at a college, and it is Barbara McQueen's first time back to a campus in almost forty years.

They will appear at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation Building Two, 550 N. Third St., Phoenix, Innovation Auditorium, Room 110. The two will co-present, “Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool,” answer questions, and sign copies of Terrill’s two new books Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon and Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool as well as McQueen’s 2007 photo book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.

The spring 2011 Humanities Lecture series is sponsored by ASU’s School of Letters and Sciences and University College. The event is free and open to the public.

“What does Steve McQueen have to do with the humanities?” asks Terrill, who has written four books on the cinematic icon. “In breaking down McQueen’s life, one can learn about history, human behavior, psychology, triumph and tragedy, and several invaluable life lessons.”

McQueen, known for his ultra cool and nonconformist movie persona, started out life in rural Indiana. Born to a young, alcoholic mother and abandoned by his father, McQueen was left in the care of his grandparents and other relatives when he was a toddler.

Reunited with his mother at age eight, he was introduced to a series of strange men and a violent stepfather. Compounding McQueen’s problems were his partial deafness from a childhood ear infection and his dyslexia, making adjustment to his new life and schooling particularly challenging.

McQueen frequently got into trouble and soon found himself remanded to Boys Republic, a home for troubled teenage boys in Chino, California. Following that, he joined the U.S. Marines for a three-year stint and afterward used the G.I. bill to study acting in New York in the early 1950s.
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There his rebellious angst and good looks helped him become a fixture of the emerging Method theater scene, competing with the likes of James Dean and Paul Newman, with television and movie success just around the corner.

Terrill will provide a narrative spanning McQueen’s spectacular career, his greatest films (including The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Sand Pebbles, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, Papillon and The Towering Inferno), his personal flaws and defeats, and his hard-fought battle with terminal cancer at a controversial clinic in Mexico.

Barbara McQueen will present a more human side to her husband in rare photos she took from 1977 to 1980. They record a behind-the-scenes look at personal pleasures enjoyed near the end of the actor’s life: hitting the road in his vintage pickup trucks, driving 700 miles for a rare World War I motorcycle, flying antique planes in rural California, and generally ducking out of Hollywood life.

The pictures also capture McQueen on the sets of his last two films, Tom Horn and The Hunter.

“It’s very strange when people say, ‘Oh, you were married to Steve McQueen?’” said Barbara McQueen. “He was such a normal guy and unlike most Hollywood stars that I often say, ‘I could have just as easily been married to a plumber or electrician.’”

For directions, visit http://nursingandhealthasu.edu/contact/nursing-buildings.htm. For parking information, visit http://nursingandhealth.asu.edu/contact/parking/htm. For more information, call Mirna Lattouf, series lecture organizer, at (602) 496-0638 or visit http://sls.asu.edu/news.html.

'King of Cool' lecture at ASU

Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool
ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation
550 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ, 85004
PHONE: 602-496-0638
April 7, 2011
Thursday, 6:30 PM

ON THE WEB: http://asunews.asu.edu/20110315_kingofcool

PRICE: Free


Synopsis:
Barbara McQueen, widow of Steve McQueen, and Marshall Terrill, author of the biography, Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon, discuss and answer questions about the late star known as "the king of cool." Copies of Terrill's biography and the 2007 photo book, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile by Barbara McQueen and Terrill are signed. The fourth event in ASU's spring 2011 Humanities Lecture Series.

Categories:
Book Event, Book Lecture/Discussion, Book Signing/Reading, Event

Features:
Free and open to the public

Barbara McQueen provides backup for K-9 Unit

'Kickstands Up for K-9s' set for April 9

The Arizona Republic

American Legion Post 35, 2240 W. Chandler Blvd., is hosting its second annual "Kickstands Up for K-9s" motorcycle ride to benefit the Chandler Police Department's canine unit, which has six Belgian Malinois. This year's ride has a special guest, Barbara McQueen, the widow of "King of Cool" actor Steve McQueen. She will be on hand at 2 p.m. April 9 to sign books about her late husband.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING AT THE EVENT?
In addition to the motorcycle ride, which takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the American Legion fundraiser includes music, food, a beer garden, door prizes and a canine demonstration by the Chandler Police Department canine unit.

WHO IS STEVE MCQUEEN?
McQueen starred in movies such as "The Great Escape," "Bullitt" and "The Thomas Crown Affair." Considered a rebel, he rode motorcycles and smoked incessantly. He died at age 50 in 1980 of lung cancer.

WHAT ARE THE BOOKS ABOUT MCQUEEN?
Barbara McQueen, who married her husband late in his life, is appearing with McQueen biographer Marshall Terrill, who wrote the biography, "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon." Barbara had a photo book published in 2006 called "Steve McQueen: The Last Mile." The cover shows the couple on a motorcycle.

HOW MUCH IS THE RIDE AND WHERE DO I REGISTER?
The charity ride costs $25 per bike and $10 per passenger. Pre-registration and information can be found by calling the American Legion Post at 480-821-0002 or at www.kickstandsupfork9s.com. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. April 9. The price includes lunch and a ride pin.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2011/03/25/20110325chandler-cop-dogs0325.html?source=nletter-news#ixzz1Hdm7le1G

McQueen's widow to host ASU lecture on 'King of Cool'

Steve McQueen’s widow and his biographer are coming to ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus to discuss and celebrate the life of the ‘King of Cool’ as part of a popular lecture series.

Barbara McQueen and author Marshall Terrill will appear at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation Building Two, 550 N. Third St., Phoenix, Innovation Auditorium, Room 110. The two will co-present, “Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool,” answer questions, and sign copies of Terrill’s new biography Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon and McQueen’s 2007 photo book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.

The spring 2011 Humanities Lecture series is sponsored by ASU’s School of Letters and Sciences and University College. The event is free and open to the public.
“What does Steve McQueen have to do with the humanities?” asks Terrill, who has written four books on the cinematic icon. “In breaking down McQueen’s life, one can learn about history, human behavior, psychology, triumph and tragedy, and several invaluable life lessons.”

McQueen, known for his ultra cool and nonconformist movie persona, started out life in rural Indiana. Born to a young, alcoholic mother and abandoned by his father, McQueen was left in the care of his grandparents and other relatives when he was a toddler. Reunited with his mother at age eight, he was introduced to a series of strange men and her violent boyfriends. Compounding McQueen’s problems were his partial deafness from a childhood ear infection and his dyslexia, making adjustment to his new life and schooling particularly challenging.

The teen-aged McQueen frequently got into trouble and soon found himself remanded to Boys Republic, a home for troubled teenage boys in Chino, California. Following that, he joined the U.S. Marines for a three-year stint and afterward used the G.I. bill to study acting in New York in the early 1950s. There, his rebellious angst and good looks helped him become a fixture of the emerging Method theater scene, competing with the likes of James Dean and Paul Newman, with television and movie success just around the corner. Terrill will provide a narrative spanning McQueen’s spectacular career, his greatest films (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Sand Pebbles, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, Papillon and The Towering Inferno), his personal flaws and defeats, and his hard-fought battle with terminal cancer at a controversial clinic in Mexico.

Widow Barbara McQueen will present a more human side to her husband in rare photos she took from 1977 to 1980. They record a behind-the-scenes look at personal pleasures enjoyed near the end of the actor’s life: hitting the road in his vintage pickup trucks, driving 700 miles for a rare World War I motorcycle, flying antique planes in rural California, and generally ducking out of Hollywood life. The pictures also capture McQueen on the sets of his last two films, Tom Horn and The Hunter.

“It’s very strange when people say, ‘Oh, you were married to Steve McQueen?’” said Barbara McQueen. “He was such a normal guy and unlike most Hollywood stars that I often say, ‘I could have just as easily been married to a plumber or electrician.’”
Author Marshall Terrill is a film, sports and music writer and the author of more than a dozen books, including best-selling biographies of Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley and basketball legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich. Three of his books are in development to be made into movies, including an upcoming McQueen biopic for Black Swan producer Brian Oliver.

Barbara Minty McQueen is the widow of the famous actor and met McQueen in 1977. They remained married until his Nov. 7, 1980, death. She resides in Ketchum, Idaho.

The Last Mile makes final stop in Chandler

PRESS RELEASE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diane Howell or Candee Lewis – 480.917.6859

Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, an exhibition of photographs taken by Barbara McQueen, will make its final stop in Chandler, Arizona next month.

The exhibition will be on display March 6-April 11, 2009 at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, Arizona. An opening reception for Barbara McQueen will take place on March 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. McQueen will be present along with special guest, Jeb Rosebrook, who wrote the screenplay for Junior Bonner, which was a 1972 McQueen movie filmed in Prescott, Arizona.

“It’s the last stop for The Last Mile,” said Barbara McQueen, the actor’s widow. “The last two years have been a constant whirlwind of activity and I’m ready to return to a quieter lifestyle.” Since May 2007, McQueen has traveled with the exhibit to London, San Francisco, Carmel-By-The Sea, Ketchum, Idaho, Slater, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Barbara McQueen’s photographs record a behind-the-scenes look at personal pleasures enjoyed near the end of the actor’s life: hitting the road in his vintage pick up trucks, driving 700 miles for a rare World War I motorcycle, flying antique planes in rural California and generally ducking out of Hollywood life. The pictures also capture McQueen on the sets of his last two films, Tom Horn and The Hunter.

The hundreds of photos taken by Barbara McQueen have been collected in a book, also titled Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, which was co-authored with Valley resident Marshall Terrill. The Chandler exhibit will include approximately 30 photographs from that collection, taken from the time the couple met in 1977 through the end of McQueen’s life in 1980, the same year they married.

Admission is free to this intimate portrayal of McQueen’s life. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call (480) 917.6859 or visit www.chandlercenter.org.


Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, Ariz.

What: Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, an exhibition of photographs by Barbara McQueen

When: March 6 - April 11, 2009, Opening Reception March 6, 7-9 p.m.

Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m
Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.

Know Your Neighbors series continues Nov. 7

Concert encourages students to meet Downtown Phoenix neighbors

This Friday night, Nov. 7, a crowd of enthusiastic Arizona State University students will gather in downtown Phoenix to hear live music and become further acquainted with local business owners and residents.

They’ll take part in the final concert of the “Know Your Neighbors” series, featuring a free performance by Arizona band Try Me Bicycle at 7:30 p.m. at the Paisley Violin, 1030 N.W. Grand Ave. The event coincides with the First Friday artwalk.

The seven-part concert series aims to promote integration of the students and staff at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus with the community in the surrounding metropolitan area.

“Community involvement and partnerships are incredibly important to the students, faculty and staff at the downtown campus,” said Deb Gullett, associate vice president and dean at the ASU College of Public Programs at the Downtown Phoenix campus. “Our academic programs are structured to involve students directly in applying their growing knowledge and faculty-led research to make a difference in the city’s neighborhoods.”

During the event, the School of Social Work Student Organization will hold a fundraiser for the Neighborhood Ministries' Parent Volunteers Christmas program, which allows parents in need to volunteer community service hours in exchange for vouchers to buy gifts in its Christmas Parent Store.

Formed in the fall of 1995, Try Me Bicycle features Andrew Naylor on vocals and guitar; Jay Novak on bass; Jacob Koller on piano and synthesizer and Nathan Geer on drums.

The group blends modern folk, jazz and piano to create “quiet, organic music that evokes the feeling of day-tripping and long drives at twilight -- the recollective course of the vagabond on holiday,” according to lead singer Andy Naylor.

For information, contact Malissa Geer at mgeer@mainex1.asu.edu or Kirsten Martin at Kirsten.martin@asu.edu.

ASU Downtown hosts Nov. 21 art exhibit

Art exhibit, book celebrate collaboration spanning centuries

November 21, 2008
7 - 9 p.m.

The stars lean down from open space, and the moon comes running up the river.

It's a moment of inspiration that ripples through time and across nations.

It started when Chinese poet Du Fu wrote those words in the 8th century, and evolved into a modern work of art involving nationally recognized Arizona artist Beth Ames Swartz, four poets from Arizona State University and a delegation from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China.

The creative results will be on display in "The Word in Paint," an exhibition celebrating the collaboration between the visual artist and the poet, that opens Nov. 21. A public reception kicks off the opening from 7 to 9 that night at ASU's University Center, 411 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

The free exhibition will run through mid-February, in conjunction with the publication by ASU of a book with the same name.

"This whole project is a celebration of cross-cultural understanding and the use of creativity as links between universities," says Jewell Parker Rhodes, Piper Endowed Chair and artistic director for Piper global engagement at ASU's Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing. "It's a long-lasting work of art with a history that is entangled at its core with creativity and global engagement."

Rhodes introduced the Chinese delegation to Swartz's series of paintings, titled "The Thirteenth Moon." They were dazzled by Swartz's paintings based on ancient poems by Du Fu and Li Bai.

With support from Debra Friedman, university vice president and dean of ASU's College of Public Programs, and Scott P. Muir, director of the Information Commons Library, Rhodes involved poets from the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program in ASU's Department of English who would be teaching on-campus and distance learning courses for Sichuan University faculty and students as part of the Piper Center's Program for Global Engagement.

This program provides full funded international opportunities for MFA Creative Writing students. It offers teaching opportunities around the world, as well as support for students to do creative work at artist colonies and participate in international conferences.

ASU Professor Beckian Fritz Goldberg, graduate students Iliana Rocha and Leah Soderberg, and visiting doctoral student John Sparrow from Royal Holloway College in England, viewed an exhibit of Swartz's paintings in Scottsdale. In response, the poets wrote original poems based on particular works. "The Word in Paint" reproduces eight of these poems among artwork from the past three years.

The collaboration spanning centuries "shows us that when a heart beats in China or Russia or Iraq or anywhere in the world, it's the same kind of heartbeat that we all have," says Swartz. "The poetry is all about the challenges that we face as humans in trying to get along with each other. It constantly amazes me how poignant and applicable it is today."

Swartz's 50-year career includes a 2002 retrospective at Phoenix Art Museum and a solo exhibition at The Jewish Museum in New York. She is a recipient of the Arizona Governor's Arts Award, the highest award for an artist in the state.

The book also includes essays on Swartz's artwork by internationally known art critic Donald Kuspit, professor of art history and philosophy at the State University of New York, and John Rothschild, an author and poet. It is jointly published by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Public Programs.

The book will be available for purchase at the event, and beginning Nov. 22 through Swartz's Web site at www.bethamesswartz.com.

For information, call (602) 496-0406.

High resolution photos of Swartz and the artwork are available at the following links:

http://copp.asu.edu/do/college-news/photo-gallery/Beth_Ames_Swartz/view

http://copp.asu.edu/do/college-news/photo-gallery/facing_snow.jpg/view

http://copp.asu.edu/do/college-news/photo-gallery/facing_snow_closeup/view

http://copp.asu.edu/do/college-news/photo-gallery/facing_snow_closeup2/view

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corey Schubert
Manager of Media Communications, ASU College of Public Programs
602.496.0406 office
602.370.6128 cell
Corey.Schubert@asu.edu

Gail Jhonson headlines Oct. 1 Green jazz concert

Jhonson jazzes up concert series

Acclaimed jazz keyboardist Gail Jhonson will bring the sounds of Philly to ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus as part of the Green Jazz Series.

The series, sponsored by Arizona State University Online and the Herberger Theater Center, helps low-income families adapt to a “green” lifestyle. Jhonson’s concert takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

The second of six concerts that will run through April 2009, the Green Jazz Series combines the blue sounds of jazz with “green concepts” for sustainable living. Flautist Althea Rene kicked off the series on Sept. 4.

Proceeds from the concert series will support the Green Survival Initiative (GSI), a Phoenix-based sustainability project. Through the use of cost-effective green technologies such as compact fluorescent lights, low-flow shower heads and water heater blankets, GSI seeks to mitigate increasing energy costs for approximately 7,000 low- and fixed-income households in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

“We’re hopeful the concert series will help shift the awareness and culture of green living while helping low-income households,” said Mernoy E. Harrison, Jr., ASU Online and Extended Campus vice president and executive vice provost. “The premise is that jazz is the bridge between music and sustainability.”

The initiative will help low-income families make the conversion to a sustainable lifestyle.

“The GSI recognizes that there is a cost to convert to a green lifestyle and those who need it the most might not be able to make that conversion,” said George Brooks, publisher of Southwest Green Magazine, who is an event sponsor. “We believe that once these conversions are made, each household could save anywhere from $300 to $500 annually.”

An educational component is also incorporated into the concerts, including information booths and promotional giveaways.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jhonson began her musical quest at the age of 10. Proving to be a gifted pianist, she advanced quickly, and by the age of 14, landed several jobs playing keyboards with local rhythm and blues and funk bands. She later enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she received a bachelor’s degree in music composition.

Jhonson’s first big break came in 1985 when she toured with Morris Day and the Time. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and collaborated with recording artists Vanessa Williams, Norman Brown, Bobby Womack, Jermaine Jackson, Pink and Peabo Bryson.

Breaking out on her own in 2004, Jhonson’s Keep the Music Playing CD received international acclaim and strong support within the music industry. A year later Jhonson became the musical director for artist Norman Brown on his Summer Storm Tour. Signing with NuGroove Records in 2008, the label produced Pearls, her latest musical release.

Jhonson said the concert series falls in line with her professional and personal beliefs.

“Jazz musicians have always been sensitive about issues relating to the world around them, and many artists I know have adapted to a green lifestyle,” Jhonson said. “I’m proud to be associated with an organization that gives back to the community because I’m all about giving back.”

The Green Jazz Series was conceived and produced by Brotha Love Productions.

What: The Green Jazz Series concert featuring Gail Jhonson

Where: Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix

Tickets: Tickets cost $40 for VIP seats, $20 for general admission and $10 for ASU students with a valid I.D. Call the Herberger Theater box office at (602) 254-7399 or visit www.HerbergerTheater.org.

Marshall Terrill, Marshall.Terrill@asu.edu

(602) 496-1005

ASU Office of Public Affairs

Urban Affair in Downtown Phoenix

URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX

Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

• Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
• Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
• Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
• Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
• Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)
  

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

Urban Affair in Downtown Phoenix

URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX

Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

• Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
• Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
• Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
• Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
• Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)
  

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

###

Rock Star Gallery hosts Beatles book signing

ROCK STAR GALLERY FEATURES BOOK SIGNING FOR BEATLES INSIDER AND MUSIC INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE

Ken Mansfield to sign The White Book: The Beatles, the Bands, the Biz: An Insiders Look at an Era

Ken Mansfield has worked with some of the biggest giants in the rock 'n roll and the country music genres and is coming to ROCK STAR Gallery in Scottsdale Az. for an exclusive book signing on Saturday, April 26.

As the U.S. manager of the Apple Records label, Mansfield was invited by his bosses, The Beatles to be among only a handful of eyewitnesses to catch their last-ever gig on the rooftop of their London headquarters on January 30, 1969. He was a loyal employee and companion to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr both during the band years and well after their breakup in 1970. He was present when they composed some of their most enduring tunes.

As a record label exec and Grammy Award-winning producer, he also worked on the marketing, promotion and production of dozens of top-selling artists, such as the Beach Boys, and was also a major player in country music in the 1970s as producer of choice of the groundbreaking Outlaw movement, whose impact is still felt in the genre to this very day. Now, Mansfield's experiences with the Fab Four and the music industry - many of which are told for the first time - are recounted in his first all-music tome, The White Book - The Beatles, the Bands, the Biz: An Insider's Look at an Era (Thomas Nelson, $22.99).

Entertaining, historically accurate, and illuminating a side of the Fab Four known only to a few like Mansfield, The White Book shines fresh light on the true characters behind the cultural phenomena that revolutionized a generation.

Mansfield will give a 45-minute talk with a question and answer session, followed by a book signing that starts at 1:00-3:00 Saturday, April 26. This event is open to the public and will be held at the ROCK STAR Gallery, 15220 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 160, Scottsdale, Ariz., 85254. ROCK STAR Gallery is located next to Crate and Barrel in the Kierland Commons.

To R.S.V.P. for this event and secure a book, please contact ROCK STAR Gallery at (480) 275-4501 or email info@rockstargallery.net. For more information please go to http://www.rockstargallery.net/