My dad, Charlie Brennan, the Cop, was also a bricklayer (went on the cops during the Depression), and he built the house his children grew up in. I was 6 when he started, and 10 when he finished. He taught me how to lay brick, of course (no pun intended), but also things like the importance of a truly square corner, how to climb a ladder with a loaded hod, and why it's better to encourage and challenge a child than to critique and correct. He was the person who told me that the Protestants "had their turn," and so did the Irish and the Jews and so on; and now it was time for the Hispanics and the Blacks. He also taught me never to judge a person I didn't know, to never hold a grudge, and to always be ready to forgive. He is hero. I will never be his equal,
Heritage, just as nationality, is such a gift. It's difficult for me to imagine being anything other than the son of a son of a farmer who failed in the dust bowl only to succeed in the post-war beef cattle industry. As I tell my friends, their problem is they picked the wrong grandfather. But it's me who lucked into a family shaped by a good response to bad circumstances.
And then the pianists, like the Serkins (Rudolf and Peter). And the pop singers, like the members of Wilson Philips (daughters of members of the Mamas and the Papas) and Jacob Dylan (son of Bob).
You didn’t mention novelists Kingsley Amis and son Martin, but perhaps that’s because you didn’t know them yourself.
If we are discussing musical fathers and offspring, I feel I should mention percussionist John Francis Nagle, who left behind the surname of his father (a drummer) in favor of that of his stepfather Henry Williams (a Republican political consultant). “Johnny” Williams had four children, who carried on the Williams name, including one John Williams, who went on to be a composer and director of some note (as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg could attest). John’s son Joseph is known for being the lead singer of Toto. (Other children and grandchildren are also musicians, including one who leads a “neo-psychedelic” group dubbed Vinyl Williams.) For better or for worse, I do not see Lucas and Spielberg becoming the titans they did without Williams’s music — will let others debate as to whether that would be better or worse than the current state of affairs..:
Hi Jay.
My dad, Charlie Brennan, the Cop, was also a bricklayer (went on the cops during the Depression), and he built the house his children grew up in. I was 6 when he started, and 10 when he finished. He taught me how to lay brick, of course (no pun intended), but also things like the importance of a truly square corner, how to climb a ladder with a loaded hod, and why it's better to encourage and challenge a child than to critique and correct. He was the person who told me that the Protestants "had their turn," and so did the Irish and the Jews and so on; and now it was time for the Hispanics and the Blacks. He also taught me never to judge a person I didn't know, to never hold a grudge, and to always be ready to forgive. He is hero. I will never be his equal,
Absolutely great. Thank you, Paddy B.
Heritage, just as nationality, is such a gift. It's difficult for me to imagine being anything other than the son of a son of a farmer who failed in the dust bowl only to succeed in the post-war beef cattle industry. As I tell my friends, their problem is they picked the wrong grandfather. But it's me who lucked into a family shaped by a good response to bad circumstances.
What a beautiful thing. Thx, Chris.
And then the pianists, like the Serkins (Rudolf and Peter). And the pop singers, like the members of Wilson Philips (daughters of members of the Mamas and the Papas) and Jacob Dylan (son of Bob).
You didn’t mention novelists Kingsley Amis and son Martin, but perhaps that’s because you didn’t know them yourself.
That's right!
If we are discussing musical fathers and offspring, I feel I should mention percussionist John Francis Nagle, who left behind the surname of his father (a drummer) in favor of that of his stepfather Henry Williams (a Republican political consultant). “Johnny” Williams had four children, who carried on the Williams name, including one John Williams, who went on to be a composer and director of some note (as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg could attest). John’s son Joseph is known for being the lead singer of Toto. (Other children and grandchildren are also musicians, including one who leads a “neo-psychedelic” group dubbed Vinyl Williams.) For better or for worse, I do not see Lucas and Spielberg becoming the titans they did without Williams’s music — will let others debate as to whether that would be better or worse than the current state of affairs..:
Excellent.