Topic: Roald Dahl

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl. I mention this because I grew up with the name Dylan Thomas, but until today I never knew that Mr Dahl was born in Cardiff just 60 miles from me. I am adding up all local celebrities including;

Bonnie Tyler from Swansea, ( I once recorded in the same studio as she recorded her demo of Lost in France, the owner played the track for me and the band!)

Tom Jones, not far from Cardiff (Pontypridd)

Richard Burton, I almost had a heart attack when his brother (who looked the image of him) walked into one of my gigs after he'd died.

Glynis Johns, an actress from the 50's, I was in school with her niece who looked just like her.

There are many more, so, any celebs local to Chordians across the world?

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Roald Dahl

Play write Alan Bennett, Folksinger/comedian Mike Harding and James Atkin  ex front  man of  the  90s band Emf all  live  with in about  10 miles  of my  home .

3 (edited by dino48 2016-08-29 21:07:46)

Re: Roald Dahl

Phill Williams wrote:

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl. I mention this because I grew up with the name Dylan Thomas, but until today I never knew that Mr Dahl was born in Cardiff just 60 miles from me. I am adding up all local celebrities including;

Bonnie Tyler from Swansea, ( I once recorded in the same studio as she recorded her demo of Lost in France, the owner played the track for me and the band!)

Tom Jones, not far from Cardiff (Pontypridd)

Richard Burton, I almost had a heart attack when his brother (who looked the image of him) walked into one of my gigs after he'd died.

Glynis Johns, an actress from the 50's, I was in school with her niece who looked just like her.

There are many more, so, any celebs local to Chordians across the world?

Niel Young, Carlos Santana    Carlos lives about 100 mi away, Neil is a Canadian but he has a home in Redwood city. We have a lot in southern calif. Ringo, Rod Stewart Brian Wilson and many more..

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman

Re: Roald Dahl

I went to high school with Buddy Guy's kids. They lived a few blocks away.
I just checked my new home (just moved a few weeks ago). Here is a list:

Re: Roald Dahl

this is what i was hoping for. are we lucky to be amongst our idols or are we a little dejected that when the finger that points and says "IT'S YOU; YOU WILL BE RICH, FAMOUS AND TALENTED" i missed the whole lot!

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Roald Dahl

I live about a mile from Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, and just a block or two away from singer songwriter Brandi Carlile.  I went to high school at the same place NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne went, but I was a few years after him.  He is HQed out of North Carolina these days.

If you're local, Chanel 5 TV sports caster Paul Silvi lives at the end of the street.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

Re: Roald Dahl

The best I can do is Robin Hood, a bit before my time

Thick as two short planks

8 (edited by Russell_Harding 2016-08-30 13:37:48)

Re: Roald Dahl

Gene Wilder, Wierd Al Yankovick, Liberace,Les Paul (milwaukee and surrounding suburbs) there are more just cant recall at this moment smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Re: Roald Dahl

Lots of reasonably famous musicians from Nova Scotia, Canada. We're a small Province with about 940,000 people in total, so this is kind of cool:

In the music world:
Wilf Carter, George Canyon, Carroll Baker, Ashley MacIsaac, Holly Cole, Matt Minglewood, Natalie McMaster, Dutch Mason, Rita MacNeil, Sarah McLachlan, Anne Murray, Hank Snow, and Steve Poltz ... to name a few.

Other notables:
Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Al McInnis, Glen Murray (hockey)
Alexander Graham Bell (invented telephone)
Ian Miller (Olympic horse jumping)
Ellen Page (actress)
George "Little Chocolate" Dixon (1st black world boxing champion)

Re: Roald Dahl

nice one TF. sorry but the only name i recognised was Alexander Graham Bell!!!!!

the total population of Wales is just 3 million and Llanelli 78,000, yet we have a world renowned rugby team, the highest priced football transfer, many of the greatest singers and actors inc Dame Shirley Bassey. and worst of all; Staus Quo played in Parc y Scarlets last Saturday (the local rugby stadium) and i was totally unaware of it. although i did see them in 197???? something when they first put on their denims and found 3 chords...and they were super.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was a talented individual. 

Here is a list of the famous people from where I grew up:




It's a short list.

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

Re: Roald Dahl

I was born just a couple of hundred yards away from D H Lawrence. We still have a D H L festival every year bringing in many overseas tourists, although I can't for the life of me think why.

Thick as two short planks

Re: Roald Dahl

keepitreal wrote:

I was born just a couple of hundred yards away from D H Lawrence. We still have a D H L festival every year bringing in many overseas tourists, although I can't for the life of me think why.

I know, right?

We also have tourists flocking to various locations around here, where a poem was written or something historical happened. I could never for the life of me understand why people found it needful to visit a place, just because someone else was there once ... weird.

Re: Roald Dahl

Hmmm... Bobcat Goldthwait grew up nearby where I did.  Had his parents not put him in the local Catholic School, he would have gone to the same public High School I graduated from.  I know people that know his family.  Big deal right?  ha ha!

Frank Baum, who wrote the Wizard of Oz was from a tiny town nearby.  They have an "Oz Fest" every year and paint the sidewalks yellow.  I don't think there's any munchkins still alive, but they used to come to the parade.  It's a tiny junky little town.  LOL!  The tourists flock in though. 

Carol Baldwin lives nearby. When my mom worked as a waitress, she came into one of the restaurants often and my mother waited on her.  When one of her sons was in town, the other waitresses would fight over who got to wait on the table.  I guess Carol was a pretty cranky picky customer, so they didn't fight over waiting on her when she was alone.

Dick Clark went to Syracuse University.  My grandpa used to tell a story about meeting him once on a passenger train years ago.  smile

Adrien Brody actually DOES live VERY close.  Although, I don't know how many people really have a clue who he is!  smile  He bought a "castle" nearby my current home, renovated it, and made a documentary about "his life during renovation".  I've seen some bits and pieces of the documentary.  Seems he did a bunch of the work on the castle himself and learned how to be a "normal" human rather than "just" a star.  Mekidsdad met him briefly while hanging out at a friends house.  Seemed like a normal guy, nothing exciting, nice enough.  The other guys were acting like they were something special because they were hanging out with Brody. 

From a local's view point - Meh - We used to be able to see the castle from the road (and at one point in time before he bought it, it was open to the public as a fun and safe place for little kids to go for Halloween).  It conjured up ideas of fairy tales for little kids (as there aren't many castles in America - especially in the rural "never heard of it" areas, even though this one wasn't much of a castle, it was something different).  We can't see ANYTHING from the road now.  He's got a fence - a BIG fence all the way around the property and has planted enough foliage to block the view from the road.  I don't blame him, if I were rich I'd do the same.  But, trying to explain to the kids that there's a castle back there and they have no way to see it?  I thought castles were meant for everyone to view their awesomeness?  I imagine the grounds are quite beautiful.  Here's the OLD history of the place:  https://stonebarncastle.me/  - It was once upon a time popular enough that there's a building called the "Stone Barn Gatehouse", and used to be a place called the "Stone Barn Motel" that may parents owned at one point (now renamed).

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

Re: Roald Dahl

I've got one.
Before his passing, Merle Haggard lived about 5 miles down the road.
We used to see him in town now and then.

Thanks Chordie for the years of music and advise.

16 (edited by Strummerboy Bill 2016-09-02 16:19:05)

Re: Roald Dahl

Phill Williams wrote:

Richard Burton, I almost had a heart attack when his brother (who looked the image of him) walked into one of my gigs after he'd died.

I smiled really hard when I read that sentence, Phill. smile Being an English Literature major and former teacher, I'm afraid I can't let you slide on that one, Amigo. smile]

Your Friend

Bill

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com

Re: Roald Dahl

Strummerboy Bill wrote:
Phill Williams wrote:

Richard Burton, I almost had a heart attack when his brother (who looked the image of him) walked into one of my gigs after he'd died.

I smiled really hard when I read that sentence, Phill. smile Being an English Literature major and former teacher, I'm afraid I can't let you slide on that one, Amigo. smile]

Your Friend

Bill

OK Bill, you got me. It was Burton's brother who walked in, I should have read the post through before posting. I wont tell you what I'm really saying under my breath...only kidding!

MKM, bring the kids to Wales we've got castles on almost every corner (gross exaggeration)

Here's a true story; some people I know booked Castell Coch (Red Castle) near Cardiff for their wedding. A few weeks before the date they got phoned by the manager and asked if they'd mind changing the date or cancelling all together and were given a shed full of cash as a thank you. They got bumped for Posh and Becks' wedding. I know some folks that would have waived the cash for an invite...not me of course.

Zurf, I nearly choked when I saw your post... your my hero

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

18 (edited by Peatle Jville 2016-09-05 08:36:53)

Re: Roald Dahl

We have many famous people move to NZ get away from the busy rest of the World. Wellington is a place where many famous people come to make movies. Peter Jackson who made Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit movies is a local boy. James Cameron a very successful Hollywood producer lives in the part of our country known as the Wairarapa about an hours drive from Wellington. A local man Brett Mckenzie won an Academy Award for best Original song ,  Man or Muppet. The movie was Muppets Most Wanted, suposedly for kids many adults enjoy watching the Muppets also. Brett was also a member of a local musical comedy group Flight Of The Conchords who had a bit of sucess over in the States with young adult  Americans  watching their TV showed which was made in New York. I will attach one of the Flight Of The Conchords songs from that series Carol Brown.                                              youtube.com/watch?v=1cGoDns8wTA&list=RD1cGoDns8wTA

Re: Roald Dahl

jerome.oneil wrote:

I live about a mile from Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, and just a block or two away from singer songwriter Brandi Carlile.  I went to high school at the same place NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne went, but I was a few years after him.  He is HQed out of North Carolina these days.

If you're local, Chanel 5 TV sports caster Paul Silvi lives at the end of the street.

.  He is HQed out of North Carolina these days.  LOLOL If your NASCAR, even odds are youhave to be, or VA and Tenn.   

I n that note, one of the most famous race car builders in NASCAR -  BANJO MATTHEWS -  had his shop about 6 miles from my house. and My dad performed the Funeral at his church.  and a line a mile or so long of teeam trailers were there to pay respects.  pretty cool,

American Idol winner Casey James from Asheville NC,  I know there are afew others but cant remember at this stage.

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)

Re: Roald Dahl

I got to play drums for Joe South (Grammy winner for (I Beg Your Pardon) "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden") before he became famous. A Georgia native, he and his band played at my high school one night and his drummer didn't show up, so he asked the audience if anyone could play drums (they were already there), so my friends pushed me toward the stage. After that night, the only times I ever saw him were on American Bandstand and several other shows.

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com

Re: Roald Dahl

One of my dear friends is world  renowned artist Louise  Fishhman.
She lives in Manhatten, but her summer farm is in my town. 
She is quite a woman if you read her biography. Her forte is abstract art. 

My brother's nephew is Jason Grilli who pitches for the Totonto Blue Jays. He pitched a great 8th inning last night in their playoff win vs. Baltimore Orioles.

One of my best friends son (Ian Smith)  is lead guitarist for country music's Sara Evans

Other than that - I just live near a whole bunch of very nice " nobodies" ! smile

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke