Monthly Archives: January 2018

Kukla, Fran & Ollie: A Nation of Immigrants

Posted on 17 January 2018 by JC

Burr Tillstrom—the puppeteer behind the Kukla, Fran & Ollie children’s show—is my family’s claim to fame. I missed his centenary last autumn.  Franklin Burr Tillstrom was born 13 October 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, and had an older brother Richard (1911-2008). … Continue reading →

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JC’s Top Tunes of 2017

Posted on 2 January 2018 by JC

They say art thrives in the face of chaos, that genius requires difficulty that must be overcome. 2017 was a difficult year for many—to the benefit of roots music, and hopefully, eventually, to the greater good.  We lost friends like … Continue reading →

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2017 Blog Posts in Review—Political Order, Political Decay

Posted on 1 January 2018 by JC

Online traffic follows the new.  In 2017, JCShepard.com wasn’t so much of the new and our numbers reflect that.  But that’s OK.  I played a lot of music.  I read a lot of books.  I didn’t get out to play … Continue reading →

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