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Winter Soldier, Sunshine Patriot

Winter Soldier, Sunshine Patriot? With perceived defeat of MAGA in the 2022 mid-term elections (illusion), many Sunshine Patriots have been exposed. Truth might be non-negotiable, but for some, I guess it is. Winter Patriots remain, undeterred.

Sunshine Patriot

So, what is a “Sunshine Patriot”? Someone who is squishy about their beliefs, will swear dedication in good times, but will turn completely when things don’t come out as they expect. They want to keep their social media popularity in tact, so they back-off to the imagined security of that perceived popularity. When you become more offended by comments made against the new media-made desperation 2024 candidate than you do two stolen elections, you were never the real deal, were you?

Winter Soldier

There are many, many digital Winter Soldier soldiers, however. We quietly research and draw our own conclusions, not relying on others. It is up to us to go against the winds of misinformation and help peacefully disseminate the truth. We see the corruption and outright theft of our work benefiting the law-breaking mob. We see our youth dying from fentanyl, being trafficked; sexualized from practically infancy. We see the obvious lies we’re supposed to believe (and don’t). We see the real racism, and it’s not from us. We see the double standards; two-tiered “justice” system. We know what they don’t tell us. We’re not stupid. Finally, we don’t want to perpetuate this for our children and grandchildren. We want to save them from slavery.

Only One

There’s only one candidate I will stand behind. He has kept his word on every promise he has made. He believes in the individual, not the collective. He believes in personal and economic freedom. He believes in Free Speech and gun rights specified in the Constitution’s Second Amendment. He believes in equal justice for all. He believes in law and order and stands behind police and military. He wants our vote protected. He took no salary. He can’t be bought. He loves our country. Most important, he believes in God.

That man- still my President- Donald J. Trump.

Gary Brooker

Gary Brooker passed from this earth Saturday, Feb 19, 2022. He was the voice, piano, and composer in the English band Procol Harum (named after a friend’s cat’s birth certificate). Mr. Brooker lit up many a musical imagination with over fifty years leading that band. He was a huge influence on my music path.

The Paramounts

Gary spent 1960-66 playing R&B and soul in the English band The Paramounts. Brooker decided to become a songwriter exclusively. He was introduced to lyricist Keith Reid. They began writing songs to present to others. Since no one seemed interested in recording/performing them, he formed Procol Harum originally for that purpose in 1967.

Classical-Influenced Rock

Procol Harum was a band that featured classical-influenced rock music. The lineup featured both piano and organ, not one or the other. This unique pairing allowed for many more textures, lending to classical music extension. They had a very dynamic range, from whisper to most intense. Their first release was the huge hit “Whiter Shade of Pale” in 1967, and they toured on and off until 2019.

During those 52 years, Gary Brooker and Procol Harum (despite the many personnel changes) recorded thirteen studio and eight live albums. Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra particularly stands out for its 1972 hit recording of “Conquistador“. By the way, Gary wrote the orchestral arrangement for it, as well.

April 15, 1973

On April 15, 1973 in Charleston, Illinois, I witnessed Procol Harum in concert. The band was touring for their new (at the time) Grand Hotel album, and they were in a class by themselves. I saw the complete command of artists at work (side note: Their drummer- the late B.J. Wilson- played drums sounding like a whole orchestral percussion section playing along with his drum kit-amazing!). Blazing the way forward, Gary Brooker was the one constant the entire time. Below is a live clip from that same time period:

Procul Harum live in studio, 1973.

Like No One Else

Procol Harum sounded like no one else before or since Gary Brooker. Although his music was sophisticated, there was a working man mentality that kept it nailed to the ground. He didn’t underestimate anyone’s intelligence; kept the listener challenged.

Gary Brooker showed me that anything could be achieved musically, something I’ve always carried along my convoluted way.