DEAR FRIENDS & FANS;
IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF MY BELOVED FATHER, RUBEN MARDONES (MAY 20TH 1922 - JULY 19TH 2011).
HE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY YESTERDAY IN HOSPITAL IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.
I AM DEEPLY TOUCHED AND MOVED TO TEARS FOR ALL THE LOVE MY FRIENDS AND FANS HAVE SHOWN ME AND MY FAMILY AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME...AND I THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED WITH PHONE CALLS, EMAIL AND FACEBOOK POSTS, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MY SPIRIT IS LIFTED KNOWING THAT I AM NOT ALONE. IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU THERE FOR ME.
I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE FOR AN ADDRESS TO SEND CARDS AND DONATIONS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS. A SPECIAL P.O. BOX HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SEND DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF YOU WOULD DONATE TO U.S.C. PARKINSONS RESEARCH. THE SEARCH FOR A CURE FOR PARKINSONS, AS YOU KNOW, IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSONS ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO AND MY FATHER DISPLAYED ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSONS TOWARD THE END AND I FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF MY HEART DIED WITH HIM.
MARLY (MARLENE) LANCASTER WILL PROVIDE THE DETAILS REGARDING THE P.O. BOX AND HOW DONATIONS MAY BE MADE ON THE MAIN PAGE OF MY WEBSITE. SHE WILL ALSO POST THIS INFORMATION ON MY FACEBOOK WALLS.
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
LOVE, BENNY
I HOPE EVERYONE'S SUMMER IS GOING WELL SO FAR.
I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY LATELY WITH A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND IDEAS ON THE GO. I'LL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE AS DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS A PHOTO GALLERY FOR THIS WEBSITE.
RIGHT NOW I'M PREPARING FOR A SHOW COMING UP IN CENTRAL NEW YORK ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2011.
COMPLETE DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY AND I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.
JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL SUMMER. HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS IN CENTRAL NY IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS!
LOVE, BENNY
HELLO EVERYONE!
JUST CATCHING UP ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
BALLOONFEST WAS GREAT! IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AND FANS. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR THE SHOW AND THE RAIN HELD OFF UNTIL I WAS FINISHED SIGNING ALL OF THE MERCHANDISE.
TOMORROW IS THE 4TH OF JULY WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN AMERICA. PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THIS HOLIDAY REPRESENTS...FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR GREAT NATION.
THROW SOME STEAKS OR BURGERS ON THE BBQ...MAKE SURE YOU GET TO SEE FIREWORKS WHEREVER THEY ARE NEAR YOU...ENJOY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE.
KEEP FOLLOWING ME ON TWITTER, WATCH THE WALLS ON FACEBOOK AND CHECK BACK HERE OFTEN. LOTS OF EXCITING THINGS ARE AROUND THE CORNER AND I'LL HAVE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR YOU WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.
LOVE, BENNY
JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT I'M DOING LATELY.
I'M FINALLY SITTING DOWN AT THE PIANO AGAIN TO WRITE SOME NEW SONGS AND JUST BEGAN REHEARSING THIS WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR MY SHOW AT THE JAMESVILLE BALLOONFEST ON FRIDAY, JUNE 10TH 2011.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SHOW AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYONE THERE.
I HOPE EVERYONE IN CENTRAL NY IS ENJOYING THE SPRING WEATHER...FINALLY!
THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY/FRIENDS/FANS WHO CAME TO SEE MY PERFORMANCE WITH THE HURRICANES LAST SATURDAY AT THE PARADISE MARKET IN SYRACUSE, NY. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU THERE! WE HAD A BLAST! YOU ARE ALL BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE AND YOU'VE STOOD BY ME ALL THESE DECADES AND I LOVE YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU TO THE FAN CLUB AND EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE DINNER AFTERWARD.
I'M STARTING UP THE BLOG AGAIN AND WILL WRITE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I RECENTLY FOUND MORE THAN 250 HOURS OF CONCERT FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWS DATING BACK TO 1977. I'M HAVING THEM CONVERTED TO DVD AND SETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN THE FUTURE. WATCH THIS SITE, MY FACEBOOK WALLS, TWITTER AND BLIP.FM FOR MORE DETAILS...
IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE VIEW THE VIDEO OF "UNITED WE STAND" HERE ON THE SITE AND PLEASE COMMENT ON IT.
LOVE, BENNY
HEY EVERYONE...THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSES.....FIRST I WANNA TELL STEPHANIE AND MARLENE, GARY, MARGI, AND THE OTHERS THAT YOUR COMMENTS MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME......I NEVER TAKE MY FANS AND FRIENDS FOR GRANTED....I'M STARTING TO FINALLY FIGURE OUT THE BLOG AND OTHER STUFF THAT HAD ME SPINNING INITIALLY.......I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM THE OCT 17TH 2007 ACCIDENT WHERE A CAR OUT OF CONTROL HIT ME HEAD ON GOING 85 MILES PER HOUR.....I'M SO LUCKY TO BE ALIVE...........ME AND THE BOYS HAVE PREPARED A MUSICAL SURPRISE FOR YOU THAT WILL SATIATE THE APPETITE OF ALL THOSE THAT KEEP SHOUTING OUT SONGS FROM THE OLD DAYS..........WE LOVE YOU ALL, AND I PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND HEARING FROM YOU..ENJOY THE SUMMER AND I'LL SEE YOU IN AUGUST..I SANG AT THE KEY CLUB IN HOLLYWOOD LAST NIGHT AND THOUGHT OF MY NEW YORK FANS.....IT WAS GREAT..................LOVE BENNY
HEY EVERYONE.....HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.....THROW SOME STEAKS AND CHICKEN, BURGERS AND DOGS ON THE GRILL AND KICK BACK AND CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVERY OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND THE COURAGE OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE IN THE MID EAST......OUT HERE THEY HAVE TAKEN THE WORD 'GOD' OUT OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SO THEY DON'T INSULT THE MUSLIM STUDENTS.....DUH..???
NEXT TIME YOU WALK BY A MAN OR WOMAN IN UNIFORM JUST SMILE AND SAY 'THANK YOU'....MY FELLOW VETS KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WILL MEAN.....IT'S LIKE GETTING A LETTER AT MAIL CALL.....IT MEANS EVERYTHING.........
ME AND THE BOYS ARE LOOKING SO FORWARD TO AUGUST YOU HAVE NO IDEA.............WOW.....IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE IN SUNNY LA AND I JUST GOT BACK FROM WATCHING MICHAEL PLAY BASKETBALL IN A PICK UP GAME AT THE BEACH COURTS...
THIS IS A SHOUT OUT TO THE GIRL IN VIRGINIA AND THE CLUB SOUNDS COOL....I READ ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND THANKS FOR ALL THE MSGS FROM PHOL'S AND SUZIE'S PEOPLE THAT SAW THE SHOWS....WE LEFT IT ALL ON STAGE THOSE TWO NIGHTS...
I EXPECT TO SEE YOU ALL IN AUGUST AND IN THE MEANTIME MAKE SURE YOU ALL SEE FIREWORKS SOMEWHERE FRIDAY NIGHT AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS TAKE EM' WITH YA....I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR....
I LOVE YOU ALL....SEND ME YOUR 4TH OF JULY STORIES....GOD BLESS AND I'LL BE SEEING YOU SOON..........LOVE BENNY
HEY EVERYBODY.........IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT AND THE BEACH IS SWAYING THE PALM TREES AT ABOUT 70 DEGREES...MICHAEL EVERETT IS DOWN THE STREET AT 'MO'S' A GREAT PLACE TO EAT, DRINK COLD BEER AND SHOOT POOL........HIS FRIEND ( AND MINE ) NICK JUST GOT BACK FROM HIS FOURTH TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ ON THE FRONT LINES.....SO I WON'T WAIT UP.........
I WANNA SAY ONE MORE TIME HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO ME THAT YOU CAME OUT IN COLD AND RAINY WEATHER TO ROCK WITH ME AND THE BOYS...
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA LOVE OUR MUSICAL SURPRISE IN AUGUST....NEXY WEEK I'M IN THE STUDIO DOING VOCALS ON A DUET WITH AN UP AND COMING POP STAR IN AUSTRALIA...SO THAT'S GONNA BE GREAT....
ALSO ON SATURDAY NIGHT JULY 12TH I'M SINGING AT THE FAMED 'HOLLYWOOD BOWL' OPENING FOR MY OLD FRIEND 'CHRIS ISAAK'....HE AND I DID THE ROY ORBISON TRIBUTE WITH BOB DYLAN AND ALL THE REST, SO IT'S GONNA BE GREAT....'INTO THE NIGHT' UNDER THE STARS.......
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE TRAGEDY FOR THE KELLY FAMILY OF OSWEGO....BUCK KELLY ( MY BROTHER FOR MANY YEARS ) AND THE FAMILY LOST HIS BROTHER KEVIN SEAN AT THE AGE OF 44 TO CANCER, LEAVING A DEVASTATED FAMILY OF TWO SONS ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER THE BIRTH OF BUCK AND TINA'S SON 'LIAM KEVIN KELLY....YOU MIGHT REMEMBER BUCK INTRODUCING ME AND THE 'HURRICANES'' AT THE 'TURNING STONE' CHRISTMAS SHOW AND THAT NIGHT I DEDICATED THE SHOW TO HIS BROTHER WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE.....AND AS ALWAYS, YOU WONDERFUL CENTRAL NEW YORK FANS GAVE HIM A STANDING OVATION WHEN MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE NOT EVEN KNOWN THE KELLY'S........I HAVE THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD...
I'M PUTING UP A PICTURE OF OUR TWO PITS ON THE BEACH BY MY HOUSE WHERE WE WALK THEM AND WATCH EM' CHASE THE SURF....THE WHITE ONE IS 'ROSE' AND SHE'S 11 MONTHS.....THE GREY PATCHED PUP IS 'DRAMA' AND SHE'S MINE BUT WE CAN'T REALLY BREAK THEM UP BECAUSE THEY'RE SISTERS....SAME MOM BUT DIFFERENT DADS...DRAMA'S 4 MONTHS OLD AND THEY ALL PILE ON MY BED AT NIGHT..WE ALSO HAVE A 21 POUND CALICO CAT NAMED 'BUTTERS' WHO SCARES THE HELL OUT OF BOTH OF THE PITS..I HOPE YOU LIKE THE PICTURE.....MICHAEL TOOK IT......LEMME HEAR FROM YOU....PEACE......BENNY
5/28/08
Playing a gig in Central New York is like coming home for me. The fans showed up even though it was cold and raining. But I would trade palm trees and beach for bad weather if it means more time in CNY.
Pfohl's was rocking into the night. I got to visit with old friends and the greatest fans in the world. As always, the Hurricanes and I left everything we had on the stage both nights.
Check it out: The band and I talked and we have some big musical surprises we are working on for the upcoming August shows. (Hint: the songs you have been desperately craving!). Don't miss the August shows, I promise they will be shows you will never forget. (Look on the Tour Dates page for all the information).
I will start blogging more when I get back to the West Coast. I hope you are enjoying the new site.
Benny
RSS Feed