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