January 1, 2023
Happy New Year, Everybody! Wishing you all the best in 2023.
"Be My Valentine (On Christmas)" reached 1,273,000 streams on Spotify this season!
Y'all come!
December 21, 2022
1,271,912 Spotify Streams:
Be My Valentine (On Christmas)
Hey, Everybody! As we’re bracing for the big freeze here in Houston, I’m passing along a charming little video that warms my heart and reminds me that necessity really does breed creativity—what a delightful approach to the storyboarding by director and videographer, Stephen Ramos, who brilliantly captured the song’s conflict with unexpected humor and wit. I’m pleased to say “Be My Valentine (On Christmas)” has 1,271,912 streams on Spotify with 980 monthly listeners today:
Happy Holidays to you and yours wherever you may be and best wishes for a wonderful new year in 2023.
Y’all come!
Hear Glenna Bell on PURE, WPKN-FM in Bridgeport, CT (through October 21, 2022)
The New Yorker:
“WPKN-FM is a free-form radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut; it is, to be honest, the greatest radio station in the world.”
Hey, Everybody! I wanted to take a minute today to send you a link (below) to one of my favorite radio shows, PURE, hosted by the inimitable Howard Thompson on WPKN in Bridgeport, CT. I’ve been a fan of Howard’s since we discovered one another when I released my album, Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder, a few years ago and got to meet him at one of my appearances in NYC. Needless to say, I was quite flattered when Perfectly Legal made his “top ten” list that year, for as they say of the English, he has exquisite taste and he also has an incredible background in the commercial music industry, which makes his programming not only entertaining but enlightening too.
It is always a pleasure to listen and especially to be reminded that my music continues to find a place on such a great radio show. Here’s a link that will be good for two weeks:
And here’s the announcement that went out yesterday when the program aired live:
FRIDAY October 7th, 1pm (Eastern)
PURE "North South East West"
WPKN, Bridgeport 89.5fm on your radio and wpkn.org on the web
featuring: Allen Toussaint, Andre Williams, Angel Corpus Christi, Big George Brock, Bill Frisell, Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan, Chris Farlowe, Chumbawamba, Clive Palmer, Dennis Linde, Dire Straits, Don Drummond & the Skatalites, Durwood Daily, Eddy Lawrence, Geraint Watkins, Glenna Bell, Hank Jacobs, J. Geils Band, JD McPherson, Jesse James, Johnnie Allan, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Julian Cope, k.d. lang, LCD Soundsystem, Los Lobos, Matt and Kim, Monica Heldal, Mose Allison, the Mountain Goats, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Peter Stampfel, Ray Wylie Hubbard, the Rolling Stones, Solid Jackson, the Stanley Brothers, Willis Alan Ramsey ... and a WHOLE LOT MORE!!!
chat window open 'live' during the show: https://spinitron.com/WPKN/ ("refresh" periodically to stay current)
click: WPKN to listen live. Or find us in the Radio Garden
click: Archive to listen up to 2 weeks later
tweet: @howardwpkn
write: howardthompson@optonline.net
'PURE' - 1st & 3rd Fridays, 1pm eastern
Feel free to forward, tell a friend...
Y’all come!
HCCTV Appearance on Up to the Minute
September 2, 2022
Hey, Everybody! The Labor Day holiday weekend is off to an exciting start with an appearance that I made this morning on HCCTV's Up to the Minute show. I do a brief introduction at about 1:40 and my interview begins at about 9:45, just after Dr. Zachary Hodges who is the president of Houston Community College's Northwest Campus in Katy:
I must say I am quite impressed with the production!
Y'all come!
In Memory of My Dear Friend, Greg Henkel
Friday August 12, 2022
Dear Everyone,
I just posted this on FB and am not up to writing more today. I got this news a couple of hours ago:
Dearest Greg—I am heartbroken. You are my close companion, collaborator, and confidant. Life will not be the same without you. I was blessed to know you. I'll see you "just over that hill," my wonderful, talented friend. "Love you. Miss you." Always. — Glenna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHw1LVAUcpw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh3W63GOwLM
Y'all come!
Summer 2022 Songwriting in Process
Hey, Everybody! Just a quick note to check in and let you know I've been so busy I haven't had time to post lately but all is well here and I am happy to say I have written and recorded demo's of two more songs, which I believe are some of my best yet and I can hardly wait for you to hear them. I'll continue to keep you posted on upcoming shows via FB so please follow Glenna Bell Music if you aren't already on board. Until next time, I hope you're having a wonderful Summer 2022. We're having record breaking heat here in Texas and hoping for rain and cooler temp's soon.
Y'all come!
Houston Show: Thursday May 19, 2022 from 9-Midnight at Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge
The Continental Club/Big Top Houston
Hey, Everybody! As I write this, I'm basking in the afterglow of an amazing time appearing at the Larry Winters' Celebration of Life at the fabulous Continental Club in Houston's historic Third Ward, sponsored by KPFT 90.1 FM where Larry was a popular and beloved DJ for many years. He played my music regularly on his weekly Saturday afternoon show, Spare Change, which was a familiar backdrop to so many homey times here at the house through the years, and the natural warmth of his bigger-than-life personality also made me feel genuinely welcome and right at home on the air when I would visit the station:
Houston Chronicle Tribute to Legendary Larry Winters
A line-up of acts performed to a packed house at the Continental Club from 2-7 on Sunday, and it was an incredible tribute to Larry and a great testimony to how much he is cherished and missed by so many. I left with a full heart and a new inspiration to get out there and play more so I'm really looking forward to being back on stage to kick off this Thursday evening at Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge right next door to the Continental Club with my friend, the talented Texas troubadour, Jimmy P. and his imaginary band:
Y'all come!
Houston Performance: Sunday May 15, 2022 from 2-7 PM at the Continental Club
Hey, Everybody! Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 15th for what will be an amazing event! Join Tracy Brandon, Susan Darrow, Duane Bradley, Allen Hill, Christi Schwanbeck, David Britton, Leigh Faissal, Brent Sumrall, and others in celebrating the life of long time KPFT DJ, Larry Winters.
Scheduled to perform are: Matt Harlan and Lisa Morales, Glenna Bell and Jimmy Pizzitola, Jamie Lin Wilson, Charles Bryant, Mark Zeus, Mason Lankford and Adam McFarland, along with other surprise guests:
Houston Press Things to Do Column
Y'all come!
Houston Show: Friday Night, April 8, 2022 at Shoeshine Charley's Big Top Lounge
The Continental Club/Big Top Houston
Hey, Everybody!
I wanted to take a minute to pass along this invitation to a show I'll be doing with my friend, Jimmy Pizzitola, tomorrow night at one of my favorite venues in Houston. Hope to see you there:
Looking forward to being back under the Big Top tomorrow night. There'll be music in the Continental, in the BackYard, and in The Big Top. Wander on down to MidMain for a Friday Night Music Tasting. 9 PM - Midnight.
Special Guest: Glenna Bell.
Jimmy Pizzitola:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLGLcWN9Xk
Glenna Bell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUFxGi5ujC0
Y'all come!
Christmas Video & Holiday Q&A w/ Lisa Gray and Raj Mankad of the Houston Chronicle
December 21, 2021: Hey, Everybody! It's a gorgeous first day of winter in Houston. Another year has unfolded in unexpected ways and the holidays are here again. I know this is an extra busy time for you, but if you get to a point that you have a few minutes to listen, I think that you'll enjoy this uplifting Q&A with Houston Chronicle writers, Lisa Gray and Raj Mankad, which we did this time last year but still seems quite relevant now:
Holiday Q&A with Lisa Gray and Raj Mankad
The accompanying write-up by Raj who's the Op-Ed editor at the Chronicle appeared on the news stands on Christmas Day, 2020:
Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Holiday Reflections
And here's a link to my Christmas video by Stephen Ramos, starring my adorable Baby Kit whom I discovered on the little bench in my backyard suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration in June 2020 when she was less than a month old--a tiny angel flying too close to the ground who had lost her way and was found:
Be My Valentine on Christmas Video Starring Baby Kit
Wishing you warmth and love wherever you may be. Happy Holidays, Everyone.
Y'all come!
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