The Cuban Vote…Why we should vote for Obama.

Raul — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:07:48 +0000

I, like many cuban-americans, have spent most of my life wondering what it would be like to be in Havana on a warm summer night. Smoking cigars, drinking mojitos and dancing the night away at the Tropicana seem like pleasures of another era to be enjoyed solely through movies and books. While on a recent trip to Key West I noticed that just about every tourist trap mentioned Havana and its proximity to the unsuspecting customer. I tried to figure out why they would do this. And after a couple of days it hit me. Cuba is such the “forbidden fruit” for americans that it makes these little tours that much more appealing. (I’m guessing here.)
With all its decadent and carnal pleasures that Cuba offers there is another uglier side with dire consequences. It is this side of the equation that has torn families apart and kept them apart for entire life times. This is the side that has been created by politicians hell-bent on keeping things as they are whether for their own personal gain or just because of their insatiable vanity and ego. All my life I have heard how the “embargo” is working and how any day “Fidel” will fall. Well, he has fallen, sort of. But not because of our brilliant politicians and their embargo. He has literally fallen because he is about 150 years old. Yet, the country is still under communist rule (by his brother, Raul) who will inadvertently finally help me with my quest to have people say my name correctly (especially in the South).
Yes, the communists are still in power and are not going to reform any time soon. Meanwhile, life passes by, families are torn, babies are born, grandmothers die, and we are not there. I have a cousin that is my age. I have no idea what he does. My dad’s mother passed away a couple of years ago. He didn’t get to say goodbye. My cousins have had children and we cannot hold them and buy them gifts and participate in any aspect of their lives. And the list goes on and on…and not just for me, but for many like me. Isn’t it about time to change all this?
Now, I am not naive enough to think that Obama can change everything, much less anything. But at the very least here is a politician who is willing to try and at least listen to new ideas. He will be up against a very powerful, very conservative cuban-american lobby that will derail any diplomatic efforts with Cuba. His speech at the “Fundacion” (Cuban American National Foundation) was very well-received by a sold-out crowd that normally wouldn’t listen to a politician who is at least talking about “talking” to Cuba. If nothing else, it’s a start and it’s a good one. Then maybe, just maybe we will be able to take one of those tours from Key West that actually visits Havana instead of simply talk about it.
Sincerely,
RM

Eddy Arnold

Raul — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:51:55 +0000

Several years ago on a flight to Los Angeles, Eddy Arnold was asked by the first class flight attendant what he “did” for a living. With no hint of ego or delusion he answered “Why, I’m Eddy Arnold”. And such was his fame. While others worked really hard to achieve theirs, Mr. Arnold just sang. He wrote and recorded some of the most beautiful music ever. There were no rhinestone suits, no affairs with movie stars, no drug problems, no nothing…just great music. And the numbers don’t lie. His songs have spent more time on the charts than everybody else’s. Everybody!
His songs embodied a subtle elegance and sophistication that transcended country music. His easy phrasing turned songs like “Make the World Go Away”, “Welcome to my world”, and “You Don’t Know Me” into “pop” standards, prompting other great, distinctive singers like Ray Charles, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to record them themselves. As a songwriter, that achievement alone is worthy of a bust in the Hall of Fame. His accomplishments are staggering and well documented. But what’s most impressive is how he did it. In a world where apparently anybody can be famous for no good reason, Mr. Arnold was famous for the right ones.
Early on in my career, I had the pleasure (or audacity really) of singing “Make the World Go Away” for a television show taped at the Ryman. Several months after that, I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Arnold. He leaned into me to tell me how much he enjoyed my version of his song. I bragged about that for months. Apparently I haven’t stopped.

Key West…New Record…Etc…

Raul — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:18:38 +0000

After not having visited Miami or the Keys in a long while, I found myself really asking why did I ever move. It’s really easy to take things for granted. And don’t get me wrong I live in Nashville and I love a lot of things about it. But, for sure, Miami, in its post-Andrew state is more beautiful than ever. I rented a Mustang Shelby convertible for my trip…it could possibly be the most uncomfortable car ever made and had it not been for the fact that it was a convertible I would have been miserable. I know, I know…I could just hear the guys “Man how could you say that?” Well, easy. The whole trip to key west was bumper to bumper and Miami has quite a bit of traffic as well. So the whole time you’re in this car…basically pick the lowest note you can hum and keep humming it and humming it and humming it. Thrilling isn’t it? But what can I do, Hertz was fresh out of 1959 Cadillac Eldorado’s.
I got to see some of my family while in Miami and driving them around in this most uncomfortable of vehicles was quite fun. They themselves pointed out that they don’t get to see the city like this because they’re always working. I was happy to drive around and see all the old haunts. South Beach is still beautiful and all the old places are there (but the names have been changed to protect the guilty ). Granada Blvd., in Coral Gables, is still one of the most beautiful boulevards in all the world. With its palm and cypress trees, and spanish villa-styled houses lining both sides, it rivals just about any place, anywhere. I found myself remembering childhood adventures on my bicycle that I had long forgotten. I saw my old house and my grandparents’ old house and not only did they bring back old memories, they also created a new sense of appreciation for what my parents did in bringing up my sister and me. So, of course, after a night of reminiscing and driving around we ended up at Versailles on 8th st at about 1:00am. This is what I miss most about my culture and living in Nashville. Cubans love to congregate and talk (especially about politics) and Versailles restaurant on 8th st. and 37th. Ave. is the Town Hall. Just don’t wear any Che Guevara t-shirts, whatever you do. So there we were, ordering cuban coffee at one in the morning. Ahh…living!
So after my night with family and catching up I woke up at about the crack of noon for my trip to the Keys. It’s three hours away…no problem. I just can’t believe how much Florida has developed. What a few years ago was a lonely highway past Dade community college is now completely developed and thriving from all I can tell. Once past Homestead, US One becomes the two lane- mangrove lined nightmare it always was. However, it was nice to see all the new construction going on around the mangroves. Proving once again, that with strict environmental laws man and nature can coexist. I thought to myself, imagine that…Florida at the forefront of progressive environmental thinking. Who knew? So, with the top down and the sun radiating, I popped in my new cd to see if it would pass the convertible test. And of course, as I’m driving along I’m seeing all these old places that I used to go to when I was in high school and then college. Some of them, of course, were a blur but some memories were crystal clear. Basically I was just remembering being a struggling musician, playing all these bars but somehow knowing that I would get out of that circuit and someday, somehow be doing my own thing. And here I am twenty-some years later driving around in a convertible listening to my new record going to Key West to play at the Songwriters’ Festival.
It’s amazing how some things never change. Key West is pretty much as I remember it. I thought Key West was absolutely beautiful and come to find it still is. I checked into the beautiful Pier House where they serve the most delicious conch fritters and banana coladas on the planet. As luck would have it, my room overlooked a top-less beach. I’ve never minded being stuck in my room so much (lol). I had my first gig that night at the Hog’s Breath Saloon. (Last time I was at the Hogs Breath, I was playing drums with a reggae band in their patio. It wasn’t a gig, I just kind of stormed the stage and decided to play drums.) Obviously these were different circumstances but i was nervous nonetheless. After all there were some heavy-hitters there that night-Don Schlitz, Scotty Emerick, etc…I haven’t had a “hit” record in a long time and so I didn’t know how my new songs would be received. After a couple shots of Patron (or courage as I call it) I got up and did my thing and everything was fine. From then on, I was a bit more relaxed at these gigs. It was great to hear some of Nashville’s finest like Jamie Johnson and Bobby Pinson, and James Slater. There was a lot of great music played down there and it seems like the whole town just opens up for the songwriters. It was great fun drinking banana coladas with Robert Earl Keen,his manager Charlie Walker, and Jamie Johnson. By the end of the trip we had developed our own language made up of a series of grunts and howls and cackles that i think can only be reproduced under the right conditions (beach, sun, rum or whatever). Anyways, I’m pretty sure that if I get asked back…hmmm, let me think about this for a minute…peace and love, RM

Why??

Raul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:34:21 +0000

Why??

Is there a gas shortage? Has anybody heard this from (a) politicians or (b) the media?
Why are gas prices going up? They are supposed to be going down, after all our “IDIOT IN CHIEF” has declared “mission accomplished” in Iraq. I thought one of the reasons we went to Iraq was to “secure” the oil.
Why did I get a tax break a couple of years ago when I bought my Hummer (I have since sold it so hold your hate mail)? Why don’t we get tax breaks for buying hybrids?
Why is the fed lowering the special rate at which banks loan each other money? Something that hasn’t happened since, oh let me see… the “Great Depression”?
Why have we not declared a war on poverty? or hunger? We lost 63,000 jobs last month. In this 21st century, in THIS country, almost 1/3 of the population is at or near the poverty level.
Why do we still have an embargo with Cuba, yet almost everything we use in our homes is made in China?
Why do we spend billions on the “War on Drugs” yet there are more people using drugs than ever before in the history of this country (and yes this includes the 60’s)? The benefits of legalizing marijuana are far more effective than this “War on Drugs”.
Why can anyone of us be in a foreign country and receive immediate medical attention?
Why are our ports “secured” by foreign companies?
Why do we even pay taxes? Do you know that there is no law in the books that requires us to pay taxes. For that matter what the hell is the fed and why do they wield such power?
Lastly, why is our beloved “free” corporate-owned media continuing to talk about Obama’s “preacher” and his “fiery” rhetoric? I have to tell you I have seen the transcripts and the video, and I, for one, have to say that just about everything that he talks about in there is the truth. Also, when did it become unpatriotic to criticize this country? If you ask me I think we need more “fiery” rhetoric. If this country is not strong enough to withstand a little bit of a reality check then our fate is sealed.
Peace,
RM

Somebody Tell Me…

Raul — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:11:31 +0000

Alright…so I’m home quite a bit now as I prepare to make this record. And in between writing new songs or making a “demo” of a new song I find myself pondering/reflecting/observing quite a bit. Sometimes the pondering pertains to the upcoming election…sometimes it’s the “Big Bang” theory…sometimes it’s nothing more than the systematic total breakdown of our society. (I know, I know… I need to get on the road). I think one of the major problems with the world at large is communication. Yeah, yeah, I know we have technology now we only dreamed of when we were kids. In many ways that same technology sometimes interferes with what used to be our once much-valued family time. For example, do you ever go to a restaurant and see a family out together and the father has one of those ridiculous “blue-tooth” ear pieces? And yes, it’s almost always the father that has one on. I never see a woman out with her family with one of those. (Maybe they can’t find anything to match…lol…just kidding).( For the sake of this argument and any argument for that matter, women never do anything wrong, so I am going to focus on the men). I always wonder what kind of job they have that they have to answer their cell so quickly and speak for so long that they have attached an extra appendage to their bodies in order to speak to whoever is going to interrupt their meal. Is it not enough to have a cell phone on vibrate and answer it quickly and keep conversation to a minimum in order to enjoy your meal with your family or friends? Also, what did we do before there were cell phones? We didn’t always have them and we seemed to get along just fine.
I am not anti-cell phone or anti-technology but I am against ego-driven narcissism and stupidity. I don’t care what you do for a living , nobody needs to wear one of those stupid things at the dinner table. (My God I sound like a parent!) I just want to see if anybody else agrees with me on this or am I alone in this matter( as I am for most things.) I mean every time I see one of these clowns at a restaurant with their stupid little “ear-piece” I feel like going right up to them, yank that thing right out of their ear and smash it on the table and proclaim to them in a very loud voice “You are not a Borg yet!!” (Star Trek reference for all you “trekies” out there).
Anyways, I’m through bitchin’…Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody!
RM

Health Care?

Raul — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:00:48 +0000

Here is a true story of something that happened to me last week. I tell you this story because I was so enraged and disgusted at what happened, that I thought I would share it, if for no other reason than to let out my frustrations. Since my kids were born they have been taken care of by a prominent Children’s clinic here in Nashville. We are now going on thirteen years with no problems whatsoever. The doctors and everyone that works there have always treated my kids with loving care. Which makes what happened last week even harder to take. Well, the way I have my bills set up to be paid is that they go to my business manager’s office simply to ensure that they get paid promptly as I am always traveling. So, last week my oldest woke up in the middle of the night with a very painful headache. And I mean painful. I was very close to calling an ambulance but opted to let him fall asleep and take him to his doctor the next day if the headache persisted. Morning came around and off to school we went. Around noon I get a call from the school telling me that my son’s headache is back and he is in obvious pain. Naturally, I rush out of the house to pick him up and drive him to his doctor. Here is where this story gets ugly.
I call the clinic and the conversation goes something like this…
“Hi, this is Raul Malo, my son is experiencing really painful headaches and I need to bring him in…”
(receptionist)”Sir, we have an outstanding bill that needs to be taken care of before we can see him”.
(Me)”All our bills go to my business manager and they pay them, never mind that I was there a month ago with my other son and nobody said anything about this.”
After she told me that the bills had been going to my house I (again) told her that they should be going to my business manager’s office. After all they had been going there for about twelve years now. She still insisted that the bill be paid immediately or they would not see my son. So she proceeds to put the office manager on the phone with me who basically tells me the same thing…”We need to have this bill taken care of before we can see him”…even though I explained to her that the bills were going to the wrong place. Mind you, we are only talking about $400.00!! For four hundred dollars they were not going to see my son who had been going there since he was born! At this point in time I have had it. And I went on to tell this woman that she was exactly what was wrong with this country and with the planet.
I hung up the phone and picked up my son at school. He was feeling a little better and because of this situation with the clinic we went home. There was no way I was taking him there now. Worse case, I would have taken him to the emergency room at Vanderbilt. As soon as we got home I called up the clinic with my credit card, paid the bill and told the office manager to enjoy her $400.00. And that from this point on none of my kids were stepping foot in that clinic again. Now, what gets me throughout all this is that neither of them asked what was wrong with my son. But they sure have all the nice “Christian” sayings throughout the whole office about taking care of the “needy” and the “poor”…blah, blah, blah…Empty words from empty people, that’s what I say…
Here’s the funny thing about all this…earlier in the week I had the same situation with my veterinarian where the bills were going to the wrong place, etc…I had to get my puppy neutered and the other one had to have shots. They told me of my bill. I said it needed to go to my business manager’s. They said “no problem, Mr. Malo, we’ll see you later”. WOW! Wouldn’t it be nice to get that same kind of treatment for your children?
All the best, RM

Obama, Obama…

Raul — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:46:12 +0000

Well here goes…I don’t know if this will help or not, (I know it won’t hurt, besides Ihave way too much time on my hands) so here goes…I want everyone to know that I am supporting Barack Obama. I have, as I do every election, followed these candidates and their campaigns and listened intently to what they have to say. Even though I lean towards the democratic side, I tried to sit through a Mike Huckabee speech without wanting to mutilate myself or anyone standing around me. (Enough about the question of evolution…can we please get our heads out of our asses and teach empirical scientific data to our children so that they may grow up to be scientists and engineers and maybe, just maybe, make a considerable contribution to the development of our species?) How can the President of the United States (aka leader of the free world) be taken seriously if he does not support the teaching of evolution in school. I went to catholic school all my life. And we were taught evolution in school in science class…then religion taught us about the bible. And yes it was ok to have two opposing thoughts in your head at once. Eventually you would come to resolve this inner conflict created by your enlightened education in that phase of our life we like to refer to as “Adulthood”. Sorry about my rant here…I’m just really tired of these “right-wing, holier than thou, Bible-thumpers”.
I guess I said all that to let you know that there would be no way I would support a republican (or at least none from this class). Mitt Romney? Please…anybody who spends 40 million dollars to get a job should be investigated, interrogated, and finally put in a room with no corners and never allowed to interact with humans again. The presidency of this country should not be for sale. Period. Mccain…I know he’s a war veteran, and for a republican, he’s not the most conservative of the lot. But I’m afraid with him we would get more of the same except with someone that can actually finish a sentence.
Which leads us to the democrats…here’s a thought that a very excited (first-time voting) eighteen year old pointed out to me the other day…in her life she has only known of a “Clinton” or a “Bush” in the White House. Guess what? That is not good for business as we now see…think NAFTA and the deregulation of the FCC. Hillary was there when her husband signed these papers ensuring that what we see and hear is controlled by a select few. So, I’m not one of those liberals that thinks Bill walks on water. Quite the contrary, I think he wronged us in many ways. And as far as Hillary is concerned, where she lost me is in her support of the Iraq war. When the president’s approval ratings were at an all time high, and the country had been sold on this war, she stood right next to the president to ensure that her place in history was preserved. And I’m sure that her advisors told her that they could overcome any “backlash” from this and basically blame it on the republicans (which they have). Through it all, but especially when it was not popular to do so, Barack Obama opposed this war. And to me, by virtue of that alone he deserves my vote. Imagine that…a politician putting personal gain aside for what is right (What a concept!)
I also don’t buy that “lack of experience” nonsense. First, there is no way to gain experience for the presidency of the United States other than doing it. Also, what experience did George W. have exactly? He was a failed student, soldier, oil executive, baseball executive, governor, and finally president of this great land. And look what he has turned us into and how we are viewed by the rest of the world. And I know that there are those who will still say stuff like “we’re America, we’re the best…blah, blah…” well guess what…we are no longer number one at anything, except consuming and polluting. We need real change in this country. I know that I may seem naive here thinking that Barack can do it (I’m actually more casually optimistic). But even if there is just a glimmer of hope then it is a step in the right direction.
all the best,
RM

Happy New Year!!

Raul — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:23:49 +0000

Happy New Year Everybody!!!! 2007 has come and gone and the new year is upon us. I am looking forward to what this new year brings to us all. Every year around this time many people, myself included, reflect about the year and ourselves in order to improve our lives in one way or another. So we make these “resolutions” (eat less, drink less, quit smoking… quit smoking EVERYTHING, work out more, be a better wife, husband, son, daughter, student, dog owner…whatever). To most of us these appear to be rather attainable goals. But I’m sure that to some, or maybe just me, none are! (Just kidding, sort of. Although, I did quit smoking once.) So…in lieu of resolutions that I’ll never keep I am going to ask for something that is seemingly even more unattainable…a kinder, gentler world. Although I’m going to try like hell. Ironically enough, I write this as news of the assassination of Pakistan presidential candidate Bennazir Bhutto hit the airwaves.
I know that at times the situation seems hopeless (you know, the whole peace on earth thing). And perhaps on a global scale it may very well be. However, what I am referring to is an individual, personal effort that softens the “meanness” of our society. For example, at your local grocery store, as you wait in line to check out, the magazines in the stands read “So and so has too much cellulite… or so and so is dying of liver failure due to alcohol abuse…or so and so is just too fat to be at the beach” and on and on…Certainly most of us dismiss these as trite entertainment to pass the time. Nonetheless they are there spreading their venom to unsuspecting victims (aka general public). Do we really believe that K-Fed is a better parent than Brittney? Also, if cameras followed any one of us around for twenty four hours and we had no control of the content, chances are we would do something that somebody would not agree with. Those magazines and tabloids will always be there (after all it is a “free” society). So do we stop reading them? I wish. I certainly don’t read them but to each his own. All I am saying is that we should at least be aware of their presence and how they affect our attitudes about ourselves and how that “meanness” infiltrates our societal fiber.
This “meanness” that I keep referring to may very well be instilled in us from a very young age…a kind of “win at all cost” mentality that continues on through adulthood. You see it on tv,radio, and print. It is apparent in our electoral process, in our corporations, in our leadership (and not just Bush, although they have certainly perfected this attitude with diabolical circumstances).
I know I’ve rambled here a bit, so I thank you for sticking with me. I am well aware that I may be completely full of hot air. Nonetheless, my own self-importance(or the wine, I can’t tell) keeps me from hitting the delete button. If we lived in a kinder gentler world would atrocities still occur? Probably so. Poverty, hunger, war would all carry on. History has not shown otherwise. But we, as individuals, as a country, as a people can do our part for a better, brighter, future…and it starts within ourselves. Everybody will have their own way of going about this. Perhaps not watching so much television for some…reading a book…going to a museum… or doing something creative may work for others. I did something the other night that made my world kinder and gentler. After the kids had gone to bed ( which of course, immediately made my world kinder and gentler) I opened a bottle of wine and put on a Benny Goodman LP that I had not listened to in years. Yes, it had that wonderful scratchy noise. And yes you actually had to get up and retrieve it from a shelf and then walk over to the turntable and put it on…phew!! Exhausting!! Then the first verse of “Moonglow” plays through the house and everything is alright. For me, just knowing that a master craftsman, albeit, a supremely talented human being, not a machine with a microchip, is making those wonderful fluid sounds, sort of defines, for me, the world I want to live in. And I am reminded that at one point in our educational history we actually taught kids to play instruments. Not only enriching their lives while chiseling away that “meanness”, but making them better human beings along the way. Or, at the very least try to. (In Rockway Junior High in Miami, a public school in a very middle-class neighborhood, we had a full orchestra with strings and brass and woodwinds. Our teacher played every instrument in that orchestra). And for just a moment I was taken back to a kinder, gentler world.
Happy New Year Everybody
RM

Merry Christmas!!

Raul — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:25:11 +0000

I wanted to take a moment and wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In spite of personal trials and tribulations we still managed to make it through another year on this planet. And, if for nothing else we should at least be thankful for that. After all, like this forum proves, we are not alone in our suffering nor are we alone in our joy. This year, for me personally, has been amazing, heartbreaking, incredible, exhausting, exhilirating, trying, and whatever other word that ends with “ing”. And, for many of you, I’m sure that this year can be described as such. Yet, I am home for Christmas and my kids will have presents under the tree on Christmas day.
I want to thank all of you that have attended the shows, bought cd’s, blogged, etc…your contribution is immeasurable. You have made me feel like a king when I have been but a pawn. When my path was filled with doubt you set me on one filled with hope. You have been there through and through and I cannot thank you enough…May you have a wonderful holiday season and may next year be even better than this year!!
Peace and love,
RM

Ho! Ho! Ho!!!

Raul — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:44:56 +0000

First, I sincerely hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving with friends and family. Secondly, I would like to thank everyone that have come out (and will, hopefully) to our Christmas Party Tour this year. The crowds have just been fantastic and we (the band with the very talented Ephraim Owens on trumpet) have been having a ball. My voice has been holding up fairly well, despite leaving Nashville with almost none at all. I know I messed up a couple of songs in Pittsburgh (so sorry). However, it wasn’t because we were partying before the show. Besides, anybody that knows me, knows that I don’t party before a show. Now, after the show…well, uhum… I just made a joke (on stage) in order to not make any excuses about my voice. Luckily, we have a couple of days off and I get to relax at the Mohegan Sun. I know, I know…poor me!
It has been fun getting to meet some of the forum folks and getting to know you. You guys are the best and I thank you for all you do in helping to spread the word. I’m looking forward to the rest of the shows in all these great venues in all these great cities. I’ll check back in here after a while…
Peace and love,
Raul