Yamaha team working together on something new?

It is no secret that a team of British players, known as the Yamaha development team, are in Japan working on a new product.

The secret of Yamaha's success is that they have a team of top professional players to work with the firm's technical experts to produce something that is user friendly to the home keyboard enthusiast.   The positioning of the buttons (the tabs) is just one of the many detailed things that are considered.

Sound combinations and registrations are of prime importance to professional players - and if it suits the team's critical ears then it is sure to suit the home player.

This is where Yamaha score over their competitors because the software and hardware designers listen to what professional players have to say.  If other firms listened to players with over 25 years of experience they may (just may) catch up with what Yamaha have to offer.

 Organfax Radio Query

A reader has written in about something that has cropped up before.  He can't understand why he has to alter his default cookie settings on his computer before he can listen to Organfax Radio.   We have advised him to ask Organfax as we feel many enthusiasts are in the same boat - ourselves included.

See our letters page

www.organ.co.uk/

TOP TEN

The January top 10 albums at MSS have been added to on TOP TEN page - see Menu.

 New Klaus CD in pipeline

On the left is the cover for the new forthcoming Klaus CD which Alan Ashton has just finished compiling for Bell Musik. This will be a somewhat new departure from all the previous re-issues and compilations inasmuch that it is the first time that a selection of his famous Hammond Pops Series tracks has been re-issued. 30 tracks in total: 2 medleys from each of Hammond Pops Vols 1 - 10 and 2 tracks each from the Hits Again series Vols 1 - 5, the last of which saw the emergence of his new  legendary Pop Organ Sound.  The double CD is expected to be available sometime in February.  More details in due course from MSS Studios who will, as usual, deal with world wide mail orders. 

Jean Martyn looks forward to a great New Year

A reader sent us this newspaper cutting and thought it was more than interesting.   As usual, Bob Ware is by Jean's side.

You will note that the reader has drawn attention to a reporting error, inasmuch that Jean has made many albums over the years, much to her credit.

Internet TV

The report below confirms our vision of the future as far as the Internet and TV  is concerned.   We previously forecast that You Tube will be an additional TV channel, with videos galore for keyboard enthusiasts to enjoy.

 Samsung is now producing a 'Smart' TV that has easy access to the Internet.   The report says that Samsung is now the world leading TV manufacturer.

Do you know?

Answers

Here's the answers to something than may have tested your memory over the Christmas holidays: 

Demolish the Empire?

Residents in the Roman Market town of Neath are upset because of a planning application to demolish a 86 year old entertainment building to make way for 12 social housing flats.   The Neath Empire was a cinema that once had a Christie organ until it became a Bingo hall that closed in 2009.

The freehold was sold to Swansea Coastal Housing Association for only £400,000.   Meanwhile a lottery grant of £1.4 miillon was given to NPT council for a £2million refurbishment of the nearby Victoria Gardens - open air gardens built during the reign of Queen Victoria.

For this?

If planning permission is granted, the site will be based on the following plans:-

We feel that any enthusiastic millionaire could make a great investment by saving the Empire and making it a ballroom/entertainment centre based on the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
www.empirecinemaneath.tk

Ghost leaves lights on? See: www.neathferret.co.uk

A look back over the past year - 2011
New item in menu

We have looked at keyboard highlights of 2011, at least, some we reported, and have placed them on a special page.

If any player or keyboard enthusiast would like to add his/her most memorable humorous moment perhaps we can end the year on a bright note?   Why not share a moment of fun with us to see this year out?

Late Extra
The 2011 best selling mail order albums at MSS are now listed. Have you got these albums?  Many enthusiasts take a pride in collecting the top best selling albums.

Fun at the Sherborne

It is beginning to be an annual pre-Christmas gathering of organ-keyboard enthusiasts.   There is only one problem: the seating capacity of the Raleigh function room is less than the capacity of the hotel.   This means that keyboard events are being limited to 60 enthusiasts.   Already bookings are coming in fast for the first weekend of December 2012.   With turkey and tinsel and a half price bar - plus free wine at the reception, the event is full of good cheer.

Below is pictured the Keyklix Cheerleaders, Nicola and Donna led by Elizabeth Harrison (centre) at this year's event, which was fully booked over six months in advance. Early bookings are advised for 2012 - the deposit is only £30 per person if you book now.  The price of £169 per person for the half board weekend is something that no other hotel can match for an event of this kind - with everyone having a free gift, plus loads of free raffle prizes throughout the holiday break.

Pictured above is regular festival guest, Pam Pope, dancing with compere Graham Harding.   Everyone was delighted to see Pam after her recent medical treatment - and from her happy smiling face you can see how she is enjoying herself at one of her favourite events.

Do you know him?

Last week we asked if you knew the Blue coat pictured below and to guess who was accompanying him him on an electronic organ.

The answer is:  it's former Pontin's entertainment manager, Graham Harding, singing a George Formby song.  Graham appeared in cabaret at the December Sherborne Keyboard Winter Warmer.  Seated at the Hammond organ is Bryon Jones.   The picture was taken at Pontin's Barton Hall Torquay in 1981.

Below Graham is pictured with Andy Oakley and his hair transplant at the Sherborne December Winter Warmer.   Bookings are now being taken for next year's event where the seating capacity will be limited to 60 keyboard enthusiasts.   This year's event was fully booked since last May.

Lyme Bay Holiday Village is now a Tesco Supermarket

Tesco officially opened their Seaton supermarket on 21st November 2011 following a controversial build period.  It seems that is it still not plain sailing as many consider the site, formerly the venue of many keyboard music festivals, to be on a flood plain.

Tescopoly, an organisation looking into the dominance of supermarkets (Tesco in particular), is looking closely at the situation.  The Tescopoly website claim that Tesco now controls over 30% of the grocery market in the UK. In 2010, the supermarket chain announced profits of £3.4bn. Growing evidence indicates that Tesco's success is partly based on trading practices that are having serious consequences for suppliers, farmers and workers worldwide, local shops and the environment.

If you are interested to read more about this you can do so by clicking on the following link:
http://www.tescopoly.org/

Our Question:   Should Comet, Curry's, PC World and organ-keyboard stores start selling food?

Read more about how Tesco took over Lyme Bay

Look at what the East Devon Organ Club did for Ian Griffin !

Ian Griffin has always said that the only thing missing from his stage set up is a cabinet to go around the keyboard manuals.   The East Devon Club went that one mile further when he appeared at their venue. They made his stage set-up look like a cinema organ as pictured on the right.   The club's innovative stage arrangement with a 1930's art-deco colour changing 'book-end' arrangement added a touch of nostalgia to Ian's performance.

Jean Martyn Turns on Christmas Lights

Jean turned on the Cannock Christmas lights last night when 3000 people turned up for the event. Other news Jean is back at St James Palace in December with Dame Vera Lynn. Things still looking on the up for our queen of the keys.   What next, we wonder?

NEWS RELEASE FROM MSS STUDIOS/ORGAN1st:

ORGAN1st Radio launched in October 2007 with the November 2011 edition marking our 50th show. The first fifty shows contained a visual slideshow as a backdrop to the music (we were the first organ/keyboard show to do this). However in January 2012 this will be discontinued in favour of an audio only podcast which can be downloaded to your MP3 player via iTunes etc. Show 51 (online on December 1st) will be the last one containing visuals.

More details