Hard to believe I only just noticed that my nephew Joe Flamm was born on the same day as Allan Clarke, a founding member of The Hollies. Not the same year, of course, but both came into the world on an April 5th. You can add ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog and Chicago-based musician Steve Dawson to those celebrating today.
Allan Clarke’s distinctive vocals can be heard on several Top 40 Hits, including “Look Through Any Window,” “I Can’t Let Go,” “Long Cool Woman,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and “The Air The I Breathe.” The gorgeous harmonies he created with Graham Nash and Tony Hicks and the music he co-wrote with them resulted in The Hollies being inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Clarke retired in 2000, but released the impressive comeback solo effort Resurgence in 2019.
Joe Flamm will be opening his Rose Mary restaurant in Chicago’s trendy Fulton Market area on April 20, and it’s not just family pride that has me thinking it’s a big deal. My nephew was previously Executive Chef at the critically acclaimed Spiaggia restaurant on Michigan Avenue, and he won the Season 15 Top Chef competition on the Bravo channel. A recent video he posted to his Instagram page garnered 16,246 views. If I get 10 Likes on one of my Facebook posts, I think it’s a hit. Rose Mary will specialize in Italian and Croatian food, pastries and fine wines.
Singer-guitarist Steve Dawson has drawn critical acclaim for his work with the alt rock/Americana band Dolly Varden he fronts with his wife Diane Christiansen, as well as his other band Funeral Bonsai Wedding. There’s an article by Doug George in today’s Chicago Tribune about an emotionally rich, fairy tale type musical called The Plane That Took A Train that Dawson co-wrote with Bob Drucker for kids. It’s going to be released as a six-part podcast in the near future and features 15 songs. Along with Dawson and Drucker, the cast includes Thatcher Jacobs and Kar Kron.
In addition to sharing the same birthday, Agnetha Fältskog and Allan Clarke were both inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010. Definitely two good reasons for throwing a joint party. ABBA’s major hits include “Waterloo,” “Fernando,” “S.O.S.,” and “Dancing Queen.” Their songs inspired the Mamma Mia musical. While I’ve seen Allan Clarke, Joe Flamm, and Steve Dawson in person, the closest I’ve come to catching Fältskog in action was when local singer Holly Senchak Dausch and The Webstirs did a top notch ABBA tribute as part of a Halloweekend bash at Martyrs a number of years back. Amazingly, Senchak Dausch was every bit as believable as Courtney Love when her band Metropolly performed as Hole a year earlier.
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