Know Your Roots: The Art, Magic, & Joy of George Abdo

I would say that almost every American Bdancer has heard and or danced to a George Abdo song. Hadouni, Hadouni anyone? But what do you know about George Abdo? I searched through 15 pages of Google looking to learn more about the man behind the Art, Magic, and Joy of Bellydance and found ONE personal article about him. All the rest where links to buy his music. I found no info on where he was from, how he got into music, or how he became a staple in the American BD consciousness.

Why don't we know more about this man? I mean, he gave us the art, the magic, AND the joy right there. He laid it all right out in stereo no less.

Here is the article I found cut and pasted here with a link to the author's site at the bottom.

George Abdo:Remembering a Legend
by Eric Peterson

When George Abdo passed away in May of 2002, I felt compelled to mention him in as many related e-mail groups and web-sites as I could. Fittingly, I should have something here on my site honoring him as well.
For me, it all started with “George Abdo and The Flames Of Araby.” As I’ve mentioned in my Bio and my Favorites links, my memories of his music go back to my childhood.

Seeing George Abdo’s live performances at the Averof, as well as my listening to his recorded work, it made an indelible impression on me, and continues to inspire me. I know for a fact that I would not be the musician I am today if it wasn’t for George and his phenomenal group of musicians. Many special thanks to drummers Steve Kouyoumjian and Leon Manoogian.

I believe that he was a true pioneer in the medium of Middle Eastern music and dance here in America. So much of what’s happening today wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Abdo and others of his generation in the 1960’s and 1970’s laying the ground-work and setting the template. Whether you were performing or teaching a dance class over the last 30 years, chances were that his music was present; it was perfect for learning.

I’m fond of saying that aside from his wonderful singing voice, his great gift was as a band leader and musical arranger. His arrangements were totally new within the context of Middle Eastern music, with the needs of the dancer totally in mind, thus he pioneered something new and accessible to the American audiences that were coming to the shows. He brought this music out from the weddings and haflas and into the clubs. Another very important detail was the role of the dancer as an essential contribution to the musical ensemble, and not simply as a decorative ornament. I feel in this context the dancer was part of a band, which was very different in America previously, where belly dancing was to be seen mostly as Burlesque, with completely unrelated music, or a worse environment - Hollywood movies. I believe he helped bring belly dancing to an appreciative art-form and changed its image by being faithful to it, without removing the sensuality from it, or disguising it with colorful genre terminology such as “Goddess Dance” or “American Tribal” sub-divisions that thankfully, didn’t exist in those days drawing boundaries. If this was all he ever did for the art-form, his contribution is huge.

He helped create the genre of belly dance music here in America as we know it today.

In a new context, Abdo and others helped forged an effective arts medium with a newly defined identity where the belly dance music and belly dance itself were one. The music communicated and moved with the dancer as a partner, they were complete. One was simply not an additive for the other. George Abdo was certainly an innovator who forged the template for this now defined medium, or genre.

It’s important for me to mention here that even though Abdo and his band were doing “Fusion music” they did not stray far from the indigenous, cultural context and details of the songs, rhythms and structures. So important is this, as to make this music have its proper form, yet be something new as well. This is something so evidently missing from many groups here today doing American-Middle East music, many who are being born out of SCA events and Renaissance fairs all around the U.S. This is why many of them (in my opinion) sound like Celtic, New Age, or Renaissance music, without any connection to the roots that I can hear.

All of the musicians I’m referring to in Abdo’s band had strong connections to Arabic, Greek, Armenian, and Turkish music, as they were Armenian, Greek and Arabic musicians born here in the U.S. This was the music they heard in their homes, the music their parents listened to.

They also loved all other kinds of music as well, some also played rock and jazz, so when they give it a new twist and bring in these influences, it doesn’t lose its definition. With this noted, his music is so much more needed today to educate and learn from, for both musicians and dancers if you’re going to do Fusion. But above all, just to listen to some really great and exciting music, his albums certainly deliver whole-heartedly and more.

I’ll never forget those nights at the Averof when I experienced the live music and belly dancing, as it truly blew my mind. The combination of the energy rush from this powerful group of musicians, and the strong, sensuous, beautiful women who exquisitely interpreted the music, I say it was unforgettable. This power of men and women creating Art together, this was Abdo’s music personified. This is music that both men and women can relate to and identify with.

I’m listening to his recordings a lot these days. Forever preserved is the excitement, presence, and phenomenal musicianship, great songs, and singing, all that has left its impression on my psyche from over 25 years ago. This is the mark of great musicians who’ve left a charge of Baraka in the world.

Thanks for the Baptism George! Above all, thanks for all the great music.

You will be missed.

Salaam
------------------
Original article (and photo of George) found at http://www.geocities.com/ericnpeters/george_abdo.html
------------------

Hear samples and buy George Abdo music on MP3 here.

Read a short tribute here.

Know anything about George Abdo or where to find out more about him? Add it in the comments.

How the hell do you say Abdo anyway?


Finally, a live cover and dance to Hadouni, Hadouni by Karnoushm with Autumn Ward

~N

Now playing: An Inconvenient Truth
mood: TURKEY!

Thanksgiving Oops

my igoogle throughout the day.

Someone just sent me a "If I don't see you, Happy Thanksgiving" text at 8am. And in my sleepy haze of hitting snooze every 5 mins. and hearing my phone I totally deleted it.

I think I know who it was from but I don't want to say just in case I'm wrong 'cause I will feel like an ass. Still not fully conscious. So, this is to "you" whoever you are,

"Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! See you soon."

We will be going down to the Hollar for a few days once I get off work. Hope everyone travels safe and if you are dumb enough to go shopping on Black Friday maybe you are dumb enough to buy me cool stuff while you are out...I mean smart enough. Yeah, I meant smart.

~N

The Flying Greek

Manoli Savvenas and me, 2005 (if you enlarge this pic, I'm totally sticking my tongue out)

Here's a little local trivia for you.
Find "Mike Pappas" pics here

Published February 13, 2004

Wrestling's 'Flying Greek' trades in flying kicks for fine jewels

It was the late 1950s, the '60s, the early 70's. There were three channels, if you could tune them in.

On Sunday mornings, gospel music reigned. The Happy Goodman Family, the LeFevres.

But on Saturday nights, wrestling was king. I don't remember that there was anything else to watch. Other people I've asked remember the test pattern on one station and a black-and-white Indian that served as a test pattern on another station, but nothing else — other than wrestling.

My father ate it up. He also dragged me to the Shrine Mosque for Wednesday night wrestling matches when I was in elementary school, where people got so wackoed over what was going on that they flailed their fists in the air and even rushed the wrestling mat.

As I cowered in my seat while men fist-pumped above me, I was watching one of Springfield's jewelers-to-be, Manoli Savvenas. Who knew?

Savvenas was on the ticket sometimes with Andre the Giant, Cowboy Bill Watts, Tom Thumb, Bruiser Bob Sweetan, Dusty Rhodes, Danny Hodge and other big names from my past.

I don't remember "The Flying Greek" from my childhood, but looking at Savvenas' old posters I don't know why I don't. I was going to the wrestling matches here when Savvenas, as the hairy-chested "Mike Pappas," was flying at opponents in perfect horizontal "head scissor kicks," thrusting his body parallel to the ground, grabbing his opponent's head with his feet.

"Because I was small, I was doing stuff that people liked," Savvenas explains, "drop kicks, flying kicks, head scissors. I was very fast. When someone was giving me the flip" — a move that sent most wrestlers onto their backs — "I land on my feet. They throw me on the ropes, instead of landing on the ropes, I land on my feet."

So, the diminutive Greek, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1969, made a career. In 1973, bookworm Valerie Barnes moved across the hall from him in his apartment building in Paducah, Ky.

"My family all watched wrestling and they all loved him, but I'd never watched wrestling," says his wife of three decades. Instead of watching TV, Valerie would be in her room reading Nancy Drew mysteries and novels as she matured. "It wasn't the wrestling" that won her heart, she says. "He was just so nice.

After 11 years on the wrestling circuit, wearing out his cars and leaving his young family behind, Savvenas decided to return to the trade he learned in Greece, making jewelry. Having played the Shrine Mosque, he'd grown to love Springfield. He and Valerie came here in 1978, and he did custom work for other jewelers until they opened their own shop in 1985.

Savvenas is still athletic, able to do Russian jumps from the floor on Greek dance nights, but he doesn't miss wrestling. "To me, it was just a job."

Contact News-Leader columnist Sarah Overstreet at 836-1188.
Online post found here.

Great Pyramid Mystery to Be Solved by Hidden Room?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/11/081114-pyramid-room.html

cool huh?

Blast from the Past: Beledi 2004-2005

I found a CD with 820 pics on it from 2004-2005 from the days when Beledi Bellydance & Ancient Arts was still around. Wow, that's been over 3 years now. I had forgotten how cool the Commercial St. studio looked. Here are some of my favorite pics. Enjoy!

~N

Click pics for larger view.

I heart TITO!

the plie' with turns to the back, the shoulder rolls with arabesques, the straight-legged shimmies, the taxim at 5:10, the awesomeness!



Tito's web site

Greek Line Dance FAIL

Sa'dia and I failing at Greek line dancing. I am wearing my green dress = skirt.

How I apply false lashes.

now playing: cable tv
mood: baked goods

GUESS WHAT!

I got my camera back!



Which way to the beach?

Sa'dia and I pose in the office @ Galloway Station in the most patriotic colors ever! I salvaged that red liquid lame out of a box of material and put this "new" costume together in just a few hours with my gold/silver bedlah. Matched along with the beautiful necklace and earrings from Marharet.

Cost = Zero dollars!

Bellydance Super Hero = Priceless

~N

Now playing: Nightmare Before Christmas
mood: poo...my throat hurts =(

Camera "misplaced"

Greek night went well. Good crowd. Good tips.

Unfortunately, my digital camera was "misplaced" after I left it in the office. I had just taken some super awesome pics of me and Sa'dia before our second set. When we came back to change the camera was gone. Everything else was still there, our purses, our tips from the first set. Just no camera.

Which really sucks because I wanted to show off my 2 new costumes. I failed on the previously posted costume challenge but won with my "dress = skirt" costume and my "liquid lame super hero" costume that I fashioned from old stuff in my closet. And I have no pics to show for it. =(

This super blows. Luckily Christmas is just around the corner. I am going to try and pool my Christmas money and get a new camera.

Now playing: the Punisher (2004)
now drinking: dark chocolate mocha frappuccino

In Love

Improvisations in Epirotika style by Jonathan Lewis.

mood: a McDonald's happy meal with chicken nuggets, fries, and BBQ sauce (yeah, I know Micky D's food will rot your insides but ..."Ba Da Ba Ba Baaaaa!")

Costume Challenge

So, Greek Night is Saturday and I'm really really tired of wearing the same 2 or 3 costumes over and over (for what 4 years now?) I have more costumes than that but the are my fancy fancy ones that I don't really want to wear to the restaurant. Not to mention that I am broke.

I am going to try to put together two of the September / October 2008 Dancer Designs costumes by Saturday for only $20. And that is really only because I probably need a new bra to go with it.

Sounds impossible I know but I have plenty of skirts already. All I really need it some matching scarves and some broaches for pinning. I think I can do it for super cheap by hitting up the Jewelry and Handbag store or that new $1 jewelry store everyone is talking about. I also have plenty of random jewelry and broken mismatched bling I can use to fancy it up a bit.

Anyone else want to take this challenge with me? How cheap and fabulous can you put this costume together? Send me links to your pics in the comments section.

~N

Now playing: Greek music galore!
mood: wassail

PS. I am very happy about the election. For once I voted for the guy who actually won! That only took like a decade.

Greek Night this Saturday!

Greek Night at Galloway Station in Springfield, MO. Saturday Nov. 8th

Greek food and music all night!
Bellydancing at 9:30pm and 11:30pm

Hope to see you there =)

Know Your Roots - Bert Balladine

Lesson for today:
There is no limit to how much pumpkin bread you can eat over the course of a week.
There is a limit to how much chili you can eat over the course of a few days.

I just voted!

I just voted!