It was pointed out to me by my friend (who prefers to remain nameless…no really) that I have been neglecting Diggz.org lately. This is very true. I’ve been busy working on other things like Tropo.com, GWOB.org and traveling quite a bit for both. Here and there I’ve had the opportunity to play some piano.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get back into the habit of posting content to Diggz.org.   In the spirit of that, I’ve recorded a new edition of Johnny Diggz Live.  I hope you enjoy…

Here’s the video that inspired me today: I’ll Be Back Beatles Cover

If John Travolta and William Hung had a baby…Johnny Lee is back on stage at Baby Grands Dueling Pianos .  This time with even more dance moves and even more of teh awesome.  Enjoy…

This is a song I wrote a couple of years ago for a novel/film project I’ve been working on for close to 10 years.  It’s the story of a boy named Kris who grows up to become the man we all know as Santa.  The book has just recently been published…Check out Santa Is Real for more info.

Merry Christmas!

The Snowflake Song Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Snowflake Song

Counting snowflakes, counting dreams, count the days til Christmas eve,
Count the snowflakes, count the stars, count them if you’re near or far,
Falling Snowflakes, tumble down, Lift your head and spin around,
Falling Snowflakes, Count them all, a Christmas wish as snowflakes fall.

Crystal snowflakes, crystal night, keep my brothers, warm and tight,
Watch my sisters, safe and dear, til I return next Christmas year,
Falling snowflakes from above, each unique and filled with love,
Keep them safe until I call, my Christmas wish as snowflakes fall.

Making angels in the snow, playful children, watch them grow,
Read their letters, wrap the toys, each made with love for girls and boys,
Little angels, all around, close your eyes and settle down,
Snowflake angels, find them all, my christmas wish as snowflakes fall.

Falling snowflakes from above, each unique and filled with love,
Keep them safe until I call, my Christmas wish as snowflakes fall.

I’d THOUGHT I’d pretty much heard everything John Lennon had recorded, music or otherwise. But in 1969, a 14 year old Toronto student interviewed John Lennon (I assume at one of his bed-in press conferences for peace). I recently came across this interview, which has been enhanced by some fantastic animation. His message from almost 30 years ago still rings true today.

When I was in my 20′s, all of my friends and I would regularly visit Howl at the Moon on Church Street in Orlando.  It was something we did religiously (appropriate for Church Street, no?)…start our night of partying at Howl at the Moon.  I was hooked…I loved the show, I loved the whole idea of dueling pianos….that the players took requests and did funny bits and got the whole room singing at the same time.  It is true interactive entertainment. Modern-day vaudeville.

But I also remember thinking to myself, no matter how hard I practiced, I could never do what those guys did on stage.

Now, (ironically) many years later, I do.  Mind you….I’m certainly not the best dueling piano player…I’m still learning.  I trained at Howl at the Moon (which subsequently moved away from Downtown Orlando to International Drive).  For almost 3 years I’ve been doing the gig part-time and had the opportunity to sit across the pianos from some AMAZING duelers:  Ken Jamison, Joe Genuardi, Brian Wilk, Scott McGilvery.

When I heard that there were plans to open a new dueling piano bar on Church Street…right across the street from where Howl used to be, it was like an opportunity for me to come full circle.  And for reasons that certainly expand beyond purely my skills as an entertainer, the folks at Baby Grands Dueling Pianos have embraced Johnny Diggz as part of their family.  It’s a great team of players led by Orin Sands (formerly of Howl at the Moon and Crazy Pianos), Rob Volpe, PJ Gartrell and Libby Brcka…all of whom I’ve played with before.

The club is in the old Olive Garden Space (above Amura Sushi…across from 55 West) in the Church Street Marketplace.  Find the elevator on the south side of Church Street (under the walkway) and go up to the second floor and walk straight into the bar.

During the first couple weeks we’ve been open, I’ve been quietly taking some pictures and video.  I pasted a few together really quickly so here you go…I hope you enjoy….

Marya Murphy was kind enough to hold my iPhone and record this.  As far as I know…the sole recording of this performance.   The video is crappy, The audience was gracious.  It starts off with me explaining how I ended up coming to the first 140 Character Conference.  Jeff Pulver rocks.