The Culture Vulture

No, not the 1815 romantic novel by Jane Austen, but Emma Cherry Rolf, professional actress based in Ronda.

Emma was born in England but grew up in Ibiza. She trained as an actress at the prestigious Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent and has worked professionally in the West End, throughout the UK and much of Europe.

She now lives in Benaoján, 20 minutes drive from Ronda. She is married to Paul Rolf who is a property designer.

[Footnote: My son, Tom Whitelock, also trained as an actor/musician at Rose Bruford College, 20 years after Emma. They met last year for the first time in Benaojan .]

    Publicity photo of Emma [ECR]    Tom, Su and Emma meet in Benaoján [Paul Whitelock]

Su, professional name Susannah Austin, is a great singer. Tom often accompanies her on double bass and as a backing singer:

Susannah Austin Don't Turn Out That Light - live gig in London club featuring Susannah and Tom

Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin - video of Susannah

West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - Tom performing live in Piccadilly to promote the Kinks musical "Sunny Afternoon"

'Sunny Afternoon' acoustic cover | Sunny Afternoon cast

Why is Emma in the news?

Next weekend Emma stars as the mother in “Bodas de Sangre” (“Blood Wedding”) by Federico Garcia Lorca, the Granada playwright murdered on Franco’s orders in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War which ushered in nearly forty years of fascist dictatorship In Spain.

Considered, along with “Yerma” and “The House of Bernarda Alba” to be the finest three plays written in Spanish of the 20^th Century.

This modern production will materialise on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 January 2025 at the Teatro Vicente Espinel in Ronda.

A few remaining tickets are on sale at Intersport Cary on Calle La Bola and at Restaurante Miyagi Exprés on Calle Jerez.

Proyecto Platea

Emma works at the Proyecto Platea Theatre Company, where she assists owner Marcos Marcell, a professional actor and director from Ronda. The company provide drama classes for all ages, and it is from these amateur actors and actresses, that some real talents have emerged.

I first saw this company perform a delightful one-act play in the open-air patio at the Convento de Santo Domingo in Ronda during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The play was called “Novias” and took place in the wedding dress shop of Dolores, where three brides-to-be had assembled for the final fittings of their wedding dresses.

    [Poster courtesy of Red Escena]

The plot, which revealed the truth behind the “weddings” of the three novias, was fascinating and with well-known songs interspersed, the whole thing was a delight.

As a result, I joined the adult class at Proyecto Platea.

Emerging talents

The amateur “stars” include a retired doctor, the owner of a Sports shop, a restaurant manager, teachers and students.

My favourite amateurs – in alphabetical order by surname - are Charo Carrasco, Avelino Écija, Nieves Rodríguez and Ana Belén Sánchez.

    Avelino Ecija [PP]              "Novias" (L to R: Charo, Emma, Ana Belen, Nieves) [PP]

Back to Emma

As well as her acting achievements, Emma has written a number of original play scripts with best friend Charo Carrasco, including the afore-mentioned “Novias”.

In August 2023 an anthology of their scripts, “Yo soy teatro”, was published and is available from Amazon.

    Publicity photos courtesy of Amazon and Charry TV

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Live theatre is back! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

TREADING THE BOARDS: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Photos:

Amazon, Charry TV, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Red Escena

Tags:

Ana Belén Sánchez, Avelino Écija, Benaoján, “Blood Wedding”,  “Bodas de Sangre”, Calle Jerez, Calle La Bola, Charo Carrasco, Charry TV, Convento de Santo Domingo, Covid-19 pandemic, Culture Vulture, “Emma”,  Emma Cherry Rolf, fascist dictatorship In Spain, Federico Garcia Lorca, Ibiza, Intersport Cary, Jane Austen, Marcos Marcell, Nieves Rodríguez, “Novias”, Paul Rolf, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Restaurante Miyagi Exprés, Ronda, Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Susannah Austin, Teatro Vicente Espinel, “The House of Bernarda Alba”, Tom Whitelock, West End, “Yerma”, “Yo soy teatro”

Who?

These consummate musicians are British, despite their Hispanic-sounding names; the former a long-time collaborator with Roxy Music, Phil Collins and others; the latter the mainstay of Tears for Fears together with Curt Smith.

Phil Manzanera

Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, OBE (born 31 January 1951), and known professionally as Phil Manzanera, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.

Manzanera is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, and was previously the lead guitarist with 801 and Quiet Sun.

In 2006, Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On an Island, and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America.

Early life

Manzanera was born on 31 January 1951 in London, England, to a Colombian mother (née Manzanera) and an English father, who worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and spent most of his childhood in different parts of the Americas, including Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba. It was in Havana, Cuba, that the young Manzanera, aged six, encountered his first guitar, a Spanish guitar owned by his mother.

His earliest musical accomplishments were Cuban folk songs inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

In Venezuela, the eight-year-old Manzanera started experimenting with the sounds of the electric guitar.

During his teenage years he was absorbing the twin influences of 1960s rock and roll and Latin American rhythms of merengue, cumbia, and particularly the boleros of the Mexican Armando Manzanero.

Music links:

Guantanamera Phil Manzanera

Phil Manzanera - 801 (Live)

Phil Manzanera: My Go-To Guitars

PHIL MANZANERA LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTTS - EAST OF ASTEROID

Roxy Music - Avalon

Roland Orzabal

Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana (born 22 August 1961) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author.

He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears. He is also a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams.

In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.

Early life

Orzabal was born Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 22 August 1961.

Orzabal's father, George Orzabal de la Quintana, was a Frenchman of Argentinian and Basque/Spanish roots and was often so ill that he was rarely seen by his children. 

Orzabal wrote his first songs when he was seven years old. The family later moved to Bath, Somerset, where he attended Culverhay School (later Bath Community Academy) and became a member of the Zenith Youth Theatre Company.

Early career

Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath.

Orzabal and Smith went on to form Tears for Fears, a new wave music/synthpop outfit.

Orzabal sings and plays guitar for the band, while Smith sings and plays bass guitar. Orzabal is also the band's main songwriter.

Orzabal and Smith were responsible for discovering pianist/vocalist Oleta Adams, whom they invited to collaborate on their 1989 album The Seeds of Love.

Adams appeared on several tracks on the album, most notably the hit single "Woman in Chains", which she performed as a duet with Orzabal.

Orzabal then co-produced Adams' album Circle of One (1990). The album reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in the US, and featured her transatlantic top ten hit "Get Here".

Orzabal also co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love. As well as playing guitar and singing backing vocals on the track, he also appeared in the song's accompanying promo video.

Music links:

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Shout (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains ft. Oleta Adams

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Wikipedia, YouTube

Tags:

1960s rock and roll, Argentinian, Armando Manzanero, Basque/Spanish, bolero, British Overseas Airways Corporation, Circle of One, co-founder, co-lead vocalist, Colombia, Colombian mother, constant member, Cuba, Cuban folk songs, Cuban Revolution, Culverhay School, cumbia, Curt Smith, David Gilmour, electric guitar, English father, Frenchman, George Orzabal de la Quintana, guitarist, Havana,  Hawaii, Latin American rhythms, merengue, Oleta Adams, On an Island, Phil Collins, Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, Phil Manzanera, "Rhythm of Life", Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana, Roland Orzabal, Roxy Music, songwriter, Spanish guitar, Tears for Fears, The Culture Vulture, The Seeds of Love, Venezuela, "Woman in Chains"

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A few years ago I wrote an article about the best rock and blues guitarrists. They included the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, Hank B Marvin, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison.

[Image: www.posters.es]

So, what’s new?

I’ve been sorting out my CDs and came across a double live album by Dave Gilmour playing in the docks in Gdansk, Poland.

    Dave Gilmour as a young guitarrist with Pink Floyd [Britannica]           Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

I’ve always rated Gilmour highly from his days with Pink Floyd, but this album blew me away. His playing was sensational, better than Clapton at his peak, I reckon.

Let’s be honest, since he deserted Blind Faith after one tour and one album, Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s missus .....

..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home, he’s done very little of worth since.

Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

                        Eric Clapton [El Español]

***

Peter Green was sensational as the front man of the original Fleetwood Mac, but after he fried his brains on drugs, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Carlos Santana is amazing. He still plays live concerts, although he is 77 years old.

Peter Green as a young guitarist in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias]   Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds was a top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.

Joe Walsh of The Eagles was also a great guitarrist who contributed hugely to the success of this California band.

The late Jeff Beck in his heyday [Britannica]                         Joe Walsh [Billboard]

Hank Marvin was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

         Hank Marvin [Wikipedia]                                             Brian May [Photo: X]

Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant.

Mick Taylor’s spell as a Rolling Stone marked him out as a great guitarist. Keith Richards? I’m not sure about that.

Jimmy Page [YouTube]    Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards [Wikipedia]

Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Outstanding!

Towards the end of The Beatles and subsequently, George Harrison demonstrated not only his ability as a songwriter but also his great guitar playing.

Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit]                        The late George Harrison, ex-Beatle [Rolling Stone]

Interestingly, of all the guitarists I’ve mentioned here, a number were given their big break playing for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Mayall was no slouch on the guitar either, by the way.

                                 [Photo: rafabasa]                                   [Album sleeve: Amazon]

There are other great guitar players from the 60s and 70s. I’m thinking of Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea, Pete Townsend of The Who, and Jet Harris of the original Shadows.

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Best Of Joe Walsh - Joe Walsh Greatest Hits Playlist Full Album

Blind Faith - Sea of Joy

Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home - London Hyde Park 1969.

Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace- Queen's Jubilee - God Save The Queen - YouTube

Dire Straits Greatest Hits Full Album 2022 | Best Songs Of Dire Straits

Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Hank Marvin - Apache

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary) [2023 Remaster] {Full Album} - YouTube

Santana - Black Magic Woman - 8/18/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)

The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD

And what about this for a bonus treat? George Harrison on stage at Wembley Stadium with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jeff Lynne in a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust in 1987:

George Harrison & Ringo Starr - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1987)

Photo acknowledgements:

20Minutos, Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, Facebook, La Razon de Mexico, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia, www.posters.es, YouTube, X

Tags:

Blind Faith, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Chris Rea, Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mercury, Gdansk, George Harrison, Golden Jubilee, Hank Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jet Harris, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Bonham, John Mayall, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Led Zeppelin, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Patti Boyd, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Poland, Primicias, rafabasa, roof of Buckingham Palace, Queen, Robert Plant, Rolling Stone, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows, The Who