Monday, November 28, 2016

Article - Saint Monica Parish and Tommy Loughran

An article I wrote for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's website PhilaPlace.org on the history of Saint Monica Parish in Philadelphia and boxer Tommy Loughran was published on their website this evening.

You can check out the article via the below link:

"Saint Monica Parish and Tommy Loughran" by Matthew Ward

http://www.philaplace.org/story/1866/

Enjoy!

MW

Friday, November 25, 2016

Article - Veteran Boxers Association Ring One

An article I wrote for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's website PhilaPlace.org on the history of the Veteran Boxers Association Ring One in Philadelphia was published on their website this afternoon.

You can check out the article via the below link:

"Veteran Boxers Association Ring One" by Matthew Ward

http://www.philaplace.org/story/1858/

Enjoy!

MW


Thursday, November 24, 2016

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

The MWHE Podcast is on iTunes!

The MWHE Podcast is now available on iTunes!

You can check out my podcast on iTunes via the following link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-ward-history-experience/id1178237076

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!

The MWHE is also still available on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/matt-ward-427598454

THANK YOU for your support!

MW


Monday, November 21, 2016

Waylon Jennings' Grave

Waylon Jennings' Grave 
City of Mesa Cemetery
1212 N. Center St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
(Near 9th and B Streets)

Waylon Jennings was a country music singer who was born on June 15, 1937 in Littlefield, Texas. Jennings began singing and playing the guitar at age of ten, and started performing professionally at the age of 12. In 1959, Jennings was playing bass guitar in Buddy Holly's backing band. He was supposed to be a passenger on the February 1959 flight that crashed and killed Holly, but he gave up his seat to J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Singer Richie Valens was also killed in the crash. 

Jennings went on to work as a DJ for radio stations in Coolidge and Phoenix, Arizona. In 1961, he signed a record deal with Trend Records, and had success with his single "Another Blue Day". In 1963, he signed a contract with A&M Records. At A&M, he recorded a number of popular songs including, "Four Strong Winds" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". His first solo album, Waylon at JD's was released in 1964 on the label Sound Limited. From 1966 to 1986, Jennings released numerous albums on the RCA Victor and RCA Records labels, including the popular 1974 album The Ramblin' Man featuring the hit single "I'm a Ramblin' Man". His first record on MCA Records, Will the Wolf Survive, was released in 1986. This was the first of four albums released on the label. 

Throughout his career, Jennings wore his trademark black cowboy hat and dark attire. These articles of clothing accented his dark hair, beard and mustache. 


From 1979 to 1985, Waylon Jennings performed the opening theme for the television show Dukes of Hazzard "Good Ol' Boys". He also served as the narrator for the series. 


Jennings teamed up with other country music legends including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. These four artists put out three albums as the Highwaymen between 1985 and 1995. 


Jennings' style of country music inspired many future artists including Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He recorded over 60 albums, and had sixteen Number One country music singles.

Jennings suffered from diabetes throughout his later life. Complications from diabetes ultimately led to his death at age 64 in 2002. Jennings passed away in Chandler, Arizona and is interred in the City of Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona. Jennings' final album, Goin' Down Rockin': The Last Recordings, was released about ten years after his death in 2012. 



Below are three links with more information on Waylon Jennings and his grave site, along with a few more photos that I took of his grave in Mesa:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/a-visit-to-the-grave-of-waylon-jennings-6615880

http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/a-visit-to-the-grave-of-waylon-jennings/

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-waylon-jennings-songs-20140616

MW





Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast - Episode #10

Check out the tenth edition of The Matt Ward History Experience Podcast!



Episode #10 contains the following segment:
  1. The Weigh-In - Interview with boxing historian and Editor-in-Chief of Philly Boxing History.com John DiSanto

You can check out John DiSanto and Philly Boxing History.com online via the following websites:

Philly Boxing History.com Page - http://www.phillyboxinghistory.com

Philly Boxing History.com Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/Philly-Boxing-History-114800752100/?fref=ts

Philly Boxing History.com Twitter - @phillyboxing

John DiSanto Twitter - @johndisanto


First and foremost I would like to thank my guest John DiSanto for sitting down at the Veteran Boxers Association Ring One to talk boxing with me. 

I would also like to thank the members of the band Replicant and my guest announcer Nigel Corning Browning for stopping by the One Stone Recording and Mastering Studio to be a part of this milestone episode. You can check out all things Replicant via the following link: 


This episode would not have been possible if it had not been for the technical support of my good friend Peter Lloyd of One Stone Recording and Mastering. Pete mixed and cleaned up the original recordings into the great episode that you can now stream on SoundCloud.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of my readers and listeners - Especially our friend JP Favara who supports the MWHE on Patreon

YOU can also support the MWHE on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4183621

The Matt Ward History Experience is brought to you by One Stone Recording and Mastering in New Brunswick, NJ. Check out One Stone Recording and Mastering for all of you mixing and mastering needs. Go to onestonerecording.com/mwhistory and receive 10% off your first session!

One Stone Recording and Mastering:




MW

Friday, November 11, 2016

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day to my brothers and sisters in arms, both past and present!

The second photo is a photo of yours truly at Kuwait Naval Base during my 2010-2011 deployment with the U.S. Army.

MW



Monday, November 7, 2016

Two Year Anniversary!

Two years ago, the Matt Ward History Experience launched!

Thank you to all of my readers, listeners, and podcast guests for your support!

Here's to many more years of the MWHE!

Cheers!

Your friend,

MW



Wednesday, November 2, 2016

University of Pennsylvania Quakers Football

Franklin Field 
235 S. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

The Matt Ward History Experience traveled to Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the fifth stop on the 2016 College Football History Tour. The University of Pennsylvania Quakers hosted the Brown University Bears (Providence, Rhode Island) on October 29th.





Founded in 1876, the University of Pennsylvania Quakers football team bills itself as "college football's most historic program." Over their long history, Penn has played in over 1,300 football games, more than any school in college football. Penn plays its home games at Franklin Field, the oldest stadium in football. The stadium was built in 1895, and once served as the home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles from 1958-1970. Franklin Field has also been the home of the Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition, since 1895.


Penn football has seven national championships (1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1924), and a 1917 Rose Bowl Game Championship. The Quakers defeated Oregon 14-0 on New Year's Day to capture this title. From 1938 to 1953, George Munger served as head coach of Penn football. Along with coaching some of the best players in the program's history, Munger compiled an outstanding record of 82-42-10.


The Quakers competed as an Independent until the 1956 season when they joined the Ivy League, a conference that they continue to compete in today. Penn captured its first Ivy League Championship in 1959. Penn has captured a total of 17 Ivy League Championships, with the most recent title coming in 2015 under head coach Ray Priore.


Penn football has had a number of notable players over the years, including 63 First Team All-Americans. John Heisman, the namesake for the annual trophy given to the best player in college football, graduated from Penn in 1892. Heisman played for the Quakers from 1890 to 1891, and coached the team from 1920 to 1922.


The Maxwell Award is given out to the collegiate player of the year. As of 2016, three Penn players have received this honor including Bob Odell (1943), Chuck Bednarik (1948), and Reds Bagnell (1950). Penn also has its share of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame members, including Chuck Bednarik (Class of 1949) who was inducted in both halls of fame.




Below are a few more photos, along with two links with more information on the history of Penn football:

http://www.pennathletics.com/page/football-history

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/sports/football/1800s/sources.html

MW