Sunday, November 19, 2023

Erica McKenzie, Musician

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Singer/songwriter Erica McKenzie taught herself to play the guitar on a handed-down Gibson Epiphone, then studied Vocal Performance and Classical Guitar. 

The proper term for an enthusiastic follower of Erica is, 'Erican.'

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@EricaOneWomanBand #EOWB #Erican @GibsonGuitar #IAmAnErican 

Saturday, November 18, 2023

The Grinch

 

The Grinch was very animated, with a warm, friendly personality.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Bert Berkley: Leader, Philanthropist, Military Veteran

 

Bert Berkley turned 100 years old a few months ago.

He served in the United States Army during World War II, then the U.S. Army Reserves.

Shortly after graduation from Harvard Business School, he was called back to active duty - at the height of the Korean War.

Bert served an additional 17 months, 11 of those in Korea. As a first lieutenant in the infantry, he led his platoon on harrowing night patrols. 

He swore if he made it home safely, he would live a life of service.

And, he did. Bert has worked diligently to make a difference in Kansas City, and beyond. His philanthropy and leadership is seen in countless charitable endeavors, serving in leadership roles in numerous nonprofit and industry-related organizations.

In 2008, he co-authored the book, 'Giving Back: Connecting You, Business and Community.' 

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@TensionCorp #TensionEnvelope @USArmy  

Friday, November 17, 2023

Fashion Model

Kansas City Fashion Week.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@kc_fashionweek #model #fashion #runway

Tobias Wood, U.S. Army, Musician

Sergeant First Class Tobias Wood, United States Army, Team Leader of Loaded Brass, a component of 312th Army Band.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@312thArmyBand @USArmy #trumpet #LoadedBrass 

Drew Six, Musician

Drew Six's newest single, 'Just Spent Time', was released this morning.

His original songs have been honored by ASCAP, The Recording Academy, and utilized by ESPN.

Spotify: 'Just Spent Time', Drew Six 

YouTube: 'Just Spent Time', Drew Six

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@DrewSix #SingerSongwriter #Nashville #KansasCity #CountryRock #Guitarist #Vocalist 

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Drum Mallets

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Micah Burdick, Musician

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@musicbymichah #guitarist #vocalist  

Holiday Tree, Christmas Tree

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@BambooPennys

 

Miu Tanapohn, Thai Fashion Model

#WomenYouShouldKnow

My friend, Miu Tanapohn, on the Kansas City Fashion Week runway.

Designer: Jennifer Tierney.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#ThaiModel @miutnp @miutanapohn @jtierneyofficial @jennjtierney @kc_fashionweek #fashion #model #runway 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Keshon Duke, Musician

Keshon, performing with the St. Louis-based band, JAM: Jackson And Mars.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@JacksonAndMars @Fender #bassguitarist 

Kayla Fletcher, Pilot

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Captain Kayla Fletcher, United States Army National Guard, is Pilot In Command of this Black Hawk helicopter air ambulance.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@sikorskyair #BlackHawkHelicopter #PilotInCommand #BlackHawkPilot

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Maestro Michael Stern, The Kansas City Symphony

 

Having fun with The Kansas City Symphony's Music Director and Lead Conductor, Michael Stern.

This 2023/24 season is Michael's last, and he will be profoundly missed.

Photograph © 2016 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@kcsymphony #Maestro 

Lou Eisenbrandt: U.S. Army Nurse (Retired), Book Author

 

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Affixed to Lou Eisenbrandt's car, is a Vietnam veterans license plate. When her spouse is with her, people assume he is the military veteran.

Lou is the veteran who served in the war, not her spouse.

She suffers with Parkinson's disease from exposure to Agent Orange during her service in the United States Army's 91st Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai, Vietnam. She was an emergency nurse from 1969 to 1970 - the height of the war.

She was exposed to Agent Orange while cutting fatigues off wounded soldiers; their clothing was coated with the herbicide. 

Lou recounts her evocative experiences in her book, "Vietnam Nurse: Mending & Remembering" (Deeds Publishing).

She was honored with an award from the Military Writers Society of America. 

And, she has written a new book, "Unsteady As She Goes", about battling Parkinson's disease after Vietnam.

Women are military veterans, too.

Photograph © 2017 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@loueisenbrandt @usarmy @mwsa.member #MilitaryVeteran #ArmyNurse 


Monday, November 13, 2023

Joseph Ranaghan and Deann Kinsch

 

Deann and Joseph are Deann & Seph Duo.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@dkinsch @deannofficial #DeannAndSephDuo #guitarist #vocalist 

Best Kansas City Wedding DJ

Joseph Straws III, Kansas City DJ, is honored as 'Best Wedding DJ' 2023 by The Pitch magazine.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@djjoekc @thepitchkc  

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Leaf

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Nick Nave, Musician

Nick Nave: Guitarist, vocalist.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

 

David Buller, Musician

 

David, lead guitarist, Cherry Bomb.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@cherrybomb_rocks #guitarist

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Veterans Day

We owe our military veterans a debt of gratitude.

Listen to their stories to understand their service. Sacrifices they made to serve and protect us are important. 

We are grateful. Thank you.

These ribbons belong to surgeon Charles Van Way III, MD, Colonel, United States Army Reserve, Medical Corps, Retired.

Photograph © 2016 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#VeteransDay #MilitaryVeterans #FamiliesServeToo 

Chase Harting, Pilot

United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 2, Chase Harting, is Pilot in Command of this Apache attack helicopter.

He is stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@chaseharting @usarmy @fortrileypao #AttackHelicopter #CombatHelicopter #HellfireMissiles #Gunship #Boeing #FortRiley #ApacheHelicopter 

Friday, November 10, 2023

NFL Cheerleaders

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Welcome the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader on the left; it's her first year.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@ChiefsCheer @Chiefs #NFLCheerleaders 

Veterans Day

November 11 is a day each year to honor American military veterans.

Some veterans need help, and Veterans Community Project can assist.

"VCP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk veterans with tiny homes, wrap-around support services, and emergency assistance."

I made this photograph at the Tiny Homes Village at Veterans Community Project in Kansas City, Missouri. Military veterans there were formerly homeless, and suffering with PTSD.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@vcp_hq @vcp_kc #MilitaryVeterans  

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Sergeant Brittany Shaner

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Sergeant Brittany Shaner, United States Marine Corps, is a rifle sharpshooter, and her units coordinator for Toys For Tots, Kansas City, Missouri.

Don't let her charming smile fool you; she's tough. 

And, she's not a female Marine. She's a Marine.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@tayt.1998 #Brave #Courageous #Strong @usmarinecorps #ToysForTotsKCMO #SheIsAMarine #UnitedStatesMarineCorps #SupplyNCO #Logistics 

 

Chris Blackwell, Musician

Chris, performing with the Atlanta-based band, A1A.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#guitarist  

Leaves

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Steve Paddock, Musician

Steve, performing with The Phil Collins Experience.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@pcexperience #keyboardist  

Bird

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#NoAI

 

Bill Latas, Musician

Bill, performing with The Elders.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

@blatapus @theelderskc #guitarist 

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Sunglasses

Persol.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@Persol #PersolEyewear  

Leaves

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Cheeleaders

#WomenYouShouldKnow 

Cheerleaders are high-performance athletes, who train and rehearse constantly.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

 

Monday, November 6, 2023

Nicki White: Guitarist, Vocalist

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@mama_nickiwhite #musician

Loren Ginden, Vocalist

Loren, performing with The Wednesdays, Wednesdays at Hermans.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@lginden @wednesdaysathermans #vocalist  

'Quite Frankly'

 

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#quitefranklytheband 

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Zen

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 


Bobby Watson, Musician

Bobby Watson is an alto saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator.

Bobby performed at the White House twice.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#jazz #saxophonist  

Willie Wilson, Former Baseball Player

Outfielder Willie Wilson played for the Kansas City Royals from 1976  to 1990.

Willie was the 1981 'Royals Player of the Year', and a two-time All-Star selection.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@kcroyals #outfielder 


Saturday, November 4, 2023

Lester Estelle Sr., Musician

Portrait of a guitarist. 

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@LesterEstelleSr @EastmanGuitars #ContemporaryJazz 

Estella Luttrell

#WomenYouShouldKnow

My friend, Estella, is a writer, photographer, director, novelist, and screenwriter.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@estella_polaroid_dream_ 

Leaf

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Friday, November 3, 2023

Henry Conlon, Musician

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@henryconlonmusic #Nashville #singersongwriter #guitarist  

Event Photography

At social events, I occasionally lost track of guests I needed to photograph.

Photograph © 2012 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

#shoes #drinks #salacious 

Violinist

Photograph © 2017 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

The Kansas City Symphony #violin #musician 

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Mike Bozzoli, Musician

Mike, performing with Perpetual Change.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@mbbozzoli @boz_music_kc @perpetualchangeband #guitarist  

Hallmark

Donald J. Hall is Chairperson of Hallmark.

It was he who oversaw the introduction of product lines for African-Americans, Hispanic, and Jewish customers.

Adele Hall,#WomenYouShouldKnow, served tirelessly for many civic boards of directors.

I recall being in the office of Don's father, Joyce Hall, admiring his accomplishments. Don and Adele's contributions have been equally significant.

Photograph © 2011 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@Hallmark #HallmarkCards 

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders

 

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Cocktail Conversation

Photograph © 2012 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

#hands

Nate Wilkinson, Musician

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@nate.wilkinson #guitarist 

Paul Alan Burns

#ActorDirectorIdealist 

Remembering Actor / Director Paul Burns:

Paul's mother enrolled him as a youngster in a theatre production at an apartment complex. He loved it.

He was so moved playing Lazar Wolf in 'Fiddler on the Roof' in school, he wanted to be Jewish for a time.

Paul earned a Master's Degree in Acting and Directing, and worked in all Kansas City theatres.

In 2009, Paul was accosted by a person, leaving him with a very long scar extending across his left cheek, down the side of his neck to his jugular vein. 

We talked about having me document this story with photographs. He loved the idea, and soon after the sutures were removed, I visited him at his home.

Those images reside in my archives; I never used them in a story.

Paul passed in 2022. We miss him.

Pictured is Paul, with Krystal Heib, now Krystal Bishop.

Photograph © 2012 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@calidrill