Smiles & Grins was born out of the original Jack Bruce fan club. The Smiles & Grins newsletter is currently on hiatus but back issues subscriptions are available. Smiles & Grins has featured stories, rare items and pictures of interest to Jack Bruce, Cream, Classic Rock and Progressive Rock fans since the mid-'80s and filled an important place, historically, in keeping Cream news accessible -- especially in the years prior to the internet boom. Among other noteworthy history, we were the FIRST anywhere to announce the 2005 Cream reunion to the world. Today, we (along with our friends at the official Jack Bruce web site and facebook page) reach a broader audience via facebook and the internet than we did with the print publication.
For music, art, and news, please join us at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanguard Productions/127661820833
JOIN THE JACK BRUCE PLEDGE PROJECT http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/286#project
Smiles & Grins is now offering a variety of items for music aficionados, including:
The MPI Ringo Tour video w/ I Feel Free, Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, Conquistador, Do You Feel Like We Do?; $19.95
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CREAM: Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton the book by Chris Welch {US $19.95 + $3.50 s/h ( $5.00 s/h outside the U.S.)}
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STEVE WINWOOD and ERIC CLAPTON
Three Nights Only at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, New York
February 25th, 26th, 28th, 2008
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In their reunion shows at Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are performing Them Changes in tribute to Buddy Miles who just passed away. They are also doing Voodoo Chile which Winwood recorded with Hendrix as well as most of their Blind Faith LP. The performances have been inspiring many standing ovations and moving many in the audience to tears.
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PRESS INQUIRIES ONLY
Kristen Foster / Kristen.Foster@pmkhbh.com
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23/AUGUST/2006
RIP Bruce Gary
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We are saddend to hear of the passing of the great drummer, Bruce Gary.
Bruce died Tuesday August 22, 2006 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Gary played with George Harrison, Bob D
ylan, Sheryl Crow, Rod
Stewart, John Lennon, Cream's Jack Bruce, blues masters Albert Collins and Albert King,
and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. Gary also worked as a producer on Jimi Hendrix
Blues compilation and The Lost Lennon Tapes.
Bruce and I were friends for over 20 years.
I always told him his drumming was like champagne--he liked that.
We had tentitive plans for various projects including CDs and a book.
He had so many great stories...that are now lost.
We love you Bruce. I'll see you on the other side.
J. David Spurlock
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27/OCTOBER/2005
PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE
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Cream Conquers America!
The Triumphant Return of the 1st Power-trio Supergroup Madison Square Garden Oct 24-26, 2005
Smiles & Grins founder J. David Spurlock was interviewed by Rolling Stone
magazine about Monday's show. He said, "Cream's New York shows rocked harder
than May's London shows and the set was updated with the addition of Tales
of Brave Ulysses!"
Spurlock also attended the ultra-exclusive CREAM after party October 26th in
NYC with Cream members Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and their
guests Carlos Santana, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Sheryl Crow,
Lance Armstrong, Sting, Kip Hanrahan, Scooter Weintraub, Derek Araujo and
many more.
Others backstage included Areosmith's Joe Perry, Funkadelic & Talking Heads
keyboardist, Bernie Worrell, Carmine Appice, Kevin Bacon, Lenny Kravitz,
journalist Chris Welch to name but a few.
Carlos Santana said Jack Bruce's spotlight of "Rolling and Tumbling was the
star on top of the Christmas tree."
Jack Bruce received the Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award
from Ron Carter on Saturday Night, Oct. 22 during the
Les Paul Tribute Concert at New York's Roseland Ballroom.
Entertaiment Weekly recently reported the New York Cream shows to be the
World's hottist ticket with floor seats selling on e-bay for over $4,000.00
each.
Jack Bruce said Cream was being photographed by Vanity Fair on October 27th.
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07/SEPTEMBER/2005
PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE
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It's official!
CREAM
October 24, 25, 26 at Madison Square Gard
en (only US dates)
Presale Sept 12.
Public sale Sept 19.
Through TicketMaster
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PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE
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MAJOR NEWS FLASH!
Smiles & Grins Music president J. David Spurlock announced July 7, 2005 that, "Rumor has it that Cream will play New York, Oct. 23-25, 2005. Official confirmation is yet to come."
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REPORT FROM LONDON
CREAM REUNION SHOW!
All of London and the world are a buzz over the rock event of the year,
Cream's re
union concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
Cream is the world's first power-trio supergroup comprised of legends,
Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker. As head of the original (20 years)
Jack Bruce Fan Club, I was interviewed about the event on BBC television and
on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Compared to the later nights, the first night of the Cream reunion shows
was like a rehearsal. While all the major press reviewed the first night as
very good, little did they know the other nights were much better.
My favorite was #3 of the 4, which was the most psychedelic.
Souvenir stands looked like a wild day on Wall Street with many items
selling out the first night!
Rock's royalty in attendance for the historic events included:
The Beatles' Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison's wife
Olivia; Pink Floyd's Roger Waters & Nick Mason; Sheryl Crow; Tom Hanks;
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page; Gary Moore; The Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman;
The Who's Roger Daltry; Cream lyricist Pete Brown, who I sat with the first
night; Traffic's Steve Winwood and Dave Mason; Elton John's Ray Cooper and
many more.
---J. David Spurlock
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MAJOR NEWS RELEASE!
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J. David Spurlock, Publisher & President of the Smiles & Grins Jack Bruce Newsletter and Fan Club announced November 8th, 2004 that the original supergroup, Cream, featuring Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton, plan to reunite for a series of concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall. The Albert was the site of Cream's legendary Farewell Concert November, 1968.
Spurlock, who created the Jack Bruce Fan Club some 20 years ago said, "Clapton is playing his best in many years and the time is right for a number of reasons." Clapton said he was "...eager to reunite as soon as Jack (Bruce) has recovered from his recent illness."
A series of 4 concert dates are planned for May of 2005. The original Power Trio's reunited once before, to perform three songs at the semi-private 1993 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies.
Smiles & Grins
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