Stephanie Courtney, The Ventures and incidental stuff...

Who is Stephanie Courtney? She's Flo, the Progressive Insurance girl. In the spot below the last blog, I saw they'd posted her pic. Beth and I both dig the commercials (although we dont have PI). Progressive has posted all her spots on YouTube. Here's one for Pet Injury Coverage.

The Ventures!! These guys ruled the guitar world for the better part of the early sixties. Literally. In fact, some statistics show that they outsold the Beatles in Japan and remain one of that countries most popular bands. To date, they're reported to be the highest selling instrumental rock group of all time. They've been classified as "surf" music, but they actually preceded the surf scene by several years.

What I love about The Ventures is the unrestrained simplicity of their work. These guys never showed off or did anything out of the ordinary, but everyone remembers them. There were no fog machines or flashy outfits. They simply got up and played music. Doing that, they influenced an awful lot of people. Here's another YouTube clip from their 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Walk - Don't Run and Hawaii Five-0.

So, do you think anybody got a dye job for this? And what about those saxes? I mean, is that little thing a saxophette? saxophina? I know what the other one is. That's a Saxophosissimo!! "That was a fabulous drumming experience...that we were treated to...by Mel Taylor's son..." Um...well...maybe not. It wasnt Gene Krupa or Buddy Rich, but it was The Ventures.

I guess I just have a soft spot for the regular guys who can go out there and do what they do, as well as they can do it, and make it work. Congrats to them on the RRHoF.