Rep. John Hall (D., NY): From Rock'n'Roller to Congress

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Mr. Rock ’n’ Roll Goes to Congress
By KATE STONE LOMBARDI
Published: January 7, 2007


(Keith Bedford for The New York Times)
John Hall before an appearance on “The Colbert Report.”

AT the peak of their popularity, the 1970s band Orleans was touring 10 months a year, performing their big hits “Still the One” and “Dance With Me.” But John Hall, the band’s guitarist, wasn’t content to stick to the bouncy tunes and lyrics about sweet romance. He also used the stage to lecture audiences about the dangers of plutonium production....

***

Mr. Hall was one of many political activists from that era. But when he was sworn in as a congressman on Thursday, he became the first bona fide rock ’n’ roll musician in the House of Representatives. (Sonny Bono did not play an instrument.)

The ratty T-shirts and the long hair are gone, and the bare-chested album covers have given way to dark suits, conservative ties and wingtip shoes. When Mr. Hall, 58, unfolds his lanky frame out of his Subaru Outback, he looks corporate, and when he speaks, the words spew in paragraphs on topics like the importance of renewable energy and raising the minimum wage.

But then there is that moment he plays air guitar to illustrate how facile he is with his left hand. And there are the first name references to Bonnie, Jackson and Pete (Raitt, Browne and Seeger)....

Mr. Hall, a Democrat, defeated Sue W. Kelly, the Republican who had held the seat for six terms, to represent the 19th Congressional District of New York, which stretches from the Connecticut line, through the Hudson Valley, across the Catskills and to the Pennsylvania border....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/fashion/07hall.html

[Just-plain-Kathy]

1. During the elections...

my daughter and I met John Hall as we were leaving our neighborhood Kohl's. It was right after he appeared on Richard French Live and then on the Colbert Report, so we knew who he was right away.

He was very friendly, we joked around a bit...it was nice.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Sounds nice -- thanks for the report! nt

[OneBlueSky]

3. my new congressman, I'm proud to say . . . :) n/t

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