Title: Out and about with Tom Oosterhoudt
Date: August 1, 2002
Source: KeysNews.com
Source: http://keysnews.com/275475898258000.bsp.htm
Location: US
Topic: Article/Interview
Pick: Yes
Listened to the radio lately? On the Eminem CD, "The Eminem Show," the cut "Without Me" says "Slim Shady" is back and everybody's kissing his a__. Hip Hopper Khia askes us to kiss her "neck, back, p____, and crack." In his number one song this week, Nelly sings, "it's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your clothes."
Yep, a lot of today's music is getting pretty sleazy. This is one big reason I support young Aaron Carter. He has had two double platinum CDs and two platinum videos, that's two million sales of each one, and he has yet to utter one even slightly naughty word. He is the number one rapper in many European and Eurasian countries. Aaron's most recent American chart-topping hit song touched many of us with the lyric, "Girl, it's true, I'm all about you." How ironic that a 14-year-old reminds us that romance is still alive?
Kids in Key West don't have a lot of good role models their age, and this past week the mayor and city commission saluted two young men who have made a difference through talent and hard work.
Dajon Sawyer recently brought home five gold medals for gymnastics from the junior Olympics with less than two years of practice on the bars. The city is very proud of Dajon, especially all his friends and relatives in Bahama Village where he grew up.
Aaron Carter and his family became full-time Keys residents about three years ago. When I first met Aaron, I admittedly knew little about him and just thought of him as my friend Nick's little brother. Since then he has blown everyone's mind by becoming the number one teenage pop singer in the world. Aaron has even earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most hit songs of anyone his age in history. And not one dirty word in them.
Yet another amazing feat for young Aaron is that he is selling out major venues and huge arenas when he goes on tour. His winter tour dubbed "Aaron's Winter Party" hit 26 cities and now his new summer tour, "Aaron's Rock, Rap, and Retro Tour" will hit 30 cities.
Aaron's concerts are more like Broadway productions than typical concerts, Not only does he have his own band and backup singers, but these are some of the best young dancers on stage today. And this is not to mention the state-of-the art props and lighting that will blow you away.
In this coming tour, Aaron will actually fly out over the audience. Such a tour requires more than a month of daily 10 hour rehearsals, involving the entire crew. Last year, his mom and manager, Jane Carter, took the rehearsals to Fort Lauderdale and rented the Sunrise Musical Theatre for a month. This year I talked Jane into keeping the rehearsals in Key West, renting Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center for the month of July, and putting up the whole crew in local hotels and guest houses. Naturally they eat out a lot as well. And we all know that every little bit helps our local economy during this slow time of year.
Having Aaron rehearse in Key West is great public relations for our city as well. Aaron constantly tells the press how much he loves the Keys and has become an avid diver. Not bad public relations coming from the world's most popular teenage pop star.
Back in January I couldn't help but notice that the Miami City Commission made it Aaron Carter Day when he performed a one night concert there at their Knight Center. It seemed like a "no brainer" for me to recognize such a great role model for youth everywhere with his own day here in Key West. I want to thank the mayor and my fellow city commissioners for going along with me.
Aaron spoke to the crowd and told everyone how much he loves it here. He gave each of the commissioners an Aaron Carter Doll and signed autographs for every one of his little fans who attended. On the way to his car after the affair was over, a tiny young girl said she didn't have a pen or paper to get his autograph, so Aaron actually gave her his cap that he was wearing. Maybe we need more Aaron Carter Days.
It was great to host this year's Lorian Hemingway short story competition again, at my home, Casa Antigua, which was Lorian's grandfather, Ernest's, first island residence. Lorian looked better than ever and proudly read from her latest novel, "A World Turned Over." As usual, many of Key West's favorite authors were on hand for the event, and a great time was had by all. Special thanks to my special friend Carol Shaughnessy, who has selflessly worked to keep Hemingway Days alive for many years.
While I was writing this week's column, staff at Mangoes restaurant told me that "The Make A Wish Foundation" had given a woman with terminal cancer -- and just two months to live -- her final wish, to visit Key West for the first, and probably last, time. She had just arrived, so I dropped everything to rush down and officially welcome her and tell her how honored we were that she chose Key West for her final vacation.
The Key West Restaurant and Bar Association is treating her and her husband to some special meals and the Grand Key and Banana Bar are helping to put them up.
My eyes watered up driving home and I thought to myself, "God, I love this city." Thank you all for making it so special!
Keep those e-mails coming to the Colorful Commish at TomO@oosterbooster.com
