David Bowie's Homage to Uncle Floyd (Vivino)

The following is written by our talented Guest Blogger "Mary Mary" Ciuffitelli and was first published for Malia Collective.  She brings together David Bowie (nee David Jones), Jimmy Durante and Uncle Floyd.

Rest in Peace David Bowie, who I just discovered recorded a song in tribute to NJ Italian-American icon Floyd Vivino. 

This bit of news came via Monkees.net. Some of you know that, for me, all roads lead to The Monkees. I especially love the points where The Monkees and Italia meet. There are so many. Like, Micky’s dad was an Italian-born Hollywood actor. Or that The Monkees once sang a comic “Mussolini We’re with You.”   "I got a million of ‘em," to quote Jimmy Durante — who handed them their Emmy in 1967.

So here’s this winding road: David Bowie, born David Jones, changes his name in the 1960s so as not to be confused with gigantic pop star David Jones of The Monkees. In the 1970s, Bowie becomes a huge fan of the Uncle Floyd TV show, watching episodes with fellow fans Iggy Pop and John Lennon at the Dakota. In 1981, he attends Uncle Floyd's live appearance at the Bottom Line and later records the song "Slip Away” paying  tribute. 

I wasn’t familiar with the song, but its quintessential Bowie. Been listening to the playlist on Youtube. Haunting.

RIP David Bowie 

Oogie knew there's never ever time
Some of us will always stay behind
Down in space it's always 1982
The joke we always knew
Oo-oo
What'sa matter with you
C'mon, let's go
Slip away
Oo-o

Songfacts: the song’s story and lyrics   http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6803

  

David Bowie: The Other David Jones  by Fred Velez on Monkees.Net  January 11,2016 

“Bowie was very friendly and charming and was thrilled to be at the club as an Uncle Floyd fan enjoying the show with the rest of us. Bowie later recorded the song Slip Away as a tribute to Uncle Floyd.” 

http://www.monkees.net/david-bowie-the-other-davy-jones/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Monkeesnet+%28Monkees.Net+-+Full+Data+Feed%29

"Slip Away” video: This version includes photo of Uncle Floyd with Sicilian-American Cyndi Lauper. Though there are other beautiful versions of Bowie in live performances, mentioning the show.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgPQKYLFzY

Live performance with projected clips of the show, lyrics, and a shout out to Floyd:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cimAyPdRtpg