My Prejudice

That micro-moment before we know for sure what we’re experiencing...

Mary Lee KortesJanuary 28, 2020Taylor SwiftMazzy Starr, Taylor Swift, Mazzy Starr, Mary Lee's Corvette, Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee Cortes, Mistaken identity, Facial recognition, Rod Hohl, Portland, Michigan, pure michigan

Why Aren't You More Famous?

Mary Lee KortesJuly 25, 2019Mary Lee's Corvette, Mary Lee Kortes, Eric Ambel, Bob Dylan, Mallorca, Elton John, Fame

Can't you tell I just got back from Russia?

I’ve been to the deli, the bank, the gym. No one seems to notice.

Mary Lee KortesJune 17, 2019Spaso House, Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee's Corvette, Eric Ambel, Moscow, Russia, The Music Got Me Here, Dreaming of Dylan, Bob Dylan, Book Tour, Music tour, Jeremy Chatzky, Phil CiminoComment

The Day Patti Smith Blessed My Guitar

I'm one of those people who has trouble getting out of her comfort zone. It must not appear that way though because I get called "brave" a lot. I'm not sure what people are perceiving when they say that. I always thought of myself as playing it safe. I had a regular job for quite a long time—although I came to New York City to do it—before going full time into music.

The LatestrockwoodFebruary 26, 2019Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee's Corvette, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Patti Smith Epiphone, Epiphone Guitars, Caballero, Ephiphone Caballero, Anthony LaPaglia, Glen Burtnik, Lenny Kaye, Mary Help of Christians, East Village, Mercury Lounge, Guitar ShowComment

Time for a new year

Here it is again, the time when we reflect on the year that's passed, maybe on our whole past, and have hope for the new year. I’m remembering the moment years ago when I realized how angry I was that I couldn’t control time. I felt it should be my right. Not exactly a mature perspective. And if I could control time, I would most certainly end up losing many of the developments it brings. When things feel perfect though—

The LatestrockwoodJanuary 1, 2019Bob Dylan, Dreaming of Dylan, Eric Ambel, Happy New Year, Joe's Pub, Mary Lee's Corvette, Time is preciousComment

Belongingness Thwarted, Belongingness Fulfilled.

I'm one of those people who has a great need to feel like I belong. "Who doesn't?" would be a logical response. With tribalism, gang culture and assorted other group phenomena getting a lot of attention in the last few years, there's been a lot of focus on just how essential this is to human beings. I know, tell that to Ted Kaczynski or J.D. Salinger or Garbo. (Hmmmm...all dead or incarcerated.

The LatestrockwoodOctober 23, 2018belonging, belongingness, day job, international peace and security, Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee's Corvette, the UN, united nations, world peaceComment

Going home again

As T. S. Eliot once said, the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. It’s now August 2018. I’m savoring a short vacation, sitting at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. “Lake Michigan.” It sounds like a poem to me now.

The LatestrockwoodAugust 28, 2018Eric Ambel, Mary Lee's Corvette, Michigan, pure Michigan, T-S- Eliot, Thomas Wolfe, water wonderland Comment

Aretha and me

I was living in my dream home: a studio apartment at 24 Cornelia Street, the heart of Greenwich Village. Moving here from small-town Michigan, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Smack dab in the middle of the universe, according to me. Visions of Ruth McKenney’s “My Sister Eileen” romped through my brain.

The LatestrockwoodAugust 17, 2018Aretha Franklin, Greenwich Village, Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee's Corvette, Queen of Soul, Ruth McKenney, Say a little prayer, soul musicComment

Dreaming of Dylan: dream a little dream of him

Is it fall yet? Well, it’s trying. I sometimes prefer the word “autumn”. It reminds me of old songs. And then there’s “autumnal”. What a great word. Go ahead, say it out loud. I’ll wait.… There, doesn't it feel good?

The LatestrockwoodOctober 27, 2017Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan, Dreaming, Dreams, Dylan, Mary Lee Kortes, Mary Lee's CorvetteComment