Tango is our passion. We dance it, we sing it, we feel it and we podcast about it. It is inside; you feel your heart beating harder. We found Tango.
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Do you have a passion that you really want to pursue, but fear keeps getting in your way? It's time for you to find the courage to step into your Discomfort Zone. The Discomfort Zone seems like a scary place, but it is the learning and growth zone. You can't follow your passion, fulfill your potential or accomplish great things (whatever that means to you) without stepping into, and through your Discomfort Zone. Host Anna Levesque is a distinguished whitewater kayak and mental agility coach. ...
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Join legendary comedian Bob Zany and his co-host Erin O'Connor every week as they sits down with the biggest names in comedy. You can't get much better than this, Bay-Bee!!
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Tango Profiles is a monthly podcast that tells the story of each of the most important composers in the history of Tango. The idea is to put faces to the names of the people who created tango. Adam Tully produces and hosts Tango Profiles from Buenos Aires. These audio essays have appeared on The Death of Tango, a radio show on WPRB Princeton, and are being released in podcast form starting in 2017.
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Ep #24 Holley Gardel on Adjusting Your Attitude and Altitude in Flying and in Life
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1:03:39
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In this episode, helicopter air ambulance pilot, Holley Gardel, shares strategies for transforming negative feelings into powerful cues that propel you to perform at your best. We talk about the power of mental performance training, how it unlocks potential in every aspect of life, and how it’s not just for elite athletes. Holley champions thorough…
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Ep #27 Shawanna Kendrick on Pushing Through Hard and Finding Freedom on MT Kilimanjaro
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51:31
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Shawanna Kendrick, founder of The Hiking, Healing and Outdoors Life (H2O), shares how her recent expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was both a personal and generational goal, and the lessons she learned along the way. Our conversation delves into cultivating self-awareness and personal growth through adventure, the benefits of pushing through…
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Ep #26 Benny Marr on Whitewater Kayaking, Ego and Choosing Confidence
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Benny Marr is known as one of the best big wave and river paddlers in the world, but I’ve always been just as impressed by his self-awareness, growth mindset and lighthearted humor. There’s so much packed into this episode! Benny shares his thoughts on ego and kayaking, and how he has used his ego for both ‘good’ and ‘evil’ throughout his career. H…
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Ep #25 Brenna Kelleher on Performance Coaching and Shifting Discomfort Zones
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Brenna Keller, a top PSIA ski instructor and guide, dives into the interplay between fear and excitement, highlighting how mindset can help achieve a flow state. .She explains how fear, when managed properly, can enhance performance. The conversation also examines the discomfort zone beyond skiing, particularly in communication and relationships, w…
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Ep #23 Abby Holcombe on Facing Fear and Staying True to Yourself
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46:51
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Abby Holcombe, a world champion kayaker who started paddling while traveling the world with her parents in their Winnebago van, shares her strategies for overcoming fear and building confidence while pushing her limits. Abby tells the story of running the Grand Canyon at the age of 12, and how that trip taught her the value of breaking challenges i…
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Ep #22 Shaun Eggie on Helping Veterans Heal Through Whitewater Kayaking
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In this episode, Shaun Eggie, a military veteran who has found healing through whitewater kayaking, shares his experiences and strategies for navigating discomfort and post-military life. Passionate about supporting veterans in re-integrating into civilian life, and healing mental injuries, Shaun talks about strategies for grounding, the importance…
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Ep #21 Sage Donnelly on Reaching Goals and Cultivating a Class V Mindset
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What does it take to get to become World Champion, and run some of the most challenging rapids in the world? In this episode, Freestyle World Champion and top extreme paddler, Sage Donnelly shares the strategies she uses in competition, and when taking on big whitewater, to calm her mind, stay focused and find her flow. Not only is she a successful…
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Ep #20 Chris Gragtmans on Setting Boundaries in Pursuit of Your Passions
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In this episode Chris Gragtmans, a former professional kayaker, life-long adventurer who now works in commercial real estate, talks about setting boundaries and finding balance between family, work and adventure. Chris shares his philosophy on working smarter, not harder, and why learning how to say no is key to his success in following your passio…
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Ep #19 Emily Jackson on Making Your Own Way and Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
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Emily Jackson, a three-time world freestyle champion and marketing director at Jackson Kayak, shares what it was like growing up in a famous paddling family and how her unconventional childhood has shaped her approach to discomfort and goal setting. She describes her journey of overcoming the fear of disappointing others, particularly her father, a…
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Ep #18 Cindy Frost on Firefighting, Hiking the AT and How to Make Powerful Choices
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Handling discomfort in high pressure situations can be challenging, and Cindy Frost, a lieutenant in the Austin Fire Department and avid adventurer, shares insights on how to respond powerfully. We talk about parallels between firefighting and whitewater kayaking, her experience solo thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, and the lessons she learned ab…
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Ep #17 How to Defeat Your Fear and Develop Self-Control Through Yoga
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If you want to grow your confidence, defeat your imposter syndrome and stop your fear from controlling you, this episode is a must listen. My guest, yoga teacher Michael Johnson, has the exceptional ability to make the practice of yoga and the understanding of yoga philosophy relatable, light hearted, and relevant to navigating your discomfort zone…
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Ep #16 How Perspectives About the River and Anxiety Change With Age With Rush Sturges
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In this conversation, Rush Sturges, renowned kayaker, filmmaker, and musician, shares stories of facing fear and uncertainty in kayaking and filmmaking, and the risks he takes to pursue his passions. Rush opens up about turning to meditation to manage a recent uptick in anxiety he’s been experiencing, and we talk about how to manage stress on and o…
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Ep #15 Completing Ironmans and Not Underestimating Your Capabilities With Kristin Evans
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In this episode of the Discomfort Zone Podcast, Kristin Evans, a nurse practitioner and Ironman triathlete, shares how she differentiates between mental versus physical discomfort to navigate the challenges test the limits of her mind and body. Kristin emphasizes the value and satisfaction of finishing the race, whether it’s surrounded by a cheerin…
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Ep #14 Kayaking, Mental Health and the Importance Of Community With Adam Edwards
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In this episode, Adam Edwards, professional paddler and content creator, opens up about mental health, humanizing whitewater kayaking, and his journey from focus on the gnar to prioritizing relationships on the river. Adam talks about how kayaking, and the Instagram reels he creates using kayaking fails, helps him work through his social anxiety an…
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Ep #13 How to Navigate Fear as a Family With Zenovia Stephens
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In this conversation, Zenovia Stephens, founder of Black Kids Adventures, shares her experiences and strategies for navigating the discomfort zone with her family. Zenovia shares how she creates supportive relationships, and boundaries with her family members to maintain personal space during moments of discomfort. She also highlights the significa…
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Ep #12 Be Willing to Fail and Never Give up With Nick Troutman
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47:29
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In this conversation, Nick Troutman, accomplished paddler and content creator, explores the distinction between fear and danger when assessing risk versus rewards on and off the water. Anna and Nick also explore how failing and making mistakes are key to experiencing growth and overcoming self-doubt at the highest levels of achievement and performa…
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Ep #11 The Power of Facing Reality and Focusing on Fundamentals with Reg Levesque (Dad)
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In this heartfelt conversation, Anna and her Dad discuss how losing his mother at the age of 10 shaped his view of problem solving, and how that was passed down to Anna as strategy for facing discomfort. They talk about the importance of focusing on fundamentals when breaking down problems, what it’s like to feel more vulnerable as you age, the pow…
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Ep #10 Staying Grounded and Thriving in Chaos
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In this episode, 14X Green Race Champion, Adriene Levknecht shares her strategies for thriving through chaos on and off the water, and how routines are key for her staying grounded. She shares how she preps for and overcomes fear in her paddling and racing, including her pre-Green Race rituals. Learn how stepping into her discomfort zone at an earl…
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Ep #9 How to Grow Your Zone of Stress Resilience with Sommerville Johnston
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Somerville, a licensed professional counselor and somatic experiencing practitioner, discusses how your nervous system works, and how you can grow your stress resiliency to face challenges. She shares strategies for getting comfortable with discomfort, and offers valuable advice on how to overcome perfectionism and self-judgment. Anna and Sommervil…
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Ep #8 How to Gamify Your Paddling for Performance and Longevity
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Clay Wright, a legend of the whitewater kayaking world who recently won Kayak Session Magazine’s Paddling Legend Award in 2023, shares strategies for keeping your passion for whitewater fresh, and your performance top-notch. You’ll also learn Clay’s journey growing up in a paddling family, and how being left behind on trips has shaped how he approa…
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Ep #7 The Power of Mtn Biking, Representation and Being Prepared with Laura Blythe
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In this episode of the Discomfort Zone Podcast, Laura Blythe, a passionate mountain biker and proud member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shares her wisdom on stepping into your discomfort zone to build confidence, healing and resilience. She shares her experience running up against barriers to entry into mountain biking, why representatio…
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Ep #6 Yoga and Embracing the Darkness with Joe Taft
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48:24
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In episode of The Discomfort Zone podcast, Joe Taft, a celebrated yoga teacher and yoga therapist, invites us to embrace every facet of the life cycle, even the challenging aspects found within the discomfort zone. He delves into the significance of self-awareness in confronting fear, offering tangible techniques for embracing these darker moments …
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Ep #5 Swimming the English Channel and Fat Shaming with Jennifer Whitlock
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44:37
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In this conversation, Jennifer Whitlock, a fearless nurse practitioner and accomplished open water swimmer who recently traversed the English Channel, delves into the transformative power of pushing boundaries to unlock your ambitious aspirations. Reflecting on her journey and the hurdles she faced, Jennifer underscores the importance of forging yo…
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Ep #4 Returning to Extreme Racing as a 50 yro Mom with Buffy Burge
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48:23
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In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Buffy Burge, a pioneer in Class V river running, talks about returning to extreme racing at the age of 50, after a 23 year hiatus, to race the Green with her teenage son. She shares why she feels that it’s important to be a strong role model for her sons in the realm of pursuing her own passions and f…
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Ep #3 Climbing Everest and Following the Beat of Your Own Drum with Philip Henderson
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39:09
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In this episode of The Discomfort Zone podcast, Philip Henderson, the leader of the first all African American Everest expedition, and pioneer in promoting outdoor activities for underrepresented communities, shares his insights on embracing discomfort and overcoming fear and anxiety. We talk about the importance of making choices based on personal…
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Ep #2 Navigating Discomfort in Relationships on and off the Water with Andrew Holcombe
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51:43
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In this episode of the Discomfort Zone podcast, Anna and her husband, Andrew Holcombe, (they met on the freestyle kayak competition circuit in the early 2000s), discuss their experiences with discomfort and navigating challenges in their relationship. They share their top 3 discomfort zone challenges as a couple, including the decision not to have …
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Ep #1 Welcome to the Discomfort Zone Podcast
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8:48
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In this first solo episode, host Anna Levesque introduces and gives context to the Discomfort Zone podcast. A mental agility and whitewater kayak coach, Anna defines mental agility and talks about what inspired her to share conversations with extraordinary folks who take on their discomfort zones for learning, growth and following their passions. L…
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For the first time we're looking at a lyricist (who was also a composer). E.S. Discépolo shaped the tango songbook in a significant way, injecting a healthy dose of porteño philosophy. Theatrical and literary, he was also sarcastic, quick-witted, and able to capture porteño pessimism using slang, highbrow references, and a dose of humor.…
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Osvaldo Fresedo was an orchestra leader, bandoneonist, and composer of tango classics like Vida mía. His career spanned the early, middle, and golden ages of tango, and he was a protagonist in a couple of unusual tango stories.By Adam Tully
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We have a great season ahead! It´s going to be a year of pairs.By Adam Tully
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Carlos Gardel is literally the face of tango, the most famous figure in the history of the music. More than a movie star, he was the composer of many of tango's greatest hits, and he was a folk singer who recorded hundreds of songs with this guitarists.By Adam Tully
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Year-end update...full episode coming soon...By Adam Tully
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Update on 2017...full episode coming soon...By Adam Tully
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Eduardo Arolas is one of the most important composers from the very earliest days of tango. His music, however, sounds years ahead of its time even though he wrote most of it before 1917. In this episode we do some listening and compare old and new recordings from his amazing catalog.By Adam Tully
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Lucio Demare is one of the great composers and proponents of tango, lush and expressive in style. In addition to penning the classic 'Malena' he got his professional start at a very young age, doing a particular job that was common in the early 20th century.By Adam Tully
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Tango is Troilo and Troilo is tango. In this episode we give you five dimensions of the great Anibal "Pichuco" Troilo, five ways to think about the iconic artist, the person who embodies tango itself.By Adam Tully
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Horacio Salgán was one of the tango composers most beloved by musicians. He was an innovator who created a personal style that drew from genres like chamber music and jazz, all the while sounding unmistakably like tango. He lived until just past his 100 birthday, in 2016.By Adam Tully
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In the 1920's tango had risen from low-class roots and become the music of the aristocracy in Buenos Aires. An elegant, tuxedoed Don Juan appeared on the scene. Juan Carlos Cobián was also a virtuoso pianist and gifted composer. Romance and adventure took him to New York and back, as he penned some of the songbook's greatest titles.…
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In today’s episode we talked about women. Women as a genre and as source of inspiration of so many beautiful pieces of art made with music. Tango, as we know, is music created a hundred + years ago, when the societies were different. The role of women was different too and there are also common places which defined women in the poetry of tango from…
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In today’s episode we talked about Catulo Castillo, one of the great creators that Tango gave. We discussed in earlier episodes, the history of tango, the lyrics of tango and the earlier composers like Angel Villoldo, Pascual Contursi, Cadicamo, Homero Manzi and Santos Discepolo. Cátulo Castillo, with his lyrics, dug the subjects that always haunte…
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I bet you know El Choclo, probably one of the most popular tangos along with La Cumparsita. We shared the story of its creator Angel Villoldo, a pioneer. He bears the title of Father of Tango, a somewhat exaggerated qualification because there were many circumstances which originated our music. But his influence was so important in the beginnings a…
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There are improbable stories in music history, unique examples of artists with very personal voices. In 1909 a young stage hand at an opera house discovered the music of Beethoven, sent himself to music school, and eventually became one of tango's biggest names.By Adam Tully
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In this episode, we talked about an icon of tango, his name was Carlos Gardel. We could make hundreds of programs talking about him; he was tango's first superstar and still one of its most enduring performers. He died young in plane crash in 1935, and he was the first singer to adopt the tango as a form of popular song. Previously, it had been ent…
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In this episode we discussed the origins of this lovely music called tango. Few people know that the major influence of this music is actually African, and it evolved from the candombe. We talked about how this marginal music and culture surged from so many different sources like that afro Argentinean, the European and the native Argentinean coming…
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La cumparsita is 100 years old. Starting as a simple melody written by a student, it soon became a magnet for lyrics, new music, spoken word, copyright infringement and lawsuits. Listen to this episode for the fascinating details, and some really good music.By Adam Tully
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Iconic tango composed by an Argentinean and Uruguayan 100 years ago, and probably the most played and danced, in all tango shows and milongas around the world and it is a tradition to be the last song in these events. "La cumparsita" is a tango written at the end of 1916 by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, with lyrics by Pascual Contursi and Enrique Pedro …
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In this episode, we talked about a beautiful, sad love story, Gricel, the love story that was immortalized in a tango song. The most interesting of this, is that this story goes beyond this 3 minute tango written by Jose Maria Contursi, because it’s actually a real love story, and in real life had a happy ending. This tango tells the story of a cha…
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If we talk of art in general and music in particular, and tango if we want to dig deeper, the lyrics have born many decades after the music of its hundred plus years of life. In this episode, we talked about the lyrics of the Tango. It was originally, in the 1880s, improvised instrumental music to cheer up parties and brothels, and with time it sta…
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Tango is our passion. We dance it, we sing it, we feel it and we podcast about it. It has to do with immigration; it was born in the late 1800 and has a lot of nostalgia. Tango historians defined 6 eras of tango since it was born. Those are: The Origins (until 1895)La Guardia Vieja – the old guard (1895-1925)La Guardia Nueva – the new guard (1925-1…
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Angel Villoldo is considered to be the 'father of tango.' His song 'El choclo' from around 1903 is one of the most famous tangos in history, but the original lyrics and melody are quite different from the ones most of us know. Here's the story of a very peculiar figure and the journey of his biggest hit.…
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