Author: J H McIntosh

Introduction

Aaron Rizzer (a/k/a Professor Remember) is a principal character introduced in “Can’t Stop It” the first episode in the Jimmy Rogers Chronicles. In his youth, Aaron was a traveling band member before he became an A & R Director (Artist & Repertoire) for the McRecords, record label.

Having grown up in restaurants, Aaron was the equivalent of an “iron chef” long before the term even existed. At age seventeen he worked as the rounds cook in the Hotel Touraine kitchen covering every cooking crew member’s day off.

Aaron is the founder of Professor Remember’s Roadhouse & Bakery Cafe where Jimmy Rogers often performed with cousin David Perkins‘ band The Rhythm Kings. If the Professor was in the house, he would invariably jam with the band even after most of the patrons had left for the evening. Remember’s plays an important role in not only “Can’t Stop It”, but also in the sequels, “It’s Impossible” and “If Tears Were Dollars”.

“Can’t Stop It”, the first in the Jimmy Rogers Chronicles stories  penned by J H McIntosh is based on actual events. This first episode is a coming of age/murder mystery. It takes place during Jimmy Rogers‘ Senior year in High School. He is in a battle to break from his father Red Rogers‘ long held belief “life is a cruel joke, barely worth living”.

Red has felt this way ever since, when he was a Senior in High School he was blamed for the death of his own father. What kind of father would you be if you were blamed for the death of your own father?

If Jimmy loses this battle with his Father, Jimmy will take his own life?

In “Can’t Stop It”, Jimmy’s cousin David Perkins and his girlfriend Cathy Carlson both die under suspicious circumstances at Cathy’s birthday party. Were their deaths accidental or did someone murder them? If Jimmy does take his own life that mystery will go unsolved.

David and Cathy dying and Jimmy discovering his girlfriend Marie Scappelli in the arms of another are among the reversals in this first episode in the Jimmy Rogers Chronicles that send Jimmy to the top railing of the Langford Bridge.

Just as Jimmy steps off the top railing, “like a black angel of life”, Jediah Hudson (another principal character) seemingly flies through the air, grabs hold of Jimmy’s arm. Will the force of Jimmy’s downward plunge pull Jediah down with him into the cold, icy waters below?

One of Aaron Rizzer’s friends hung the “Professor Remember” moniker on Aaron because he’s a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of the icons of pop culture. Aaron was there at the birth of Rock n roll and proudly refers to himself as a “first generation rock n roller.”

As such, Aaron’s musical taste is heavily influenced by the emergence of black recording artists on white radio stations in the mid 1950’s in the USA.

Including Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Little Richard and their influencers Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Little Walter and both Sonny Boy Williamson I and II.

In turn, these black artists were the progenitors of those artists who “borrowed” that infections, rhythmic black sound to birth rock n roll. Including Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, Dale Hawkins and many others.

In addition to having been a band member and record executive, Aaron is a song writer, singer, mixing, mastering and recording engineer. He works with composers all over the world who bring his lyrics to life. Writing in a wide range of music genres, he’s hard to pin down to a single genre. Aaron plays blues harp and guitar. “It’s Impossible “is his personal favorite original song because it was inspired by Belle Marie Belizaire.

Belle is introduced in the opening scene of “It’s Impossible” when she becomes the hostess at Remembers. Aaron develops an unconditional love for Belle. “It’s Impossible” ends with Belle not able to embrace their love because of her past traumas. In “If Tears Were Dollars”, Belle reenters Aaron’s life seeking his protection from the two men who Belle witnessed murdering her boyfriend.

Important events in all three connected stories are punctuated by forty-four originals songs available on all major streaming services including Spotify and also at tsoul.com.

BTW, Aaron’s super power allows him to transform into an owl.