| • | Jadin Wong: She Danced Through Stereotypes
Jadin Wong: She Danced Through Stereotypes Read More...
May 19, 2010 |
| • | For Every Drop of Rain That Falls, a Flower Grows
Renaissance man Ben Fong-Torres remembers Loni Ding, filmmaker & activist, & Barry, his late brother. Read More...
April 05, 2010 |
| • | A Parade for the Tiger (No, Not THAT Tiger!)
Our very own Ben Fong-Torres ushers in the Year of the Tiger as he co-hosts the largest Chinese New Year Parade in the western hemisphere. Read More...
February 28, 2010 |
| • | S.F Chinese New Year Parade: The View from the Broadcast Tent
An R rating for the Chinese New Year Parade broadcast? Thats what raced through my mind when we saw the topless dancer on the Forbidden City float. Ben reminisces this week, as he gets ready to co-host live telecast of the largest Chinese New Year Parade in the western hemisphere. Read More...
February 23, 2010 |
| • | New Year Parade: Remembering the First Time
New Year Parade: Remembering the First Time. Read More...
January 25, 2010 |
| • | Asian Elvis Has Left the Building
Asian Elvis Has Left the Building Read More...
November 23, 2009 |
| • | Memories Are Made of This
Renaissance man Ben Fong-Torres muses about reunions, memories, and congratulates the Community Youth Center in SF Chinatown. The CYC has a brand new home, and unveils a plaque honoring Barry Fong-Torres - his late brother. Read More...
October 08, 2009 |
| • | Telling My Story, In Words and Music
AC's Renaissance Man Ben Fong-Torres is invited to share highlights of his life and times to a packed audience in Mill Valley. Read More...
September 23, 2009 |
| • | A Super Day in Hollywood, Impersonating an Impersonator
A Super Day in Hollywood, Impersonating an Impersonator Read More...
June 17, 2009 |
| • | \'You Don\'t Know Jack:\' The Story of a Renaissance Pioneer
Our Renaissance Guy gets to know the story of a REAL jack of all trades: Jack Soo. Read More...
April 01, 2009 |
| • | A Guest Writer Checks Out AC\'s \'Renaissance Man\'
Our very own Renaissance man Ben Fong-Torres was the co-host of the Emmy award-winning telecast of the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade the largest parade of its kind in North America.
When he is off-camera, Ben is very busy working on his new books soon to be released.
The guy does take a break every now and then - you might be lucky to spot him in a jam session on the second Tuesday of each month at a local hang-out in San Francisco.
In the following feature, Mitzi Mock writes of her close encounters at the All-Star Jam session. Read More...
January 29, 2009 |
| • | Hooray for 'Hollywood Chinese'
Our Ben Fong-Torres is knocked out by Arthur Dong's latest film, Hollywood Chinese. ACTION! Read More...
May 17, 2008 |
| • | Raining On a Chinese New Year Parade
Our Emmy award winning Ben Fong-Torres weathers his 12th year as co-host of the SF Chinese New Year Parade televised broadcast and finds a silver lining with the weather forecast for rain - Ratings! Read More...
March 04, 2008 |
| • | Steering Toward Rock; Rolling Toward Rats
Ben blogs about blurbing a beauty of a book. Read More...
February 02, 2008 |
| • | It Certainly Wasn't The Same Old Song
A punky rock song about our own Ben Fong-Torres? It's true! Read it and sing! Read More...
December 21, 2007 |
| • | Pass the Catch-Up
Fresh 'n' frazzled from a Rolling Stone reunion, and with a new radio show, Ben Fong-Torres comes out of hiding. Read More...
October 26, 2007 |
| • | Manhattan: Chow, Ciao, and Visits to TV Land - and the Summer of Love
Manhattan: Chow, Ciao and TV Land. Read More...
August 03, 2007 |
| • | Ed Jew's Dilemma: When A House Is Not a Home
Supervisor Ed Jew gets into trouble; our Ben Fong-Torres gets into People magazine. Read More...
June 23, 2007 |
| • | 'Ching-Chong' and 'Flied-Lice' On the Air: Enough Is Enough
Ben gets tired of shock talk and picks up an Emmy. Read More...
May 24, 2007 |
| • | A Visit with Bill Clinton: Health and 'Heartbreak'
AC's Ben Fong-Torres meets Bill Clinton and remembers Don Ho. Read More...
April 23, 2007 |
| • | Fun & Games with a Videocam And a Multimedia Montage Site
Ben on the Fangs and their AsianWeek publication of Kenneth Eng's 'Why I Hate Blacks' column. An apology is not enough.
Ben then joins the 'You Tube' video generation and shares behind the scenes clips of his fun prepping for and co-hosting the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade broadcast on KTVU. Plus a session with The Doors' Ray Manzarek. Read More...
March 06, 2007 |
| • | Dropping Names & Lifting Spirits In The Year of the Pig-er, Boar
Pee-Wee Herman is back, and he talks with our Ben Fong-Torres. Read More...
January 28, 2007 |
| • | C'mon, Baby, Light My Fire
Ben writes a book about The Doors and almost has them slammed on him. Read More...
November 26, 2006 |
| • | A Laotian American's View of Golden Gate Park
Ben visits an artist who paints whatever he likes, and listens to lots of flower drum songs. Read More...
September 23, 2006 |
| • | She's Asian American, She's 25 and She's Got the Blues
Ben Fong-Torres discovers an Asian blueswoman, plus an online locker for all your music. Read More...
September 11, 2006 |
| • | Free Lunch? No Such Thing. Free Long-Distance Calls? Sure!
Ben Fong-Torres judges a gay beauty contest and offers the scoop on Skype. Read More...
July 20, 2006 |
| • | ‘Becoming Almost Famous’ On the Howard Stern Show
AC's renaissance man, Ben Fong-Torres, is having a two-book year. Read More...
June 15, 2006 |
| • | A Fine Film Fest, and a Top Ten List:Why I Love (Hate) ‘American Idol’
A Fine Film Fest, and a Top Ten List: Why I Love (Hate) ‘American Idol’ Read More...
March 29, 2006 |
| • | A Sweet Howard Stern, a Sour Adam Carolla, and a Crazed Parade: Oh, Man!
A Sweet Howard Stern, a Sour Adam Carolla, and a Crazed Parade: Oh, Man! Read More...
February 15, 2006 |
| • | Telling Stories and Barking Like Dogs
Chinese New Year: Time to exchange those oranges! Read More...
January 25, 2006 |
| • | Prejudice, Pride and Perseverance
From the Japanese internment camps came art. Beautiful art. Read More...
January 05, 2006 |
| • | Being Ben Fong-Torres
Our Renaissance Man is innocently visiting an open house. Next thing he knows, he's in a stranger's blog! Crazy... Read More...
November 28, 2005 |
| • | Whacking Moles with 'Buddha Baby' Kim Wong Keltner
She loves Hello Kitty, karaoke, and a white guy. What more could you want in a novelist? Read More...
November 02, 2005 |
| • | M*A*S*H Notes: Unreal Sex and Real Acting
Ben Fong-Torres chats with the commanding Donald Sutherland Read More...
October 20, 2005 |
| • | Suddenly, I Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
What did Ben Fong-Torres love about New Orleans? Everything and everyone. Read More...
September 05, 2005 |
| • | What It's Really Like Up There On Stage
Our Ben Fong-Torres sings with music legends, then joins Tamlyn Tomita to say 'Happy Birthday' to Mike Honda. Read More...
July 17, 2005 |
| • | A New York Minute with the High-Flying Eagles
Ben Fong-Torres flies with the Eagles and Al Green, and addresses 21,000 at his alma mater. Read More...
June 10, 2005 |
| • | Asian Americans on TV? What a Concept! And Ben goes to a parade…and the Grammys.
Asian Americans on TV? What a Concept! And Ben goes to a parade…and the Grammys. Read More...
March 23, 2005 |
| • | Pushing 40, Reaching 50, and, Finally, Making it to 60
Ben Fong-Torres on getting old, on 'American Idol' getting mean, and on Johnny Carson. Read More...
January 22, 2005 |
| • | Is it OK to Say 'Happy New Year'?
A politically correct look back...and ahead. Read More...
December 20, 2004 |
| • | Welcome to your Chinese American Bandstand
Ben joins jazz singer Cookie Wong in a tribute to pioneer music makers. And then he takes off for Vegas! Read More...
November 21, 2004 |
| • | A New High: Getting Organized!
Is your room a mess? You are not alone. Here's how Ben Fong-Torres cleared away 30 years of clutter. It's a neat article. Read More...
September 14, 2004 |
| • | Report From Dallas: Will Sing for BBQ
Ben Fong-Torres sings on stage in Texas with rock legends and lives to tell the story. Read More...
August 01, 2004 |
| • | Get a Job? Who Needs a Job?
Our Ben Fong-Torres loses a job and gains a half-dozen others, from New York to San Francisco, with a stop in Cincinnati. Read More...
July 04, 2004 |
| • | I Write the Songs That Make Nobody Sing
You know our Ben, the writer, the editor, the broadcaster. But Ben, the songwriter?... Read More...
April 13, 2004 |
| • | You're Reading an Award-Winning Column!
Our Renaissance Man wins an Emmy for his work on the Chinese New Year Parade broadcast. And he honors winners of the Women Warrior Awards. Read More...
April 04, 2004 |
| • | She Bangs! She Bangs! Ooh, Baby, I'm William Hung Over!
American Idol reject William Hung gets an extended 15 minutes of fame, and Kim Wong Keltner's first novel sets off an online firestorm. Read More...
March 24, 2004 |
| • | Googling and Monkeying Around
Mickey Newbury, the late, absolutely great singer-songwriter, and I were chatting one night a couple of years ago when he mentioned that he had "Googled" himself and was amazed to find several hundreds of mentions of him on various Web sites. Read More...
February 09, 2004 |
| • | Old Year New Year: A Column of Musings
2004 brings in a New Year Column of Musings from AsianConnections' Renaissance man: Ben Fong-Torres. Read More...
January 12, 2004 |
| • | The Art of Rock - and of Chinese Restaurant Take-Out Menus
Art is on my mind these days. Read More...
November 23, 2003 |
| • | We Love New York, v. 2003
As my regular readers—both of you—know, Dianne, my wife, and I like to hit New York City every year. Read More...
November 22, 2003 |
| • | Asians in the Outfield and an Attorney on the Rotisserie
Can you be Chinese American ... AND a baseball fan? Plus, a highly regarded civil rights lawyer, Dale Minami, gets royally roasted. Read More...
September 04, 2003 |
| • | Remembering Larry Ching, \'Till the End of Time
It was typical Larry Ching.
As producer of his CD, I had just presented him with a dinky Plexiglas plaque that displayed his CD cover and the disk itself, both showing him as the star he was back in the 1940s at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco. Then, George Yamasaki, his pianist, lauded Larry and presented him with a proclamation from Mayor Willie L. Brown, declaring that day, June 28, as "Larry Ching Day" in San Francisco. Read More...
July 16, 2003 |
| • | Anatomy of a Session: Inside the Studio with Larry Ching
As a writer at Rolling Stone, I have done a lot of time in recording studios. Crosby Stills and Nashs first album; Sly and the Family Stone; Ray Charles running his own control board; Fleetwood Mac; Jefferson Airplane. Richard Perry producing Carly Simon, Leo Sayer, and others. That is a lot of time. Rehearsing, recording, endless retakes, and lots of sitting around.
The Larry Ching session was completely different. We jumped back a few generations to the way records used to be cut. Read More...
June 28, 2003 |
| • | The Facts on Larry Ching, and Some Unexpected Honors
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man: author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine, added record production to his credits with 'Till the End of Time' by Larry Ching. Read all about it. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | 'Better Luck' This Weekend
Ben Fong-Torres takes a look at a spunky new film, and at the equally spunky promotional campaign behind it. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | Old Memories, a New Museum
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man: author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine, writes again. An old letter triggers thoughts about today's radio scene. Also, a visit to the beautiful new Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | 'Twixt Teen and Michael Jackson
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man -- author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine -- visits with pop icon Pat Boone. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | In the Trenches with Trent, Jon Lovitz, and Johnny Rivers
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man -- author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine -- was a featured character in the 2000 movie "Almost Famous." Everybody still asks him about it--even comedian Jon Lovitz. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | The Pioneer Performers of The Forbidden City
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man: author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine, reunited with the stars of the Forbidden City nightclub and vows to make a record with one of them. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | A Letter to Writers, and How the Wiest was Won
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man: author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone, responds to queries about how to get into writing. He also recounts a a busy day, including a gig with Sheila E. and a chat with Oscar-winning actor Dianne Wiest. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | A Singing Career? Oh, I Think Not.
AsianConnections is proud to present the adventures of Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man: author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine. And, now, singer? Not really, but he's certainly had his moments. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | Sheryl Crow: All She Wants To Do is Have Some Lunch
AsianConnections is proud to present the adventures of Ben Fong-Torres, who, in turn, is proud to present Sheryl Crow. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | Bruce Springsteen: He's Still the Boss
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man -- author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine -- still gets called to be a TV talking head. Especially when the subject is pop music, and stars like The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. Read More...
June 17, 2003 |
| • | In a Confused State of Mind
Ben Fong-Torres, our very own Renaissance man -- author, broadcaster, and former senior editor and writer at Rolling Stone Magazine -- wishes you a happy year of the ram. Or is that goat? Black sheep, anybody? Also, he confesses to being a TiVo-maniac. Read More...
May 12, 2003 |
