8/12 RED WEST

Robert Gene "Red" West (born 1936) is an American actor, film stuntman and songwriter. He was a close high school friend of rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. He is probably best known to American film audiences for his role as Red in Road House, alongside Patrick Swayze.

Early life:
West was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Lois and Newton Thomas West. An excellent athlete and former U.S. Marine, West played football for his high school and junior college teams and was a boxer in the Golden Gloves championships.

As a songwriter:
Red West contributed to several songs written by Elvis Presley in 1961 and 1962. He received help from Elvis Presley in writing two songs in the early 1960s, which were collaborations: "You'll Be Gone" and "That's Someone You Never Forget." "You'll Be Gone" was also co-written with Charlie Hodge, and appeared on the Girl Happy soundtrack album and as a 45 single in 1965. The single reached number 35 on the Canadian singles chart in 1965. "That's Someone You Never Forget" was the final track on the 1962 album Pot Luck and was released as a 45 B side single in 1967 and was featured on the Artist of the Century compilation. Red also co-wrote "If You Think I Don't Need You" with Joey Cooper for the motion picture Viva Las Vegas. He teamed up with Joey Cooper again on "I'm A Fool," which Ricky Nelson recorded. "I'm A Fool" later became a hit for Dino, Desi and Billy, the partnership of Dean-Paul "Dino" Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr., and William "Billy" Hinsche. He also collaborated on authorship and composition of the selections "Seeing Is Believing" and "Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees," both with Glenn Spreen, "Separate Ways" with Richard Mainegra, and "If You Talk In Your Sleep" with Johnny Christopher; Presley himself recorded the last of these in the early 1970s. The Christmas song "If Everyday Was Like Christmas" was written by West and recorded by Elvis in 1966. Red had put out his own recording of "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" in 1965 on the Brent label. It was not known to have charted as of late July 2012.

Career in film and television:
When Presley was making films in the 1960s in Hollywood, Red West appeared in small roles in sixteen of the star's films. During this time, West became good friends with actor Nick Adams and his physical abilities got him hired on as a stuntman on Adams' television series, The Rebel. From there, West went on to do more stunt work in film as well as developing a career as an actor in a number of motion pictures and on television. He was often on screen as a henchman in the television series The Wild Wild West. He was also a stuntman on the series and developed a strong friendship with the star Robert Conrad Red had a tiny role as an ice cream man in the 1967 movie Clambake, starring Bill Bixby and Shelly Fabares.

West played Master Sergeant Andy Micklin in the 1978 Robert Conrad series Baa Baa Black Sheep. He also guest starred twice on the CBS hit Magnum, P.I. (as different characters), as four different characters on NBC's hit The A-Team, Knight Rider pilot episodeKnight of the Phoenix, and in The Once and Future King (The Twilight Zone) as the man who played an Elvis impersonator's boss at the Crown Electric company (and who was a real-life schoolmate and best friend of Elvis). In 1989 West appeared in the action film Road House with Patrick Swayze as Red Webster, the auto parts store owner.

West continued to work in motion pictures as of early February 2013. His most recent role was in the 2013 film Safe Haven.


RECIPES OF THE WEEK

Pesto with Lemon and Parsley

Ingredients:
1 jar with lid
2 bunches flat leaf parsley
juice of 2 lemons
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
Wash and dry the parsley well. Place it on a cutting board and chop finely. Place in a jar and add freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese and olive oil.

Put the lid on the jar and shake well.


Pesto Amalfi Style

Ingredients:
1 bunch basil leaves
1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts
2 cloves garlic
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions:
Wash and dry the basil leaves. Then lay out your herb, nuts and garlic on a big board. Mulch then until the mixture is almost like a paste. You can use a mortar and pestle if you have one.

Put in bowl or jar and add a handful of cheese and the olive oil until the past is covered.

Mix it up and taste to add a little more cheese or some salt.

ENJOY!