Up Front

If you’ve ever fantasized about what it might be like to play on stage with the Rolling Stones, you’ll appreciate Margie Goldsmith’s interview with Chuck Leavell, who has had that dream fulfilled since 1982. In a wide-ranging Q&A, the Stones’ keyboardist and musical director discusses how his mom helped him visualize music beyond the notes on the page, what it was like to be a member of the Allman Brothers Band, and the Stones’ reliance on business aviation.

By the time you read this, Mick Jagger and his group will probably have wrapped up their North American tour, but if you missed it, don’t worry: it likely wasn’t your last chance to catch one of their amazing shows. As Leavell told Goldsmith, “The passion and groove are still there. My gut feeling is, no, it’s not the last time [we’ll tour].” I suspect he’s right—especially considering that Jagger was recently performing at peak level just weeks after open-heart surgery.

Thank you to everyone who has already participated in our ninth annual BJT Readers’ Choice Survey, the results of which we’ll publish in our winter edition in December. A record number of you have responded to tell us about your experiences and preferences regarding private lift. We know that the industry pays close attention to the results of this survey, so by taking a few minutes to complete it, you become part of a powerful mechanism for positive change.

Haven’t voted yet? There’s still time to make your voice heard at BJTonline.com/2019survey. As thanks for your input, we will make a donation to Corporate Angel Network, an organization that provides free flights to treatment centers on business aircraft for cancer patients and their families.

BJT’s Book of Lists is back! Despite this being the eighth annual edition, we have managed to come up with dozens of fresh lists that range from whimsical to educational, including the “5 Top Texas Oil Museums,” “10 Must-Try Northern Thailand Dishes,” and “5 Top Schools To Learn Fly Fishing.” You might want to check out the version of this feature at BJTonline.com, where the lists are augmented with links to more information about many of the places and topics they cover.

Which reminds me: make sure you sign up for our free biweekly newsletter, BJT Waypoints, so you don’t miss out on our wealth of online-only features, including videos, industry news, interviews, and more. (Go to BJTonline.com/subscribe.) We have plenty of exciting content already lined up for 2020, and we can’t wait to share it with you.