Watching the live performances featured herein, you will immediately notice Maalouf’s intentional collaboration between the band and the audience. Ibrahim rides the energetic exchange with his audience like a Taoist master. The Maalouf community is a hive, with each individual participating in the trance of prayer, daydreaming, and homeland memory together and alone.
The song’s origin is as simple as it is tender. According to Hall, “Back to You” was born out of a phone call with his partner, Emory Hall, during a long stretch on the road. She called to say she couldn’t sleep without him, and that moment of longing stirred something more profound in him.
Killebrew’s prowess at the plate was characterized by his exceptional home run-hitting ability. Over 22 seasons, primarily with the Senators—who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961—he amassed 573 home runs, a record that, at the time of his retirement, was the highest for any right-handed batter in American League history.