A little honesty is called for here. Whenever a familiar name from the musical world dies, if it's someone that I've written about before then I often repost the previous piece, with an introduction explaining why I'm doing so. But it's not quite that simple with Dick Clark, who died recently. He wasn't a musical … Continue reading Dick Clark – It All Began With American Bandstand
Category: Big Band
Jimmie Noone Inspired The King Of Swing
Regular visitors to the GMC know that I've always had a soft spot for clarinet legend Benny Goodman. The Chicago native has shown up in several pieces, including the one that is probably my favorite, Was Benny Goodman A Doppelganger?, but I don't think I've ever written about his early influences, and at least one … Continue reading Jimmie Noone Inspired The King Of Swing
Strange But True – And Funny Too!
Regular visitors to the ol' GMC will know that we occasionally feature a slideshow of unusual sculptures, a variety of art that has always interested me. In the past we've shown sculptures created in everything from cheese to sand to ice, but today's subject has a different focus. The objects in the pictures below are … Continue reading Strange But True – And Funny Too!
Sal Mineo Also Had A Musical Side
Sal Mineo isn't the first name that comes to mind when I'm thinking musical thoughts, but even though he was primarily an actor he did sell some records as a singer. He also starred in a movie about jazz drummer Gene Krupa, but his musical side was only one aspect of the fascinating story of … Continue reading Sal Mineo Also Had A Musical Side
Dixieland: Italian Style – Tony Parenti
The legendary Louis Armstrong always said that he’d been born in New Orleans on July 4th, 1900, but a few years after his death it was discovered that he'd actually been born on August 4th, 1901. However, there was at least one local who actually was born in 1900 and went on to become a … Continue reading Dixieland: Italian Style – Tony Parenti
Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson Named For His Misadventure
It's been twenty years since director Spike Lee's Malcolm X appeared in theaters and went on to win a number of awards for both Lee and the star of the film, Denzel Washington. One scene that I still remember well was when Malcolm (Washington) decided to undergo a lye hair-straightening treatment at the hands of … Continue reading Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson Named For His Misadventure
The Forgotten Songbird – Mary Ann McCall
Not every female vocalist from the big band era went on to a big solo career. Although former songbirds like Doris Day and Dinah Shore became major stars, there were a ton of talented singers who just never seemed to get the key breaks. A good example was Mary Ann McCall, who was good enough … Continue reading The Forgotten Songbird – Mary Ann McCall
Matt Dennis – A Different Kind Of Crooner
Although he was sometimes called a crooner, Matt Dennis didn't really fit the traditional image of a suave performer with a smooth baritone -- in fact, his singing voice was soft and often featured a hint of vibrato. But over the course of a long career that began in the big band era he found … Continue reading Matt Dennis – A Different Kind Of Crooner
Ernie Fields Was Always ‘In The Mood’
One of the most iconic songs from the big band era was Glenn Miller's "In The Mood," which became a national hit for the bandleader just before the start of World War II. But that wasn't the only popular rendition of the song. According to ALLMUSIC, it has generated more than 2500 different recordings through … Continue reading Ernie Fields Was Always ‘In The Mood’
Stormy Weather Is Unwelcome Guest
What is the deal with this weather? Twice in January our region of the central Midwest has been treated to daytime temperatures in the 60s and full-fledged thunderstorms at night, complete with strong winds and downed powerlines. At least we haven't had the tornadoes experienced by some folks, but still. . . I guess some … Continue reading Stormy Weather Is Unwelcome Guest
Geezer Music Club 