I've written many times about songbirds -- not the feathered variety but the ladies who sang during the big band era -- and how some of them went on to become solo stars and even movie icons. But I also enjoy writing about someone like Jane Harvey, who didn't quite reach superstar status but still … Continue reading Jane Harvey – Seven Decades Of Artistry
Category: Big Band
The Lost Voice Of Ann Richards
I've written a lot of posts about various Songbirds -- the ladies who got their start by singing with the big bands -- and even though many of them went through bad times, most managed to persevere and have a nice career. However, that wasn't always the case. Ann Richards seemed to have everything going … Continue reading The Lost Voice Of Ann Richards
Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy
In October of 1942, Billboard magazine -- which had been tracking best-selling records since 1936 -- added a new chart to its listings, one that it called the Harlem Hit Parade. (It would eventually be renamed the R&B chart.) The very first #1 record on the newly-created chart was "Take It and Git" by Andy … Continue reading Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy
Gus Arnheim Influenced Many Stars
In a recent piece about actress/singer Shirley Ross I mentioned that she often sang with Gus Arnheim's orchestra, as did Fred McMurray (before he became a movie star). In fact, Arnheim was a tremendously influential figure in the early jazz age, a talented pianist and composer who also had a hand in helping build the … Continue reading Gus Arnheim Influenced Many Stars
Dick Jurgens Led A Popular Band
Today's spotlighted performer connects with a couple of previous posts on the GMC. Trumpeter and bandleader Dick Jurgens led a very successful band during the swing era, and for a while it provided the backing for crooner Eddy Howard. Also, Jurgens and his group often made appearances at Catalina's Avalon Casino ballroom, an iconic building … Continue reading Dick Jurgens Led A Popular Band
And The Winner Is . . .
If you've visited the GMC over the last couple of days, you've noticed some turmoil in the way it looks. It all began when the hosting company apparently had a snag in the ways things were formatted for some of their sites, and it made for some strange looking views. That's all fixed now (hopefully … Continue reading And The Winner Is . . .
Shirley Ross Was Bob Hope’s Good Luck Charm
Although Bob Hope has been gone for a decade now (he was 100 when he died in 2003) he is still well-remembered, and most of us might also recall his signature song, "Thanks For The Memory." But what you might not know is that his breakout moment occurred when the then little-known comic actor performed … Continue reading Shirley Ross Was Bob Hope’s Good Luck Charm
Ken Curtis – Crooner Turned Cowboy
Although I usually include just one video with each post, a while back I featured one with several videos because I wanted to show the arc of a performer's career. Same thing today, but with a twist. We're going to spotlight the singing career of a guy who was better known as a Western actor. … Continue reading Ken Curtis – Crooner Turned Cowboy
Frank Wess Transitioned Several Eras
When I read that Frank Wess had died recently, I remembered that he'd been featured on the GMC in the past so I set about the process I usually follow to mark the passing of a notable musical performer, which is to revive the original post and add some new material. What I discovered was … Continue reading Frank Wess Transitioned Several Eras
From Crooning To Cartoons – ‘Handsome’ Harry Babbitt
Although our mental image of a big band era crooner is of a suave, velvet-voiced charmer who could purr into the microphone while the ladies swooned, it wasn't always like that. Harry Babbitt, who could certainly fill the bill as a traditional crooner - his boss, bandleader Kay Kyser, usually introduced him as 'Handsome Harry' … Continue reading From Crooning To Cartoons – ‘Handsome’ Harry Babbitt
Geezer Music Club 