I've always been pretty upfront about my appreciation for legendary clarinetist Benny Goodman -- even kiddingly comparing myself to him in an earlier post -- but there were lots of guys in the early jazz age who played a mean licorice stick. In fact, some of them probably inspired Goodman when he was first starting … Continue reading The Clarinet Wizardry Of Johnny Dodds
Category: Big Band
Frances Wayne – Songbird And Supportive Spouse
It was not unusual for big-band era songbirds to find a romantic connection with a member of the band and sometimes even marry them, but not many helped their new husband become a successful bandleader and composer. Frances Wayne did just that, marrying trumpeter Neal Hefti in 1944 and then helping him build his career, … Continue reading Frances Wayne – Songbird And Supportive Spouse
Sometimes Simple Memories Are The Best
My last surviving uncle passed away yesterday. An easy-going, down to earth guy, he enjoyed a long life as a proud family man. He was also a World War II Navy veteran who'd served in the South Pacific, and a skilled woodworker. Among his many interests were outdoor activities and all things Western, and I … Continue reading Sometimes Simple Memories Are The Best
Don Byas – What Might Have Been
Many of the best instrumentalists of the big band era, guys who were admired and emulated by their contemporaries, later became stars in bebop and the progressive jazz movement. But one of the best -- tenor saxophonist Don Byas -- chose a different route. Although he was fully on board with cutting edge jazz, he … Continue reading Don Byas – What Might Have Been
Helen Ward – A Songbird With Something Extra
One reason I enjoy doing this is that I keep discovering new things about subjects I thought I'd pretty much explored to death. For example, I've written before about my affinity for Benny Goodman, and in another piece furnished some details about his ground-breaking 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, but I recently discovered something new. It … Continue reading Helen Ward – A Songbird With Something Extra
Freddie Slack’s Boogie-Woogie Double Play
I've always loved boogie-woogie, so it's not surprising that it has shown up from time to time on the ol' GMC. In fact, a piece from 2007 titled From Boogie-Woogie To Early Rock And Roll – Ella Mae Morse is a favorite of mine (and of a lot of other folks too). It was also … Continue reading Freddie Slack’s Boogie-Woogie Double Play
Frances Langford – The Accidental Songbird
Although she didn't spend a large part of her multifaceted career fronting for a big band, songstress Frances Langford knew her way around a bandstand, and was one of the best songbirds around. But the singer who was so beloved by World War II servicemen that she was called 'The Sweetheart of the Fighting Fronts' … Continue reading Frances Langford – The Accidental Songbird
The Perseverence Of Irene Daye
One of the things I’ve learned during six years of doing this is that even performers who don’t reach big stardom can still have fascinating life stories. A good example is big-band songbird Irene Daye, who was never a huge name but still managed to be the solo vocalist on one of the biggest hits of … Continue reading The Perseverence Of Irene Daye
Carmen Cavallaro – Poet Of The Piano
One of the most popular pieces on the GMC is The REAL Eddy Duchin Story, which has been visited thousands of times since its appearance a couple of years ago. In fact, it received a burst of 2,000 visits in one day when the movie of the same name was shown recently on Turner Classics. … Continue reading Carmen Cavallaro – Poet Of The Piano
Snooky Lanson Had Lots Of Fans
Since we recently profiled Dorothy Collins, the sweetheart of TV's musical program Your Hit Parade, it seems only fitting that we follow up with the guy who often teamed up with her on the show. And even if Snooky Lanson wasn't quite as memorable as Collins (except for his improbably-cute name), he had plenty of … Continue reading Snooky Lanson Had Lots Of Fans
Geezer Music Club 