One of the earliest recording stars, a lady who was sometimes billed as the Queen of the Blues, was churning out hit records as early as 1917. Many of those who bought her records assumed she was black even though her style was a little more mainstream than singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. … Continue reading Marion Harris – Queen of the Blues
Category: Blues
Fantastic Foursome – Tenderness Came Late To Otis
It's been a while since our last Fantastic Foursome, so I'll remind everybody how it works. I pick a classic song and tell you a little about it, and I usually include the definitive version of the song. Then I present four alternative performances and give you the opportunity to vote for your favorite. Today's … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome – Tenderness Came Late To Otis
The Many Talents Of Memphis Minnie
There have been countless female blues singers through the years, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one who could match the abilities of the legendary Memphis Minnie, who first rose to fame in the 1930s. In addition to writing most of her own songs, she was as good a vocalist as any of her contemporaries … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Memphis Minnie
Jewel Akens Remembered For His Signature Song
I was sorry to read about the passing of R&B singer Jewel Akens, who succumbed to complications from back surgery a few days ago in Inglewood, California. Although he's most remembered for his big 1965 hit "The Birds And The Bees," he had a long career that included both performing and producing, and it lasted … Continue reading Jewel Akens Remembered For His Signature Song
Robert Parker – Barefoot Singin’ Saxophonist
Being born and raised in New Orleans has always pretty much guaranteed that someone would be exposed to good music while growing up. In a lot of cases, that in turn led to a musical career like the one enjoyed by Robert Parker, who began as an instrumentalist but later added singing to his act, … Continue reading Robert Parker – Barefoot Singin’ Saxophonist
Fontella Bass And Her Song
Although she should not be labeled a 'one-hit wonder', it's difficult to think about Fontella Bass and not immediately remember her signature song, 1965's "Rescue Me." The talented R&B singer, who was 72 when she died in her home city of St. Louis on December 26th, had several other good-charting records during her career, but … Continue reading Fontella Bass And Her Song
Cribbage Is Not Just For Geezers
I haven't written lately about my Kindle Fire tablet, but I'm still happily using it and also continuing to try new apps, as I wrote about a while back. I recently picked up a new one that not only caught my interest but also triggered my sense of nostalgia. (More later about that.) It's a … Continue reading Cribbage Is Not Just For Geezers
Rock And Roll – The Early Days
Nailing down the details of the origins of rock and roll has always been a little difficult, but that hasn't stopped anyone from trying (including yours truly, here on the GMC). The truth is that it all came about from a combination of various musical influences, but it is possible to identify key moments, like … Continue reading Rock And Roll – The Early Days
Julia Lee – Queen Of The Dirty Blues
For several decades beginning in the 1930s there was a type of music known as the 'dirty blues', and it was very popular but you wouldn't hear it on the radio. You could find it in live performances or on jukeboxes in certain kinds of places, and you could also buy records -- but you … Continue reading Julia Lee – Queen Of The Dirty Blues
Elvis Followed Big Mama Thornton
I would guess that anyone reading this is familiar with Elvis Presley's 1956 rendition of "Hound Dog," but the King wasn't the first singer to hit the top of the charts with the song. That would be Big Mama Thornton, the blues-singing harmonica wiz whose record of the song sat atop R&B charts while Elvis … Continue reading Elvis Followed Big Mama Thornton
Geezer Music Club 