The swing band era that began in the 1930s was echoed by a similar process in country music, when some of the groups then around began to perform in a style that came to be known as Western Swing. It would prove to be a ticket to stardom for guys like Bob Wills and Spade … Continue reading Leon’s Lone Star Cowboys And Beyond
Category: Boomers
Five-Star Fav: Fresh Off The Boat
It's always a bit of a challenge to put together a new edition of the GMC Special Feature known as Five-Star Favs because it's meant to spotlight a particular song by a specific artist, one that is - you know - a favorite of mine. The difficulty is that it goes against my normal posting … Continue reading Five-Star Fav: Fresh Off The Boat
The Many Talents Of Rosalie Allen
At the beginning of her career Rosalie Allen performed as a singing and yodeling cowgirl, a style inspired by earlier stars like Patsy Montana. In fact, her first hit record in 1946 was an update of Patsy's iconic "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." But before she eventually retired to raise her family she … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Rosalie Allen
Swingin’ With The Eel – Bud Freeman
Those of us who are fans of the big band era know that the tenor saxophone was an important part of its success, and in the early years its use was popularized by guys like Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. But there was another saxman around in those days who could stake a legitimate claim … Continue reading Swingin’ With The Eel – Bud Freeman
Saluting Silly Songs – A Classic With Staying Power
Although it might be a little tough to define the requirements for our Saluting Silly Songs feature, I know a good candidate when I see and hear one, and it starts with the title. I'm sure most of us remember "Da Doo Ron Ron" by the Crystals, but what you might not know is that … Continue reading Saluting Silly Songs – A Classic With Staying Power
Goebel Reeves – The Texas Drifter
It might not surprise you to hear that Goebel Reeves, the guy who wrote one of Woody Guthrie's signature tunes, "Hobo's Lullaby," actually did spend some time as a hobo. After all, a lot of the early folk/country singers were ramblin' men, and the guy who sometimes called himself the Texas Drifter (among other things) … Continue reading Goebel Reeves – The Texas Drifter
Rose Murphy – The Chee-Chee Girl
If ever there was a performer who could bring a smile to just about anyone, it was Rose Murphy. A skilled pianist and disciple of Fats Waller who could hold her own in any company, she rose to fame in the 1940s mostly because of her irresistible singing style, which featured a kewpie-doll voice along … Continue reading Rose Murphy – The Chee-Chee Girl
The Geezer And The Gigolo
Okay, I'm not going to get all silly and turn this into a new special feature, but I do want to report that I've had another one of those funny musical coincidences. You might recall that I wrote about this kind of thing in a previous post titled Mysterious Musical Occurrences. If you're new to … Continue reading The Geezer And The Gigolo
The Tale Of The Singing Edsels
The Ford Edsel became such a well-known failure, it's difficult to remember that when it was launched in September of 1957 it carried high expectations. Its advanced technology and styling was meant to be revolutionary, so it's easy to see why a singing group of the era would latch onto the name. But even though … Continue reading The Tale Of The Singing Edsels
Fantastic Foursome – Revisiting A Familiar Time And Place
It's been several months since our last Fantastic Foursome, so I'll remind everyone that it's the Special Feature that presents a classic song in its definitive version and then gives you four different variations. You can listen to them and - if you'd like - vote for your favorite. We seem to be featuring music … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome – Revisiting A Familiar Time And Place
Geezer Music Club 