I couldn't let Elvis Presley's birthday pass without marking the occasion. He was born on January 8th, 1935, so that means he would have been 78 if he'd survived. Think about that -- Elvis would have been a geezer. (The thought of that has apparently caused a few folks to get busy with their photo … Continue reading Elvis Presley Would Have Been A Geezer By Now
Category: Boomers
The Six Teens – A Very ‘Average’ Group
I would think that basing your doo-wop group's name on something that changed as soon as any of the members had a birthday would be a little silly, but that's what six friends in Los Angeles did in the mid-1950s when they added up their ages and divided by six. The result was sixteen, which … Continue reading The Six Teens – A Very ‘Average’ Group
Patti Page Topped The All-Time Charts
I was saddened to read that pop/country singer Patti Page died recently. She was 85 when she died and had enjoyed a long career, continuing to be musically active almost to the end. She's probably most remembered now for early hits like "Tennessee Waltz," which was one of the best-selling records of all time -- … Continue reading Patti Page Topped The All-Time Charts
Georgie Stoll – The Man Behind The Music
For someone who kept such a low profile during his decades-long career that it's difficult to even find a picture of him now, Georgie Stoll helped introduce an amazing amount of memorable music. From his early days as a jazz violinist to his many years as a composer, an arranger, and the director of the … Continue reading Georgie Stoll – The Man Behind The Music
Something Resembling A New Year’s Resolution
I'm not sure if this really qualifies as a New Year's resolution, but I thought I would use the occasion to make a little promise to anyone who regularly stops by the ol' GMC. I was checking some of the links in the left column and realized that a couple lead to blogs and/or websites … Continue reading Something Resembling A New Year’s Resolution
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
West Coast Jazz Pioneer Abe Lyman
The recent death of jazz icon Dave Brubeck was marked by a ton of articles (including one on the GMC) and many of them mentioned that he was part of the West Coast jazz movement. Although I think he transcended any kind of label, I thought I'd dig a little deeper into that style of … Continue reading West Coast Jazz Pioneer Abe Lyman
How I Turned Into A Grumpy Snow Hermit
As I write this, we're facing a weather forecast that calls for about a zillion inches of snow, and I find myself dreading it. Thinking about that feeling makes me realize that I've turned into a grumpy snow hermit -- someone who just wants to stay inside and hope it all goes away. But I … Continue reading How I Turned Into A Grumpy Snow Hermit
Merry Christmas To All!
Rosemary Clooney - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" Mel Torme - "The Christmas Song"
Leo Watson – Something Different In Holiday Music
For some reason, Christmas seems to have really taken the ol' GMC by surprise this year. Usually I post one or two holiday-themed pieces in the days leading up to the big day, but I guess I've just fallen asleep this time around. Maybe I can remedy that by featuring something really different -- scat-singing … Continue reading Leo Watson – Something Different In Holiday Music
Geezer Music Club 