If you were a dedicated fan of The Waltons, the iconic 1970s TV show that was a huge hit for many years, you might remember that one of the teens - Jason - was musically inclined, and that he sometimes risked his mother's wrath by entertaining in an area roadhouse, the venerable Dew Drop Inn. … Continue reading Dorothy Shay – The Park Avenue Hillbilly
Category: Boomers
The Quotations Had A Lot Of Imagination
It's always fun to listen to a doo-wop group sing the rhythmic gibberish that was often part of the music. You know the kind I mean -- 'papa ooma mau mau' and the like. One of the best was a Brooklyn-based quartet known as the Quotations, who not only had all the odd sounds down … Continue reading The Quotations Had A Lot Of Imagination
Fantastic Foursome Inspired By Amy Winehouse
I would guess that most folks of my generation think that a big percentage of modern music stars seem to be a big deal today but are forgotten tomorrow, often because of a lack of talent. But there are exceptions, even if it takes a while for a geezer like me to catch on -- … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome Inspired By Amy Winehouse
Onie Wheeler’s Surprising Finale
Revisiting a point I've made before, there were a lot of traditional country music artists who spent at least part of their careers performing what would become known as rockabilly. Guys like Onie Wheeler, who was never a big star but did enjoy a long, solid career before dying in 1984, in a way that … Continue reading Onie Wheeler’s Surprising Finale
That Scandalous Song
One of the many funny scenes in the 1983 film Vacation is when Chevy Chase recklessly drives alongside the blonde in the convertible, almost losing control (in more ways than one), before things calm down and his oblivious wife finally realizes something just happened. He then sings "Love For Sale" to himself, while she glares … Continue reading That Scandalous Song
Another Side Of Buddy Rich
Although he was the main subject of a GMC piece five years ago, jazz legend Bernard 'Buddy' Rich is making another appearance today. But the famously fiery drummer, who died at age 69 in 1987, is not showing up here because of his drumsticks. He's here because I thought I'd expose a secret about him … Continue reading Another Side Of Buddy Rich
Dave Brubeck Was A True Jazz Icon
By now, most of us have read that legendary jazzman Dave Brubeck has died, just one day before what would have been his 92nd birthday. Amazingly, he was musically active -- and relevant -- almost to the end. You can read about him in any one of a number of extended obituary pieces that are … Continue reading Dave Brubeck Was A True Jazz Icon
You’ll Remember The Music Of Ken Griffin
You might not immediately recognize his name, but I'd be willing to bet that most will find organist Ken Griffin's biggest hit to be a very familiar sound. After all, "You Can't Be True, Dear" topped the 1948 charts after being released in two versions -- as a pure instrumental and one with a vocal … Continue reading You’ll Remember The Music Of Ken Griffin
And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Remember when we all had six-shooters like those carried by the heroes of movie and TV Westerns? Of course, theirs were real -- or at least seemed real even though we knew they were shooting blanks -- and ours were smaller and made their 'bang' from paper rolls of caps, but we still had a … Continue reading And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
Although Maine isn't the first state that comes to mind when you think about country music, it was nevertheless the birthplace of one of the best of several guys who specialized in a certain type of song -- truckin' tunes. Dick Curless was a special favorite of truckers and anyone else who enjoyed his highway … Continue reading Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
Geezer Music Club 