First, a word of explanation about the title. This is, of course, another one of those incredibly enjoyable Fantastic Foursome posts -- the kind that features a song in four different versions and then gives you a chance to vote for your favorite. The second part of the title refers to my maternal grandmother, who … Continue reading A Fantastic Foursome For Grandma
Category: Boomers
Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Most of us remember Dale Evans, the long-time wife and performing partner of singing cowboy Roy Rogers, a lady who was often billed as the Queen of the Cowgirls. We might also know that she was an actress and a singer long before she paired up with Roy. But did you know that Roy was … Continue reading Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Pondering Lola Albright
Lola Albright July 20, 1924 - March 23, 2017 If you remember the 1950s TV show Peter Gunn, you might also recall that it was filled with the music of Henry Mancini, who began to build his legendary name at that time. But do you remember Lola? That would be Lola Albright, who played the … Continue reading Pondering Lola Albright
Anson Weeks And The Crosby Brothers
In the late 1920s, successful musical ensembles usually featured a style that sounds pretty square to us now. Bands often included string sections and specialized in sweet songs perfect for dancing. They usually had a crooner or two around too, and groups led by guys like Paul Whiteman and Anson Weeks provided work for a … Continue reading Anson Weeks And The Crosby Brothers
A Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving
In looking back over various Thanksgiving posts through the years, I see that I've included everything from a nostalgic family tale to a slideshow of painted turkey feathers. But one thing I haven't done is feature pictures from my favorite artist, Norman Rockwell. Although he was known for all kinds of heart-warming illustrations, he was … Continue reading A Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving
Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
As unlikely as it might seem to modern music fans -- especially after listening to his decidedly odd singing style -- there was a time that honky-tonk pioneer Floyd Tillman was described as a combination of Ernest Tubb and Frank Sinatra. But even if that now seems an odd idea, music historians still consider him … Continue reading Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
Bringing The Past To Life
In an earlier post, I described my memories of how folks used to hand-tint family pictures, performing the only kind of 'photoshopping' that was possible in that era. But things have changed a lot in the art of retouching, and nowhere is that more evident than what is now being done with iconic old pictures. … Continue reading Bringing The Past To Life
Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
Cleveland Duncan, the lead singer of the Penguins, a doo-wop group best-remembered for the 1950s super-hit "Earth Angel," has died in Los Angeles at age 77. Although the group has never been featured on the GMC, I did find a connection -- of sorts -- to an earlier piece. It seems that the Penguins encountered … Continue reading Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
A Crushingly Good Fantastic Foursome
When rocker Linda Ronstadt got together with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle in 1983, the result was a triple-platinum album that not only turned her career in a different direction, but also brought the music of the past to the attention of a new generation. The first album of what would be a series for her, What's … Continue reading A Crushingly Good Fantastic Foursome
The Other Half Of The Equation – Stephane Grappelli
Legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt's name is a familiar one even now, six decades after his death. But less is said about the other half of the equation that led to world-wide fame -- his frequent collaborator, violinist Stéphane Grappelli -- who continued to pursue his muse for more than forty years after his friend's … Continue reading The Other Half Of The Equation – Stephane Grappelli
Geezer Music Club 