Blind for most of his life and slowed by a stroke in his later years, jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk still managed to make his mark in a big way before his death in 1977. He was the very definition of cutting-edge, playing a staggering number of different instruments -- sometimes several at once -- … Continue reading The Endlessly Inventive Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Category: Boomers
Green Fields Of A Different Kind
A while back, I posted a slideshow that featured pictures of crop circles, but the photos below are of green fields of a different kind. They show rice paddies in Japan that have been skillfully planted with different varieties of the ubiquitous grain, so that as the plants grow they form amazing pieces of artwork. … Continue reading Green Fields Of A Different Kind
Classic Bluegrass – Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
It's been a while since we featured country music on the ol' GMC, and even longer since the sub-genre known as bluegrass has made an appearance. That being the case, it seems only fitting to take a look at one of the best of the traditional bluegrass acts, a husband and wife team that also … Continue reading Classic Bluegrass – Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
Sheila Jordan – Defying The Odds
You would have to assume that by the time we reach our 80s most of us would no longer be pursuing our normal vocation (if we're even still around), but it has always seemed to me that musical artists often defy the odds. Yet another example is jazz singer Sheila Jordan, who is still entertaining … Continue reading Sheila Jordan – Defying The Odds
Happy Un-Birthday To Louis Armstrong
During his lifetime, Louis Armstrong always said that he'd been born on July 4th, 1900. It became part of his legend and somehow always seemed appropriate for someone who was arguably the most important figure in the history of jazz, America's music. It wasn't until more than a decade after his 1971 death that his … Continue reading Happy Un-Birthday To Louis Armstrong
Music Legends Inspired By ‘Blackface’ Entertainer
With our modern sensibilities it can be a little jarring to look at a picture like the one below, but 'blackface' performers are a part of music history, and most of us will recall reading about early minstrel shows or will remember Al Jolson, who specialized in blackface for many years. But in at least … Continue reading Music Legends Inspired By ‘Blackface’ Entertainer
Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
As someone who has had more than a passing acquaintance with cookies -- the edible kind -- I have to admit that a trio with that name probably caught my attention back in the day. And even though it was for different reasons, the R&B girl group was apparently also noticed by the legendary Ray … Continue reading Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
A Crooner’s Connection To The Beatles
It's time to revisit one of our favorite subjects -- crooners -- and take a look at the story of a singer who not only had a tragically shortened career, but also a direct connection to the Beatles. His name was Buddy Clark, and his biggest hit was on a song that was written specifically … Continue reading A Crooner’s Connection To The Beatles
The Contrarian Strikes Again
Always proudly contrary, I thought I'd post some pictures of unusual wedding cakes today, since I already covered divorce cakes in a previous piece. But to be even more contrary, I decided to show pictures of just the little figurines they put on top of wedding cakes. They're called -- appropriately enough -- toppers. And … Continue reading The Contrarian Strikes Again
A Voice Stilled Too Soon – Irene Kral
Music history is filled with stories of performers who died much too young. And it seems especially cruel when it happens to one of the many female vocalists who early in their careers took time off to raise families. But in spite of all that, when Irene Kral died in 1978 at just age 46 … Continue reading A Voice Stilled Too Soon – Irene Kral
Geezer Music Club 