I have to admit that the only Bel Air I remember from the early 1960s was the Chevrolet model carrying the name -- although I might have been vaguely aware of the affluent section of Los Angeles that the auto was presumably named for. But it turns out that one of the songs that was … Continue reading The Bel Airs – Early California Surf Sound
Category: Boomers
Even Elvis Loved Bumper Cars
A bunch of fascinating pictures from one of our regulars (thanks, M!) led to today's feature. Apparently a guy in San Diego has spent a lot of time and effort making fancy, customized, street-ready vehicles from old bumper cars that were salvaged from a defunct amusement park. Although there aren't many of the original bumper … Continue reading Even Elvis Loved Bumper Cars
The Crooning Side Of Bobby Darin
Regular visitors to the GMC know that I enjoy writing about crooners, and have also explored the definition of the term and whether it is even considered a compliment. (See From Sinatra To Rod Stewart – The Crooner Conundrum.) But not every singer is a crooner, and some guys are a little hard to classify -- … Continue reading The Crooning Side Of Bobby Darin
The Enigma Of ‘?’ and the Mysterians
The problem that arises when writing about a rock star known as '?' is that the use of the question mark symbol in cyberspace can sometimes cause unexpected results. In some ways it's even trickier than Prince's strange former name (which I won't even try to reproduce) because it is a legitimate punctuation mark, even … Continue reading The Enigma Of ‘?’ and the Mysterians
The Sweet Sound Of Johnny Hodges
Although I don't think of myself as a serious music critic, during the first few years of this blog I did review over two hundred new albums. During that period I learned that what I liked was not always in tune with the cutting-edge crowd, especially when it came to jazz. While many modern critics … Continue reading The Sweet Sound Of Johnny Hodges
Ferlin Husky Remembered
With word received of the passing of country music legend Ferlin Husky, I thought I'd repost the piece I did on him about 3 years ago. (I've also added music and a video.) -------------- The Many Sides Of Ferlin Husky If you set out to build yourself a country music star, one of the most … Continue reading Ferlin Husky Remembered
Joe Morello – Violin Prodigy Became A Jazz Drumming Star
I was sorry to see of the recent passing of jazz drummer Joe Morello, who is probably most remembered for the years he spent as part of the enormously influential Dave Brubeck Quartet. Although saxophonist Paul Desmond and Brubeck himself got most of the attention, Morello -- along with bassist Eugene Wright -- helped create … Continue reading Joe Morello – Violin Prodigy Became A Jazz Drumming Star
Rediscovering The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
I have to confess that I wasn't really too attuned to the music of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils during the 1970s, when the country-rock sextet was hitting the charts with regularity. In fact, I can't say that I even remember the group in those days, but that was mostly because I wasn't really listening to … Continue reading Rediscovering The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
A Wave From A Happier Time
The earthquake and resulting tsunami (what used to be called a tidal wave) in Japan and elsewhere is a devastating event, and I won't even begin to try to describe the tragic results. I thought that I would instead write about a different kind of 'wave', one from a happier time. It's a wave that's … Continue reading A Wave From A Happier Time
From Internment Camp To Broadway – Pat Suzuki
Most of us have read about -- or even remember -- the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. It was especially prevalent in the Western United States, and was an accepted practice at the time with lots of historical precedence, but it was later condemned and now seems barbaric to us. The people who … Continue reading From Internment Camp To Broadway – Pat Suzuki
Geezer Music Club 