Throughout musical history, most professional artists have had numerous opportunities to work with some of the best of their contemporaries, sometimes building up an impressive list of collaborators during a long career. But in at least one case, a pioneering jazz guitarist with a tragically shortened career still left behind a legacy that included working … Continue reading Eddie Lang – The Father of Jazz Guitar
Category: Jazz
The Sad Fate Of Harold ‘Tina’ Brooks
I've written several times about musicians who lost long stretches of their prime performing years to their struggles with drugs and fought their way back, but there were some who didn't do so well. A good example might be Harold 'Tina' Brooks, a supremely talented hard-bop tenor saxophonist who ran into trouble at the height … Continue reading The Sad Fate Of Harold ‘Tina’ Brooks
The Long Interlude Of Frank Morgan
I was sorry to read about the death of Etta James, although it wasn't unexpected because she'd been in ill health for quite a while. But even though I was a fan, her life story is being well-covered everywhere so I thought I'd go in a different direction. Thinking about some of the problems she … Continue reading The Long Interlude Of Frank Morgan
Knife-Throwing Tougher Than It Looks
Like most kids of my generation, I was always fascinated by the knife-throwing scenes that seemed to show up regularly in the action movies I watched. Whether flipped by an evil assassin lurking in the shadows or the valiant hero acting in desperation, it seemed as if almost anybody could grab any kind of knife … Continue reading Knife-Throwing Tougher Than It Looks
The Artistry Of Art Van Damme
Although he might not be as well remembered as the guys we mentioned in a recent piece about accordions (Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren), Art Van Damme had some distinctions of his own. In addition to a long career in radio and TV, he was a respected jazz musician with an international reputation, and he … Continue reading The Artistry Of Art Van Damme
Visions Come To Life For The New Year
Those of you who partied a little too much this weekend might be forgiven if you think some things in the pictures below look a little familiar. After all, seeing strange visions is often a part of the whole process of seriously overindulging. (Thanks to 'M' for the pictures.) Frank Sinatra - "It Was A … Continue reading Visions Come To Life For The New Year
The Fascinating Lotte Lenya
Most of us have listened to Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife" about a gazillion times, but how many of us know anything about the mysterious 'Lotte Lenya' mentioned in the song? Turns out she was not only the composer's muse, but also a well-known entertainer with a long career that stretched all the way from … Continue reading The Fascinating Lotte Lenya
Ralph Flanagan Echoed Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller has made several appearances on the GMC, and we've also featured Ray McKinley (In The Footsteps Of Glenn Miller), who took over Miller's reconstituted band in later years. But there was another guy who sort of latched on to the Miller bandwagon; Ralph Flanagan, who led a band that was known for its … Continue reading Ralph Flanagan Echoed Glenn Miller
The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Two decades after his death, jazz organist Richard 'Groove' Holmes is still fondly remembered by many fans. His was a career marked by a high level of comfort in every type of jazz from bluesy and funky to sweet and soft. That diversity and reach even extended to his two main centers of activity, allowing … Continue reading The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Saying Goodbye To Colonel Potter
I was saddened by the news that veteran character actor Harry Morgan has died at his home in Los Angeles. Morgan, who was 96 when he died, enjoyed a long career with a number of good roles, but will probably be most remembered as Colonel Potter in the classic TV comedy M*A*S*H. Those of us … Continue reading Saying Goodbye To Colonel Potter
Geezer Music Club 