Veterans of the GMC might recall that posts featuring slideshows -- usually filled with pictures of oddities -- used to show up fairly often. I'm not sure why we've neglected them for so long, but I'm happy to report that they're back! Art takes a lot of different forms and some can be unusual and … Continue reading The Return Of The Slideshow!
Category: Jazz
The Delightful Dozen – The Top Posts Of All Time
Here's a idea that occurred to me when I started thinking about how the same few articles seem to show up again and again under the 'Busiest Posts Lately' section in the left column. Obviously there's something about them that keeps bringing people back and that's great, but there are actually a lot of other … Continue reading The Delightful Dozen – The Top Posts Of All Time
The Lost Voice Of Ann Richards
I've written a lot of posts about various Songbirds -- the ladies who got their start by singing with the big bands -- and even though many of them went through bad times, most managed to persevere and have a nice career. However, that wasn't always the case. Ann Richards seemed to have everything going … Continue reading The Lost Voice Of Ann Richards
Booker Ervin – What Might Have Been
The music world has always had more than its share of performers who died much too soon, in some cases making their mark in a big way but still leaving their fans wondering what might have been. In many cases drugs or drinking have played a part, but for some it was just having the … Continue reading Booker Ervin – What Might Have Been
Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy
In October of 1942, Billboard magazine -- which had been tracking best-selling records since 1936 -- added a new chart to its listings, one that it called the Harlem Hit Parade. (It would eventually be renamed the R&B chart.) The very first #1 record on the newly-created chart was "Take It and Git" by Andy … Continue reading Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy
Mamma Mia! Morgana King’s Singing Side
Here's something the average person probably doesn't know. The actress who played Vito Corleone's wife Carmela in the first two Godfather movies (you know, the good ones) was also a very respected and influential jazz vocalist. Now in her eighties, Morgana King was a serious singer for many years before - and after - she … Continue reading Mamma Mia! Morgana King’s Singing Side
Jazz World Remembers Yusef Lateef
Yusef Lateef, a legend in the world of jazz, has died at age 93 at his home near Amherst, Massachusetts. The multi-talented Grammy-winner, who was born in Chattanooga as William Emanuel Huddleston (he converted to Islam around 1950) enjoyed a career that stretched for more than seven decades, during which he became renowned as an … Continue reading Jazz World Remembers Yusef Lateef
Frank Wess Transitioned Several Eras
When I read that Frank Wess had died recently, I remembered that he'd been featured on the GMC in the past so I set about the process I usually follow to mark the passing of a notable musical performer, which is to revive the original post and add some new material. What I discovered was … Continue reading Frank Wess Transitioned Several Eras
Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Although she was never a huge star, Gloria Lynne was a very respected singer with a long -- and sometimes rocky -- career, and her recent passing at age 83 was a sad moment for her fans. Probably best remembered for helping make "I Wish You Love" a standard, she sang in a style that … Continue reading Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
A perfect example of a song that had to change with the times is Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," which began life as a commentary on scandalous Depression-era happenings. Unfortunately it was specific to the time period so it became meaningless to later generations, creating the need for the lyrics that are more familiar to modern … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
Geezer Music Club 