I've mentioned before that I like to periodically check the freebies that Amazon and other online music sellers offer. Although some of the tracks they give away are a little iffy, you can also find yourself getting acquainted with good music from someone you might not know too well, like Arthur Greenslade. Arthur Greenslade's name … Continue reading Getting To Know Arthur Greenslade
Category: Nostalgia
Marching Along With Flare
I was once again going through some old pictures, and ran across one of myself lined up with the other members of my Boy Scout troop. (I'm the last one in the middle row.) It would date from the early 1950s, and I think we were arranged that way because we were practicing drilling, one … Continue reading Marching Along With Flare
The Many Talents Of Tex Ritter
Maurice Woodward Ritter came by his nickname honestly. Born and raised in the great state of Texas, he had as much right to the name "Tex" as anybody, and it turned out to be an especially good name for someone who would end up having a long career in the public eye. Along the way … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Tex Ritter
Gene McDaniels And The BBC
There is an old adage that says that all publicity is good publicity. I'm not sure that it's always true in today's nutsy world, but there is one type of notoriety that will always boost interest in a book, a movie, or a song -- being banned. Born in Kansas City, Gene McDaniels grew up … Continue reading Gene McDaniels And The BBC
Remembering The B-List Music Stars
Although you seldom see much about the big band era that flourished before and during World War II, many of the names are still familiar. Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman have names that will ring the proverbial bell with most of us, but what about Chick Webb, Larry Clinton, or Claude Thornhill? As … Continue reading Remembering The B-List Music Stars
Games Within Games
I guess I'm all caught up in baseball lately, so am probably not quite as music-oriented as usual. (But I will close with an appropriate tune.) The deadline for non-waiver deals has passed and the number of trades made, coupled with continuing stories about steroids, makes baseball the biggest thing on sports pages this weekend. … Continue reading Games Within Games
Bob — The Other Crosby
Something that has always fascinated me is how often two or more members of the same family find musical fame, even if in varying degrees. I suppose it's not that unusual for offspring, siblings, cousins, and the like to gravitate to the field that has provided success for others in the family, whether it's music, … Continue reading Bob — The Other Crosby
Photoshopping The Old-Fashioned Way
A relatively new word that has entered our lexicon is "photoshopping", and it's pretty commonly used by everybody now to describe the digital manipulation of pictures. The term is derived from the popular image editor Adobe Photoshop, although there are a lot of other programs around too. Of course, manipulating photos has been a reality … Continue reading Photoshopping The Old-Fashioned Way
Kate Smith’s Special Song
As most baseball fans know, since the events of September 11, 2001, a lot of games now feature the singing of "God Bless America" at the 7th inning break. I was watching a game on TV the other day, and as the music was performed I began thinking about the origins of the song itself … Continue reading Kate Smith’s Special Song
Dave Loggins – Kenny’s Talented Cousin
I've written before about how some of the lesser-known relatives of big stars have had nice careers of their own, even if not to the heights of their famous kin. Johnny Cash's brother Tommy is one, and another would be Dave Loggins, whose famous cousin Kenny has certainly made a bigger splash, with countless hit … Continue reading Dave Loggins – Kenny’s Talented Cousin
Geezer Music Club 