We can all understand the importance of self-reliance, but how we express the need to take care of ourselves can sometimes be a little baffling to those unfamiliar with a particular idiom. A good example is an expression that's been around for many generations, one that has become so firmly entrenched that it has even … Continue reading A Porcine Song With A Message
Category: Nostalgia
REVIEW: Karrin Allyson – By Request
Receiving a new album to review from an artist I've reviewed before -- and liked a lot -- is sort of like running into an old friend. I'm happy to see someone I've enjoyed spending time with in the past, and at the same time I'm wondering what they've been up to lately. Karrin Allyson, … Continue reading REVIEW: Karrin Allyson – By Request
One Piece At A Time – Johnny Cash
The endless news stories about the sour economy and the many problems in the auto industry got me to thinking about an old song I've always liked. Written by Wayne Kemp and recorded by Johnny Cash, it hit number one on country charts in 1976 and crossed over to make a good showing on pop … Continue reading One Piece At A Time – Johnny Cash
Pondering Julie London
How someone is remembered -- as an actress who also sang or a singer who also acted -- is a question that has occurred to me more than once. It's not always easy to answer when considering the many ladies who have dipped a toe in both ponds. And just to muddy that pond water … Continue reading Pondering Julie London
Art Farmer Loved To Flaunt His Flumpet
In spite of his name and his Iowa origins, there's no evidence that jazz great Art Farmer ever plowed the back forty. In fact, his implement of choice for a significant part of his career was not a plow but a flugelhorn; and to be even more precise, a "flumpet" -- a cross between a … Continue reading Art Farmer Loved To Flaunt His Flumpet
REVIEW: Buckwheat Zydeco -Lay Your Burden Down
Stanley Dural, Jr. November 14, 1947 - September 24, 2016 It's probably an overused expression, but it's difficult to avoid the label of "living legend" when describing someone like Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Jr. The Louisiana native, whose stage name is also the name of his group -- Buckwheat Zydeco -- is still going strong after … Continue reading REVIEW: Buckwheat Zydeco -Lay Your Burden Down
Charlie Feathers – Rockabilly’s Cranky Pioneer
The 1950s must have been a heady time for musicians, especially those in what was then considered the cutting edge of country music. Performers like Bill Haley, the Maddox Brothers, and Carl Perkins were beginning to attract some attention with a sound that had its roots in a variety of styles. Those included Western Swing … Continue reading Charlie Feathers – Rockabilly’s Cranky Pioneer
The Mystery Of Leon Redbone
I think I first saw Leon Redbone on TV's Saturday Night Live, and at the time I suspected his act was a put-on. A few people (not me) even thought he might be eccentric comedian Andy Kaufman in disguise. After all, the program is known for quirky stunts, so Redbone seemed to fit right in. … Continue reading The Mystery Of Leon Redbone
The Musical MP – George Melachrino
I thought maybe I'd revisit the subject of easy listening music, the sweet and melodious kind that was the specialty of a few band directors I've written about before, like Mantovani, Kostelanetz, and Percy Faith. But I don't think any of those particular guys had a background like George Melachrino, who in addition to his … Continue reading The Musical MP – George Melachrino
The Paler George Hamilton
I suppose it might be due to the approach of July 4th, but for some reason I found myself thinking today about George Hamilton IV. (And by the way, you do know that I'm not talking about the terrifically tanned guy, right?) Hamilton the musician was one of the pioneers of the early rock and … Continue reading The Paler George Hamilton
Geezer Music Club 