Teenage boys in the 1950s were not that much different from now in at least one respect -- risqué double-entendres usually made us snicker and dig an elbow into our friends' sides. That might have helped explain why a relatively unknown keyboardist named Dave Cortez rocketed to the top of the charts in 1959 with … Continue reading Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez And His Happy Organ
Category: Nostalgia
REVIEW: High Performance – Live From Breaux Bridge: Pt 1
Steve Riley, the leader of the Mamou Playboys, is probably one of the better-known names in Cajun music -- admittedly not a major genre but still one with lots of fans, including me. That's why it caught my attention to see that he's teamed up with band-mate Kevin Dugas on a labor of love, an … Continue reading REVIEW: High Performance – Live From Breaux Bridge: Pt 1
The Winky-Dink Revolution
I have to thank Lil' Sis for the inspiration for this post. It's the story of one of the earliest instances of interactive entertainment, a TV program that even Bill Gates once saluted as a revolutionary use of the medium -- a 1950s show called Winky-Dink And You. Co-producer Jack Barry also served as host … Continue reading The Winky-Dink Revolution
From Honky-Tonks To Pop Stardom — Al Dexter
I like to think of myself as someone who is reasonably knowledgeable about the music of the past, but for a long time I didn't realize how popular country music was in the first half of the 20th century. I always knew that both jazz and blues were vital parts of the musical landscape in … Continue reading From Honky-Tonks To Pop Stardom — Al Dexter
Jan Savitt – The Enigmatic Russian
One of the most fascinating stories of the big band era would have to be that of bandleader Jan Savitt. A Russian immigrant with a few holes in the story of his origin, as a child he was a prodigy on the violin but ended up leading his own very popular swing band -- and … Continue reading Jan Savitt – The Enigmatic Russian
On The Marquee: Friend And Lover
I sometimes look at things from an strange angle. Case in point, I was listening to the music of the 1960s -- specifically a singing duo that carried the unusual name Friend and Lover -- and I visualized a guy working on putting up the signs outside a club where they were opening. He would … Continue reading On The Marquee: Friend And Lover
Saying Adios To Monte Hale
I was sorry to see that veteran cowboy movie star Monte Hale has died. I've written before about my childhood fondness for Saturday matinees with Western movies, and even though he wasn't one of the bigger stars I remember him well. The funny thing is that he's now described as a 'singing cowboy' and I … Continue reading Saying Adios To Monte Hale
Nagasaki — The Song, Not The City
For the last sixty-plus years, the name Nagasaki has stirred thoughts of a city in Japan with a history that includes being the site of the last wartime use of a nuclear device. But in the pre-war years, jazz fans probably most often thought of it as the title of one of the most popular … Continue reading Nagasaki — The Song, Not The City
Not Every Clover Brings Good Luck
My musical memory works in funny ways sometimes. I'll hear something that starts a little tickle deep inside, just a whisper or hint of a memory that I can't quite grasp. Eventually I'll figure it out -- or more likely, drive myself nuts trying. It happened again today while I was listening to Tommy James … Continue reading Not Every Clover Brings Good Luck
Bringin’ The Blues — The Butterfield Blues Band
The rise of what came to be known in the 1960s as 'blue-eyed soul' included contributions from a lot of different musicians. One band that should receive more recognition as an important influence in the evolution of the music is the Butterfield Blues Band, the Chicago-based band led by harmonica wiz and vocalist Paul Butterfield. … Continue reading Bringin’ The Blues — The Butterfield Blues Band
Geezer Music Club 