Kentucky has always been home to a rich musical heritage, with an especially strong tradition in bluegrass and other forms of country music, but the state has sometimes provided a fertile birthplace for something a little different. One of those occasions was the creation of the pop music singing group, the Hilltoppers. They began as … Continue reading Kentucky’s Other Music — The Hilltoppers
Category: Nostalgia
Goin’ To Kansas City With Wilbert Harrison
I'll have to confess that I didn't know much about Wilbert Harrison when I first heard him singing "Kansas City," and in all honesty I don't think that I made much of an effort to find out at that time. In those days I was mostly just into enjoying the music, and his signature song … Continue reading Goin’ To Kansas City With Wilbert Harrison
Ridin’ Out The Storm With The Duke
I love irony. I was noodling on the computer today while listening to Duke Ellington's very nice version of "Stormy Weather," and I happened to notice outside my window that the weather was really starting to deteriorate. It didn't surprise me because we've had a lot of storms lately - including a tornado or two … Continue reading Ridin’ Out The Storm With The Duke
REVIEW: Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress
A few years ago, long-time Louisiana musical icons Warren Storm and Willie Tee decided to revive their legendary Cypress Band, a group that they had first formed in 1980. The duo found that modern audiences were enthusiastic in their support, and soon began building quite a following in area nightspots. Deciding that their mix of … Continue reading REVIEW: Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress
Just A Travelin’ Man
Unless you just won the lottery, you're probably concerned about rising fuel costs. (And if you did win the lottery, then why are you wasting your time reading this when you could be out having fun?) Not only has it gotten much more expensive to fill our gas tanks, but a lot of other things … Continue reading Just A Travelin’ Man
Ivory Joe Joins The Revolution
In the early days of rock and roll a lot of different musical sounds were being heard, and they all helped form the mix that would eventually become a pop music revolution. Rockabilly, folk music, and a few other tasty treats were all part of the recipe, but one of the most important ingredients was … Continue reading Ivory Joe Joins The Revolution
The Perfect Song For The Holiday Weekend
When I think about Memorial Day weekend, all the usual things related to the holiday come to mind -- but I also think about eight-track cassettes. Hmmm. I guess that takes some explanation. First let me say that I went through the entire eight-track era and never had a car with a built-in player. Although … Continue reading The Perfect Song For The Holiday Weekend
REVIEW: Dan Tyminski – Wheels
Although he's a favorite of many country music fans - especially those who love bluegrass - Dan Tyminski is probably better known to the general public as the Grammy-winning singing voice behind a famous face, that of movie star George Clooney. Because of that, Tyminski's second album as a soloist, Wheels, due out in June … Continue reading REVIEW: Dan Tyminski – Wheels
Lee Konitz – Playing Fast, Sweet And High
During my college years I was still very new to listening to modern jazz, and like a lot of others at that time, thought that it began and ended with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. I was especially dazzled by the melodic, lyrical play of alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, and even though I eventually came to … Continue reading Lee Konitz – Playing Fast, Sweet And High
Billy Vaughn – Thriving In The Rock And Roll Era
During the rise of rock and roll in the 1950's, several other kinds of music still had a pretty good hold on much of the listening public, and one of the most popular was what's now described as 'easy listening' music. It's chief practitioners were orchestra leaders such as Percy Faith, Ray Coniff, and Nelson … Continue reading Billy Vaughn – Thriving In The Rock And Roll Era
Geezer Music Club 