Most of of us consider Rudy Vallée to be the first true crooner, with Bing Crosby closely following as the first modern version. But if you dig into the early years, you'll find that a guy named Gene Austin just might have been the original crooner. And whether that's true or not, the fact remains … Continue reading Gene Austin – The Original Crooner
Category: Nostalgia
The Good Fortune Of Lucky Millinder
There's not much information around about how bandleader 'Lucky' Millinder got his nickname. It's possible that it was just a natural progression from his given name of Lucius, but you could make a case that there might be another reason. Even though he sang a little, Lucky Millinder did not play an instrument and couldn't … Continue reading The Good Fortune Of Lucky Millinder
Country Catalyst – It’s In The Cards
For today's edition of Country Catalyst, the Special Feature that spotlights a classic song in the hope that it might bring more folks to country music, we have a tune that was a huge hit for two different singers, decades apart. And to add to the mix, the song's composer -- who had the first … Continue reading Country Catalyst – It’s In The Cards
Pretty Perky Peggy King
Octogenarian Peggy King is still singing in selected venues these days, entertaining her fans with some of her best songs while reminiscing about her long career. But even though she's mostly remembered now for her many TV appearances, especially those on the show hosted by George Gobel (who often introduced her as 'pretty perky Peggy … Continue reading Pretty Perky Peggy King
The Crooning Side Of Dick Powell
Most of us remember Dick Powell as a longtime actor, director, and producer, and as the host of his own TV show, but he actually began his career by showcasing his talents as a musician and singer. In fact, for a number of years he was one of the most popular crooners around. When you … Continue reading The Crooning Side Of Dick Powell
Five-Star Favs: A Mysterious Tale
Our newest Special Feature -- Five-Star Favs -- is only up to the third edition but it's already showing some diversity. After spotlighting classic rock in the first one and jazz in the second, today we're taking a look at a song from 1967 that isn't easy to classify. At first glance, "Ode To Billie … Continue reading Five-Star Favs: A Mysterious Tale
Helmut Zacharias – The Magic Violinist
Germany was a volatile place in 1931 but it did have a long tradition of music appreciation, so it's not surprising that an eleven-year-old violinist named Helmut Zacharias would find an appreciative audience when he played a Mozart concerto on national radio. But he took it in stride -- after all, he'd been performing for … Continue reading Helmut Zacharias – The Magic Violinist
The Singing Side Of Clint Walker
Here's something you might not know. Like many actors, western star Clint Walker (who is still around, and in his eighties) occasionally tried his hand at singing. And even though it wasn't a big part of his career, he did demonstrate a pleasing baritone while vocalizing in various TV and movie appearances, and he also … Continue reading The Singing Side Of Clint Walker
Rooftop Singers Peaked Early
Those of us who were around at the time might remember that the decade of the 1960s was one that saw a lot of different types of music bouncing around. One of the most popular was folk music, some of it highly political but much of it just light and irresistibly addictive to listeners. That … Continue reading Rooftop Singers Peaked Early
Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
Isham Jones kept pretty busy in the 1920s and 1930s as the leader of a popular orchestra, but years later his legacy is more about his songwriting ability. He was the composer of a number of familiar songs, among them "I'll See You In My Dreams," "There Is No Greater Love," and our Anatomy of … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
Geezer Music Club 