In looking back over various Thanksgiving posts through the years, I see that I've included everything from a nostalgic family tale to a slideshow of painted turkey feathers. But one thing I haven't done is feature pictures from my favorite artist, Norman Rockwell. Although he was known for all kinds of heart-warming illustrations, he was … Continue reading A Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving
Category: Nostalgia
Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
As unlikely as it might seem to modern music fans -- especially after listening to his decidedly odd singing style -- there was a time that honky-tonk pioneer Floyd Tillman was described as a combination of Ernest Tubb and Frank Sinatra. But even if that now seems an odd idea, music historians still consider him … Continue reading Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
Bringing The Past To Life
In an earlier post, I described my memories of how folks used to hand-tint family pictures, performing the only kind of 'photoshopping' that was possible in that era. But things have changed a lot in the art of retouching, and nowhere is that more evident than what is now being done with iconic old pictures. … Continue reading Bringing The Past To Life
Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
Cleveland Duncan, the lead singer of the Penguins, a doo-wop group best-remembered for the 1950s super-hit "Earth Angel," has died in Los Angeles at age 77. Although the group has never been featured on the GMC, I did find a connection -- of sorts -- to an earlier piece. It seems that the Penguins encountered … Continue reading Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
A Crushingly Good Fantastic Foursome
When rocker Linda Ronstadt got together with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle in 1983, the result was a triple-platinum album that not only turned her career in a different direction, but also brought the music of the past to the attention of a new generation. The first album of what would be a series for her, What's … Continue reading A Crushingly Good Fantastic Foursome
The Other Half Of The Equation – Stephane Grappelli
Legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt's name is a familiar one even now, six decades after his death. But less is said about the other half of the equation that led to world-wide fame -- his frequent collaborator, violinist Stéphane Grappelli -- who continued to pursue his muse for more than forty years after his friend's … Continue reading The Other Half Of The Equation – Stephane Grappelli
A FINE Mess – The Chiffons VS George Harrison
I'm sure most of us remember the Chiffons, a girl group that had some big hits in the 1960s, including several that featured 'fine' in the title. Among them were "One Fine Day," "A Love So Fine," and the 1963 chart-topper, "He's So Fine," which was the group's biggest hit -- but would later be … Continue reading A FINE Mess – The Chiffons VS George Harrison
The Clarinet Wizardry Of Johnny Dodds
I've always been pretty upfront about my appreciation for legendary clarinetist Benny Goodman -- even kiddingly comparing myself to him in an earlier post -- but there were lots of guys in the early jazz age who played a mean licorice stick. In fact, some of them probably inspired Goodman when he was first starting … Continue reading The Clarinet Wizardry Of Johnny Dodds
Chugging Through The World Of Graffiti
Those who remember the HBO miniseries Rome might also recall that the opening titles sequence showed example after example of graffiti on the walls of the ancient city. That was historically accurate because graffiti has been around for a long time. In fact, it's a pretty good bet that as soon as someone built the … Continue reading Chugging Through The World Of Graffiti
Shining A Spotlight On Tibby Edwards
Our society is so star-obsessed that we sometimes forget that the evolution of music also depends on lesser-known performers. Guys like Tibby Edwards, who was never a big star but still managed to be in the middle of things during the early years of rock and roll. In fact, at one point he shared the … Continue reading Shining A Spotlight On Tibby Edwards
Geezer Music Club 