Just browsing through old pictures again, and I happened across one that includes a really cute little fella. No, not me. I'm referring to the puppy I'm holding, although I have to blushingly admit that I did possess a little touch of cuteness myself (long since lost). A lot of dogs and a slew of … Continue reading In Search Of A Salty Dog
Category: Oldies
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
If you were to ask current music fans what they know about Johnny Duncan, most would either not recognize the name or would think of the country music star who first rose to prominence in the 1970s. But there was an earlier Johnny Duncan and his story makes for a fascinating tale, one that involves … Continue reading Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
A Group Called Smith
The members of newly formed musical groups often choose quirky and unusual names for their aggregations -- usually something that's sort of cool-sounding, but at the same will be remembered by ever-fickle fans. Maybe that's why I find it so fascinating that in at least one case, a group chose a name that was unusual … Continue reading A Group Called Smith
The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
I suppose it's just a microcosm of life itself, but pop music is filled with haunting stories and senseless tragedies. One of those occurred in 1959 at Clear Lake, Iowa, when a plane crash took the life of the pilot and his three passengers. It's been immortalized as 'The Day the Music Died', but most … Continue reading The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
The Seeds — Not Pushing Hard Enough?
Calling a musical act a 'one-hit wonder' is a pretty common occurrence and one that is usually meant as a mild put-down, but there have been some musicians who achieve a measure of popularity without quite reaching even that plateau. They might hit the charts for several songs and have some solid record sales, but … Continue reading The Seeds — Not Pushing Hard Enough?
Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez And His Happy Organ
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
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
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
Harpers Bizarre — Beyond The Bridge
A while back I wrote about a group called the Danleers, and I coined the phrase 'One-Hit Plus Wonders'. It was my silly way of recognizing that sometimes musicians are a little more than just a simple One-Hit Wonder. To help prove the point I direct your attention to Harpers Bizarre, a California-based group popular … Continue reading Harpers Bizarre — Beyond The Bridge
Geezer Music Club 