The music business is filled with tragic stories, but that doesn't lessen the impact of individual tales of opportunities lost and potential unfilled. One of those is the story of Johnny Ace. Johnny Ace (John Marshall Alexander, Jr.) was a Memphis native and a regular on the local music scene from an early age. A … Continue reading A Promising Start Leads To A Senseless End
Category: Oldies
Banned From Radio Play – Nervous Norvus
I've enjoyed silly songs for a long time (and have written about them before) but I'm not alone in my admiration. Fans of veteran radio personality Dr. Demento have long appreciated the unusual music he's brought their way, and he's given credit for helping make a star of Weird Al Yankovic and a few others. … Continue reading Banned From Radio Play – Nervous Norvus
Summertime — And The Junebugs Are Buzzin’
The official start of Summer is very close now and a lot of blogs are focusing on the season. One that I read regularly has published a long list of Summer-related songs, including several different renditions of Gershwin's classic composition, "Summertime." (Although in my opinion they left off one of the best versions, that by … Continue reading Summertime — And The Junebugs Are Buzzin’
Kentucky’s Other Music — The Hilltoppers
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
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
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
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 