Watching The Who entertain at the Super Bowl might have caused a few people to remember another British group, an oddly-named bunch that had a connection -- sort of -- to the legendary rockers. The band's name was Thunderclap Newman and it was assembled to give an opportunity to John 'Speedy' Keen, who actually did … Continue reading Driving The Who To Stardom
Category: Retirement
Music And The Highwayman
Sometimes it doesn't take much to entertain me. Lately I've found myself watching a TV reality series called Pawn Stars -- and for those who aren't familiar with the show let me just say that it's better than it sounds. It is truly amazing to see some of the odd objects that people bring in … Continue reading Music And The Highwayman
Johnny Burnette Mirrored Elvis
It's tempting to wonder what would have become of Johnny Burnette if he hadn't gone fishing that night in 1964. After all, by the time that speedboat came along, he was at a point in his career where he'd managed to pull off the transition from raw rockabilly singer to genuine teen idol, hitting the … Continue reading Johnny Burnette Mirrored Elvis
Dem Bones Are Still Hangin’ Around
The title of a news article from the Indonesian island of Bali triggered my musical memories recently. The story is all about how the efforts of bone smugglers have been foiled for the second time in as many weeks. It seems that there is a lot of money to be made on ancient artifacts -- … Continue reading Dem Bones Are Still Hangin’ Around
Doin’ The Yam With Fred Astaire
'Can't Sing, Can't Act. Balding. Can Dance a Little.' You might recognize that as the oft-quoted evaluation from an early talent scout, giving his opinion about the then-young performer Fred Astaire. The punch line, of course, is that he became one of the biggest stars of all time; and while his career was certainly anchored … Continue reading Doin’ The Yam With Fred Astaire
REVIEW: Nilson Matta & Brazilian Voyage – Copacabana
Let's get this out of the way first: sorry, Barry Manilow fans, but the title song of this album is not the one made famous by your idol. It is instead one of the best of the original compositions provided for the album by its featured star, Brazilian bassist Nilson Matta, who named it for … Continue reading REVIEW: Nilson Matta & Brazilian Voyage – Copacabana
Glenn Yarbrough – Still In Strong Voice
Glenn Robertson Yarbrough (January 12, 1930 – August 11, 2016) I've always enjoyed writing about musical artists who have managed long, successful careers that have continued even into their 'senior' years. A good example is Glenn Yarbrough, who has had many years of success, both as a member of the Limeliters and as a solo … Continue reading Glenn Yarbrough – Still In Strong Voice
Hurt So Bad
I have to confess that I found this picture of a sand sculpture so fascinating that I had to build a post around it. I can only imagine the artist's frame of mind during its creation, but -- like any piece of art -- it will stir up a lot of different feelings in those … Continue reading Hurt So Bad
Charlie Byrd’s Inspiration Led The Way
I've been a fan of Latin jazz for many years. I can remember as a child hearing Pérez Prado or Xavier Cugat records (or later watching Desi Arnaz perform "Babalu" on TV) so the stage was set early. But I'd guess that the strongest influence on me was what occurred in the Sixties -- the … Continue reading Charlie Byrd’s Inspiration Led The Way
Carl Smith Was Known As ‘Mr. Country’
Although I wrote about Carl Smith just a few months ago, it seems appropriate to repost that piece (see below) because the legendary country music star died recently, at his home near Nashville. I also thought I'd offer up another song -- one of his best early hits, 1955's "There She Goes." It's one that … Continue reading Carl Smith Was Known As ‘Mr. Country’
Geezer Music Club 