If you read my stuff with any regularity, you had to know this one was coming. After all, it was just last week that I generated a piece called Alan Jones - Father To The Son, and I even mentioned the possibility, so no surprise here. But that doesn't mean Jack's story is any less … Continue reading Jack Jones – Son To The Father
Category: Seniors
REVIEW: Kelley Suttenfield – Where Is Love?
I would think that an artist would encounter a lot of obstacles in generating a debut album. First of all, they're almost certainly not well-known, so even getting the album made is an accomplishment. But even beyond that, they still have to get the album exposed to music fans, who will hopefully find that the … Continue reading REVIEW: Kelley Suttenfield – Where Is Love?
Cleanin’ Up In The Aftermath
Holidays always kick up the ol' daydream machine a notch or two, but I guess I'm not the only one with that reaction. Most of us have a lot of memories squirreled away in our heads and it doesn't take much to jar some of them loose from their hiding places. Thinking about the just-finished … Continue reading Cleanin’ Up In The Aftermath
The Mystery Of Karen Chandler
One of the things I enjoy most about digging into music history is the way the process sometimes leads me into unexplored territory. The latest example occurred while I was putting together a recent piece about pop star Mel Carter and ran across another singer, a mysterious lady who'd also had a best-selling record of … Continue reading The Mystery Of Karen Chandler
Allan Jones – Father To The Son
I had intended to write a piece about crooner Jack Jones, who has had -- and continues to have -- a long and successful career as a jazz and pop singer. But I decided to save that for another day, and instead tell the story of his talented dad, Allan Jones, who paved the way … Continue reading Allan Jones – Father To The Son
REVIEW: Eddie Allen – Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Eddie Allen is a busy man these days. Last month I reviewed the veteran jazz trumpeter's new album as the leader of a large band called the Aggregation. That effort was a solid collection of big-band music, and the band was -- well -- big, with something like 17 members. Now Eddie is fronting a … Continue reading REVIEW: Eddie Allen – Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Remembering Randy & The Rainbows
Although there were many exceptions, the majority of the groups that specialized in the type of close-harmony singing known as doo-wop fell into two categories. The earliest was the R&B-inspired music that mostly came out of the black urban environment, but close on its heels was the sound of the Italian-American groups, mostly originating in … Continue reading Remembering Randy & The Rainbows
Jeanne Black Had The Answer
I've always enjoyed finding examples of a peculiar practice that seems to occur most often in country music -- singers hitting the studio to record "answer" songs. For the uninitiated, that's a type of song that follows a big hit by another singer, and either answers a question posed by the original, or just presents … Continue reading Jeanne Black Had The Answer
Hanging On To The Wheel
I was running some errands the other day, driving from place to place to take care of whatever I needed done, when something occurred that made me think. (Not that I wasn't already thinking, but you know what I mean.) It actually started when I tried to park near a store that had a zillion … Continue reading Hanging On To The Wheel
The Croonerhood Of Mel Carter
I've written more than once about crooners, not only trying to define the term but also questioning why it sometimes seems to be used in a negative way. (From Sinatra To Rod Stewart – The Crooner Conundrum.) To me, croonerhood has always been a sign of distinction for a singer, and with that in mind … Continue reading The Croonerhood Of Mel Carter
Geezer Music Club 