Like many others in his era, red-haired singer Farrell 'Rusty' Draper found success over the course of his long career by appealing to fans of more than one kind of music. Beginning with his rise to fame in the early 1950s, Draper had a number of good selling records that straddled the line between pop … Continue reading Genial Rusty Draper Had Wide Appeal
Category: Seniors
Playing Catch Up
Sorry folks, but today's post is going to be a short one. Rolling thunderstorms combined with high winds caused an extended power outage, which eventually made the ol' GMC get behind schedule. Hopefully we'll be able to get back into the usual thing next time. Johnny Hodges w/ Wild Bill Davis - "Stormy Weather"
Anatomy Of A Song – A Texas Favorite
Something I saw while watching an old Gunsmoke rerun on TV inspired today's edition of Anatomy of a Song. It surprised me at the time -- not because I didn't already know about it, but because those old Gunsmokes seldom ventured into subjects that didn't really have a lot to do with the action on … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – A Texas Favorite
The Odyssey Of Mickey Baker
In an earlier post about the Bonnie Sisters, I mentioned that they'd been helped along by Mickey Baker, a talented guitarist who would later be part of the R&B duo Mickey & Sylvia. But even though he and his performing partner struck gold in 1957 with "Love Is Strange," Mickey Baker might have been a … Continue reading The Odyssey Of Mickey Baker
Laughing On The Weekend
I thought maybe for the extended holiday weekend we'd just kind of kick back and enjoy a laugh or two with a slideshow of funny signs. We've done it before but hopefully these are different ones. Dinah Shore - "Laughing On The Outside"
Four Aces Struck Gold In The 1950s
In the early 1950s the big band era was winding down and the rock and roll revolution was still to come. The pop music landscape was filled with a little bit of everything, and among those who thrived were singing groups that seemed to spin out hit after hit by specializing in sweet ballads. One … Continue reading Four Aces Struck Gold In The 1950s
Fantastic Foursome – A Song For The Season
We haven't had a Fantastic Foursome for a while, so maybe I should explain the idea for those newer visitors who haven't run across it before. It's a recurring special feature that spotlights a particular song, and then offers the chance to listen to four different versions and vote for your favorite. The song we're … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome – A Song For The Season
The Many Talents Of Memphis Minnie
There have been countless female blues singers through the years, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one who could match the abilities of the legendary Memphis Minnie, who first rose to fame in the 1930s. In addition to writing most of her own songs, she was as good a vocalist as any of her contemporaries … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Memphis Minnie
Jerry Byrd’s Hawaiian Love Affair
Depression-era Lima, Ohio, wouldn't seem to be a likely place for a young boy to grow up dreaming about Hawaii, but on second thought it might have been ideal. After all, what better way to forget hard times than to imagine yourself in a Pacific paradise? That must have been how it was for steel … Continue reading Jerry Byrd’s Hawaiian Love Affair
The Bonnie Sisters Briefly Flirted With Fame
In a recent post about the DeJohn Sisters I mentioned that they'd been the inspiration for another singing group, the Bonnie Sisters, who weren't sisters at all but still managed a Top Twenty hit in 1956 with "Cry Baby." Unfortunately, it would be the girls' only good-selling record, and they soon became yet another forgotten … Continue reading The Bonnie Sisters Briefly Flirted With Fame
Geezer Music Club 