I've always been fascinated by some of the names chosen by musical groups. Many of them are very clever and inventive, although some require further explanation. A good example is a pop group with the unlikely name of the Hues Corporation, which enjoyed a few years of popularity in the mid-1970s and is now mostly … Continue reading The Hues Corporation’s Business Was Music
Category: Seniors
The Singing Side Of Martha Raye
Regular visitors to the GMC know that one post often triggers another, and that's the case today because I decided to look a little deeper into the singing partner (in one movie, at least) of our last featured performer, Frances Faye. That would be Martha Raye, who is probably most remembered now as a comedienne … Continue reading The Singing Side Of Martha Raye
Frances Faye Was Ahead Of Her Time
It's pretty commonplace now for entertainers to be very open about their sexuality, but that wasn't always the case. Nevertheless, at least one singer/songwriter who rose to fame in the 1930s made no secret about being bisexual. In fact, Frances Faye would eventually form a lifelong partnership with her manager, Teri Shepherd, and even worked … Continue reading Frances Faye Was Ahead Of Her Time
The Strangeloves Became Genuine Faux Australians
One of the oddest stories to come out of the 1960s pop music era had to be that of the Strangeloves, a group formed by three guys who'd been record producers and songwriters, but decided they wanted to get in on the action as performers. Of course, they weren't the first to do that, but … Continue reading The Strangeloves Became Genuine Faux Australians
The Barbarian Is Back
Today I thought I'd once again indulge one of my pet peeves, the ridiculous amounts paid in auction for works of art. But this time I'm just doing it with a slideshow, because I covered my feelings on this subject in a previous piece titled Call Me A Barbarian. Just like that one, today's effort … Continue reading The Barbarian Is Back
Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith Inspired The Duke
When a performer becomes known by a moniker like Willie 'The Lion' Smith, you might think he'd find it a little long and cumbersome to drag around. But that probably wasn't the case with the legendary jazz pianist, an early star who specialized in the 'stride piano' style*, because when he was born in turn-of-the-century … Continue reading Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith Inspired The Duke
The Essex – The Sound Of Singin’ Marines
A common thread among many performers has always been how they sharpened their musical skills while in the armed forces, and then made a career for themselves in the years following. But a R&B group known as The Essex did things a little differently. The members of the combo were all United States Marines, and … Continue reading The Essex – The Sound Of Singin’ Marines
The Saga Of Little Georgie Gobel
I would imagine that most of us remember comedian George Gobel, even though he died over two decades ago. Often introduced as 'Lonesome' George Gobel, he was a fixture on TV for many years beginning in the early 1950s. He even hosted his own show for a while, and later appeared in movies and on … Continue reading The Saga Of Little Georgie Gobel
Abbey Lincoln Left An Indelible Mark
Although she performed under a variety of names earlier in her career, jazz singer/songwriter Abbey Lincoln certainly didn't suffer from any kind of identity crisis. Sometimes billed under her real name - Anna Marie Wooldridge - or as Anna Marie, Gaby Lee, and even Gaby Woolridge, she eventually became Abbey Lincoln, and by the time … Continue reading Abbey Lincoln Left An Indelible Mark
Ohio’s Official Rock Song Had Hoosier Roots
Although a lot of states have official songs, Ohio might be the only one to have an official 'rock' song. In 1985, the Ohio General Assembly gave that designation to "Hang on Sloopy," the familiar 1960s hit by the McCoys, described as a Dayton group at the time. The only problem was that the McCoys … Continue reading Ohio’s Official Rock Song Had Hoosier Roots
Geezer Music Club 