I was sorry to hear of the passing (at age 84) of jazz musician Joe Muranyi, who was for many years one of the best clarinetists around. He is probably most remembered now for being a part of Louis Armstrong's last group in the late 1960s, and for his solid dixieland jazz career in the … Continue reading The Legacy Of Joe Muranyi
Category: Seniors
Just So You’ll Know
Nothing too complicated today. I just thought I'd explain something that might have piqued your curiosity. You might have noticed that the music samples I post (for a limited time) have been presented in a number of different ways, and there's a reason for that. WordPress does an excellent job of hosting the GMC, but … Continue reading Just So You’ll Know
The Bold And Brassy Sound Of Billy May
A talented trumpeter who at times led a very successful orchestra of his own, Billy May is probably most remembered now as a composer and arranger, one of the best ever. During a decades-long career that began in the swing era, the Grammy-winner worked with a staggering list of stars; among them Glenn Miller, Frank … Continue reading The Bold And Brassy Sound Of Billy May
Bluegrass Western Style – Vern Williams
I love bluegrass music and especially enjoy the sound of a mandolin, an instrument that has come to be closely identified with it. In fact, guys like Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs, and Jethro Burns (of Homer & Jethro) have turned the instrument into a familiar part of all kinds of country music, but one of … Continue reading Bluegrass Western Style – Vern Williams
Look Here If You Need A Smile
A while back I posted a slideshow of funny, unusual sculptures. Today I thought I'd go for funny again, but the subject is goofy signs. Judging from the large number of pictures of them available on the internet, they're pretty popular -- and definitely funny. (Be sure to check the fine print at the bottom … Continue reading Look Here If You Need A Smile
Dick Clark – It All Began With American Bandstand
A little honesty is called for here. Whenever a familiar name from the musical world dies, if it's someone that I've written about before then I often repost the previous piece, with an introduction explaining why I'm doing so. But it's not quite that simple with Dick Clark, who died recently. He wasn't a musical … Continue reading Dick Clark – It All Began With American Bandstand
Jimmie Noone Inspired The King Of Swing
Regular visitors to the GMC know that I've always had a soft spot for clarinet legend Benny Goodman. The Chicago native has shown up in several pieces, including the one that is probably my favorite, Was Benny Goodman A Doppelganger?, but I don't think I've ever written about his early influences, and at least one … Continue reading Jimmie Noone Inspired The King Of Swing
Skeets McDonald VS Perry Como
I've written before about how certain songs seem so familiar that I'm convinced we had the record around the house while I was growing up. A good example would be Perry Como's "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes," which topped the pop charts in 1952. But even though his version is the one … Continue reading Skeets McDonald VS Perry Como
Strange But True – And Funny Too!
Regular visitors to the ol' GMC will know that we occasionally feature a slideshow of unusual sculptures, a variety of art that has always interested me. In the past we've shown sculptures created in everything from cheese to sand to ice, but today's subject has a different focus. The objects in the pictures below are … Continue reading Strange But True – And Funny Too!
Lou Christie Still Entertaining Fans
A couple of years ago I wrote about how much I'd enjoyed seeing Jersey Boys, the musical based on the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I was thinking about that as I put together today's piece, because Valli and singer/songwriter Lou Christie have some things in common, even if Christie had far … Continue reading Lou Christie Still Entertaining Fans
Geezer Music Club 