You would have to assume that by the time we reach our 80s most of us would no longer be pursuing our normal vocation (if we're even still around), but it has always seemed to me that musical artists often defy the odds. Yet another example is jazz singer Sheila Jordan, who is still entertaining … Continue reading Sheila Jordan – Defying The Odds
Category: Seniors
Happy Un-Birthday To Louis Armstrong
During his lifetime, Louis Armstrong always said that he'd been born on July 4th, 1900. It became part of his legend and somehow always seemed appropriate for someone who was arguably the most important figure in the history of jazz, America's music. It wasn't until more than a decade after his 1971 death that his … Continue reading Happy Un-Birthday To Louis Armstrong
Music Legends Inspired By ‘Blackface’ Entertainer
With our modern sensibilities it can be a little jarring to look at a picture like the one below, but 'blackface' performers are a part of music history, and most of us will recall reading about early minstrel shows or will remember Al Jolson, who specialized in blackface for many years. But in at least … Continue reading Music Legends Inspired By ‘Blackface’ Entertainer
Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
As someone who has had more than a passing acquaintance with cookies -- the edible kind -- I have to admit that a trio with that name probably caught my attention back in the day. And even though it was for different reasons, the R&B girl group was apparently also noticed by the legendary Ray … Continue reading Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
A Crooner’s Connection To The Beatles
It's time to revisit one of our favorite subjects -- crooners -- and take a look at the story of a singer who not only had a tragically shortened career, but also a direct connection to the Beatles. His name was Buddy Clark, and his biggest hit was on a song that was written specifically … Continue reading A Crooner’s Connection To The Beatles
The Contrarian Strikes Again
Always proudly contrary, I thought I'd post some pictures of unusual wedding cakes today, since I already covered divorce cakes in a previous piece. But to be even more contrary, I decided to show pictures of just the little figurines they put on top of wedding cakes. They're called -- appropriately enough -- toppers. And … Continue reading The Contrarian Strikes Again
Joe Jones VS The Dixie Cups
New Orleans has always been known as the home of fascinating musical stories, like the tale of R&B singer Joe Jones and his disagreements with the singing group he managed for a while, the Dixie Cups. A court would eventually have to decide who held the rights to one of the group's big hits, a … Continue reading Joe Jones VS The Dixie Cups
A Voice Stilled Too Soon – Irene Kral
Music history is filled with stories of performers who died much too young. And it seems especially cruel when it happens to one of the many female vocalists who early in their careers took time off to raise families. But in spite of all that, when Irene Kral died in 1978 at just age 46 … Continue reading A Voice Stilled Too Soon – Irene Kral
What Really Happened In Tombstone?
Regular visitors to the GMC will have figured out by now that I sometimes write something related to books or movies I've recently enjoyed, although it can sometimes be a little challenging to find a musical connection. Lately I've been reading The Last Gunfight, a new book by Jeff Guinn that takes another look at … Continue reading What Really Happened In Tombstone?
Dorsey’s Hit Got A Doo-Wop Makeover
Sometimes you can pretty clearly identify transitional events in music history, or at least a moment when an old favorite becomes something newer. A good example occurred in 1960, when a doo-wop singing group known as the Chimes had a big hit with an updated version of an old standard, one that had been a … Continue reading Dorsey’s Hit Got A Doo-Wop Makeover
Geezer Music Club 