I get silly ideas sometimes. For example, I've always thought that jazz trumpeter Billy Butterfield's mellifluous moniker seemed to perfectly suit his lush, smooth playing style. You might not agree, but even if you think I'm all wet you have to admit that it is a great name for a performer. Like many of his … Continue reading Billy Butterfield Had The Perfect Name
Category: Video
Rock And Roll Pioneer Hardrock Gunter
Any discussion of the early days of rock and roll should include a guy whose 1950 breakout hit, "Birmingham Bounce," is considered by many to be one of the earliest examples of the genre. But Hardrock Gunter (whose nickname is not music-related, but more later about that) has something going for him that most rock … Continue reading Rock And Roll Pioneer Hardrock Gunter
Another Foursome To Consider
I thought maybe it was time to spotlight another song. This time around I've picked a song that came to life in the 1930s and soon became a standard, recorded by an endless list of performers. Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, "The Way You Look Tonight" won the Academy Award for best song … Continue reading Another Foursome To Consider
Charlie Spivak – Playing Sweet And Straight
Orchestras in the big band era were often labeled in one of two ways. They were either 'hot' -- which meant cutting-edge music that often featured improvised solos -- or 'sweet', which perfectly describes the smooth and straight-ahead sound offered by bandleaders like Charlie Spivak. Although his origins were a little fuzzy -- he either … Continue reading Charlie Spivak – Playing Sweet And Straight
Lucky Strike Sweetheart Dorothy Collins
Those who remember Your Hit Parade from 1950s TV will also recall that it featured an ensemble cast, but there's little doubt that the heart and soul of the show was Dorothy Collins. In addition to being the spokesperson for sponsor Lucky Strike cigarettes, she was front and center on many of the best songs, … Continue reading Lucky Strike Sweetheart Dorothy Collins
The One And Only Tex Williams
Country music has always been replete with guys named 'Tex', and I'm not even going to begin to try to list them. (But if you're any kind of fan I bet you've already thought of a few). You can also find quite a few performers whose last name was Williams, but as near as I … Continue reading The One And Only Tex Williams
Marilyn Maxwell – From Singer To Movie Star
Because of the fifty-year anniversary of her death, you've probably noticed a lot of articles lately about a certain film legend, but we featured Marilyn Monroe this time last year. Instead, I thought I'd offer the story of Marilyn Maxwell, one of several actresses who were sometimes compared to her and one whose name was … Continue reading Marilyn Maxwell – From Singer To Movie Star
Ted Weems And His Late-Blooming Hit
Although he died a half-century ago, Ted Weems is still remembered by a lot of older music fans. An early jazz musician and bandleader, Weems was very popular in the prohibition era and would later introduce fans to Perry Como, but is probably most remembered now for the late 1940s popularity of "Heartaches" -- even … Continue reading Ted Weems And His Late-Blooming Hit
Del Shannon – An Early Runaway Success
It's difficult to think about Del Shannon without immediately recalling "Runaway," his debut record that ended up becoming one of the best known songs in the history of rock and roll. In fact, it was so evocative of the era that it was later used as the theme song of a TV show set in … Continue reading Del Shannon – An Early Runaway Success
Crooner Tony Martin Had Long Career
After a long and notable career, crooner Tony Martin has died at age 98. Below I've reposted a earlier piece, and have also reactivated the song sample, "Stranger In Paradise." (The following was originally published in 2009.) Tony Martin — Crooner Or Cowboy? I love to watch old Western movies on TV, but I have … Continue reading Crooner Tony Martin Had Long Career
Geezer Music Club 