One of many early rockabilly performers who later transitioned to the country side, Billy 'Crash' Craddock earned the title of 'Mr. Country Rock' during a long career that continues even now. His biggest hits -- songs like "Rub It In" and "Broken Down in Tiny Pieces" -- had a definite country flavor, but he started … Continue reading Mr. Country Rock – Billy ‘Crash’ Craddock
Category: Video
The Little Sparrow – Édith Piaf
A few people were startled when a relatively unknown French actress named Marion Cotillard won an Oscar for her lead performance in the 2007 film, La Vie en Rose. But there's little doubt that she nailed the role of Édith Piaf, the legendary singer whose life story was certainly worthy of a movie. Still beloved in … Continue reading The Little Sparrow – Édith Piaf
Cat Anderson Soared Above The Rest
In the world of jazz, high-note trumpeters are much admired -- not just for their skill, but for their audacity. It takes a lot of courage to specialize in a type of playing that is very appealing to most listeners but is reminiscent of fingernails on a blackboard to others. One of the best at … Continue reading Cat Anderson Soared Above The Rest
Tim Hardin Traded Songs With Bobby Darin
The career of folk singer/songwriter Tim Hardin came to a tragic end when he died in 1980, but his story is still a fascinating one. The composer of a number of familiar songs, he was also a soulful singer whose best-selling record was of a song written by someone else -- Bobby Darin. But that … Continue reading Tim Hardin Traded Songs With Bobby Darin
The Velvet Voice Of Lurlean Hunter
During the big band era almost every orchestra had a songbird, a female vocalist who not only performed with the band but also provided a little glamour. For some of them it was their first real exposure to the big time, but there were a few who were already pretty well established before they joined … Continue reading The Velvet Voice Of Lurlean Hunter
Reintroducing Jazz Fans To Cy Touff
I have to smile when I think about how the GMC has evolved over its six years of existence. My main intent has always been to combine nostalgia and music in one way or another, and that's still pretty much the bottom line, but a few things have changed along the way. For one thing, … Continue reading Reintroducing Jazz Fans To Cy Touff
The Hues Corporation’s Business Was Music
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
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
Geezer Music Club 