Just A Simple Bottle Of Soda-Pop

Although most geezers begin reminiscing whenever faced with something that triggers an old memory, those of us with blogs can then expose those moldy thoughts to hyperspace. My latest mental adventure occurred while I was fighting the exasperating behavior of a modern soft drink machine. You know the kind I mean -- it has bottles … Continue reading Just A Simple Bottle Of Soda-Pop

Rethinking The Village Stompers

The decade of the 1960s was rife with differing musical influences, all dueling for the attention of the record-buying public. One of the most popular genres was folk music, which might help explain why a few fans got a little confused about a group like the Village Stompers. The name sounded sort of folk-ish, and … Continue reading Rethinking The Village Stompers

Don’t Forget The OTHER Red Allen

A few days ago I wrote a piece about country music performer Red Allen, and today I thought I'd follow up with the story of another Red Allen, one who was different in just about every way. But the two did share one quality -- both loved to make music. Henry 'Red' Allen was a … Continue reading Don’t Forget The OTHER Red Allen

Roger Williams Will Be Remembered

(In light of the recent passing of Roger Williams, I thought I'd repost a piece from 2007. I've added some music and a very nice video I found that features Autumn scenes backed by his classic recording of "Autumn Leaves".) Command Performances - A Specialty Of Roger Williams Command performances by musicians, whether for royalty … Continue reading Roger Williams Will Be Remembered

Red Allen – Bluegrass Troubadour

Not to be confused with the jazz trumpeter who came along a little before him (although their careers did overlap), bluegrass performer Red Allen was a much-respected and influential part of country music for many years beginning in the 1950s. An accomplished instrumentalist with a solid singing voice, he was a favorite of many fans … Continue reading Red Allen – Bluegrass Troubadour

Covered Bridges At Their Best

Although most people don't enjoy having to dispose of all the falling leaves, Autumn is a difficult season to dislike. Before becoming a chore, those same leaves morph into brilliant splashes of color and combine with crisp, sunny days and chilly nights to create a time of year that's almost magical. In our area of … Continue reading Covered Bridges At Their Best

Barry Mann – Talent Times Two

It might surprise those who don't know the whole story but Barry Mann, who teamed up with wife Cynthia Weil to write some of the most popular songs around, also made a splash early in his career as a performer. That's right, the guy who helped create memorable songs like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" … Continue reading Barry Mann – Talent Times Two

Johnnie Wright Still Remembered By Fans

It might have escaped the notice of most folks, but a recent news article has reported the death of country music pioneer Johnnie Wright, who passed away at age 97 in the Tennessee home that he still shared with his wife of 74 years, country superstar Kitty Wells. Although his famous spouse is probably more … Continue reading Johnnie Wright Still Remembered By Fans

It Seemed So Much Longer At The Time

We're usually pretty herky-jerky here at the ol' GMC. By that I mean that each new post is usually about a completely different subject than the preceding one. But I am going to make an exception here because I'm continuing with the subject of motor homes or trailers, sometimes called caravans by the British. I … Continue reading It Seemed So Much Longer At The Time

Robin Luke – Hawaii’s Own Teen Idol

Although he was born in California, Robin Luke grew up in Hawaii and was still attending high school there when he was 'discovered'. Promoters saw him as a possible Ricky Nelson-style teen idol and for a few years he did very well. He's now mostly remembered for his 1958 Top Ten hit "Susie Darlin'," but … Continue reading Robin Luke – Hawaii’s Own Teen Idol