I've been actively listening to big band music for most of my life, beginning with my teen years (when it competed with early rock and roll for my attention) and continuing to the present. Not surprisingly, I've gained some favorites from among the many tunes I've heard again and again. A few of those are … Continue reading Artie Shaw’s Funk Paves Way For Tony Pastor
Category: Video
Johnny Carson And The Music Of The Tonight Show
The late Johnny Carson has been in the news lately, because of something that happened during the last writers' strike in 1988 and how it connects with the current one. It seems that some of the late night hosts are bringing back their shows without writers, and they're reminding everyone that Johnny did something similar … Continue reading Johnny Carson And The Music Of The Tonight Show
In Search Of Christmas Carolers
The holiday season is filled with traditions of all kinds but sometimes they aren't quite what they seem. That thought occurred to me recently when it dawned on me that I've never actually seen any real door-to-door Christmas carolers. (Or at least I don't think I have.*) You know the kind I mean -- you've … Continue reading In Search Of Christmas Carolers
Turkey, Trimmings — And Straw?
When I was young, it wasn't unusual for a huge group of family members to assemble for holiday dinners at my maternal Grandparents' home. It was a small house outside a rural village, and they'd moved from their tenant farm because my Granddad was into middle-age, and had given up farming for the less physically … Continue reading Turkey, Trimmings — And Straw?
Claude King – Still Climbing That Mountain
In the early 1960's I had a brief career as a small-town radio DJ, which might sound a little glamorous but I have to confess that I fell short of the ideal in several ways. Among my shortcomings was the fact that mine wasn't the smoothest voice in broadcasting history, and I also sounded like … Continue reading Claude King – Still Climbing That Mountain
Eddie Fisher’s Other Wife – Connie Stevens
A while back, I wrote an article I called Eddie Fisher And The Ladies, and it included a brief history of some of the crooner's more memorable relationships. In that article, Eddie's third wife (after Debbie Reynolds and Liz Taylor) was given only a brief mention, and she deserves a closer look -- not because … Continue reading Eddie Fisher’s Other Wife – Connie Stevens
Cher And Betty – The Shoop Shoop Girls
Sometimes I hear a familiar old song being performed by a modern artist, and although I might enjoy listening, I also find myself thinking: something's not right about that. I'm sure the experience isn't unique to me. New versions of old songs are pretty common, and most listeners probably feel a twinge of nostalgia for … Continue reading Cher And Betty – The Shoop Shoop Girls
Faron Young – The Hillbilly Heartthrob
Faron Young experienced most of the highs - and the lows - that sometimes accompany country music fame. He was not only a big star, with several number-one hits and the adulation of fans, but he was also tremendously influential, helping many young performers get their start. And yet his life spiraled downward in later … Continue reading Faron Young – The Hillbilly Heartthrob
Virtuoso Steel Guitarist . . . And Faux Latino – Alvino Rey
Latin jazz has been one of my listening pleasures for years, but it was popular long before I came along. By the time I was into my teens and beginning to appreciate it, Latin music had been well-established in the US for decades. Bandleaders such as Pérez Prado, Xavier Cugat, and others had been familiar … Continue reading Virtuoso Steel Guitarist . . . And Faux Latino – Alvino Rey
Kristofferson Gets Assist From Sammi Smith
At the risk of infuriating his many fans, I have to confess that I've never been able to really warm to the singing of Kris Kristofferson. I understand that his tortured vocal style might be appropriate to the angst-ridden songs he's written, but I really think that it's the songs themselves that will form the … Continue reading Kristofferson Gets Assist From Sammi Smith
Geezer Music Club 