Octogenarian Peggy King is still singing in selected venues these days, entertaining her fans with some of her best songs while reminiscing about her long career. But even though she's mostly remembered now for her many TV appearances, especially those on the show hosted by George Gobel (who often introduced her as 'pretty perky Peggy … Continue reading Pretty Perky Peggy King
The Crooning Side Of Dick Powell
Most of us remember Dick Powell as a longtime actor, director, and producer, and as the host of his own TV show, but he actually began his career by showcasing his talents as a musician and singer. In fact, for a number of years he was one of the most popular crooners around. When you … Continue reading The Crooning Side Of Dick Powell
Five-Star Favs: A Mysterious Tale
Our newest Special Feature -- Five-Star Favs -- is only up to the third edition but it's already showing some diversity. After spotlighting classic rock in the first one and jazz in the second, today we're taking a look at a song from 1967 that isn't easy to classify. At first glance, "Ode To Billie … Continue reading Five-Star Favs: A Mysterious Tale
Helmut Zacharias – The Magic Violinist
Germany was a volatile place in 1931 but it did have a long tradition of music appreciation, so it's not surprising that an eleven-year-old violinist named Helmut Zacharias would find an appreciative audience when he played a Mozart concerto on national radio. But he took it in stride -- after all, he'd been performing for … Continue reading Helmut Zacharias – The Magic Violinist
The Singing Side Of Clint Walker
Here's something you might not know. Like many actors, western star Clint Walker (who is still around, and in his eighties) occasionally tried his hand at singing. And even though it wasn't a big part of his career, he did demonstrate a pleasing baritone while vocalizing in various TV and movie appearances, and he also … Continue reading The Singing Side Of Clint Walker
Rooftop Singers Peaked Early
Those of us who were around at the time might remember that the decade of the 1960s was one that saw a lot of different types of music bouncing around. One of the most popular was folk music, some of it highly political but much of it just light and irresistibly addictive to listeners. That … Continue reading Rooftop Singers Peaked Early
Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
Isham Jones kept pretty busy in the 1920s and 1930s as the leader of a popular orchestra, but years later his legacy is more about his songwriting ability. He was the composer of a number of familiar songs, among them "I'll See You In My Dreams," "There Is No Greater Love," and our Anatomy of … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
The Persistence Of Wesley Tuttle
You have to give a lot of credit to Wesley Tuttle. He enjoyed a pretty good career as a country music performer, racking up several hit records and even enjoying a chart-topper on "With Tears in My Eyes" in 1945. He also wrote some good songs, worked alongside stars like Merle Travis and Tex Ritter, … Continue reading The Persistence Of Wesley Tuttle
Gisele MacKenzie – Canada’s First Lady Of Song
Although she is probably best remembered now for her years on TV's Your Hit Parade, Canadian singer Gisele MacKenzie actually had a long and varied career. Beginning in radio, she seamlessly moved to early TV, where she made countless appearances, not only a regular on many shows but also as the star of her own. … Continue reading Gisele MacKenzie – Canada’s First Lady Of Song
Luis Russell Missed The Fame Express
Although there were a lot of orchestras around in the late 1920s and they were playing everything from ballroom music to dixieland, a new style was beginning to evolve. Ironically, 'hot' jazz became the coolest thing around, and its rising popularity soon led to the beginning of the big band era, a period that would … Continue reading Luis Russell Missed The Fame Express
Geezer Music Club 