When I read that Frank Wess had died recently, I remembered that he'd been featured on the GMC in the past so I set about the process I usually follow to mark the passing of a notable musical performer, which is to revive the original post and add some new material. What I discovered was … Continue reading Frank Wess Transitioned Several Eras
Diamonds In The Rough – Part III
Once again, I'm offering up a handful of choice goodies for an edition of our newest Special Feature, Diamonds In The Rough. It's my not-so humble attempt to showcase some of the GMC's noteworthy posts from the early days. (Noteworthy being defined as the ones I like.) In case you haven't noticed by now, I'm … Continue reading Diamonds In The Rough – Part III
From Crooning To Cartoons – ‘Handsome’ Harry Babbitt
Although our mental image of a big band era crooner is of a suave, velvet-voiced charmer who could purr into the microphone while the ladies swooned, it wasn't always like that. Harry Babbitt, who could certainly fill the bill as a traditional crooner - his boss, bandleader Kay Kyser, usually introduced him as 'Handsome Harry' … Continue reading From Crooning To Cartoons – ‘Handsome’ Harry Babbitt
The Innocents Struck Gold With Kathy Young
Even though they had moderate success in the late 1950s, a singing group known as The Innocents didn't really strike gold until 1960, when they teamed up with singer Kathy Young for "A Thousand Stars." But there's a lot more to the story. For one thing, Kathy Young was - er - young, only 15 … Continue reading The Innocents Struck Gold With Kathy Young
Country Catalyst – A Song Within A Song
For this edition of Country Catalyst, the special feature that offers up country classics to folks who don't normally go for the twangy stuff, I'm presenting a song that has already had some crossover success. But even though "Bonaparte's Retreat" had its moment as a pop song, it certainly started out as pure country. The … Continue reading Country Catalyst – A Song Within A Song
The Many Lives Of Eddie Hodges
I thought I'd try something different today. It might be unappealing to those who aren't fond of videos (or don't have the fast internet connection they require) but the endless number of videos that are now available help make something like today's post possible. It's a look at Eddie Hodges, who has led an amazingly … Continue reading The Many Lives Of Eddie Hodges
Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Although she was never a huge star, Gloria Lynne was a very respected singer with a long -- and sometimes rocky -- career, and her recent passing at age 83 was a sad moment for her fans. Probably best remembered for helping make "I Wish You Love" a standard, she sang in a style that … Continue reading Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
A perfect example of a song that had to change with the times is Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," which began life as a commentary on scandalous Depression-era happenings. Unfortunately it was specific to the time period so it became meaningless to later generations, creating the need for the lyrics that are more familiar to modern … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
Remembering Cal Smith
When I read recently that country singer Cal Smith had died, my first impulse was to find the previous post I'd written about him and point folks to it. The only problem was that I had never written about him before, even though I thought I had. After all, his signature song -- "Country Bumpkin" … Continue reading Remembering Cal Smith
Alice Faye Did It Her Way
Among the many actresses who sang, one of the best was the smokey-voiced Alice Faye, who for a while seemed to be in just about every colorful movie musical around. But she was the real thing, a trained singer and dancer who starred in a lot of films, even though her fierce independence might have … Continue reading Alice Faye Did It Her Way
Geezer Music Club 