His name sounds at least a little familiar to those of us who have been around a while, and it's a pretty good bet that you've heard a lot of his music through the years, but Ralph Marterie is not someone who comes to mind when you think of cutting-edge orchestral jazz. Nevertheless, he sold … Continue reading Ralph Marterie Knew What People Liked
Jimmie Logsdon Venerated Hank Williams
For a while in the early 1950s, singer/songwriter Jimmie Logsdon was on top of the world. After an early career spent trying to make his name in country music, he'd managed to become friends with Hank Williams -- and even better, he was touring and appearing on stage with his hero. Unfortunately, Hank died in … Continue reading Jimmie Logsdon Venerated Hank Williams
The OTHER Sylvia Syms
When Sylvia Syms died at age 74 in 1992, it marked the loss of a talented performer who was once described by Frank Sinatra as the 'world's greatest saloon singer'. But it was also another chance for people to mix her up with the British actress with the same name, something that had been happening … Continue reading The OTHER Sylvia Syms
The Return Of The Kon-Tiki Kid
Once again a dim and distant memory has surfaced from the mysterious depths of my mind, not unlike a strange creature rising from the deepest part of the ocean. It happened when I was reading an article in the newest issue of Smithsonian magazine. It seems that someone has produced a new movie about the … Continue reading The Return Of The Kon-Tiki Kid
Anatomy Of A Song – “M.T.A.”
Those of us who have been around a while probably remember "M.T.A.", a song that was turned into a hit record by the Kingston Trio in 1959. You might even remember enough about the lyrics to have an idea what the song was about, but what you might not know is that it began life … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – “M.T.A.”
Robert Goulet – A Different Kind Of Crooner
Robert Goulet certainly fit the crooner mold in many ways, with his smooth baritone singing voice and looks and style that made ladies swoon, but unlike many he didn't have a history as a band singer and he also wasn't a huge recording star. Although he sold a lot of albums, his highest charting single … Continue reading Robert Goulet – A Different Kind Of Crooner
Sometimes Old Style Is Best
It's been over a month since our last post featuring a slideshow. As I spelled out in that one, my bloghost (WordPress) seems to have cut down on the size of the pictures in the style of slideshow I was using, so I was trying a different type. That worked out okay but I think … Continue reading Sometimes Old Style Is Best
Goodbye To Roger Ebert
I've said before that I’ve never really intended for the GMC to be a consistent source for obituaries, but we've often marked the passing of people we've featured in previous posts. That would apply to film critic and writer Roger Ebert, who was spotlighted a couple of years ago in a piece titled Roger Ebert's … Continue reading Goodbye To Roger Ebert
The Kaye Sisters Were Neither Kayes Nor Sisters
We seem to be on a roll lately with British performers but I thought we could try one more -- or three more, to be accurate. Today's piece is about the Kaye Sisters, a trio that had some good-charting records for a period of several years beginning in the 1950s but is pretty much forgotten … Continue reading The Kaye Sisters Were Neither Kayes Nor Sisters
Syd Lawrence – Glenn Miller’s Biggest Fan?
Glenn Miller had a lot of fans in his heyday. Probably still does for that matter, even though he's been gone for a long time. But how many of those fans were so dedicated to his musical style that they'd end up leading their own band built around the Miller sound? That's what British trumpeter … Continue reading Syd Lawrence – Glenn Miller’s Biggest Fan?
Geezer Music Club 