If you were around at the time, you might remember when radio/TV host Arthur Godfrey fired popular crooner Julius La Rosa from his show. It caused a uproar at the time, and ended up being a pretty significant turning point for both entertainers' careers. But there's more to the story. Julius La Rosa was yet … Continue reading Julius La Rosa – The Rest Of The Story
How talented would a 16-year-old musician in the early 1940's have had to be to grab the attention of Benny Goodman? And not only that, but to then have the King of Swing offer him a job as pianist, singer, and arranger with the biggest of the big bands? That teenager was Buddy Greco, and … Continue reading Buddy Greco’s Benny Goodman Moment
We haven't featured a crooner for a while, and today the spotlight falls on a guy whose smooth, glorious baritone and mellow singing style certainly made him one of the best. In a career that spanned more than forty years, Arthur Prysock demonstrated a high comfort level with just about every type of music, including … Continue reading Arthur Prysock – A Crooner With Style
Country music has had its share of crooners through the years, among them guys like Jim Reeves, Ray Price, Roy Drusky, and a host of others. In almost every case they started as traditional country singers and later transitioned to a softer, more mainstream style. But that wasn't the case with George Morgan, who seemed … Continue reading George Morgan Was Destined For Croonerhood
Most of of us consider Rudy Vallée to be the first true crooner, with Bing Crosby closely following as the first modern version. But if you dig into the early years, you'll find that a guy named Gene Austin just might have been the original crooner. And whether that's true or not, the fact remains … Continue reading Gene Austin – The Original Crooner
It has been reported that singer Jerry Vale died over the weekend at his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 83 and had been in ill health for some time. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, a son, a daughter and three grandchildren. This post is kind of short because I … Continue reading Jerry Vale Will Be Missed By His Many Fans
A lot of crooners have shown up on the ol' GMC, but one of the most versatile would have to be Adam Wade. A skilled drummer and a smooth and silky singer in the mold of Johnny Mathis, he has had a fascinating life that includes everything from academia to acting -- and he also … Continue reading The Versatility Of Adam Wade
After a long and notable career, crooner Tony Martin has died at age 98. Below I've reposted a earlier piece, and have also reactivated the song sample, "Stranger In Paradise." (The following was originally published in 2009.) Tony Martin — Crooner Or Cowboy? I love to watch old Western movies on TV, but I have … Continue reading Crooner Tony Martin Had Long Career
Those of you who partied a little too much this weekend might be forgiven if you think some things in the pictures below look a little familiar. After all, seeing strange visions is often a part of the whole process of seriously overindulging. (Thanks to 'M' for the pictures.) Frank Sinatra - "It Was A … Continue reading Visions Come To Life For The New Year
The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. Folks, I'm not gonna kid you. I'm having so much fun playing with my new Christmas toy that I was reluctant to put it down so that I could write this post. (In case you haven't figured it out by now, my … Continue reading A Guy And His Christmas Toy
Geezer Music Club 