Although he might not be as well remembered as the guys we mentioned in a recent piece about accordions (Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren), Art Van Damme had some distinctions of his own. In addition to a long career in radio and TV, he was a respected jazz musician with an international reputation, and he … Continue reading The Artistry Of Art Van Damme
Tag: Jazz
The Fascinating Lotte Lenya
Most of us have listened to Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife" about a gazillion times, but how many of us know anything about the mysterious 'Lotte Lenya' mentioned in the song? Turns out she was not only the composer's muse, but also a well-known entertainer with a long career that stretched all the way from … Continue reading The Fascinating Lotte Lenya
Ralph Flanagan Echoed Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller has made several appearances on the GMC, and we've also featured Ray McKinley (In The Footsteps Of Glenn Miller), who took over Miller's reconstituted band in later years. But there was another guy who sort of latched on to the Miller bandwagon; Ralph Flanagan, who led a band that was known for its … Continue reading Ralph Flanagan Echoed Glenn Miller
The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Two decades after his death, jazz organist Richard 'Groove' Holmes is still fondly remembered by many fans. His was a career marked by a high level of comfort in every type of jazz from bluesy and funky to sweet and soft. That diversity and reach even extended to his two main centers of activity, allowing … Continue reading The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Saying Goodbye To Colonel Potter
I was saddened by the news that veteran character actor Harry Morgan has died at his home in Los Angeles. Morgan, who was 96 when he died, enjoyed a long career with a number of good roles, but will probably be most remembered as Colonel Potter in the classic TV comedy M*A*S*H. Those of us … Continue reading Saying Goodbye To Colonel Potter
An Unexpected Use For Part Of The Turkey
One thing you can predict with certainty around this time of the year is the abundance of ideas for using leftover turkey. But today the ol' GMC is offering up something you might not have seen before -- a way to utilize the turkey's feathers. It seems that painting on turkey feathers is a sub-specialty … Continue reading An Unexpected Use For Part Of The Turkey
Cruising On The Clouds
As someone who is a frequent visitor to the Amazon website, I have naturally enough been inundated with offers for their free cloud service. Up until now I've pretty much ignored them, but since I have been thinking about the new Kindle Fire I decided it was time to try Amazon's cloud. After all, one … Continue reading Cruising On The Clouds
The Necessity Of Knocking On Wood
I have a number of habits, but at least one of them is almost a compulsion. (Maybe more than one, but let's put that aside for now.) I can't seem to avoid saying 'knock on wood' when talking about something that I'm hopeful will turn out well. Of course I'm not alone. Knocking on wood … Continue reading The Necessity Of Knocking On Wood
Scratching The Gadget Itch
Regular visitors to the ol' GMC will recall that it was about this time last year that I wrote a piece about how I was contemplating the purchase of an e-reader. It was followed soon after by a post that reported my satisfaction with the one I ended up getting, the Amazon Kindle. The latter … Continue reading Scratching The Gadget Itch
The Velvet Guitar Of Hank Garland
Most of the talented guitarists who have populated country music through the years have been perfectly happy to stay within their comfort zone. But the best of them have occasionally stretched themselves musically, and that would be the case with Hank Garland, the legendary composer of "Sugarfoot Rag", who surprised many fans with his detour … Continue reading The Velvet Guitar Of Hank Garland
Geezer Music Club 