Regular visitors to the GMC know that slideshows often show up on weekends, and I can't think of anything more appropriate for Halloween weekend than pictures of Jack-O-Lanterns. And to make it extra special, most of them are definitely goblin-like. I can remember attempting to carve pumpkins for my kids when they were small (the … Continue reading Halloween Weekend Brings Out Spooks And Goblins
Tag: Jazz
Sam Butera – Out Of The Shadows
I realize the title of this piece might sound a little melodramatic, but for two decades beginning in the mid-1950s Sam Butera was the guy who led -- and performed in -- the band behind entertainer Louis Prima. That meant he was performing in the shadows of the flamboyant Prima and his wife, singer Keely … Continue reading Sam Butera – Out Of The Shadows
Revisiting Pete Rugolo
Award-winning composer/musician Pete Rugolo died Sunday in Los Angeles, so I thought I'd repost a piece from last year. ------------------------ The Long Musical Journey Of Pete Rugolo It might be unfair to call TV's Richard Diamond show a Peter Gunn clone, because even though both shows featured private eyes and a jazz-laden soundtrack, Diamond actually … Continue reading Revisiting Pete Rugolo
Just A Simple Bottle Of Soda-Pop
Although most geezers begin reminiscing whenever faced with something that triggers an old memory, those of us with blogs can then expose those moldy thoughts to hyperspace. My latest mental adventure occurred while I was fighting the exasperating behavior of a modern soft drink machine. You know the kind I mean -- it has bottles … Continue reading Just A Simple Bottle Of Soda-Pop
Rethinking The Village Stompers
The decade of the 1960s was rife with differing musical influences, all dueling for the attention of the record-buying public. One of the most popular genres was folk music, which might help explain why a few fans got a little confused about a group like the Village Stompers. The name sounded sort of folk-ish, and … Continue reading Rethinking The Village Stompers
Honey-Dippers Need A Sense Of Humor
If you read the title of this piece and assumed it was about guys who laugh while they collect honey from beehives, then I have to inform you that you're mistaken. It is instead about those hardy souls who make a living by doing something that most of us wouldn't want any part of -- … Continue reading Honey-Dippers Need A Sense Of Humor
Don’t Forget The OTHER Red Allen
A few days ago I wrote a piece about country music performer Red Allen, and today I thought I'd follow up with the story of another Red Allen, one who was different in just about every way. But the two did share one quality -- both loved to make music. Henry 'Red' Allen was a … Continue reading Don’t Forget The OTHER Red Allen
Covered Bridges At Their Best
Although most people don't enjoy having to dispose of all the falling leaves, Autumn is a difficult season to dislike. Before becoming a chore, those same leaves morph into brilliant splashes of color and combine with crisp, sunny days and chilly nights to create a time of year that's almost magical. In our area of … Continue reading Covered Bridges At Their Best
Happily Hurricaneless
As a lifelong resident of the Midwestern United States, my exposure to hurricanes is minimal. We have been known to get thunderstorms that can occur in fringe areas after hurricanes run their course, but for the most part we're not directly affected. I do have a Chicago friend who has a second home on the … Continue reading Happily Hurricaneless
Ozzie & Harriet Before TV
Regular visitors to the ol' GMC will probably recall that Ricky Nelson has made the occasional appearance here, and his family's TV show has also been covered (for example, HERE), but did you know that Ozzie and Harriet were once musical stars in their own right? OK, maybe not stars, but Ozzie did lead a … Continue reading Ozzie & Harriet Before TV
Geezer Music Club 