One reason I enjoy doing this is that I keep discovering new things about subjects I thought I'd pretty much explored to death. For example, I've written before about my affinity for Benny Goodman, and in another piece furnished some details about his ground-breaking 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, but I recently discovered something new. It … Continue reading Helen Ward – A Songbird With Something Extra
Tag: Jazz
The Inspiration Of Grover Washington, Jr.
I can sometimes be a little oblique in my thinking, but whenever I come across a well-known artist with a 'Jr' added to his name, I always wonder about his father. Was he a musician and did he help his son get started? And was he so renowned himself that his son found it difficult … Continue reading The Inspiration Of Grover Washington, Jr.
Roy Smeck – The Wizard Of The Strings
By the time he died in 1994, Roy Smeck was in his nineties and many years removed from his heyday as a performer, which began in the 1920s. But the guy known as the 'Wizard Of The Strings' was still a legend to several generations of musicians, who were not only inspired by his virtuosity … Continue reading Roy Smeck – The Wizard Of The Strings
Born To Be Wild — But On A Trike?
I couldn't resist writing about this. I used to tease Mrs. BigGeez about how I'd like to someday buy a big fancy Harley so that her and I could travel the country. Of course, I was kidding and she knew it -- but she still usually responded by threatening me with a big knife. But … Continue reading Born To Be Wild — But On A Trike?
Taking Pogo Sticks To The Extreme
Pogo sticks have been around for a long time and I was always intrigued by them while I was growing up, but I don't think I ever had one of my own. I seem to remember that a friend of mine -- a kid whose divorced dad always got him a lot of neat stuff … Continue reading Taking Pogo Sticks To The Extreme
Billy Butterfield Had The Perfect Name
I get silly ideas sometimes. For example, I've always thought that jazz trumpeter Billy Butterfield's mellifluous moniker seemed to perfectly suit his lush, smooth playing style. You might not agree, but even if you think I'm all wet you have to admit that it is a great name for a performer. Like many of his … Continue reading Billy Butterfield Had The Perfect Name
Another Foursome To Consider
I thought maybe it was time to spotlight another song. This time around I've picked a song that came to life in the 1930s and soon became a standard, recorded by an endless list of performers. Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, "The Way You Look Tonight" won the Academy Award for best song … Continue reading Another Foursome To Consider
Charlie Spivak – Playing Sweet And Straight
Orchestras in the big band era were often labeled in one of two ways. They were either 'hot' -- which meant cutting-edge music that often featured improvised solos -- or 'sweet', which perfectly describes the smooth and straight-ahead sound offered by bandleaders like Charlie Spivak. Although his origins were a little fuzzy -- he either … Continue reading Charlie Spivak – Playing Sweet And Straight
Ted Weems And His Late-Blooming Hit
Although he died a half-century ago, Ted Weems is still remembered by a lot of older music fans. An early jazz musician and bandleader, Weems was very popular in the prohibition era and would later introduce fans to Perry Como, but is probably most remembered now for the late 1940s popularity of "Heartaches" -- even … Continue reading Ted Weems And His Late-Blooming Hit
Summer Olympics Showcasing London
Just in case you missed all the zillions of news stories, I thought I'd let you know that the London Olympics are underway (and share some pictures too). I just read that Great Britain has spent almost 10 billion pounds even in these tough times, but I guess they figure it's worth it. Wendy Luck … Continue reading Summer Olympics Showcasing London
Geezer Music Club 