You might not immediately recognize his name, but I'd be willing to bet that most will find organist Ken Griffin's biggest hit to be a very familiar sound. After all, "You Can't Be True, Dear" topped the 1948 charts after being released in two versions -- as a pure instrumental and one with a vocal … Continue reading You’ll Remember The Music Of Ken Griffin
Tag: Music History
And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Remember when we all had six-shooters like those carried by the heroes of movie and TV Westerns? Of course, theirs were real -- or at least seemed real even though we knew they were shooting blanks -- and ours were smaller and made their 'bang' from paper rolls of caps, but we still had a … Continue reading And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
Although Maine isn't the first state that comes to mind when you think about country music, it was nevertheless the birthplace of one of the best of several guys who specialized in a certain type of song -- truckin' tunes. Dick Curless was a special favorite of truckers and anyone else who enjoyed his highway … Continue reading Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
A Fantastic Foursome For Grandma
First, a word of explanation about the title. This is, of course, another one of those incredibly enjoyable Fantastic Foursome posts -- the kind that features a song in four different versions and then gives you a chance to vote for your favorite. The second part of the title refers to my maternal grandmother, who … Continue reading A Fantastic Foursome For Grandma
Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Most of us remember Dale Evans, the long-time wife and performing partner of singing cowboy Roy Rogers, a lady who was often billed as the Queen of the Cowgirls. We might also know that she was an actress and a singer long before she paired up with Roy. But did you know that Roy was … Continue reading Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Pondering Lola Albright
Lola Albright July 20, 1924 - March 23, 2017 If you remember the 1950s TV show Peter Gunn, you might also recall that it was filled with the music of Henry Mancini, who began to build his legendary name at that time. But do you remember Lola? That would be Lola Albright, who played the … Continue reading Pondering Lola Albright
Anson Weeks And The Crosby Brothers
In the late 1920s, successful musical ensembles usually featured a style that sounds pretty square to us now. Bands often included string sections and specialized in sweet songs perfect for dancing. They usually had a crooner or two around too, and groups led by guys like Paul Whiteman and Anson Weeks provided work for a … Continue reading Anson Weeks And The Crosby Brothers
Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
As unlikely as it might seem to modern music fans -- especially after listening to his decidedly odd singing style -- there was a time that honky-tonk pioneer Floyd Tillman was described as a combination of Ernest Tubb and Frank Sinatra. But even if that now seems an odd idea, music historians still consider him … Continue reading Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
Bringing The Past To Life
In an earlier post, I described my memories of how folks used to hand-tint family pictures, performing the only kind of 'photoshopping' that was possible in that era. But things have changed a lot in the art of retouching, and nowhere is that more evident than what is now being done with iconic old pictures. … Continue reading Bringing The Past To Life
Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
Cleveland Duncan, the lead singer of the Penguins, a doo-wop group best-remembered for the 1950s super-hit "Earth Angel," has died in Los Angeles at age 77. Although the group has never been featured on the GMC, I did find a connection -- of sorts -- to an earlier piece. It seems that the Penguins encountered … Continue reading Penguins’ Lead Singer Cleveland Duncan
Geezer Music Club 