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 predated Gunn. It's just that the latter seemed to have made a more lasting impression, at least in part because of Henry Mancini's music. Richard Diamond is … Continue reading The Long Musical Journey Of Pete Rugolo
Tag: Music History
Si Zentner – Thriving In The Twilight
As a teenager in the late Fifties I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music, including everything from early rock & roll to the softer sounds of my parents' favorite records. But even though I enjoyed a lot of what I heard, I often found myself attracted to big band jazz. The … Continue reading Si Zentner – Thriving In The Twilight
The Cooler Side Of Peggy Lee
Most successful singers are closely identified with a particular song, one that becomes known as their trademark or signature song. Of course, the best of them will have a number of good songs and best-selling records, but there will usually be one that stands out. For Peggy Lee, that song would have to be "Fever." … Continue reading The Cooler Side Of Peggy Lee
Jimmy Dean – The Early Days
A while back, I wrote a piece about T. Texas Tyler, who specialized in 'spoken' or 'recitation' songs. I was reminded of that today when I saw the news of the death of sausage king Jimmy Dean, who was once the master of the spoken song. In fact, his biggest hit -- "Big Bad John" … Continue reading Jimmy Dean – The Early Days
Just Twangin’ Along With Mike Seeger
One of the drawbacks of using personal experiences to put together nostalgia-themed pieces is that the process is sometimes held hostage to my own patchy memory. For example, I've written before about how my maternal grandfather would occasionally pick up his harmonica -- what he called his 'mouth-harp' -- and play a lively song or … Continue reading Just Twangin’ Along With Mike Seeger
Flying High – Domenico Modugno
For a while in the late Fifties, it was played on the radio almost continuously -- or maybe it just seemed that way. After all, a guy singing a melodic and strangely addictive song in Italian was something that certainly caught your attention. But whatever the reason, Domenico Modugno's rendition of "Nel Blu Dipinto Di … Continue reading Flying High – Domenico Modugno
Jane Morgan Is Still Entertaining
I've written several times about 'songbirds', the female vocalists who worked their way up to pop music stardom after starting as band singers, but not everyone took that route. In at least one case, a gorgeous and talented American singer found success in her own country only after first becoming a hit in France. Florence … Continue reading Jane Morgan Is Still Entertaining
A Soldier’s Song With A Message
A 'recitation' song that first rose to popularity in the period following World War II, the deceptively titled "Deck Of Cards" actually carried a religious theme. It told the story of a young soldier trying to explain why he's playing cards during a church service. The song has reappeared from time to time in the … Continue reading A Soldier’s Song With A Message
Memorial Day Arrives Again
It seems like just yesterday that I was posting a piece with the decidedly awkward title of Memories Of Memorial Day, but it was actually a year ago. The months seem to go by so quickly these days that I can almost feel the breeze from the flipping calendar pages. But Memorial Day is once … Continue reading Memorial Day Arrives Again
Terri Gibbs Inspired By Ray Charles
While growing up, country singer Terri Gibbs often drew inspiration from the story of Ray Charles, and in fact there are a lot of similarities in the lives of the two artists. Although Gibbs was born in Florida, she grew up in Charles' home state of Georgia, and both had extensive backgrounds in gospel music … Continue reading Terri Gibbs Inspired By Ray Charles
Geezer Music Club 