At one time, several members of my extended family were involved in coal mining at some level, and that's probably true of many of us with rural roots. Along with farming (something my family also knew a little about), mining was one of the most common jobs around in those days. In some cases -- … Continue reading Coal Miners And Country Gentlemen
Tag: Music History
Master Of Vibrato – Sidney Bechet
Those who have read my stuff before (all three of you) will remember that I was once quite a clarinetist. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I played at being a clarinetist, but that was enough to find myself drawn to some of the greats. You know, the guys who could … Continue reading Master Of Vibrato – Sidney Bechet
Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
As a young teenager with eclectic music tastes, one of my favorite records was Tennessee Ernie Ford's tribute to coal miners, "Sixteen Tons." Of course, I wasn't the only one who found a lot to like about that song -- after all, it rocketed to the top of both country and pop charts -- but … Continue reading Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
In all fairness to the 1960s group known as the Hondells, it's probably a little misleading to call them "bogus". In fact, they were a bunch of solid musicians who did manage to generate some good sounds that were very reminiscent of the Beach Boys -- but the group wasn't quite what it might have … Continue reading Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
All The “Signs” For Success Were There
Although I now enjoy most of the music from the 1960s and 1970s, that wasn't always the case. During those decades I was a conservative young married man with a growing family, and even though I enjoyed most music, I tended to dismiss a lot of the anti-establishment stuff then in vogue. But that's not … Continue reading All The “Signs” For Success Were There
The Amazing Dinnings
There have been a lot of musical siblings through the years and some of them immediately come to mind, but it's difficult to imagine a group of brothers and sisters quite like the Dinnings. Over a period of several decades, they covered just about every aspect of music; including songwriting, bandleading, recording, and performing on … Continue reading The Amazing Dinnings
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
If you were to ask current music fans what they know about Johnny Duncan, most would either not recognize the name or would think of the country music star who first rose to prominence in the 1970s. But there was an earlier Johnny Duncan and his story makes for a fascinating tale, one that involves … Continue reading Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
A Group Called Smith
The members of newly formed musical groups often choose quirky and unusual names for their aggregations -- usually something that's sort of cool-sounding, but at the same will be remembered by ever-fickle fans. Maybe that's why I find it so fascinating that in at least one case, a group chose a name that was unusual … Continue reading A Group Called Smith
The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
I suppose it's just a microcosm of life itself, but pop music is filled with haunting stories and senseless tragedies. One of those occurred in 1959 at Clear Lake, Iowa, when a plane crash took the life of the pilot and his three passengers. It's been immortalized as 'The Day the Music Died', but most … Continue reading The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
Ivie And The Duke Hit The Road
Lately I've been digging a little deeper into the history of a place that's always intrigued me, New York's historic jazz spot known as the Cotton Club. At the height of its popularity in the late 1920s and early 1930s, it provided a showcase for many future legends. One of the biggest was Edward Kennedy … Continue reading Ivie And The Duke Hit The Road
Geezer Music Club 