Throughout musical history, most professional artists have had numerous opportunities to work with some of the best of their contemporaries, sometimes building up an impressive list of collaborators during a long career. But in at least one case, a pioneering jazz guitarist with a tragically shortened career still left behind a legacy that included working … Continue reading Eddie Lang – The Father of Jazz Guitar
Tag: Nostalgia
Diamonds Might Have Been An Exception To The Rule
It's common knowledge that the early days of rock and roll included many instances of white performers redoing songs originated by black artists, in the belief that it made them more accessible to mainstream music fans. The most often mentioned example is Pat Boone vs Little Richard, and Boone's watered-down renditions did sell a lot … Continue reading Diamonds Might Have Been An Exception To The Rule
Keeping My Fingers And Toes Crossed
I did something similar to this last Winter. The difference then was that we had some ice and snow around but I was just thankful that conditions were nowhere near that shown in the pictures. This time around, I'm happy to report that here in the Central Midwest we're having the mildest Winter I can … Continue reading Keeping My Fingers And Toes Crossed
Music Of The Three Suns Triggers Memories
Musical recollections from my early childhood mostly revolve around the scratchy 78s that were often played at our house, but my memory is notoriously porous so I can't always remember specific records. Or to be more accurate, I can't remember them until I stumble across a song and am instantly transported back, which is what … Continue reading Music Of The Three Suns Triggers Memories
Doris Day Introduced Ruth Etting To New Generation
When I was a kid I'd sometimes get a little puzzled while watching a movie that was supposed to be about someone famous, because often I'd never heard of them. Of course, I was spectacularly clueless in those days (still am, for that matter) but the reason for the confusion was usually just a generational … Continue reading Doris Day Introduced Ruth Etting To New Generation
The Silly Saga Of Alley Oop
Even if you think about the sheer number of silly songs that have shown up in pop music through the years, you still have to classify 1960's "Alley Oop" as one of the most unusual. The idea came from producer/musicians Gary Paxton and Kim Foley, a couple of experienced pros who'd formed a studio band … Continue reading The Silly Saga Of Alley Oop
Succumbing To The Lure Of Apps
Regular readers will recall that I've been a Kindler since late 2010 and also just received a Kindle Fire tablet as a Christmas gift. Mrs. BigGeez has a Kindle of her own too, so we're a three-Kindle household. In light of all that it would be a natural subject to write about, but I've resisted … Continue reading Succumbing To The Lure Of Apps
The Sad Fate Of Harold ‘Tina’ Brooks
I've written several times about musicians who lost long stretches of their prime performing years to their struggles with drugs and fought their way back, but there were some who didn't do so well. A good example might be Harold 'Tina' Brooks, a supremely talented hard-bop tenor saxophonist who ran into trouble at the height … Continue reading The Sad Fate Of Harold ‘Tina’ Brooks
Return Of The Knife Guy
A while back I wrote a piece about my childhood memories of trying to learn how to throw a knife like guys in movies. At the risk of sounding like someone who is spending way too much time thinking about sharply pointed objects, I thought I'd pass along the fact that I've now recalled another … Continue reading Return Of The Knife Guy
Shelley Fabares – The Teen Idol Years
I've always enjoyed well-written TV sitcoms with likable characters, and one of my favorites from the 1990s was Coach, which starred Craig T. Nelson, Shelley Fabares, and Jerry Van Dyke. It has been rerun fairly often through the years and Mrs. BigGeez and I have tuned in a number of times, but she had to … Continue reading Shelley Fabares – The Teen Idol Years
Geezer Music Club 