What is the deal with this weather? Twice in January our region of the central Midwest has been treated to daytime temperatures in the 60s and full-fledged thunderstorms at night, complete with strong winds and downed powerlines. At least we haven't had the tornadoes experienced by some folks, but still. . . I guess some … Continue reading Stormy Weather Is Unwelcome Guest
Tag: Nostalgia
Joe Val – The Voice Of New England Bluegrass
Not every country music performer hails from the rural heartland. Joe Val spent many years as one of the most respected country artists around, and he was an Italian/American (real name: Joseph Valiante) who was born and raised in the Boston area. But New England has always had a strong tradition in country music, including … Continue reading Joe Val – The Voice Of New England Bluegrass
The Long Interlude Of Frank Morgan
I was sorry to read about the death of Etta James, although it wasn't unexpected because she'd been in ill health for quite a while. But even though I was a fan, her life story is being well-covered everywhere so I thought I'd go in a different direction. Thinking about some of the problems she … Continue reading The Long Interlude Of Frank Morgan
Knife-Throwing Tougher Than It Looks
Like most kids of my generation, I was always fascinated by the knife-throwing scenes that seemed to show up regularly in the action movies I watched. Whether flipped by an evil assassin lurking in the shadows or the valiant hero acting in desperation, it seemed as if almost anybody could grab any kind of knife … Continue reading Knife-Throwing Tougher Than It Looks
Following In The Footsteps Of The Monkees
Most of us remember the Monkees, a 1960s group that was cobbled together for TV and went on to become a veritable hit machine, eventually rising above its origins to become a respected musical combo. But what you might not remember is how music supervisor Don Kirshner went on to create another pop music success, … Continue reading Following In The Footsteps Of The Monkees
The Artistry Of Art Van Damme
Although he might not be as well remembered as the guys we mentioned in a recent piece about accordions (Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren), Art Van Damme had some distinctions of his own. In addition to a long career in radio and TV, he was a respected jazz musician with an international reputation, and he … Continue reading The Artistry Of Art Van Damme
Whitewall Tires Have Lost Their Coolness
So I was parked in a supermarket lot today waiting for Mrs. Big Geez to do her grocery shopping thing, an activity for which -- imagine this -- she doesn't want my assistance, when I spotted a geezer in a big car sporting whitewall tires. (The car, not the geezer.) They were the narrow kind, … Continue reading Whitewall Tires Have Lost Their Coolness
Jody Reynolds’ Classic Tearjerker
One of the mainstays of early rock and roll was the tearjerker song, especially the kind that spoke of a sadly departed lover. There were plenty of memorable ones around, including "Teen Angel" and "Tell Laura I Love Her," but one of the earliest -- and best -- was "Endless Sleep," a million-seller for Jody … Continue reading Jody Reynolds’ Classic Tearjerker
I Don’t Miss Smoking, But. . .
I quit smoking over thirty years ago, and even though the urge hung around for a surprisingly long time I eventually got to the point where I didn't miss it. And I can confidently say that I still don't, but I realized something the other day -- I kind of miss the gadgety aspect of … Continue reading I Don’t Miss Smoking, But. . .
Appreciating Gospel Music For Its Own Sake
Although I believe that a person's spiritual beliefs are a private thing, I will confess that I'm not a regular church-goer -- in fact, the last time I attempted to sing a hymn my voice probably hadn't yet changed. But I've found that there are certain kinds of gospel music that really appeal to me, … Continue reading Appreciating Gospel Music For Its Own Sake
Geezer Music Club 