Unlike most of the entertainers I've written about, swing-era bandleader Horace Heidt's talents didn't depend on his own musical abilities. Although he could play piano, he usually left the keyboard to others. And he was never really known as a composer or arranger, like so many of his contemporaries. But he did have two things … Continue reading The Talents Of Horace Heidt
Tag: Nostalgia
Decorating Your Divorce
Although the dissolution of a marriage is usually a traumatic event, a lot of people seem to find some relief by using a little black humor to mark the occasion. That can take many different forms, but for a lot of folks -- mostly women, it appears -- a party is just the thing. But … Continue reading Decorating Your Divorce
Gwyneth Tackles The Country Side
Something a little different today. I don't often write about current performers, but one who fascinates me is the Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who -- after receiving beauty and acting talent in the genetic lottery -- apparently got back in line and picked up a good portion of singing ability too. I first noticed her … Continue reading Gwyneth Tackles The Country Side
Keeping Up With The Tymes
Sorry about the title of this piece, but I couldn't resist. For those who might have forgotten, the Philly-based R&B group known as the Tymes made a big splash in the early 1960s, hitting the top of the charts with "So Much In Love." Original members Donald Banks, Albert Berry, Norman Burnett, and George Hilliard … Continue reading Keeping Up With The Tymes
The Two Careers Of Len Barry
A relatively common occurrence in early rock and roll --and in most other types of music too, for that matter -- is when a key member of a successful musical group breaks off and goes solo. It sometimes proves to be a bad idea, but in many cases the newly-minted soloist does find some success, … Continue reading The Two Careers Of Len Barry
Decisions, Decisions – Kindle Or Nook?
For a long time I've been pretty lukewarm about ebook readers. They were awkward single-use gizmos that not only cost a lot initially, but also kept gigging your credit card every time you bought a new book. Nice for the bookstore, but since it's been well established that I'm so tight I squeak there was … Continue reading Decisions, Decisions – Kindle Or Nook?
Time Keeps Marching On
One of the ways we all mark the passage of time is by looking at pictures from many years ago. If those pictures are of ourselves we can only groan and wonder where the years went, but when they depict others we might have a variety of reactions. Whether we realize it or not, most … Continue reading Time Keeps Marching On
Getting To Know The Triplets
Movie music is an area I've ventured into from time to time, but I don't think I've ever written about a film that I saw a few years ago and loved in spite of the fact that it's in French and I do not speak the language. Of course, I should mention that it's a … Continue reading Getting To Know The Triplets
Dave Pell – The Real Thing
I've mentioned before that I sometimes regret dumping all my old vinyl LPs in favor of CDs (most recently in Bye-Bye To Brubeck Bossa Nova). Another of those missing albums came to mind today. It was an odd-looking one -- transparent gold instead of black -- recorded by a bandleader that I assumed at the … Continue reading Dave Pell – The Real Thing
Jimmy Ruffin’s Turning Point
A familiar name in the history of R&B music is that of the Temptations, a singing group with many years of success and countless adoring fans. But what you might not know is the story of Jimmy Ruffin, who turned down a chance to sing in the group and instead recommended his little brother, but … Continue reading Jimmy Ruffin’s Turning Point
Geezer Music Club 