Glenn Robertson Yarbrough (January 12, 1930 – August 11, 2016) I've always enjoyed writing about musical artists who have managed long, successful careers that have continued even into their 'senior' years. A good example is Glenn Yarbrough, who has had many years of success, both as a member of the Limeliters and as a solo … Continue reading Glenn Yarbrough – Still In Strong Voice
Tag: Oldies
Hurt So Bad
I have to confess that I found this picture of a sand sculpture so fascinating that I had to build a post around it. I can only imagine the artist's frame of mind during its creation, but -- like any piece of art -- it will stir up a lot of different feelings in those … Continue reading Hurt So Bad
Early Phil Spector Project – Curtis Lee
I thought I'd cash a mental check I wrote to myself a while back, when I told the story of early pop star Ray Peterson ("Tell Laura I Love Her"). At that time I mentioned that Ray eventually moved into producing, working with the then-young (and presumably trouble-free) Phil Spector to promote other performers. One … Continue reading Early Phil Spector Project – Curtis Lee
Rex Allen – Best Of The Singing Cowboys?
Rex Allen the best singing cowboy? It's certainly a startling thought, especially when you figure that most people would vote for Gene Autry or Roy Rogers. But here's the thing -- Autry himself called Allen the best cowboy among them, and Rogers said he was the best singer by far. So if you add up … Continue reading Rex Allen – Best Of The Singing Cowboys?
Remembering Dee Clark
One of the realities of the music world is that some stars are less remembered than others, even when their level of talent is head and shoulders over that of many of the bigger names. A good example might be Dee Clark, who was one of the best R&B singers of the Fifties and Sixties … Continue reading Remembering Dee Clark
Connections – The Castells And Beyond
It doesn't take a pronouncement from Mr. Obvious to recognize that the decade of the Sixties was a volatile time in pop music. It was an era that saw a lot of strange combinations and connections -- not only in the music itself, which included everything from folk music to R&B -- but also in … Continue reading Connections – The Castells And Beyond
Putting All Your Cards On The Table
Thinking about the holidays while going through some old pictures caused me to recall a common and typical event from those days. Big family holiday dinners always included card games -- both before and after the dinner. These were typically male-only affairs -- not because the ladies didn't know how to play, but simply because … Continue reading Putting All Your Cards On The Table
Letting It All Hang Out — The Hombres
One of the most unusual stories of the Sixties had to be that of the Hombres, a group that started life as something else but then went on to record a strange, genre-crossing hit before eventually fading from view. The song was a novelty country-rock hybrid called "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)," … Continue reading Letting It All Hang Out — The Hombres
Puttin’ My Cat Clothes On
One of the things I enjoy about digging through old pictures is how I inevitably stumble onto surprises, in some cases jaw-dropping ones. That would be a good description of how I reacted when I recently found a picture of myself from the Fifties, when I was a teenager and obviously fashion-challenged. I think I … Continue reading Puttin’ My Cat Clothes On
The Arbors Found The Path To Success
I've always enjoyed listening to the pop-music harmony groups of the Fifties and Sixties -- guys like the Lettermen, the Four Freshmen, and others. They pleased a lot of fans with a sound that fit somewhere between earlier groups like the Pied Pipers and newer combos like the Beach Boys. But there were some very … Continue reading The Arbors Found The Path To Success
Geezer Music Club 