The British musical invasion of the Sixties changed the face of pop music, but not just in terms of the music itself. The songs from bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were tremendously popular, but a lot of American bands also adopted the look, complete with shaggy haircuts and English-style clothes. I've written … Continue reading Chicago’s Faux-British Buckinghams
Tag: Oldies
The Story Of Esquerita – aka Eskew Reeder
Let's say you were around in the early days of rock and roll, and one night you just happened to catch the act of a flamboyantly-pompadoured black performer, pounding on the piano and singing with utter abandon. Little Richard? Not necessarily. You might have been watching Steven Quincy Reeder, performing as his alter ego, Esquerita. … Continue reading The Story Of Esquerita – aka Eskew Reeder
Kenny Ball – Keepin’ It Alive
I guess you could consider this a continuation of my recent article about Acker Bilk, or at least a companion piece, because Kenny Ball is certainly a contemporary of Bilk's and was another stalwart of the British trad jazz movement. He's also still actively pursuing his music, as is Bilk. But there are differences, other … Continue reading Kenny Ball – Keepin’ It Alive
Acker Bilk – Trad Jazz Master
I've never been a big fan of dixieland jazz. I remember hearing a lot of it when I was a teenager and a friend of mine seemed inexplicably entranced by a group called the Dukes Of Dixieland. He had several LP records by the Dukes and seemed to play them every time I visited. It … Continue reading Acker Bilk – Trad Jazz Master
Norman Greenbaum — A Spirited Life
Although Norman Greenbaum could probably be described as a classic one-hit wonder, his story is still an interesting one. After all, even though he's best known for his big hit, 1970's "Spirit In The Sky," his first charted song was the oddly-named "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago," and he later spent some time as a … Continue reading Norman Greenbaum — A Spirited Life
Gene McDaniels And The BBC
There is an old adage that says that all publicity is good publicity. I'm not sure that it's always true in today's nutsy world, but there is one type of notoriety that will always boost interest in a book, a movie, or a song -- being banned. Born in Kansas City, Gene McDaniels grew up … Continue reading Gene McDaniels And The BBC
Games Within Games
I guess I'm all caught up in baseball lately, so am probably not quite as music-oriented as usual. (But I will close with an appropriate tune.) The deadline for non-waiver deals has passed and the number of trades made, coupled with continuing stories about steroids, makes baseball the biggest thing on sports pages this weekend. … Continue reading Games Within Games
Charlie Feathers – Rockabilly’s Cranky Pioneer
The 1950s must have been a heady time for musicians, especially those in what was then considered the cutting edge of country music. Performers like Bill Haley, the Maddox Brothers, and Carl Perkins were beginning to attract some attention with a sound that had its roots in a variety of styles. Those included Western Swing … Continue reading Charlie Feathers – Rockabilly’s Cranky Pioneer
The Mystery Of Leon Redbone
I think I first saw Leon Redbone on TV's Saturday Night Live, and at the time I suspected his act was a put-on. A few people (not me) even thought he might be eccentric comedian Andy Kaufman in disguise. After all, the program is known for quirky stunts, so Redbone seemed to fit right in. … Continue reading The Mystery Of Leon Redbone
The Paler George Hamilton
I suppose it might be due to the approach of July 4th, but for some reason I found myself thinking today about George Hamilton IV. (And by the way, you do know that I'm not talking about the terrifically tanned guy, right?) Hamilton the musician was one of the pioneers of the early rock and … Continue reading The Paler George Hamilton
Geezer Music Club 