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
Tag: R&B
The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Two decades after his death, jazz organist Richard 'Groove' Holmes is still fondly remembered by many fans. His was a career marked by a high level of comfort in every type of jazz from bluesy and funky to sweet and soft. That diversity and reach even extended to his two main centers of activity, allowing … Continue reading The Wide Reach Of Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes
Whatever Happened To R.B. Greaves?
One of the original goals of the GMC was to provide a place for fans of the music of the past to participate -- not only by reading about the music and the performers (and listening to it!) but also by taking advantage of the 'comment' feature to have lively and informative discussions. A good … Continue reading Whatever Happened To R.B. Greaves?
Sam Butera – Out Of The Shadows
I realize the title of this piece might sound a little melodramatic, but for two decades beginning in the mid-1950s Sam Butera was the guy who led -- and performed in -- the band behind entertainer Louis Prima. That meant he was performing in the shadows of the flamboyant Prima and his wife, singer Keely … Continue reading Sam Butera – Out Of The Shadows
Grant Green’s Legacy Has Endured
For someone who's been called one of the least-appreciated jazz guitarists of the modern era, Grant Green left behind an amazing amount of material. But he did seem to fly below the radar for much of his career, which was often stalled by drug-related causes. In the years since he died in 1979 (at just … Continue reading Grant Green’s Legacy Has Endured
Garnet Mimms And His Babies
Garnet Mimms was one of the best soul artists around in the 1960s, with a solid background in gospel-singing and tons of talent, and when he hit the top of the R&B charts with "Cry Baby," it looked like he was on his way to a long career. But the 1963 mega-hit would end up … Continue reading Garnet Mimms And His Babies
Life Is Like A Box Of Chiclets
Tabloid City, a new book by legendary New York writer Pete Hamill, has triggered my latest foray into the dim recesses of childhood memory. During a passage in which he's describing the sound made by an oldster who is softly snoring, he compares it to what you hear when you blow into an empty Chiclets … Continue reading Life Is Like A Box Of Chiclets
Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
As someone who has had more than a passing acquaintance with cookies -- the edible kind -- I have to admit that a trio with that name probably caught my attention back in the day. And even though it was for different reasons, the R&B girl group was apparently also noticed by the legendary Ray … Continue reading Ray Charles Crumbled The Cookies
Joe Jones VS The Dixie Cups
New Orleans has always been known as the home of fascinating musical stories, like the tale of R&B singer Joe Jones and his disagreements with the singing group he managed for a while, the Dixie Cups. A court would eventually have to decide who held the rights to one of the group's big hits, a … Continue reading Joe Jones VS The Dixie Cups
Doris Troy Just Wanted To Sing
One-hit wonders have made a number of appearances on the ol' GMC and I wouldn't even begin to try to list them, but one thing does occur to me. Some of them were probably lucky to have had that one hit, while others were so talented that they deserved more. The latter description would certainly … Continue reading Doris Troy Just Wanted To Sing
Geezer Music Club 