Although our mental image of a big band era crooner is of a suave, velvet-voiced charmer who could purr into the microphone while the ladies swooned, it wasn't always like that. Harry Babbitt, who could certainly fill the bill as a traditional crooner - his boss, bandleader Kay Kyser, usually introduced him as 'Handsome Harry' … Continue reading From Crooning To Cartoons – ‘Handsome’ Harry Babbitt
Tag: Video
The Innocents Struck Gold With Kathy Young
Even though they had moderate success in the late 1950s, a singing group known as The Innocents didn't really strike gold until 1960, when they teamed up with singer Kathy Young for "A Thousand Stars." But there's a lot more to the story. For one thing, Kathy Young was - er - young, only 15 … Continue reading The Innocents Struck Gold With Kathy Young
Country Catalyst – A Song Within A Song
For this edition of Country Catalyst, the special feature that offers up country classics to folks who don't normally go for the twangy stuff, I'm presenting a song that has already had some crossover success. But even though "Bonaparte's Retreat" had its moment as a pop song, it certainly started out as pure country. The … Continue reading Country Catalyst – A Song Within A Song
The Many Lives Of Eddie Hodges
I thought I'd try something different today. It might be unappealing to those who aren't fond of videos (or don't have the fast internet connection they require) but the endless number of videos that are now available help make something like today's post possible. It's a look at Eddie Hodges, who has led an amazingly … Continue reading The Many Lives Of Eddie Hodges
Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Although she was never a huge star, Gloria Lynne was a very respected singer with a long -- and sometimes rocky -- career, and her recent passing at age 83 was a sad moment for her fans. Probably best remembered for helping make "I Wish You Love" a standard, she sang in a style that … Continue reading Gloria Lynne Was A Fan Favorite
Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
A perfect example of a song that had to change with the times is Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," which began life as a commentary on scandalous Depression-era happenings. Unfortunately it was specific to the time period so it became meaningless to later generations, creating the need for the lyrics that are more familiar to modern … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – Changing With The Times
Remembering Cal Smith
When I read recently that country singer Cal Smith had died, my first impulse was to find the previous post I'd written about him and point folks to it. The only problem was that I had never written about him before, even though I thought I had. After all, his signature song -- "Country Bumpkin" … Continue reading Remembering Cal Smith
Alice Faye Did It Her Way
Among the many actresses who sang, one of the best was the smokey-voiced Alice Faye, who for a while seemed to be in just about every colorful movie musical around. But she was the real thing, a trained singer and dancer who starred in a lot of films, even though her fierce independence might have … Continue reading Alice Faye Did It Her Way
The Sad Story Of Susannah McCorkle
Even if you're not familiar with jazz vocalist and writer Susannah McCorkle, the title of this piece has probably already made you suspect a tragic end to her life, and you would be right. The very talented singer suffered from depression for years and finally took her own life in 2001, but she left behind … Continue reading The Sad Story Of Susannah McCorkle
Fantastic Foursome Is Back!
I guess the headline is a little misleading because the Fantastic Foursome hasn't really been gone, but it has been AWOL for almost two months so we're certainly due for another installment. (A little info for new visitors; the Fantastic Foursome is a GMC special feature that offers a chance to hear - and vote … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome Is Back!
Geezer Music Club 