It's likely that most fans of oldies music remember a California-based group known as the Rip Chords, a combo that epitomized a sub-genre of rock and roll known as 'hot rod music' with a big hit on "Hey Little Cobra" in 1964. You might also recall that the group seemed to go through a lot … Continue reading Doris Day’s Rock And Roll Connection
Tag: Video
Texas Ruby Was A Real Firecracker
Texas Ruby has been gone for fifty years now, and she didn't headline in Vegas or score any huge hit records during her too-short career, but she remains one of the most memorable country music stars of all time. Ably accompanied by husband Curly Fox's fiddle, her deep singing voice and distinctive performing style helped … Continue reading Texas Ruby Was A Real Firecracker
Ray’s Song Becomes A Fantastic Foursome
I know what you're thinking: isn't it about time we had another Fantastic Foursome? Okay, maybe you weren't thinking that but I was, and so here we go. It's difficult to hear "Georgia On My Mind" and not think of Ray Charles, but it has actually been performed by a lot of folks since Hoagy … Continue reading Ray’s Song Becomes A Fantastic Foursome
Search For A Song Leads To The Norman Petty Trio
GMC visitors who keep an eye on the 'recent comments' in the left column might already know a little about today's subject, but here's the scoop for those who don't: one of our most popular posts is a 2008 piece about a 1950s doo-wop group called The Danleers -- but I think that's mostly because … Continue reading Search For A Song Leads To The Norman Petty Trio
The Legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band
I don't consider myself a jazz expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd like to think that I've picked up a few things in the many years that have passed since I began enjoying it as a teenager. That's why I was a little surprised when I first read about a 1960s jazz … Continue reading The Legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band
Anatomy Of A Song – “Any Time”
I ran across this song a while back, and when I heard it I was once again transported back to my childhood, because I'm sure that we had a record of it around the house. My only dilemma is that both popular versions seem very familiar to me. When Herbert 'Happy' Lawson wrote the song … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – “Any Time”
Edd ‘Kookie’ Byrnes – Artist With A Comb
One of the unlikeliest recording stars of the 1950s was a guy who finessed a huge hit record by linking it to the peculiar habit of the character he portrayed on a TV show. Edd Byrnes was a young actor who played 'Kookie' Kookson on 77 Sunset Strip, a private-eye program first aired in 1958. … Continue reading Edd ‘Kookie’ Byrnes – Artist With A Comb
Lulu Belle And Scotty Took A Detour
The life of a performer is often a tough one and a husband and wife team probably faces added complications, but it can be a rewarding experience too. That's why it probably surprised country music fans in the late 1950s when popular duo Lulu Belle and Scotty left the business behind and took an unusual … Continue reading Lulu Belle And Scotty Took A Detour
The Sapphires – Then And Now
I recently went to an actual movie in a theater -- something I seldom do -- and during the seemingly endless previews of coming attractions I saw one that caught my attention. It was for a film called The Sapphires, and it was about an R&B quartet from the 1960s that featured indigenous Australians -- … Continue reading The Sapphires – Then And Now
Anatomy Of A Song – “Moonlight Serenade”
I've decided to formalize a type of post that has already shown up a number of times on the GMC, and by formalize I mean that I'm going to give it a name and add it to the 'categories' tab in the left column (like I did a while back for Fantastic Foursomes). It's the … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – “Moonlight Serenade”
Geezer Music Club 