Rupert Holmes is probably currently best-known as a Tony-winning playwright, having picked up two awards for his Broadway musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. But the multi-talented artist first rose to fame years earlier as a popular recording artist, whose best-known song -- "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" -- rocketed to the top of the … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Rupert Holmes
Tag: Video
Picnics And Music – The Curious Case Of ‘Moonglow’
In the aftermath of the holiday weekend and the many activities enjoyed by folks, my thoughts turned to the musical side of picnics, and that led me to one of the most interesting pairings in music. It's the curious case of an old standard that became so closely identified with a movie theme that the … Continue reading Picnics And Music – The Curious Case Of ‘Moonglow’
Waylon’s Hero – Sonny Curtis
One of the longest-running and most intriguing careers in popular music has been that of singer/songwriter Sonny Curtis, who is still active after more than a half-century in the business. Along the way, the Texas native has had connections with everyone from Buddy Holly to Mary Tyler Moore. Like Holly, Curtis grew up in the … Continue reading Waylon’s Hero – Sonny Curtis
Self-Styled ‘Shockumentary’ Introduced Classic Song
We all remember the days when movies were much milder -- not only in terms of language, nudity, or sexual themes, but also in content. That might be at least part of the reason why some otherwise forgettable films made such an impression on us in those days by pushing the envelope a little. But … Continue reading Self-Styled ‘Shockumentary’ Introduced Classic Song
A Wake-Up Call From The Jersey Boys
Although I've enjoyed 'oldies' music for a long time, I actually came a little late to that appreciation. I've written before about my teen years and how my eclectic music tastes included everything from jazz to country music, but I think I always had my ears open to the latest thing too, and as time … Continue reading A Wake-Up Call From The Jersey Boys
The Long Musical Journey Of Pete Rugolo
It might be unfair to call TV's Richard Diamond show a Peter Gunn clone, because even though both shows featured private eyes and a jazz-laden soundtrack, Diamond actually predated Gunn. It's just that the latter seemed to have made a more lasting impression, at least in part because of Henry Mancini's music. Richard Diamond is … Continue reading The Long Musical Journey Of Pete Rugolo
The Evolution Of Chris Montez
I remember when the news broke about the 1959 plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), along with the pilot. But I didn't realize at that time how Valens' death affected the Chicano rock movement. Valens was the undisputed star of the Hispanic pop music world. … Continue reading The Evolution Of Chris Montez
Si Zentner – Thriving In The Twilight
As a teenager in the late Fifties I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music, including everything from early rock & roll to the softer sounds of my parents' favorite records. But even though I enjoyed a lot of what I heard, I often found myself attracted to big band jazz. The … Continue reading Si Zentner – Thriving In The Twilight
Just Twangin’ Along With Mike Seeger
One of the drawbacks of using personal experiences to put together nostalgia-themed pieces is that the process is sometimes held hostage to my own patchy memory. For example, I've written before about how my maternal grandfather would occasionally pick up his harmonica -- what he called his 'mouth-harp' -- and play a lively song or … Continue reading Just Twangin’ Along With Mike Seeger
Flying High – Domenico Modugno
For a while in the late Fifties, it was played on the radio almost continuously -- or maybe it just seemed that way. After all, a guy singing a melodic and strangely addictive song in Italian was something that certainly caught your attention. But whatever the reason, Domenico Modugno's rendition of "Nel Blu Dipinto Di … Continue reading Flying High – Domenico Modugno
Geezer Music Club 