Music history is filled with stories of performers who died much too young. And it seems especially cruel when it happens to one of the many female vocalists who early in their careers took time off to raise families. But in spite of all that, when Irene Kral died in 1978 at just age 46 … Continue reading A Voice Stilled Too Soon – Irene Kral
Tag: Vocal Jazz
Keely Smith Sings
Dorothy Jacqueline Keely (March 9, 1928 – December 16, 2017) One of the most popular acts of the 1950s was the husband and wife team of bandleader Louis Prima and singer Keely Smith. Their show included music mixed with comedy and was especially suited for Vegas clubs, but the twosome often appeared on TV and … Continue reading Keely Smith Sings
June Christy — From Songbird To Cool Jazz Soloist
One of the very best of the singers who successfully managed the transition from big band songbird to solo jazz vocalist was June Christy, whose first high profile job was as the replacement for a future legend. But she would go on to a long and notable career of her own, winning a lot of … Continue reading June Christy — From Songbird To Cool Jazz Soloist
Six Degrees Of Who?
Sometimes my ideas for stories on the ol' GMC just naturally flow from earlier posts because so many artists have connections to others. In a way, I guess it's sort of a musical version of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon -- or in this case, Blossom Dearie, because when writing about her recently I turned … Continue reading Six Degrees Of Who?
Blossom Dearie Was Something Different
One of the most unusual singing voices around was stilled a couple of years ago by the death of jazz singer Blossom Dearie. Although she was never really a big star nationally she was a beloved fixture on the Manhattan jazz scene, and when she died at age 84 in 2009 she was just a … Continue reading Blossom Dearie Was Something Different
The Crooning Eberly – Er – Eberle Brothers
In a recent piece about big band songbird Helen O'Connell I included a video of her performing with a guy who was her usual partner, crooner Bob Eberly. I also noted that the clip seemed to be mislabeled because it identified the singer as Ray Eberle, Bob's lookalike younger brother. I based my opinion on … Continue reading The Crooning Eberly – Er – Eberle Brothers
Bessie Smith – The Empress Of The Blues
I doubt that anyone reading this actually remembers hearing Bessie Smith in her prime. After all, the lady known as the 'Empress of the Blues' died way back in 1937. But she is a much-revered member of the Grammy Hall Of Fame (established to honor artists from the early days) and is now recognized as … Continue reading Bessie Smith – The Empress Of The Blues
Appreciating Lee Wiley
Although you seldom hear Lee Wiley's name mentioned now, she was one of the best of the early jazz singers, with a very distinctive voice and style. She was also a pioneer in the practice of recording 'songbook' albums built around a single composer, and even though it's been well over three decades since her … Continue reading Appreciating Lee Wiley
Helen O’Connell – A Fan Favorite
Helen O'Connell's vivacious personality and dimpled cheeks might have helped her get noticed by fans in the big band era, but she could sell a song with the best of them. And even if her voice didn't quite have the range enjoyed by some of her contemporaries, she became one of the most popular songbirds … Continue reading Helen O’Connell – A Fan Favorite
The Crooning Side Of Bobby Darin
Regular visitors to the GMC know that I enjoy writing about crooners, and have also explored the definition of the term and whether it is even considered a compliment. (See From Sinatra To Rod Stewart – The Crooner Conundrum.) But not every singer is a crooner, and some guys are a little hard to classify -- … Continue reading The Crooning Side Of Bobby Darin
Geezer Music Club 