tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59904534290228224932024-03-07T21:54:23.066-08:00MusicLIFEJanicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-85791947490214123282014-07-14T14:32:00.002-07:002014-07-20T05:45:23.213-07:00Psychic Songwriter, Alex Tanous<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>I'm going a little off course with this one. Please remember, I am only using information available to me, I don't create the story from my rather limited imagination. SO ---- It is July 10 and I am sitting at my computer ------</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Alexander Tanous was born in Van Buren, Maine in 1926. His birth was predicted by Kahil Gibran, who told his father, "You will have a son, a man of exceptional gifts, of great abilities - but also of great sorrows."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Alex was "born with a veil, the mystic cross and a five pointed star on his left hand, the traditional markings of a psychic." </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>By the age of 18 months he was displaying unusual talents, and by the age of nine he predicted the death of a wealthy family family friend.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>At age 13 he warned a friend not to go around or across the rail road tracks, but the boy was crossing the tracks a short time later and was killed by a train. (Now, I have to say here, these are possibilities in the ordinary events of mankind. Nothing here that gives me shivers.)</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>By 1960 Alex was fully aware of his unusual senses and submitted himself to The American Society of Psychical for testing. The results were amazingly positive that he had psychic powers with tests which had probability odds of 3000:1. The odds that his test scores could be coincidence were 99.9% against. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Alex Tanous joined the U. S. Army (and wrote a song called <u>MEN OF THE TEN THIRTEENTH A.S.U. .</u> (He had taught himself piano.) He completed his education at Boston College</i></b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>in 1960; his MA in Sacred Sciences and his PHD at Fordham. He got an M.S. Ed. in Counseling at University of Maine in 1973. Received a Doctor of Divinity from theCollege of Metaphysics in Indiana in 1965. He taught Theology at both Manhattan College and St.John's Univ. in New York.</i></b><b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And eventually taught classes in Pyschic Phenomena at the University of Southern Maine. His career included teaching at McGill University in Canada, and Pennsylvania, and applied his talents in the diagnoses and treatment of psychiatry disorders disorders.</i></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>His powers of astro-projection, faith healing, teleportation, projecting his thoughts onto a screen, solidifying light and communicating with ghosts are documented by the American Society of Psychical research. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Alex assisted police in finding the killer of an eight year old boy in Portland by drawing a sketch resembling the man who was convicted.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>SO - this is the man who wrote the song which I mentioned above, and also wrote a wedding song for Eddie Fisher and Debbi Reynolds called</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>BLESS THESE TWO, OH LORD</u>, and a nostalgia piece, <u>LET ME BE A BOY AGAIN, .</u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>NOW the only eerie thing about this for me is that I had no real intention of doing this piece about Dr. Tanous today. In fact, I had started a different blog entirely but put it aside and got out Dr. Tanous folder to see if it was worth a blog. I did not know the date of his death until after I had put the rest of the information together and then realized I did not know when he died. </u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>It was July 10, 1990 at age 63. </u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Was Alex Tanous communicating with me and prompting me to write about him on the anniversary of his death? Oh, Lord, I hope not.</u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Respectfully written for entertainment only -</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>janice major</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>janice.major@iCloud.com</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Scarborugh, Maine</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-45717927090572073682014-07-08T08:00:00.002-07:002014-07-08T08:00:27.072-07:00I'VE GOT A FEELIN' YOU'RE FOOLIN'<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>THE covers of old music, as I have mentioned before, often attract me to the piece. The title song this week has a "finale line up" picture of the stars in Broadway Melody of 1936, lyrics by Arthur Freed, music by Nacio Herb Brown. MGM produced the picture with the following cast: Robert Taylor, a smooth producer; June Knight a beautiful wealthy widow; Jack Benny, a gossip columnist of questionable integrity; </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Eleanor Powell, a beautiful starlet trying to get the producer, a former schoolmate, to give her a chance on Broadway. Other members of the cast, Una Merkel, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen, Nick Long and Frances Langford. Got the plot figured out yet? </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Plots in big musical productions are not really important to musicians and dancers. But in this early musical, it did bring out that musicians can be actors and actors can be musicians and dancers. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The movie opens with Harry Stockford, a radio personality playing himself, singing "Broadway Rhythm." Frances Langford, also playing herself, sings "You Are My Lucky Star." Another song written for the movie is "On A Sunday Afternoon." And, of course, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"I'VE GOT A FEELIN' YOU'RE FOOLIN' ".</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>An interesting side note is that Buddy Ebsen, Jed on the Beverly Hillbillies, was a dancer of some renown, and his younger sister Vilma was a dancer also, and is in the movie, barely acknowledged. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MGM was on the verge of bankruptcy when Syd Silvers, Moss Hart, Jack McGowan and Harry Conn wrote the story and convinced MGM to take it on. Eleanor Powell is credited with making movies that put them back on financial solid ground. BROADWAY MELODY OF 1936' won an Academy Award for Best Picture.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Eleanor Powell, who wants more attention form Robert Taylor who is wooing the widow for her money, sings:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You are a picture an artist could paint</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But you're a mixture of devil and saint.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I just sigh and dream and try to figure you out.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Love is in season, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The moon's up above</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tho, it be treason to question your love ---</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Every time I look at you</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My heart's in doubt --</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've got a feel in' you're haven' fun</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I'll get a go by when you are done, foolin' with me.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've got a notion it's make believe</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I think you're laughing' right up your sleeve</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Foolin' with me.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Life is worth living while you are giving -</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Moments of paradise</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You're such a stand out</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But how you hand out </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>That hokus pokus from your eyes.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I've got a feelin' it's all a frame</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It's just the well known old army game</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Foolin' with you.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I don't want to be a spoiler, but big production musicals always have happy endings.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Hope this brought a smile today. I welcome suggestions and criticism of the positive kind! </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>jan major</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>janice.major@iCloud.com</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Scarborough, Maine (Where it's absolutely beautiful today!)</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-47213118123457477112014-06-28T12:47:00.000-07:002014-06-29T13:56:46.461-07:00OVER SOMEBODY ELSE'S SHOULDER, I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU<b>You have probably figured out that titles are what usually catch my eye. I thought this was probably a so-so piece that never went far, but to my surprise this was a big hit. It was written and copyrighted in 1934, by Al Sherman and Al Lewis and sung by Ozzie Nelson. </b><br />
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<b>AL SHERMAN was a Tin Pan Alley song writer, born in Kiev, in 1924, the oldest of five children. After his father, a prominent musician in Russia, brought the family to American, he found himself just another immigrant musician among many, and getting work was difficult. He was unable to cope with the circumstances and left the family. Al became, at age 13, the "man of the family." He left school to go to work, clearly to be the breadwinner. His early introduction to music, standing in the wings of his father's performances, began his love of music. Once when his father was performing for the Bohemian emperor, he rustled the curtains and the emperor asked who was back there. When young Al was brought out, the emperor took him on his knee for the rest of the performance. Always wanting to be a musician, he began teaching himself piano, and worked in clubs and with orchestras around New YOrk. He became the pianist of choice for a lot of silent film stars, and eventually met and married Rosa Dancis in 1923. They had two sons, Robert Bernard and Michael Morton. They became the "Sherman Brothers" which delighted their father. They were the composers for such movies as "Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang" and "Mary Poppins." </b><br />
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<b>Sherman worked with such greats of the time as Youmans and Gershwin and wrote many songs: "Pretending", "On The Beach At Bali Bali", "For Sentimental Reasons" to name a few, plus a special tribute piece - "Lindberg, The Eagle of the USA". I also have a piece of sheet music called, "What Do You Do On A Dew-Dew-Dewy Day." The Associated Press wrote a comment about Sherman:</b><br />
<b>"Al Sherman helped raise the spirits of a Depression-era generation with his hit song "Potatoes are CHeaper, Tomatoes are Cheaper, Now's the Time To Fall In Love." HE is not to be confused with the Allen Sherman who wrote "Hello Mudder, Hello Fadda" , a letter from a kid at camp!</b><br />
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<b>I didn't find a lot about Al Lewis, at least not the Al Lewis I was looking for. He was born in New York in 1901 and died there in 1967. He was also a Tin Pan Alley entertainer, lyricist who worked with many of the more notable composers from the '20s through the '50s. In the early to mid '30's he and several other productive musicians created a revue called "Songwriters On Parade." They performed in many venues along the east coast, and the Loew's and Keith Theater circuits. Among his better known songs is "Blueberry Hill" and "You Gotta Be A Football Hero." HE is not to be confused with Grandpa in the Munsters comedy series!</b><br />
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<b>OZZIE NELSON, a very handsome and talented young man born of Swedish/English heritage </b><br />
<b>in Ridgefield, NJ is probably best remembered for the hit show, "Ozzie and Harriet" one of the earlier "happy TV family shows" that might have even been considered the first reality show.</b><br />
<b>Ozzie played sax, football, was an Eagle Scout at age 13. He went to Rutgers where he also played football, and played sax with local bands. He formed a band and was gaining popularity when the New York Daily Mirror ran a "people's choice poll" on bands. Knowing that the paper vendors tore off the front pages of the paper for a rebate from the Mirror, and tossed the rest of the paper in the trash, he and his friends retrieved the discarded papers, got friends to fill out the poll with OZZIE'S BAND as the choice, of course. Such a successful campaign it was that it edged out Paul Whiteman's very professional and well established Big Band of the time. He was a multitalented man and when his sons, David and Ricky grew up in the eyes of the public television fans, it was natural they would also be musician/showmen. Ozzie Nelson was born in 1906 and died in 1975. OZZIE NELSON made a hit with the song: </b><br />
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<b>"OVER SOMEBODY ELSE'S SHOULDER, I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU."</b><br />
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<b>I was dancing gaily to the music soft and waily, when you danced into sight.</b><br />
<b>Lucky you were were dancing with a friend of mine,</b><br />
<b>So he could introduce us that night.</b><br />
<b>Your first sweet glance, dear</b><br />
<b>Kindled romance, dear,</b><br />
<b>That still is burning bright, my darling --</b><br />
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<b>Over somebody else's shoulder</b><br />
<b>I fell in love with you.</b><br />
<b>Over somebody else's shoulder,</b><br />
<b> I saw my dreams cone true.</b><br />
<b>The moment I spied your charms</b><br />
<b>My heart was in danger</b><br />
<b>The girl I held in my arms became a total stranger.</b><br />
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<b>Over somebody else's shoulder I fell in love with you.</b><br />
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<b>You know that old story - 'a glance across a crowded room --'.</b><br />
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<b>Does anybody write lyrics like that today? Too sweet and sappy? I don't know. I like reading the lyrics and I think they show a sentimental side we have lost, but then I'm not in the dating scene so maybe I those wonderfully poetic lyricists are out there and I'm just not hearing them. </b><br />
<b>BUT, I think "Baby, Oh Baby, Baby, Baby Baby, Oh, Baby" lacks something, how about you?</b><br />
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<b>Comments welcomed either on this site or at</b><br />
<b> janice.Major@iCloud.com</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-65227967447717689062014-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:002014-06-20T15:51:18.421-07:00Oh, Just Write A Letter To Your Mother<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>There have been a number of songs written about Maine and a few written by Maine residents. I thought I would put them all together an write a little on each one, but that is too much at once, and doesn't give each of them the blog they deserve.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I don't know much about the writer of this piece of music except that he was a resident of West Baldwin, and as it happened in that small town there were several males who shared the same first name. For privacy's sake I won't list them, but one of them was the husband of my good friend Joyce. And Joyce is the person who donated this piece of music for my collection.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER (Wherever You Are To-night) was written by Elwood S. Harris who lived in West Baldwin, Maine. West Baldwin is a small community a little north and west of Portland, Maine (which is Maine's largest city, but not it's capitol). Mr. Harris wrote his song, both words and music in 1941, the year so many of our Maine brave hearts were far from home in the service. The cover art is of a window with ruffled cottage curtains, a side table with a basket of knitting, and a vase with a bouquet of flowers. A bespectacled lady with her hair properly pulled into a very obedient bun, is sitting in a high backed rocking chart with her feet on a low stool. She has a pair of very prim pumps with an ankle strap, and her dress, with sleeves to her forearms has a "ruching" around the neck.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>She is holding a page of a letter in her left hand dangling beside the chair, and in her right hand she has the envelope. She is contemplative in mood.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The cover is printed in monochromatic green. Of course, it's a bit faded now, but even in its best day it was a bit drab. Mr. Harris published it himself under the title "The Harris Publishing Co., West Baldwin, Me; and claims copyright 1941. His instructions are "MODto (with expression). And it's written in four flats. I could not find any information on Mr. Harris, but I have to assume he was an accomplished piano player. I am hoping to find someone to help me put appropriate chords for organ in it for me. On a copy, of course, as I NEVER write on original music. Writing in books and on music is practically a sin in my mind.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER, Wherever You Are To-Night</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Remember your promise to Mother</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>That you made her when you went away.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>And the letters you promised to write her</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>As she kissed you good bye that day.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>But the time has gone by</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>There are tears in her eyes</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>You have broken your promise to write.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Oh have you forgotten your Mother</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Back at Home Sweet Home tonight?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Where ever you are tonight</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Just think how she'd love to see you</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>As she wonders why you never write,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>For she will not always be with you</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Back where the home fires burn bright.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>But as long as she lives you are welcome</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Back at Home Sweet Home tonight.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>No matter whatever befalls you</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>And your promise to Mother untrue,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>It will make no difference to Mother</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>She will be the same Mother to you.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>But there'll come a time but it may be too late</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>For the letters you promised to write,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>So just write a line to your Mother</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Back at Home Sweet Home tonight.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>etc. etc.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I feel very privileged to have so many old pieces of music. I have no idea what my kids will do with it all when I am gone, but for now it is in my care and I really do love going through it, reading the words and thinking about the time when it was written. It tells a history, just as family albums do, and old diaries. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>If you like reading these blogs, post a comment or just drop me a line at janice.major@iCloud. com and put "music" in the subject line. If you're looking for a piece of music, try me. And whatever you do, don't throw away old printed music! I heard some one was buying up old sheet music to make wrapping paper for gifts. I was horrified! Some of the old covers are so beautiful. Some indicate the dress mode of the times, and some have photos of long gone soloists, and some have pictures of whole bands. Sometimes there are artist credits, sometimes not. There is no signature on this particular piece, maybe the talented Mr. Harris drew it himself. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>With respect for the composer and thanks to my friend Joyce for donating it,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Janice Major</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Scarborugh, Maine</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-59480824545587111642014-06-14T15:02:00.000-07:002014-06-16T10:53:25.462-07:00<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Here it is, the middle of June already. We were supposed to have a big yard sale today to dispose of a lot of sheet music and old books we no longer were using but the weather forecast was for 'pop-up showers' so we cancelled - and wouldn't you know, it was pretty nice all day and didn't even drizzle in this part of the state. And that's they way life is, sometimes we make the right decisions and sometimes we don't. "Tomorrow", as Scarlett famously said, "is another day."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I came across a piece of sheet music in very good condition which was written 100 years ago, yes in 1914, called <span style="color: #351c75;">A HUNDRED YEARS FROM .</span><span style="color: #444444;"> I wish I had the capability of copying the cover page for you to see as it is a drawing of some of the "miracles" of that age: a zeppelin, some single engine prop planes, and a little bearded elfin character in the corner holding a spyglass peering skyward. You can, if you care to, put the title in your search engine and find pictures of it.</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">The song was written by Caddigan, Brennan and Story. Inside it says, " All rights for Mechanical Instruments reserved. International Copyright secured. Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year MCMX1V by O. E. Story at the Dept. Of Agriculture. It was also copyrighted in Boston Mass by Mr. Story. </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Back to the cover, in a circular inset there is a picture of a pixieish looking chap with a crown on his head, and it says "Featured by Tom Linden and Jungle Girls". I was unable to find any information about Mr. Linden or Jungle Girls, but he may have been the cover artist.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>JACK CADDIGAN was one of seven children born to Irish parents who were both Irish and immigrated from Canada to Boston's heavily populated South End. Originally he was an apprentice plumber, and then joined Boston Edison Co., successfully rising to the esteemed position of Assistant Vice-President in charge of advertising. He married Mary Manning and they raised seven children. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>His song writing career was mostly between 1914 and 1918 and quite naturally, were about the war.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>"The Rose of No Man's Land", "We're All GOing Calling on the Kaiser" and "Salvation Lassie of Mine" to name a few. He wrote rhyming, rhythmic, songs. SOme were sentimental, some novelties. Some waltzes, some ballads. He collaborated with Chick Story and James A. Brennan who wrote much of his music, and some with Jimmy McHugh. In his later live he directed minstrel shows and revues for civic groups.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>JAMES A. BRENNAN a Boston Mass native who attended Mass Normal Arts School and became a camouflage artist fort the U. S. Shipping Board during WWI. He was a songwriter for lyricists, notable Jack Caddigan. One of his more popular songs was "Little Red School House" which he wrote with Al Wilsonin 1922, originally sung by the American Quartet, and eventually sung by Brenda Lee (at age 10 with Red Foley) and Perry Como (at age 16). </i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>OLIVER "Chick" STORY was also a Massachusetts native. His father owned a grocery store and apparently it was a prosperous business. He was an only child, never married and lived with his father Chelsea. After his father's death he moved back to East Boston where they had previously lived. He was a Harvard graduate and remained an active alumnus, became involved in politics, and became as Mason.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>While at Harvard Story wrote several pieces of music, and collaborated with Peter (Happy) O'Neil for dozens of songs. They formed a publishing company together. O'Neil died at age 28 and Story opened his own company issuing more than 50 titles including many of his own. In1913 he began collaborating with Jack Caddigan . He was an accomplished piano player and vocalist, and formed a couple of different groups: The Chick Story Trio and Chick Story Serenaders. After closing his publishing firm he joined the offices of Feist Music. Even after his publishing days ended, he continued to list himself in directories as a musician and performed in amateur theatricals, clubs and restaurants performing "songs of yesteryear." </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>SO - ON WITH MY TITLE SONG OF TODAY;</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW (written and published in 1914)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Everyone today is going crazy</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Everyone today is going mad.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Each one is trying to do something decidedly new</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Just to get the rest in bad.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Every day they change the style of dancing,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Every day they change the style of dress,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Oh, Boys, what is it come to</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>That's a problem we will have to guess.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder what kind of a life they'll lead</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A hundred years from now?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder what's going to be the speed</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A hundred years from now.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The girlies are setting a pace today</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>That's turning the locks of gold to grey.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>We're living a life of constant alteration</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder if they'll have a tango dance</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A hundred years from now.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder if they'll wear short pants</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A hundred years from now.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>There's no solution </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>It's all evolution,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I sonder and wonder and wonder how much</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The girls are going to wear</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A hundred years from now.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Picture this town that once was just a pasture</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Picture the girls who roamed it years ago-</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>They were the wonderful kind you know, </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The kind I've in mind, </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The sort of girl the world calls slow.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Think of a girl today out in a meadow</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Raking the hay a la de da collette</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>No chance not in a thousand years</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The girls today are all for Cabaret.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder …………….A hundred years from now.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder what he would think if he came back for just one day, to his Boston haunts.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>I wonder "A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW" in 2114.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>For your entertainment and enlightenment, with thanks to Wikipedia and the wonderful composers and lyricists of long ago, and with thanks to the person who took care to preserve this old music.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>janice.major@iCloud.com</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-36552563910968525602014-06-07T21:31:00.002-07:002014-06-07T21:31:29.469-07:00DAISIES DON'T TELL <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What an amazing amount of music has been written and printed. Going back through the years I find the not only are the words simpler and more innocent, but the music is less complicated, more predictable in structure. You can anticipate where the tune is going, and while I cannot play without written music, I am not surprised most of the time with the path and pattern. I wish I could play the left hand as written but I have to rely on "fake" music, or music with the chords indicated above the melody. That's fine. I didn't begin this journey until rather late and am happy with what i can do. Well, no, I'm not. I just said I wished I could play the music and written, and that's the truth. But I know I don't have time enough to accomplish that so I am satisfied, if not happy. As my son said recently, contentment or satisfaction is a nice state of being but "happy" is for special events. I took some liberty with his words, but that's the gist of them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The song this week is a little on the naughty side, and doesn't make a lot of sense.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>While the words claim Harry got sued for "breach of promise" there is no expansion on that subject. The song was written in 1912 and the music composer was the publisher. It took two men to write the lyrics, Alfred Bryan and Sam M. Lewis.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Bryan was born in 1871 and died in 1958. He worked as an arranger in New York, and wrote for several Broadway shows in the 1900s. In the '20s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals. Among is hits which are more familiar than "Daisy" are: Peg o' My Heart, Come Josephine in My Flying Machine, I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be a Soldier (which sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and describes the American public's anti-war sentiments); We'll Be Together When the Clouds Roll By and Who Paid The Rent For Mrs. Rip Van Winkle?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Lewis, whose real name was Levine, was born in 1885 and died in 1959. His musical career began by singing in cafes in New York, and began writing songs in 1912. He collaborated with some of the well known songwriters of the time (many of those names appear on numerous sheet music copies over and over): Harry Warren, Walter Donaldson, Victor Young, Peter DeRose to name a few. He wrote for some Broadway productions and screen musicals. He was a charter member of ASCAP.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Some of his songs: Dinah, For All We Know, Gloomy Sunday (English version)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Has Anybody Seen My Gal, I'm Sitting On Top Of The World, Laugh, Clown, Laugh.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Some people buy sheet music to use the covers for wrapping paper. I am offended by that careless destruction of the really lovely artwork and interesting pictures of the celebrities. "Daisy" has (what else) a random bunch of yellow eyed daisies, really very attractive. In the corner there is an inset picture of Reine Davies, the vocalist who became known as "The New American Beauty" in the early 1900s. Her friends called her "The True Blue Girl". She was the oldest girl in the Douras family and when driving through Brooklyn one day saw the office sign of Valentine Davies, liked the name, adopted it. Her sisters followed by taking the name also. Marion Davies was one of her younger sisters.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Reine married twice: to George Lederer with whom she had a son, writer/director Charles Lederer; and a daughter,Josephine Rose. After her divorce in 1912 she married Goerge Regas, an actor. Reine died in 1938 in her swimming pool of a heart attack. Both children are also deceased. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>She is featured on many sheet music covers, always in elaborate dress of the times, wonderful fancy hats setting of her truly beautiful face. Some of her songs were Meet Me Tonight IN Dreamland, The Reine Waltz, When I Kissed Your Tears Away, Leaf By Leaf the Roses Fall to name a few. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Many of the songs named above are still available to listen to on the internet. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Always Take A Girl Named Daisy (Cause Daisies Won't Tell).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Handsome Harry, handsome Harry Thomas, He was sued yes, sued for breach of promise.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>He took Mary walking through the dell,and said, "Now don't you dare to tell,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mary went right home and told her mother,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Ma told P and Pa then told her brother.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Brother told the preacher and the preacher went and tolled the wedding bell ---</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Never take a walk with Mary, Never take a walk with Sue</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Never take a walk with Maud or Carrie,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>That's the kind of girl you'll have to marry.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>If you take a girl out walking, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Down a little shady dell</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Always take a girl named Daisy</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>'Cause Daisies don't tell.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Harry's married life was pure and simple,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Till he met a girlie with a dimple.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>She said "Dear, I'm not acquainted here, I just came down from Beaver Fall,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Harry went and said, why silk and satin</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>To this girl would be like Greek and Latin,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Harry felt like fainting when he missed his little dollar Ingersol -</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Never take a walk with Mary --etc. etc.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You can hear a recording of this typical vaudeville song on the internet. It's from an old cylinder machine so it's a little gritty. But it was quite an invention all the same.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You might also come across a visual and recording of an opera production done in 1903. It's not great, but near the end there is a picture of the equipment and the man recording the production. Even if you don't think the sound is great, I think you will agree that 1) it was a marvelous feat of technology and 2) it's amazing it is still in tact and playable. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Wouldn't it be great to find a few people who would put together a musical program singing and playing these long forgotten songs! Now where can I find a tenor, a baritone, a contralto and bluesy alto who would love to work for a song? Just another cockeyed notion.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Next weekend is the annual community yard sale event in which the Maine Music For LIFE Players is participating. Some of the 700 pieces of music I have been housing is going to go out for sale. But I am keeping those with special meaning, and those with beautiful covers - whether I can play them or not. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>jan major</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>janice.major@iCloud.com (please put MUSIC in the subject line.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Ack: Bing Search</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i> wikipedia </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-87938849408870204322014-06-01T07:22:00.001-07:002014-06-01T07:22:28.529-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>One of the nice things about sheet music is it usually has a verse, sometimes two, as well as he melody/refrain we are all familiar with. Today I was looking at a song called <span style="color: #38761d;">THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT. </span><span style="color: #444444;"> The credits are given to Jack Scholl, Bradford Browne, and Max Rich and Bibo-Lang, Inc. published it. I found very little information about any of these writer/composers.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">JACK SCHOLL was born in 1903 and died in 1988. He collaborated with Eubie Blake, a wonder pianist. Another of Scholl's songs might be familiar to you, "Throw Another Log On The Fire." </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>MAX RICH was born in 1897 and died in 1970</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>BRADFORD BROWNE - his bio was nonexistent. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Apparently the song, The Girl In The Little Green Hat was part of the production of "Mrs. Henderson Presents" which featured Judi Dench .</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Listen to the breezes in the tresses,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Harken to the grass upon the lawn, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Listen to the mices in the pantry,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Harken to the breaking of the dawn.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ooh! Ooh! Heavens above! Aah! Aah! I'm in love.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Harken to the breaking of the dawn.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a lake in the park, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a house by the lake,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a girl in the house in the park by the lake;</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And the girl in the house by the lake in the park, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Is THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And tonight after eight, that's when I've got a date</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>When the moon's riding high and the stars light the sky,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>With the girl in the house by the lake in the park, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's no water in the lake, there's no roof upon the house,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>No tresses in the park at all</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But she'll wait beside the lake, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'll be welcome at her house</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'll meet her by the garden wall.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a ship on the lake</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a sailor on the shore</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a girl in his arms,she's the girl I adore,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So goodbye to the house by the lake in the park</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a storm on the lake, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a ship in the storm</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There's a girl on the ship in the storm on the lake</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And the girl on the lake on the ship in the storm is</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>As the ship starts to dip, she is losing her grip,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ev'ry dip makes her tip, not the girl but the ship,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But the girl on the ship has the pip from the trip</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>She's been sailing quite enough, she's been clinging to the rail,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>She's dying to be home once more,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'Cause the lake is rather rough, And the girls is rather pale,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>She's glad to ger her feet on shore.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ah, she gave up the ship</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And the captain and his men</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>For a round ticket trip to my arms once again.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Now I'm back in the park at the house by the lake, </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>with THE GIRL WITH THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A lot of the music in the thirties was "fox trot-y" . (A lot more was 3/4 time)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I hope you'll go to your search engine and listen to this bouncy tune. The words are kind of silly, but we had been through WWI and the depression, were not yet envisioning WWII. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Scholl and Schenck (pronounced Shank" were engaged to perform for Florenz Ziegfeld and Charles B. Dillingham when their original entertainment, a "trained but temperamental" chimpanzee failed to show up. Following that they were featured in Zeigfeld shows. They were well know and successful recording artists with such songs as "Hawaiian Sunshine", "Yaddie Kaddie Kiddie Koo", For Me And My Gal" and "Dance And Grow Thin". The wrote and performed a lot of their own music including "Mulberry Rose", "The Red Headed Gal", Promise Me Everything, Never Get Anything". </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>After Schenck died Sholl worked solo in vaudeville and radio; was on Broadway in a musical comedy with W. C. Fields. He did some movie work, and eventually starred in "Gus Van's Garden Party" which was a ten minute comedy He was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Gus Van died injuries after being struck by a car. </b></span><br />
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-49954563538933944072014-05-21T14:50:00.001-07:002014-05-22T19:21:25.148-07:00THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED<b><i>What wonderful music they used to write, those old lyricists and melody makers. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>People who knit have skeins of yarn in boxes, bags, closets and even whole rooms full. People who collect stamps carefully wear gloves and keep them in little plastic covers lest any dust or human contaminants find them. People who collect coins do the same, with tweezers, in fact. There are collectors who collect all different things; and there are collectors who collect all things. Those poor people find them selves buried in oddments that eventually become trash. I am not quite that afflicted, but I admit to being a collector. I have collected butter knives; small china animals, coins and currency. My focus is on music now, of course, and I have just been blessed (or cursed) with a whole new stash. And this is how it came about: A man went to a flea market and saw a big lot of music which he bought for his wife, a piano teacher. She went through it and took out what she could use. put an ad in a wonderful little booklet published every month with stuff people want to get rid of. </i></b><b><i>I happened on that booklet, and I then drove to Woolwich, Maine, about an hour away, and took it off their hands. It had been stored in a shed all winter and some of it was damp and moldy and beyond rescue. Most was at least slightly tainted with the mold, but I am working to abate that. So for the next few weeks and maybe months I will be doing some "blogs" about some of music of another age, vocalists, composers, instrumentalists and lyricists. I'm having such fun I just have to share.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>TITLE: FARE-THEE - WELL TO HARLEM, music by Bernie Hanighen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, "featured" by Leon Belasco. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>BERNIE HANIGHEN was born in 1908 and died in 1976. His first hit was "When A Man Loves A Woman" which he wrote with Gordon Jenkins, the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer. He continued to write, sometimes with Mercer, sometimes with "Cootie" Williams or Thelonious Monk. His music written with Monk was reasonably successful. Hanighen wrote for Broadway shows. Being a supporter of Billie Holiday, he put together some material for her (most of the best material was being given to the white vocalists at that time) and eventually wrote a song with Paul Coates titled "If the Moon Turns Green" in 1952 which was a success. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>JOHNNY MERCER was truly a wordsmith in the music world. His name appears on the covers of more songs than I would have ever imagined. I am of the opinion that to get him to write lyrics for your composition would have been a "big deal." Mercer was born in 1909, in Georgia and died in Los Angeles in 1976, of a brain cancer. He started out as a singer for Paul Whiteman and began writing songs for movies around 1935. He had a few parts in musicals but his fame is really his ability to write the words to fit the music. His biography is lengthy and interesting but I will only use the bare facts for economy of space. He co-founded Capitol Records, sold it, paid off his father's debts from a Florida real estate bust, and founded Cowboy Records in 1942. Some of his familiar tunes are Skylark, One For My Baby, "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Charade". You will note </i></b><br />
<b><i>Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem is not among his "best known" songs. (Which is precisely why I chose it. Anyone can talk about the best known music of the ages, I want to talk about the ones of which we might never have heard.) </i></b><br />
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<b><i>LEON BELASCO was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1902 and died in 1988. His birth name was Leonid Simeonovich Berladsky. He attended St. Joseph College inYokohama, Japan; trained as a musician in Japan and Manchuria and for several years was first violinist with the Tokyo Symphony. His family moved to Hollywood and he found work occasionally in films including the silent film "The Best People". He continued to play violin, and formed a band which performed in hotels around New York City. The Andrews Sisters were introduced through his band. Returning to Hollywood on an engagement break, he got a part in "Broadway Serenade" and "Topper Takes a Trip" and subsequently appeared in 13 other films including the Marx Brothers last film together, "Love Happy" in 1949. His Russian language got him a job as dialect director in the 1966 comedy "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming." He got comic roles as a befuddled character, was in a cold war espionage film, and a thief in Man Called X. (I loved that program with Herbert Marshall). In "My Sister Eileen" he was Appopopious the landlord. He appeared in Man from U.N.C.LE., Beverly Hillbillies, Trapper John, My Three Sons, I Love Love Lucy and many other sitcoms. If you watched any of them and you can recall the foreign-appearing dark man playing a small role, you may</i></b><b><i>be saying, "Oh, I remember him! He was so funny."</i></b><br />
<b><i>He died in Orange, CA and according to his wishes was cremated and his ashes were scattered.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>FARE-THEE-WELL TO HARLEM</i></b><br />
<b><i>Mister Jackson you sho'look cute, - You must have on your trav'lin' suit. </i></b><br />
<b><i>It looks as if you're really gonna go somewhere.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Mister Budly, yo' spoke a book. Yo' just got time for one more look,</i></b><br />
<b><i>'Cause Mister Jackson is leaving you for fair - for fair - for --</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Fare-thee-well to Harlem! Fare-thee-well to night life!</i></b><br />
<b><i>Goin' back where I can lead the right life.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Fare-thee-well to Harlem.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Things is tight in Harlem.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I know how to fix it,</i></b><br />
<b><i> Step aside, I'm gonna Mason Dix it.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Fare-thee-well to Harlem!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Lately here my soul is reaching' for the Bible's kinldy teaching.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Wants To hear the Rev'ren' preachin'</i></b><br />
<b><i>"Love each other!" Wants to hear the organ playin'</i></b><br />
<b><i>Wants to hear the folks a-prayin' "</i></b><br />
<b><i>There's a voice within me saying'</i></b><br />
<b><i>"Ease off, brother!"</i></b><br />
<b><i>So, Fare-thee-well to Harlem</i></b><br />
<b><i>All this sin is "fright-eous!"</i></b><br />
<b><i>Goin' back where every body's right-eous. </i></b><br />
<b><i>Fare-thee well to Harlem!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>It has been said that music, specifically lyrics, reflect the times. I leave it to you to draw your conclusions about Harlem, circa 1934.</i></b><br />
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Submitted for your enjoyment<br />
Jan Major<br />
jmajor2@maine.rr.com<br />
Comments appreciated.<br />
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<b><i><br /></i></b>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-54758042343440510872013-02-20T11:56:00.000-08:002013-02-20T11:56:00.132-08:00Let it SNOW<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>I was working it another direction for a blog and allowed myself to make it so complicated I have sidelined it for another time. Since it is winter, and SNOW is the topic of the times - yes, Portland, Maine got a record 39.1" (but they knew exactly what needed to be done, and did it!), I am looking at CLARENCE EUGENE SNOW, aka: Hank, born in Brooklynn, NS, Canada in May of 1914.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Hank was the 5th of 6 children in the family. The first two babies died while still in infancy. These were hard times for the Snow family. Father George was a lumber mill worker, frequently absent from the home. Mother, Marie Alice took in laundry and did cleaning for wealthier families.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>She was an accomplished piano player and singer who performed in local theaters during silent films and at minstrel shows. The Snow family was separated when the parents divorced. The Overseer of the Poor in his or her wisdom deemed the children should be taken from Marie. One of the girls moved in with an aunt, the two other girls were sent to separate foster homes, and Clarence went to live with his father's mother, where he was admonished to "never speak his mother's name again."</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Grandma was an abusive woman both physically and psychologically, and attempted to have him sent to reform school. Maria was living in Liverpool (Canada not England) so Clarence began to sneak visits with her and eventually moved in with her.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Now, Marie remarried a local fisherman. He was jealous of Clarence and thus began the beatings and abuse again. Clarence was now known as Jack, a frail, 80- pound 12-year old whose bully step-father once raged at him, "Why in hell don't you get out and find a job somewhere?" </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Jack's mother ordered a Hawaiian steel guitar which she saw in a magazine, which came with 12 free lessons and some 78rpm gramophone records. This was HER prized possession, and Jack was not allowed to touch it. But when the time came that she finally allowed him to use it, she was awed by the way he took to it, and mastered it. She even allowed him to play for her to sing along. Once word got around about his music, he was busy nearly every night playing somewhere. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Going on 13, Jack ran away from home and joined a fishing schooner crew as a flunky. No wages, just living aboard and serving. He was allowed to cut cod tongues, and fish from the deck. Those fish and tongues he could sell on shore for himself. He earned $58 with which he purchased a guitar and a chord book and began to practice. He had heard Veron Dalhart and Carson Robinson on the radio while on shipboard and recalled later, "These songs gave me a great lift." He admitted trying to sound just like them. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>In August of 1930 the schooner he was sailing on encountered a "ferocious" storm and got blown off course toward the Sable Island - "Graveyard of the Atlantic". Snow wrote "....the Good Lord reached out His Hand and changed the wind. Saved by the Grace of God!" Snow later learned six other ships had been lost that day and 132 men had drowned. Thus ended his seafaring career.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Snow went back to live with his mother and stepfather, contributing to the family expenses by peddling fish and taking work as available driving a horse and buggy to and from the train station, unloading ships of coal and ice, raking scallops, hauling loads of dried cod into a warehouse for processing and shipping. And reuniting with his father, he cut pulpwood and firewood on his farm in the town of Pleasantville NS.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Snow saw a catalog guitar for $12.95 which he longed to buy, but figured he could only get about $5 for his old one, which left him $7.95 short of the price. Along came a storeowner with a brand new car. He offered Snow $2 per wheel to paint yellow pinstripes on the wooden spokes of the wheels. (Pretty fancy!) Now Snow ordered the new guitar and with Jimmie Rodgers chord progressions for his goal, he began playing and singing in an old fish house where fishermen stored their gear.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>From there to a charity minstrel show in Bridgewater where he appeared with his face blackened with polish, eyes and mouth ringed with white, he played and sang "I Went To See My Gal Last</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Night" which was such a hit he got a standing ovation. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>In 1935 he married Minnie Blanch Aalders and together they had one son, Jimmy Rodgers Snow*. In 1936 after appearing on Halifax radio station CHNS, he signed with RCA Victor in Montreal, and was with them for 45 years. While doing a weekly CBC program, he became known as Hank, the Yodeling Ranger. He toured Canada until the late '40s when American radio stations began to play his recordings on country music shows. In 1945 Nashville called and the Snows moved. Hank began performing as "Hank Snow, the Singing Ranger and was invited to perform at Grand Ole Opry in 1950. Seven songs hit the country charts, the first in 1950 was "I'm Moving On", followed by "The Golden Rocket" and The Rhumba Boogie". Then came "I've Been Everywhere" which became a signature song. (that song was originally written by Austaian Geoff Mack, rewritten with American place names.)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>In 1954 Hank Snow persuaded Grand Ole Opry officials to allow young Elvis Presley be his opening act, and introduced Presley to Tom Parker. Snow and Parker formed a management team called Hank Snow Attractions and Presley was signed on. Later, many years after the partnership broke up, Hank Snow said, "I have worked with several managers over the years and have had respect for them all except one. Tom Parker was the most egotistical, obnoxious human being</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>I've ever had dealings with." Snow refused to accord Parker the title Colonel.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Hank Snow performed in glitzy suits studded with sequins, in all sorts of places, and became a naturalized American Citizen in 1958, but he never forgot his Canadian beginning. In 1968 he recorded an album, "My Nova Scotia Home". And that same year he performed for George Wallace's political campaign. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>An unschooled but talented song writer, Hank Snow was elected to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was voted Canada's top music performer ten times. In 1979 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, The Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame, and also the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>He published his autobiography in 1994 and later opened The Hank Snow Country Music Centre next to his ancestral home in Liverpool NS. A victim of child abuse, he established the Hank Snow International Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>In one of my several searches for information I found a small picture of the schooner Bluenose, which says Snow painted it on cardboard and won 1st prize at the Lunenberg Fisheries Exhibition. I couldn't find any other reference to his artistic ability.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Hank Snow died of heart failure in December 1999 at his Rainbow ranch in Madison TN, and is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, TN. Minnie died in May of 2003 in Madison, and is also buried at Spring Hill.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Hank Snow's song "Hello Love" was sung by Garrison Keillor to open each broadcast of his Prairie Home Companion radio show. It was Snow's seventh and final #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles in 1974. At nearly 60 years of age, Snow was the oldest artist at that time, to have a top song on the chart. That record was broken by Kenny Rogers after 26 years with "Buy Me A </i></b></span><br />
<b style="color: #351c75;"><i>Rose". </i></b><br />
<b style="color: #351c75;"><i><br /></i></b>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Hank Snow is an example of making a good life from a difficult beginning. It must have seemed to him at times in his early years that nothing would ever be right. He claims his mother was his constant support and encouraged him in his music, but a mother who allows a step-father to abuse her son doesn't seem very supportive to me. Among his other attributes he was obviously a forgiving and charitable man. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>*Jimmie Snow, who preached in a Nashville church to the country stars, resigned as pastor of the church and went on the road to preach in 2000. He has done an album of gospel music with Grand Ole Opry members.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Janice.major@iCloud.com</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>Comments and corrections welcomed.</i></b></span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Ref: Wikipedia</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;"><b><i> The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Charles)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-67274086685268777392013-01-18T11:35:00.002-08:002013-01-18T11:35:11.541-08:00GUY HOVIS," Ralna's Ex"It's a little hard for me to not take sides in a divorce. Try as I will not to, I often find myself assigning guilt. In the case of Ralna English an GUY HOVIS, they really did a great job keeping their personal life out of the public domain. They each chose not to speak ill of the other, to their credit, whether for the sake of their only daughter, or for their public personnae, or their job as the ideal couple on Lawrence Welk's Show I couldn't decide. It doesn't really matter and it's none of my business. <br />
<br />
Guy was born in Tupelo Mississippi in September of 1941. His father was one of the original Mississippi State Highway Patrol members and his mother was a secretary, mom, and according to Guy, "the best cook in the world." That's a nice tribute to be sure. He began, like so many successful musicians, singing in church at age five. And from then on he was asked to sing at weddings, parties, clubs and school productions. After high school he enrolled at Mississippi State University, choosing accounting for his career path. He also became a member of the R.O.T.C., making a commitment to serve a "hitch" eventually. But, with a degree in hand he went to work for a prestigious accounting firm until duty called.<br />
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With a rank of Lieutenant he served as an instructor in the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Viet Nam war was heating up and Hovis was sent to paratrooper school at Fort Benning Georgia. At some point he entered a talent show and won, and as a result became a performer and officer in charge of a six-week tour of U.S. Army bases, an assignment he really enjoyed.<br />
<br />
But, on mustering out, he re-entered college to study for his CPA exam. After one semester he left to reconsider his choice of career and headed for Hollywood. A friend told him to try to get into the nightclub "The Horn" where young aspiring musicians were known to get started. Guy got a real break when he was asked to appear on Art Linkletter's House Party. Although the time line is a little unclear to me, it was during this period that Guy and Ralna English met and married, and also that Guy and David Blaylock formed a duo called - not much imagination here - Guy and David.<br />
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Ralna became a regular on the Lawrence Welk Show and when Guy and David parted ways, she was instrumental in getting Guy into the Welk stable of vocalists. As a husband and wife team, I believe they became the darlings of the Welk fans. We all love a good romance.<br />
<br />
WE ARE NOW UP TO THE '70s. In 1977 Julia Hovis was born to everyone's delight. In 1982 the<br />
Welk Show was cancelled, but the cast continued to do live performances until 1988. I read the Hovis couple was in trouble, but Lawrence was against couple breaking up, so they continued together until 1984 when they officially divorced.<br />
<br />
In 1989 Guy returned to Mississippi to work for his long time friend, Trent Lott as State Office Director. He remained in that post until 2007. In 2005 Guy sang "Let the Eagle Soar", for George W. Bush's second inaugural. The song was written by John Ashcroft, U. S,. Attorney General,<br />
<br />
Guy married Sarah Lundy and they have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Mississippi. He still performs at the Welk Resort in Branson, and he and Ralna still do live performances (recently at the University of New Hampshire). <br />
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Guy Hovis starred in "Mississippi Rising" a fund raising effort after hurricane Katrina. He has earned many awards for his charitable works for the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Childhelp, USA. His work with the veterans and their families in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been widely acknowledged.<br />
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Ever the romantic I am among those who believe in forever after. But divorce happens. Much of America will always think of Guy when they hear Ralna; and Ralna when Guy's name comes up.<br />
This blogger wishes all long and musical lives.<br />
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<br />
janice.major@iCloud.com<br />
<br />
ref: Wikipedia<br />
Offiicial Hovis website<br />
Mississippi Musicians<br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-32578556863811450232012-12-29T21:11:00.001-08:002012-12-29T21:11:12.259-08:00Ralna English, Going Single<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>It's been a really long time since I posted a blog on any musician. A new computer has kept me struggling to find things, and it seems to me the format has changed. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>The Lawrence Welk Show produced a lot of good musicians. Maybe they would have been good musicians without Lawrence, but he certainly provided a broad showcase. The upside of that sort of opportunity is name face recognition and lot's of exposure. The downside, so says Ralna English, is that once you are a Welk performer, you are always a Welk performer. Not a direct quote, but close.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Ralna English was born In Texas in 1942. As a youngster of five she sang "Daddy's Little Girl" at Spur Texas High School. She said she remembered it clearly in a short dress with a sash, knees shaking and thinking, "Can they see my knees?" She formed her first band in junior high school called Ralna and The Ad-Libs and entertained around Texas. In a "Battle of the Bands" competion, she beat out Buddy Holly, who was also from Lubbock. </i></b></span><b style="color: #674ea7;"><i>She sang backup for a Waylon Jennings recording. After high school Ralna went to Texas Tech University, and participated in the Campus Revue at Six Flags Over Texas . Her career also included singing jingles for television ads. Clearly she was talented and headed for a career in vocal performance.</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Ralna moved to California in the late 1960's and became a club vocalist around the Lake Tahoe area. One biography says it was there that Welk's son saw her and suggested to his father that she get an audition. At that time she was singing at The Horn* in Santa Monica. It was there that she met her future husband Guy Hovis. (I'll do a separate blog on Guy. Ralna deserves one of her own.)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>In 1969 certainly was a life-changing year for Ralna. She and Guy Hovis got married. She was contacted by the Welk company, auditioned and was hired as a solo performer doing Christian standards, and other Welk styles. She persuaded Welk to bring her husband, Guy into the troupe and everyone fell in love with the beautiful couple who were so much in love there was no hiding it. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Ralna was drawn to jazz ala Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Morgana King, but that was not the Welk sound, nor was it Guy's.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Ralna was married to Hovis for about fourteen years. They have one daughter Julie. Neither discussed their differences in public. The most Ralna said was that they were totally compatible on stage, but in life they just couldn't handle being together. (Again, not a direct quote but close.)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>During the hard times, in 1980, Ralna was hospitalized for two weeks. Welk had her placed on a quiet floor where only a few doctors knew who she was. She was in a mental ward, it was night, and she she said that night changed her life. She said she prayed, and felt the comforting hand of Jesus and a love and assurance she could not describe. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>She had an opportunity to do some recording for Capitol Records, but when her manager went to the Welk people, the opportunity was lost. Ralna accepts that God has a plan for her and is guiding her. She considers herself very fortunate to have had a steady career in a fairly unsteady business. She does not live in the past, nor does she fret about what might have been. She and Guy, who remarried, have a compatible working relationship and have raised their daughter with equal responsibility. They continue to perform as a duo, traveling to clubs, colleges and theaters. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Larry Welk has said the Welk program did not do Ralna justice, that she was capable of doing a lot of songs that would not have been acceptable on the program. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Ralna says, "I have a feeling in five or ten years, I'll be sitting on a barstool in Phoenix some place with a trio, just singing jazz." (Will the Welk fans accept that?) "Some will," she says, "some won't."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Good luck, Ralna, may 2013 find you doing just that if that's what you want.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
*The Horn was also a launch pad for such stars as Jack Jones, Vikki Carr and Steve Martin<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Wikipedia; </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and other internet biographical sites for musicians</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">janice.major@iCloud.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Comments and corrections welcomed</span></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-55158325772236489782012-12-20T17:12:00.002-08:002012-12-20T17:12:35.558-08:00<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>This is the first blog I have done in a while and it is a little different in that it is more personal, not about a well known band or person. It is about what comes after a door closes.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>For about fourteen years (I should be playing a lot better than I am after all that time!) a group of "senior hobby organists" have met every week. We had in the past, several different teachers with different methods and ideas about technique ranging from the Lowrey EZ-Play method to straight piano method. From all of this, the program evolved into a short lesson each week from a really proficient mentor. We were meeting all this time in the Lowrey dealer's store. Recently, changes were brought about at the store and we really had no "home" there. So although the store is still in business, it without with rancor or ill will, that a business decision has been made to concentrate on piano sales primarily, and they will no longer support the Lowrey organ program. At a gathering of the people involved, by consensus it was decided to try meeting weekly and the only place we could consistently be is here at my home. SO, hereon for as long as it works, the fourteen or so members of the organ group will meet here at ten a.m. on Thursdays. We don't have a teacher,but we will work on our skills and help each other improve. There are a few who feel they are satisfied with where they are, but most would like step up their tempo, find chords more easily, sight read and read the base clef. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>We decided to choose a song from music arranged by a former teacher who wrote in a lot of double right hand notes, and some interesting left and right hand fills. A Foggy Day is a well recognized piece that doesn't have move very fast. It has a lot of minor chords and Mr. Miller wrote several passages with double notes. He wrote in all the chords, and identified them as in fake music giving us the opportunity to play either way. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>A little more about what we will be doing on Thursdays. We will decide on a song, as we did today, and go over it briefly to see if there are any cords or passages that will give us a problem. Someone will run through it by sight reading it, and then we will have it to work on for a week. Next week we will go over it, anyone who wants to will play it, tell us what they chose for sounds and rhythms, and anything else they want to say about it; i.e., they found it boring or beautiful, etc. The learning part of the meeting should take no more than an hour. Following that, we will have a "performance for friends" time during which people who choose to can play something they chose from their music stash, telling us what they are playing, and any other thing they want us to know like did they change sounds from the ones found built in the organs.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>I think this is a good way to go, and hope it will work as people get used to it. It's a little more organized than we have been used to, so if it doesn't appeal to people involved they will have a chance to express that opinion as time goes on. The important thing is, we don't want anyone to drop out because they are unhappy with the way things are going. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>One of the things we did today was explore "upper and lower drawbars" which change the sounds with almost limitless possibilities. It created a lot of interest so next time we will explore it a little more and I will have some information available from our good friend Dennis.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>Check back now and then to see what happens with our organ friends. Next blog will be about a personality. Which one? Well, I am not sure. I have several in mind. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>jmajor2@maine.rr.com</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i>Janice.Major@iCloud.com</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-72690392329705670172012-11-20T08:23:00.002-08:002012-11-20T08:23:21.021-08:00Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks<b><i>We Gather Together to Ask The Lord's Blessing ~</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not HIs own.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>In my old hymnal it is listed as a Folk Song from the Netherlands. Perhaps the early Dutch immigrants sang it on THEIR first Thanksgiving in this country. It is one of the most popular Christian songs for this season. But not the only one -</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME</i></b><br />
<b><i>...raise the song of harvest-time; all is safely gathered in, Ere theWinter storms begin, God, our Maker, doth provide.</i></b><br />
<b><i>And there is another one: SING TO THE LORD OF HARVEST</i></b><br />
<b><i>"....sing songs of love and praise; with joyful heart and voices, Your hallelujahs raise."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Clearly these early hymns of Thanksgiving were inspired by the bountiful harvests and safe keeping of seamen and those who came to America via ships. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>O GOD, BENEATH THY GUIDING HAND </i></b><br />
<b><i>"...our exiled fathers crossed the sea; and when they trod the wintry strand, with prayer and psalm they worshipped Thee."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>I wonder as I randomly compose this not very well thought out blog, if today's immigrants are composing psalms and verse of their thankfulness for having made it to this country, by sea or land, which gives them the chances make a new life - with GOD'S BLESSING.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Thanksgiving is an American Celebration. Have a happy one and say a .little prayer of thanks for your blessings, and another for the less fortunate to be provided for BENEATH GOD'S GUIDING HAND.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>jmajor</i></b><br />
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<b><i><br /></i></b>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-41227440890066950902012-10-29T21:46:00.000-07:002012-10-31T20:11:26.947-07:00Dennis and Jim do it againI have just spent a couple of days at the Falcetti Music Company's annual Fall Extravaganza. Falcetti Music is a family business in it's second generation of ownership. The elder Falcetti's came to the event as honored guests, and I am thinking as long as they live they will always do that. Sam shared with me that in his retirement he is now working with Roland Accordian students and has 60 of them. Sam is a small man (shorter than my 5'3") sharp and tidy, and he played his accordian for us during a social hour.<br />
Mrs. Falcetti (senioritis has caught me and I can't bring her first name to mind) is just as sharp and even shorter than Sam. With her carefully coiffed snow what hair and cheerful smile, she thanked everyone for coming and for supporting the company and told us she has nothing to do with the extravaganza anymore, that her boys, Tony and Michael do it all. But as I went to sign up for next year's event, there she was driving Michael crazy with directions to put the registrations in order and be sure the checks were attached to them, and that everyone had put in all the information. Michael looked at me and rolled his eyes and said patiently, "Yes, Mom. I have it all." She turned to me and said, "I've trained him well." and I agreed.<br />
<br />
After dinner Friday night, Jim Weider entertained us with a few stories and an hour or so of wonderful music. He opened with a tribute to Glenn Campbell which included about twelve of Campbell's best known songs. I guess I should have written down what he played because the only specific ones I can remember are Rhinestone Cowboy and Witchitaw Lineman He played the Carpenters' Sing, Sing a Song and invited everyone to joing in the "la-la la la-la chorus", and closed with one of his inspiring patriotic medleys. <br />
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Saturday morning we had breakfast, of course, and then a workshop with Dennis. He was supposed to give us a lesson in playing the Addams Family and Munster theme songs, but chose instead to talk to us about styling, expression and ways to make our music "bounce" . Dennis told us about his heart surgery last year and shared some of his usual humor about an event that was not at all funny and very nearly took his life. HE credits the skill of a doctor from Massachusetts, one of only six in the country who perform the surgery, for "super gluing" his heart back together after a post-op set back. It's not my place to give details, but I will tell you, it is a medical miracle,and maybe more than a little bit of the Hand of God, that we still have this remarkable performer with us.<br />
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After lunch on Saturday we had a second workshop with Jim Weider. I have been to Jim's workshops a few times and always find them to be worthwhile. He is organized and knows the organ inside out, in fact, he is now part of the "product development team" for Lowrey. And yes, they are still thinking up things to put in future "virtual orchestras." (Dennis says "It still looks like an organ to me!) Jim's workshop was on modifying pre-arranged rhythms to represent other band sounds. For instance, by modifying a Gospel rhythm and using piano sounds, you can get a great "bar room rinky-tink". Jim makes playing fun and interesting. Jim explains that "the little lady who played the hymns in church on Sunday spent Saturday night entertaining in the local saloon." <br />
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Saturday night dinner was some of the best roast beef I have ever eaten, at least since I left home. Of course, we don't go for the food, but there's no doubt, it doesn't discourage us to have such great meals. All through the meals and social times, student players provided background music. It was interesting to hear what others people were doing with their music. There were two organs on stage, the newest "Sterling" and the older Stardust, still a great organ. I got to play the Sterling and think I could get used to it, but another organ is not in my future. Dennis, a Falcetti salesman and I got together early Sunday morning for a personal, very detailed demonstration by Dennis, and a pretty aggressive pitch by Ron the salesman. Yes, if I had the money, I would have succumbed. Then Tony Falcetti, a handsome second generation family member, spent about ten minutes telling me how I could work it with a credit company which deals only in music sales. He also told me I could change my mind and buy at any time and the price he quoted would still be good, and he would send Ritchie Mitnick to my home to teach me to play, and Dennis would also come to my home to spend a day with me. Now, let me tell you, a day with Dennis almost sold me! But I kept seeing my kids looking at each other with disbelief, which kept me strong.<br />
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Saturday night Dennis did a concert for us with a medley of familiar oldies for us. Going from beautiful waltzes to clever two-steps, polkas and fox-trots, his favorite Hawaiian melodies and some Latin pieces with smooth transitions that you hardly notice until you realize you are hearing a different song. He played for more than 45 minutes. He told a few little side stories about his personal connections to the performers of yesteryear like Connie Francis, (he played for her first recording), Harry James, the Dorseys, Bert Kempfert and Lenny Dee. And a nice story about being with Rosa Rio just before her death. He also told us that shortly after his heart surgery, to fulfill a contract he had made before the event, he got the doctor to medicate him sufficiently to perform the organ music for a Phantom of The Opera DVD. He said he was so drugged, he had no pain, felt like a youngster, and all his music came back so that he was mentally "one note ahead at all times." And then he went home and crashed.<br />
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Following Dennis' concert Sam Falcetti, Ritchie Mitnick and a guitarist whose name I did not get, but I know he is from the Falcetti Music Company, played dance music.<br />
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Sunday a.m. Dennis was on again. He is amazing in his energy. He told me someone said he is a relic and the last thing he wants is to be performing past his time. To me and to others who love the music we grew up listening to, and are playing as amatuers, he is not a relic but a treasure. He confided in me that he fears looking old and not performing well and not realizing it. He has an amazing memory and no matter what is going on in his life, when he is on he "is on" all the way. He played Big Band music, beginning with Harry James sounds and going on with The Three Sons, The Dorseys, and such tunes as Sunrise Serenade, You Made Me Love You (which he told me last year is his favorite song), Twilight Time, and on and on. The Sterling "Virtual Orchestra" does sound amazingly like the solo instruments of those bands. And, of course, the talented Lowrey artists do get the best out of them. There are things I really like about the new organ (ooops! VO) that I think I would enjoy. Some new rhythms like a really lovely waltz with less "thump"; the piano and guitar rhythms which are far beyond what is in the Prestige; and a greater variety of solo instrument choices. But getting a bigger, newer fancier organ does not make one a better player. So .........<br />
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Ron and I both signed up for next year's event. God willing and barring any unforseen incidences, we will be there and so will Dennis and Jim. And my friends Joyce and Corliss, and The Falcetti's elder and younger, the couple celebrating their 54th anniversary and all the rest of the wonderful organ-izers.<br />
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If you have a chance to attend a music store event with Lowrey organ artists, please do take advantage of it.<br />
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Keep music in your life, share it with others, and encourage the young to find a place for it in their lives. IF I were younger and could take on a new challenge, it would be to get more kids into music. Instrumental, vocal, or appreciation - it lasts a lifetime.<br />
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<a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-32744285394350573352012-10-25T13:35:00.002-07:002012-10-25T13:35:26.728-07:00The "Rest of the Story" <strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">As promised, ~ the rest of the story. Steve Lawrence.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">I noticed it has been more than two weeks since I posted the bit about Eydie Gorme. There is something about age and time - the days go by much more quickly the older I get. As they say "...so little time, so much to do."</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">Sidney Liebowitz, who will be referred to as Steve Lawrence from here on, was born in 1935 in Brooklyn to Max, a Jewish cantor who also was a house painter, and Anna Gelb Liebowitz. He and his brother both sang in synagogue with their father. Steve once commented, "My parents were so poor they were thinking of moving in with Eydie's parents!" </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">When Steve's voice began to change he stopped singing for several years, but continued in music to play piano for his brother, Bernie. Early in the '50's Bernie was drafted which prompted Steve to take up singing again. </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">After several auditions for Godfrey's Talent Scouts (TV Show) he finally made it, and won. He prize was a weeks of appearances on Godfrey's show. Borrowing suits from friends, he performed and got the attention he was seeking form Syd Nathan of King Records (known mostly for its "race" recordings, R&B and "hillbilly" music). He recorded a very emotional "Poinciana" which became an instant hit. Steve still had high school to finish, so balancing it with scheduling gigs recording for Decca Records was a challenge. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">According to some accounts, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were introduced Bob Manning, who was a Dick Haymes sound-alike. Their paths crossed randomly for awhile, and they both made short music videos for the same company. One reference states Steve looked so young in these he could be singing at his own bar mitzvah. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">Then, as I wrote in my previous blog on Eydie, they were booked as individuals for the Steve Allen Tonight Show, and later as summer replacements for Steve Allen's own show. There are conflicting accounts of their ages, but all place Eydie at least five years Steve's senior. Yup, he married an older woman. And lucky for him because they became a great team. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">I probably should have done this duo as a double entry, but there seemed to be so much written about both I was a little stumped how to do them both justice. Now I am stumped again because from here on their lives are intertwined and I don't want to repeat what I have already written. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">The Lawrence/Gorme team charmed their audiences with an easy chatter between them, often becoming personal and sharp witted, but always affectionate, even if a bit bawdy. Their success as entertainers did not isolate them from tragedy. They had two sons, David (who is a composer) and Michael, who died suddenly in 1986 at the age of 23. Michael had a history of a slight arrhythmia but his ventricular fibrillation had not been caught. He was an assistant editor of a television show at the time. (A side note: they had performed and were in Atlanta at time their son's death. Frank Sinatra, hearing of it, sent his private plane to pick them so they could get to their other son who was in school.) </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">Following their son's death, Steve and Eydie took a year off with no professional public appearances. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">In the early 2000's they announced they would be cutting back on appearances, and began their "One More For The Road" tour in 2002. Eydie retired in 2009, but Steve (remember? he's still "just a kid")</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">is still touring as a single. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">In 1980 Lawrence appeared in The Blues Brothers as Maury Sline. ANd in He played Mark McCormick's father Sonny Daye in two episodes of Hardcastle and McCormick; and in 1999 was Morty Fine in The Nanny.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">He won awards for his performance of Sammy Glick in What Makes Sammy Run, and two Emmys for his contributions to Steve & Eydie celebrate Irving Berlin. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">As a couple, Steve and Eydie took the Las Vegas Entertainment Award for Musical Variety four times; and honored with life time achievement awards from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Ella Lifetime Axhievement Award from the Society of Singers, a non-profit which aids and counsels professional singers. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">Ihave to say, this is just a thumbnail of information on this very well known couple. They have been devoted to each other; they have experienced the ups and downs of life just like the rest of us and they have done it gracefully.</span></em></strong> <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">I am leaving tomorrow to spend a bit of time with other music lovers and I am going to go right now and practice "What DId I Have That I Don't Have?" on my Lowrey Prestige organ. No, I won't kill it by singing along. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;">SO, until Terpsichore (muse of song and dance) visits me again, keep a song in your heart, and share it with others. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"><a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a></span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ref: A Biographical Gide to the Great Jazxz and Pop SIngers , Fiedwald</span></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Wikipedia </span></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> The Big Band Almac</span></span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span></em></strong><br />
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-38271159963972537752012-10-10T11:16:00.000-07:002012-10-10T11:16:33.410-07:00Sephardi Jews<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>A little lesson in history: Sephardi Jews are, generally speaking, the result of the blending of Spanish and Portuguese Jews in the Iberian Peninsula before 1492. Descendants of these exiled people follow the Sephardic Halakha in their traditons, customs and religion. </em></strong></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">August 16, 1931, Edith Gormezano was born in the Bronx of New York City, the youngest of three children. Her father was a tailor from Sicily, her mother was from Turkey, and they were Sephardic Jews. By the age of three Edith had made her radio debut; in high school she sang with a band organized by her friend Ken Greengrass. After high school she took a job as a Spanish interpreter with Theatrical Supply Export Company while studying at City College night school. Her desire to continue a singing career led her back to Greengrass who agreed to become her manager. You would hardly go professional with the name Edith Gormezano no matter how proud you might be of your parents. Thus: Eydie Gorme.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">During her early career Eydie sang with Tommy Tucker in his touring band; then with Tex Beneke. She went solo 1952 recording a series of singles with Coral Record. Steve Allen, the host of the Tonight Show, which at the time only aired in New York, brought her in as regular guest. Steve Lawrence was a regular on the Tonight Show also.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The program went national in 1954 on NBC. Lawrence and Gorme made a single recording as a duo, "Make Yourself Comfortable" on one side and "I've Gotta Crow" on the flip.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(The latter from the hit musical Peter Pan)</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In 1956 Gorme got a job at the Copacabana Club in NY. She was now recording for ABC-Paramont ("Too Close for Comfort", "Mama, Teach Me To Dance", "Love Me Forever") . SHe had two LP"s in the Top 20: "Eydie Gorme" and Eydie Sings the Blues".</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In 1957 Steve Allen left the Tonight Show and was hosting a prime time series, Steve Allen Presents. Eydie and Steve, now married, took over as summer replacement hosts.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Eydie did not score another US hit (she did have a Top Ten hit in the UK, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" in 1962. But in 1963 she recorded "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" and not only hit the charts in the Top Ten, but earned a nomination for Grammy for "Best Female Vocal Performance. She continued to record, sometimes with Steve Lawrence, sometimes solo, and placed several more tunes in the high numbers on the charts. BUT - along came the British invasion. Like many performers of "easy listening" style music, her popularity faded.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Eydie teamed up with TRIO LOS PANCHOS, a Spanish language album. They recorded "Amor" amd "More Amor" both successful efforts. At the same time she began trying her hand, or more appropriately, her voice, at some show tunes: "Do I Hear A Waltz", "What Did I Have That I Don't Have", and "If He Walked Into My Life" which gave her another TopTen easy listening hit, and she earned her first solo award - Best Female Vocal Performer Grammy. (<span style="font-size: x-small;">what does a Grammy look like? I know what an Oscor looks like, it 's clearly a man. Is a Grammy and little old lady in a rocking chair? Just wondering.)</span></span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Meanwhile, Eydie and Steve Lawrence were working on their ambitions as a couple. Together they starred in "Golden Rainbow, which was a stage adaptation of Frank Sinatra's " A Hole In The Head", a movie which was first a Broadway play. They opened in February 1968 and ran until January of 1969. Into the 1970's Gorme and Lawrence were "out of the charts" in their careers. Music changed and their easy listening was not grabbing the attention of the young set. However, their reputations as entertainers kept them in the club scene. Gorme made a solo album, "It Was A Good TIme" and together they made "We Can Make It" which featured the Osmonds. Eydie made other Spanish language recordings with Danny Rivera, and Gorme and Lawrence had a TV special in 1975. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" was their tribute to Gershwin which won and Emmy Award. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I dropped in on my beloved sister-in-law Esther one day and caught her doing a little dance and singing along with Steve and Eydie's "Hallelulah". She told me it was her favorite song of all time. SHe said she heard it on the radio and called the station to see if she could get a recording. The told her they did not sell tapes, but would pass the request on. She got her tape, directly from Steve and Eydie. Unfortunately, she did not save the nice little note they put in it, but I have that tape. It's just a cheerful little piece that grows on you. Steve and Eydie recorded that under the name </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Parker and Penny." </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There's more to the Gorme Lawrence story. Check back in a week or so for the "rest of the story."</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Keep the music playing; hum along, whistle and dance if you can.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a></span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Ref: A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Sephardi Jews: Wikipedia</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> Yahoo Music & Wikipedia</span></em></strong><br />
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-87242784556333180242012-09-23T14:31:00.001-07:002012-10-31T20:15:33.095-07:00<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I suppose there should be a method for blogging about a subject. My son who does a daily blog on the saints chooses them by the day of celebration or feast. I have no system. SO, as I was thinking I had not written anything for a couple of weeks, I begain thinking. Dangerous! It occurred to me that most compositions are associated with specific artists. I like the tune "Dreamy Melody", a very nice waltz that brings back some nice memories. When my we were first married, in Florida, we used to go to an American Legion dance on Saturday nights. It was outdoors on a terrazzo pavilion, BYOB, set-ups on site. It was live music and near an after hours club called Rita's Lobo Lounge where we would get a nice late supper. Nice memories, but I have interjected too much personal history. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I listened to "Dreamy Melody" by several bands and decided Sammy Kaye and Guy Lombardo came close to what I remember from those warm southern nights. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Dreamy Melody" was the theme song for Marion McKay's band. McKay was a banjo player who "fronted" a band of nine pieces plus a couple of male vocalists. He began in Indiana in the early '20s and was one of the first bands to record with the "new" electrical recording system in Gennett's RIchmond (Indiana) studio. New equipment, inexperienced technicians and a band hardly known anywhere except in the mid-west failed to bring forth acceptable recordings and most were scrapped. The band did a few engagements in New York for a nightclub, according to Paul Weirick, one of McKay's trumpet players, but the band folded in the mid-thirties, and Mr. McKay give up the profession.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">None of my sources had anything to add about his life. Besides Weirick on trumpet, who seems to be the only one available to find when the "Big Band Almanac" was written, the band members faded into obscurity. I was unable to find any information on any of them. This being so brief, I'll toss in a "free-bee":</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Meyer Davis was born in Maryland in 1893 (d. in NY in 1976).</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He was not the usual "band leader". He formed a band in 1915, one of the first dance bands organized. It got busy, so he formed another - and another - and another. He became the "leader of a string of bands" known as Meyer Davis Units, and played the Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston society scene for many years. HIs only real rival was Lester Lanin. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As busy as Davis became with his booking bands, he continued to record and as late as 1961 made an album called "Meyer Davis Plays the Twist". And in 1973 recorded "Meyer Davis Plays ColePorter". </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here's a modest quote from himself: "What we provide is an atmosphere...of orchestrated pulse which works on people in a subliminal way. Under its influence I've seen shy debs and severe dowagers kick off their shoes and raise some wholesome hell."</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Good for you, Meyer Davis.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Keep the music playing and remember to share the joy.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a></span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></em></strong><br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-53711223930424153062012-09-07T09:19:00.001-07:002012-09-07T09:23:45.007-07:00How BIG is BIG<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">We talk a lot about the BIG BAND ERA and BIG BANDS and if you are "pretty old" you are talking about a band that has between 9 and 17 pieces. If you're REALLY old, you might remember there were bands with as many as 25 pieces. Paul Whiteman, for instance, had 23 pieces, plus himself and two vocalists. Although, earlier he had only nine pieces including himself. They usually played straight JAZZ which included strings - sweet romantic dance music with very little improvisation. Think, Ted Lewis, Nat Shilkret, Vince Lopez, Sam Lanin, Fred Waring, Shep Fields, etc. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> What is considered "authentic jazz" emerged in the late '20's to early '30's. It wasn't good for dancing but recordings (race records) were popular with the urban fans. A limited number of white musicians moved into it. Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael being a few. It must have been a nightmare for arrangers whose talent was making sure every arrangement was well arranged! Now there were good instrumentalists who wanted no restrictions for their eight bars. And those eight bars had to be fit in artistically and smoothly so the rest of the band understood it's place. Drummers like Gene Krupa would never have gotten the opportunity to showcase their fiercely energetic "breaks" before this time. These bands were the cradles of such greats as Artie Shaw, the Dorsey brothers and many others whose names we all recognize. Louis Armstrong was a star in Luis Russell's band. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">SWING began in the '20's but didn't become really popular until the mid to late '30's. It was 4/4 time, played quite literally, but every band leader created his own style according to his own taste. Bob Crosby played Dixie; Duke Ellington had a sophisticated style.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">And band leaders often did their own arranging using their own instrumental talents as soloist-in-chief.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw on clarinet; Jack Teagarden with his smooth trombone; Harry James on trumpet; Gene Krupa on drums; or Lionel Hampton (a favorite of mine) with his vibes. This also brought forth some fine vocalists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday and Jimmy Rushing. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">The "society bands" of the day (Paul Whiteman, Guy Lombardo, the Lanins) used fewer soloists in their more carefully constructed arrangements that were primarily for dancing and listening at weddings and parties. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Once radio stations began broadcasting live shows, in studios and in clubs and shows, big band music really became popular with both older and younger generations. And then came WWII and BEBOP, but that's another story. Earl "Fatha" Hines and Billy Eckstein both led BEBOP bands, followed after the war, with Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Into the '40's and the war in Europe, Big Bands toured the war zones to entertain the troops. It was hugely uplifting to the battle front men and women to have a Big Band and all it's entourage come into their dismal surroundings. Some bands joined the services en masse; many men were drafted, many volunteered to have a better chance at the service of their choice. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">For every up there is a down; and the downside of being a musician in those days (before these behemoths with every creature comfort and room for the wife and kids) which carry the bands around today) life was hard and hectic. Side men, except for soloists, made little money. One night performances, all night travel led to alcohol and drug addiction. Long periods away from family led to discontented spouses. Having gotten used to being adored on the road, and believing all the hype about their good looks and beauty did not always play well at home. Hence, separation and divorce and sometimes bigamy, became more and more common.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Not to leave this blog with a "downbeat", the music of the Big Bands is still popular, even with today's younger music lovers. Some of my grandkids actually like it enough to down-load it on their gadgets. Some young bands, there is a local one here in the Portland area, even bill themselves as "big bands" although they only have a few pieces and play a variety of genres not in any way resembling "Big Band Music." But they have big ideas of what they can become as a group, and kudos to them for doing what they love and making a go of it. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">This chart below shows what the standard 17-piece band of looked like. (Except I cannot draw in the instruments, you'll have to use your imagination.)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> ( D ) </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> ( II ) ( I ) ( III ) ( IV )</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> (guit)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">(piano) (II ) (I ) (III ) (IV )</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> (guit ) ( I ) ( I ) (II ) ( II) ( )</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">The above show the seating in a typical big band jazz ensemble of 17 pieces. D=drums;percussion inst.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> Back Row: 1st trumpet (sometimes doubling on piccolo trumpet) 2nd trumpet (also fllugelhorn) 4 trombones (sometimes IV is bass)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> There are two guitars; before electronics they were strummers in the percussion section. They play a more melodic part now, one is electric, the other bass. Both now use amps. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">The front row Saxophones: 1st Tenor; 1st Alto; 2nd Alto; 2nd Tnor and Baritone. Both tenors and altos sometimes double on soprano sax, clarinet, flute, oboe. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Irving Aaronson And His Commandos had 23 pieces in the mid-twenties. His theme song, by the way, was "Commanderism" and he recorded on Edison, Victor, Vocalion and Columbia. He turned out some of the best known soloists ever such as Tony Pastor, Artie Shaw and Gene Krupa, Nat Shilkret and Jack Armstrong. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Just touching this "r-r-r-e-e-al-l-ly big subject" is all I have done. But I think you'll be glad to hear me say .......</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">In closing, have a nice day and keep the music playing.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">jan major</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Re: Big Band Almanc </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> Wikipedia</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"> Big Band Historic Magazne </span></strong>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-54843629188657940842012-08-24T09:32:00.002-07:002012-08-25T10:54:59.017-07:00Stepping Back in Time<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got off to a poor start this morning, having accidentally deleted a number of past blogs accidentally. Not that they were important in content, but now I have no reference to see if I have covered a subject. You may not know the story of my stash of sheet music. I have about 300 pieces, plus several old books. The Portland newspaper used to have a column called "Clearing House" which was a wonderful way to let others know if you needed or wanted something, and also to let people know if you had something to give away. I put an item in that column saying I would like old sheet music. I never dreamed how much was stashed in "mother's trunk" in attics and garages. It came to me by the box-full. I have given away much of the really difficult piano pieces to accomplished musicians, but I have kept over 300 pieces. Plus several old "collection books."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">I have on my desk, among a clutter of other books and papers, a book which says:</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> Favorits of Mother and Dad</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> Edward B. Marks Collection of Old Time Hits</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> of the Gay Eightiesand Nineties</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> for Home ~ Community ~ Song Fest ~ Dances</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> the price is 74 cs. Edward R. Marks Music Corporation</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> RCA Building - radio City</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> New York</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Made in U.S.A.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">At the top of each song there are a few words about the composer or performer. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Jennie Linsay wrote "Always Take Mother's Advice" Jennie was a popular music hall performer and composer. She wrote the ballad in 1884. this was known as a "motto" song, a style which was popular at the time.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">An Englishman named Harry Dacre wrote "A Bicycle Built for Two" which has become a standard favorite at sing-alongs in nursing homes and senior facilities. He also wrote "As Your Hair Grows Whiter" which is a short poem of devotion.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">The next song is "The Boston Burglar" written by M J. Fitzpatrick. I tried to find out whether this was a fiction or fact ballad to no avail. The lyrics tell the story of a man who, in spite of a good family background and a maiden at home, fell into bad company and ended up in the "pen-i-ten-tai-ry" in Charleston, Mass. But, he is vowing to go straight when he has servedhis twenty years!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">"Daisies Won't Tell" is another brief poem set to music in Waltz time, writtenby Anita Owen. There is a great biography of Anita on the internet. She worte dozens of songs, many of them about flowers including "Daisies Could Tell" "Only a Bunch of Daisies" "Only a Rose Bud" "Only a Bunch of Violets" "Just a Chain of Daisies"</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">"Pretty Pansies" "When The Dew Is On The Rose". But not all of her songs were about flowers. She wrote and sold her first song at age 15, sold it for $5. Anita Owen was born in 1874 and died in 1932 after a "brief illness of pneumonia." </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">"Everybody Works But Father" is a tongue in cheek piece by Samuel Lehman. who wrote for Broadway in the early 1900's. It iwas among the first written about "fathers" and came originally from England, according to the information I was able find. "...It keeps the old man very busy steering clear of work...." cute song.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">A team of Braisted and Carter (who also used Berdan &; Redcliffe) were grads of Yale selling advertising to a music publisher. They overheard a man (James Thornton) making a deal with the publisher for $50 for a mnauscript. Impressed, they set about writing several songs that became popular in 1880's. And their first "Bred in Old Kentucky" was a hit. Strangely, in this publication of Marks, only the first page of this song is included. Marks chose "The Girl I Loved In Sunny Tennessee" and mentioned "Whispre Your Mother's Name" and "You're Not The Only Pebble On The Beach." </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">According to the notes on this next piece, (remember this publication is dated 1932) "one cannot go to the movies today wihout seeing a newsreel in which there is usually a horse race. During the race the orchestra inevitably plays George Rosey's "Handicap March" probably the best-liked fast march in the world. I wanted to listen to it, but never got to a site that had an audio version. Unfortunately, the connotation today mostly refers to handicapped people and the marches for their benefit. A perfect example of how vernacular changes with the time and circumstances.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Anna Held, who was Florenz Ziegfeld's wife for a time, sang "It's Delightful to be Married!" V. Scotto wrote the music and she the lyrics. It's a cute optimistic young-love song. "I will be your loving husband, your will be my loving wife." So much for that; they didn't stay married very long.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">In the minstrel days, Ren Shields and George "Honeyboy" Evans were a celebrated pair. They wrote "In The Good Old Summertime" and the song was introduced in 1902 by Blanche Ring in the musical comedy "The Defender." Amazingly it is still a favorite at all sing-along events in nursing homes and senior centers and probably always will be. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Ballads of undying love seem a little outdated now with our dismal record of divorce in America. A collaboration between Sylvester Maguire and Alfred Solman produced an enormously popoular song in 1908 called "If I Had A Thousand Lives to Live" and of course, the vow was "...I'd live them all for you." It's written in an unusual 12/8 time.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">A little good advice from Dave Marion is "It's Not What You Were, It's What You Are To-Day". Never tell them what you were once upon a time - Don't speak of thousands that you had when you were in your prime." It refers to money - not girl friends! Dave Marion was a BIG burlesque figure when that style of entertainment was in it's prime. He toured with his own troupe and created "Snuffy, the Cab Driver", a very popular comedic character. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Helene Mora was a female baritone. She wrote the song "Kathleen" and was known for creating great harmony in her music. "Kathleen" was a popular quartette piece even even before "Sweet Adeline." </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">"Mid shady lane and meadow green, I long to roam with sweet Kathleen." Mora copyrighted her song in 1894 but Marks, who was the third copyrighter, did so in 1932. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">In 1917 Gilbert and Friedland wrote what is considered the "original nut song". The legend has it that it was written originally to be a serious love song but became a favorite in its day. "Be my Lily, I'll be your Forget-me-not."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">A team of Charles R.McCarron and Carey Morgan, who was in the Navy, wrote a "nut song" called "OH HELEN!" It is a stuttering song, which gave comics a wonderful piece of material. Sadly, McCarron died young, and just as his career was getting established. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"> "The Little Lost Child" (dedicated to Miss Minnie Schult), was written by Jos. W. Stern and Edw. B. Marks. They were two travelling men who met in a small country town. It sold a million copies. It established the Edward B. Marks Music Co. (which had formerly been Stern & Co.) in 1894. In their 34 years of business they copyrighted (?) 10,771 pieces of music. This song was the first ever to be produced with illustrated slides.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">A collaboration of three men created "My Own Iona" (moi-One0Inoae) which is a Hawaiian song, but never mentions Honolulu or Waikiki.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">But it does mention Mauna Loa---"...My ukelele played the Mauna Loa gayly..."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Gilbert and Friedland wrote a number pieces together. You know, they wrote the "nut" song I mentioned earlier. "My Sweet Adair" is in this collection; they also wrote "Romona", "Shades of Night", "My Little Dream Girl", "Hawaiian Sunshine" and ----"Waiting for the Robert E. Lee." "..Adair, my sweet Adair - I dare you to be mine."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">An incident in a restaurant during which a rude customer was rebuked by a spunky waitress prompted Marks and Stern to write "My Mother Was A Lady". It was realll only half a song, so they finished it off with </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">"My Hannah Lady" which changes the tempo from a Waltz to a Fox Trot for the ending. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Moth And The Flame was the name of a theater production in the early 1900's. It starred Effie Shannon and Herbert Kelsey and inspired a song by the same name. It's a waltz which tells of a moth (maid ) who fluttered too close to a flame (man with bad heart) to her shame. But she "flutter'd away just in time, so they say, that's the tale of the moth and the flame." </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">John Stromberg, musical director at Weber and Fields Music Hall, wrote "My Best Girl's A New Yorker." It's short and bouncy (although 3/4 time) and became one of those many "singable" songs of the early 20th Century. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">As did "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" written by Will Handy who was actually Bob Cole of Cole and Johnson. But "Ramble" fell into the genre of "low down" songs. Bob Cole also collaborated with James Weldon Johnson to write "Under The BambooTree". Johnson was a statesman, "man of letters", an authority on spiritual and Negro art. And obviously, adept at creating music. "Bamboo" was copyrighted in 1902, but the right was later assigned to Marks. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Banks Winter wrote a song titled White Wings in 1884. It is a simple,short song. I'm not sure what the meaning is, but the Young Women's Christian Association adopted it as their official song. I was once a member of that organizaiton and do not recall ever hearing it.Certainly never sang it!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">M. H. Rosenfeld copyrighted a song in 1888 called "With All Her Faults I Love Her Still." There are few other words in the song, but then with those lyrics, little else needs to be said. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">The last song in Marks' collection is "Where the Sunset Turns The Ocean's Blue To Gold". Eva Fern Buckner wrote the poem, and H. W. Petrie put them to music. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">I don't know where Eva watched the sunset turn the ocean's blue to gold, but I have seen it from Maine, Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">It doesn't really matter what ocean it's a beautiful end to a day. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">The incomparable music of the old masters, Bach, Chopin, Haydn - whatever you enjoy - are lovely listening pieces. But lyrics tell more of a story the mores of the times. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">No matter what you like, keep enjoying it. And if you happen on an old piece of music, frayed and well worn treat it kindly please. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;"><a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a></span></em><br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-1355542553459676412012-08-19T21:17:00.003-07:002012-08-19T21:17:59.741-07:00<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">It's very encouraging to check and see that you are looking for my latest blog. SORRY! I'm working on it. Not that it's going to be spectacular or anything, but as usual, I got very distracted as I did some reading on the subject of ~~~~ well, soon I will post what I hope will be a worthwhile read.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Remember, "Good things come to those who wait - patiently." </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="mailto:jmajor2@maine.rr.com">jmajor2@maine.rr.com</a> </span></em></strong>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-62800370286521136262010-12-20T17:15:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:19:09.668-08:00December 19, 2010<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am not going to "create" a blog this week. I ask you all who are interested to go to: The True Story of Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer.<br /><br />This is a nice Christmas story. I wish I could take credit for coming up with it. <br /><br />I'll try to do something original next time. <br /><br />HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PEACEFUL 2010.<br /><br /><br />janice<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-16335436923600899912010-11-24T10:19:00.000-08:002010-11-27T16:57:15.594-08:00My Friends ~<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Because this is Thanksgiving week I am not going to look beyond my backyard for wonderful musicians. I am, instead, going to tell you about the ones I personally know right here locally. The names I am using are not "real names" as I have not asked for permission from my friends.<br /><br />Sam, a funny, talented man who was a Marine Band trumpet player. He plays upbeat happy music and adds a lot of improv ala trumpet style. He can sit and play from memory, or read music. He has a wife and extended family and like most of us, they come first.<br /><br />Avis, like many of us, a widow who began taking lessons from a pro, but when she heard of the Lowrey program, she changed over. She is dedicated to keep improving, likes a challenge in her choice of music. She is unassuming and genteel and her music reflects her beautiful personality.<br /><br />Gloria, a former dancer, puts energy into her music with pedals, and chooses a lot pieces which have a strong beat. Her choice of music is, to me, quite opposite of her quiet demeanor. She was thrilled - yes, she really was - to be able to upgrade her instrument. She holds a full time job and still makes time for us one day a week. A valuable message to people who "think" they don't have time to put into music. Or some other hobby they would enjoy.<br /><br />From time to time, being a group of seniors, we lose someone very dear to us. There was Susan. She loved organ. She would select a song, work on sounds and chords on an organ which, while high end in its day, was old and "different" from the current models. She seldom complained that she couldn't get the sounds she wanted. She was a willing contributor to events and could be the life of the party at lunch. She came in one day and announced that she had cancer, and would fight it and beat it. But, alas, it was not to be. To the end, she felt "Thy will be done ----". Once she said,<br />"I said, 'if there is a plan to this, God, I am not getting it.'" It was so typical of her. She had a good marriage and a loving family. She also had a loving group of music friends. We don't forget.<br /><br />There is Carl. Carl has health issues but in spite of them, he is a vital part of our group. Always willing to help, goes the limit to make things work, loves his music especially country. This man bought an organ some time ago. When we needed an organ to take around to outside venues to play, he bought a cargo van, adapted his car to haul it, put handles and wheels on the organ, took off the pedals so they wouldn't get broken, and willingly totes it around in good weather so we can entertain others. This is a very special man. <br /><br />Look at Ruby. She has never had music, loves it. Came in to the program at the beginning and has made steady improvement. But - she is never happy with her progress so she is always talking of "starting over again." She plays with her whole body, heart and soul, and tries to hard to get perfect sounds. Unfortunately, most of us have different organs than the one at the studio where we have "playing for friends". Ruby, most of all, laments the difference between her instrument and the studio model. She is determined, a bit dramatic and comedic which adds another dimension to our group.<br /><br />Paul has the smallest Lowrey organ of all of us. How he gets the beautiful arrangements and emotional nuances into his music is a mystery to me, but it proves that even a small organ can be used as a practice instrument. Paul drives an hour or more to come to our Thursday "class" and "playing for friends". He is an asset to our group with his quiet sensitivity. He has a delightful wife who sometimes joins us just to listen. It is always nice to get to know the "other half." The group as a whole would like to see Paul get a bigger organ with more options, but hats off to him! he makes the one he has work and translates his arrangements to the studio model beautifully.<br /><br />Grace is one of those people who claims not to play well, not to read music, not to be ready. Yet she comes in with a book, plays a well practiced piece with sometimes embellished fingering. I should be so competent. She has a husband who joins her occasionally at the studio. They are "big band" devotees and he can tell you who play what with which band and probably what year and where. It's great to have that kind of memory for detail is a great asset. <br /><br />Carol is a recent widow. She, like many of us in that situation, turns to music often in quiet times at home. She is a multi-talented person who has many interests and a lovely family but she finds time to put into arrangements. Her preferences are - well, I'm not sure she has any. She plays many different styles and works at getting them right. Like everything she does, she is particular in detail. Thoughtful, sensitive and generous, Carol is a strong supporter of the program and "gets it" when it comes to making it work. Her input on improvement is sound and practical. And her playing reflects her personality.<br /><br />There is a man in our group, I'll call him Frank. He is a retired service man, with his wife has raised a nice family. He came into the program with absolutely no music in his background, but the organ fascinated him. Today's organs are fascinating instruments. Frank is a technician. I find his style interesting because it has evolved before my eyes. The first time I heard him play at a "graduation" I thought he would probably drop out before another session was over. Like his neat organized lifestyle, his music is uncluttered; the tune is always evident; his playing is what I would call precise. But - he constantly improves and reconstructs his arrangements of previously performed pieces. And, he admits to wanting to add "frills" to his playing. Frank is dedicated to keeping the group together and promoting the program in order to bring in new people to that end. He has a mid-sized organ and longs to be in a position to upgrade. He has a great sense of humor, a quick tongue, and a willing heart. <br /><br />A ninety year old lady had been a piano player. She came in to the program, spry and energetic, transferred her piano talent to the organ, and delighted us all with a rendition of Autumn Leaves, piano run and all. She also played Clarinet Polka for memory, a feat I cannot play with music in front of me. Like most of us, there were pluses and minuses in her life; a grown son with developmental disabilities in institutional care; an important friend who passed away leaving her sad and lonely. He death made her more financially safe, but caused her to lose her subsidized housing, which forced her to move from a neighborhood she was well settled in. But that legacy also allowed her to have an organ. This wonderful lady had to give up coming in because at nearly 96, she became unsure of how well she was driving, and gave it up. She would be an inspiration to any one who thinks they are "too old" to begin something. <br /><br />I met another 90+ year old one day and said, "I don't see you a the organ lessons anymore. How come?" and she said, "Well, I might come back later, but I have been playing golf on nice days. Have to do that, you know , while we can. We can play the organ on rainy days. But we can't play golf!" She did add that she still played and hoped to come back. She did not, and I saw her death in the paper several months later.<br /><br />No so local there is a man who played accordion, and maybe other instruments I am not sure. He took to the organ around the time he retired and in my opinion, there is no man I know who enjoys the experience like this man. He is always exploring possibilities on the organ, always coming up with great arrangements and shares them willingly. He wants to be a "total organist" so is working on full pedal accomplishment (with the tutelage of his talented organist wife). He watches and learns from pros and is not shy about asking questions of them. That's the reason he is so really, really good and so really, really interesting. He's no in my backyard, but I count him as valuable friend in music.<br /><br />The people who play hobby music are special, each and every one of them. Getting out with others makes people "keep themselves up" and "keep their minds sharp." No one knows what tomorrow will hold. No one can be sure the people they are with today will be with them a week from now. But if you find a group of people who share something you love it will improve your life immeasurably. You cannot be unhappy and be involved in music, and when you are a senior you don't have to prove anything, you don't have to have someone telling you to practice, you don't have to have someone saying you aren't playing it the way it was written. Especially with hobby organ, you are the maestro. Play it your way and let the "musicians" in the organ follow you. Lead them wildly into a polka or quietly into a lullaby. Play a romantic piece while you reminisce a long ago dance; play a march and watch the drummers swing their sticks and the trombones pump their slides.<br />Sing along, add your own fills, pause and play it another way. Enjoy to the max.<br /><br />Keep a song in your heart and keep the music playing.<br />(That's getting a bit trite. I might be changing this blog in the New Year. Any suggestions?)<br /><br />Janice<br />jmajor2@maine.rr.com (if you don't want to blog)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-19129799620872927722010-11-22T11:32:00.000-08:002010-12-03T10:50:05.534-08:00The beat is the thing `<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">it does seem sometimes as though individual musicians in a big band get diminished by the overall picture. IF you look at typical big band, the drummer is not the focal point. But without the drummer, the band would have no beat - little pizzaz - not much oomph.<br />In a marching band the drums set the pace and become "showcase" elements. Those Scotch drummers and base drummers who do fancy things with their sticks - you've seen them. But the swing bands and today's stage bands, whatever the type of music, don't always give the drummer a "break" to show what they can do. And to many people, those "drum breaks" (where only the drummer is performing on his whole kit) sound like a lot of noise. The next time you have a chance to hear and observe a drummer taking his 8 bars, listen carefully. There are tones and sounds of as many as four side drums of various sizes, and cymbals and wood blocks, and that base giving it all depth. Then if there is time, or if you can multi-task, watch the hands and feet, the body and the face. It takes a lot of stamina and strength; and real talent; not to mention emotion. Then if you are listening to a symphony orchestra, pay attention to the big copper timpani in the back. IF you concentrate your listening, it is possible to hear them very clearly. They are tuned for different pitches - yes they are tuned and the tuning is very important to get the varied sounds to match the rest of the orchestra.<br /><br />SO - today I am thinking about drummers. The ones who came to my mind immediately were Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Drummers I admired. I wanted to find out who the drummers of note are today and only found one reference that impressed me. Now don't go all nuts over that - you may know a wonderful drummer in a great band, but I only found one that struck me as outstanding.<br /><br />Gene Krupa: Born in Chicago in 1909, Gene was the youngest of nine children. His father died when Gene was very young; his mother worked as a milliner to support the family. He brother Pete got a job at Brown Music Company and Gene, age 11, was hired as a chore boy. He had started playing sax in grade school, but took up drums also at age 11.<br />Big changes for him at that point. He said he used to look through instrument catalogs, he didn't care what the instrument was, he wanted to own one. Drums were the cheapest - a Japanese kit for "sixteen beans." A big bass, a snare, wood block and brass cymbal.<br />HIs religious parents had been grooming Gene for the priesthood, enrolling him in parochial schools. When he entered high school he connected with other musicians, and began formal drum studies. He was advised to join the musicians' union. The union official said, "Make roll." Gene did, and the man said, " That's it. Give us $50. O.K. You're in."<br /><br />Big influences in Gene's development as a first class drummer were: Zutty Singleton, a New Orleans who, after serving in the US Navy in WWI, played with such well known bands as Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton. He had a stroke and died in 1970 in New York City. <<<>>> Tubby Hall, also from Louisiana, played in many marching bands but moved to Chicago at the age of 22. He joined the US Army for two years, and then returned to pursue his music career. He was famous for being able to work with all parts of the bands to get the best effects, and for his expertise in using sticks and brushes, woodblocks, cymbals and rims. Hall played with Armstrong, and worked with Armstrong in the Betty Boop movies. Both Hall and Armstrong got their faces transposed with those of racially stereotyped "jungle natives in the cartoon. :::<br /><br />NOW, back to Krupa. Gene was behind the development of the modern drum kit. He convinced the Slingerland company to make tunable tom-toms. And he was consulted by Zildjian to help develop the modern cymbal kit. Krupa always backed both products.<br />He was the first drummer to record using a bass drum and tom-toms. It was for Okeh records in Chicago. Rockwell, of Okeh Records said he was afraid those drums "would knock the needle off the wax and into the street." Glen Miller, Benny Goodman and Krupa were part of the pit band for Gershwin's "Strike Up The Band." He played with Russ Columbo, then Benny Goodman. Goodman put together a group with Krupa on drums with the promise that he would give Krupa a chance to showcase his talent at a performance at Carnegie Hall. Gene's performance on "SingSingSing" has been acclaimed as the first extended drum solo in Jazz. After that, audiences were demanding to hear more of Krupa; Goodman didn't want to lose his spotlight to a sideman, and Gene left in 1938. He formed his own orchestra, and was an instant hit. He hired on black musicians determined to bring them into the jazz scene and worked to see that they were treated fairly. He challenged a restaurant owner who refused to serve trumpeter Roy Eldridge with the rest of the band. He was at an engagement in San Francisco when the local police decided they needed a high profile name for publicity in their "clean city" drive against marijuana. Gene was accused of possession,tried and jailed. In actuality, the marijuana belonged to a band boy with a long history of delinquency, but he wasn't a celebrity. Gene did the time, 84 days of a 90 day sentence, which put him out of business at the peak of his career. Roy Eldridge tried to keep the band together but had to let it go. Gene returned to the music scene with Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, eventually forming his own band once more. He was among the first acts to be booked by Norman Granz for the "Jazz At The Philharmonic" concerts from which came the "Drum Battles" with Buddy Rich. Recordings of the "All Star" jams at the Philharmonic were made, another first. A film of Gene Krupa's life, factually very loose, was made in 1959 with Sal Mineo as Krupa. He formed a drum school, took tympani lesson, coached a baseball team. He was married twice. In 1973 Gene Krupa died of a heart attack, although he had been suffering from leukemia and emphysema for some time. He is a legend in the annals of drumming.<br /><br />Buddy Rich: Born in 1917 in Brooklyn to vaudevillian parents, he could keep a steady beat with spoons by the age of one. His parents introduced him on a set of drums in vaudeville when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder." He was reportedly the second highest-paid child entertainer, after Jackie Coogan.<br />At age 11 he had his own band, (note the similarity to Krupa's childhood), he never learned to read music. He admired Krupa, Chick Webb, Dave Tough and Jo Jones as well as many others.<br /><br />Rich played with his first major group in 1937. But in 1938 he joined Bunny Berigan, and in 1939 he joined Artie Shaw. While working with Artie Shaw, Buddy instructed 14 year old Mel Brooks in drumming. He made a recording with Vic Schoen Orchestra ( which backed the Andrews Sisters) and was hired by the Tommy Dorsey orchestra where he met Frank Sinatra. In 1944 Rich joined the US Marine Corps for two years. After a two year run with Dorsey again, he left and formed his own band with financial support from Sinatra. His career went up and down in spite of Sinatra's backing, During his career he worked with Benny Carter, Harry James, Les Brown, Charlie Ventura and "Jazz At the Philharmonic." As a drummer he had dexterity and speed that was acclaimed as phenomenal by those in the business. He had great showmanship doing a lot of arm cross-overs, one stick rolls (with either hand!), and fancy stick tricks that kept the audience fascinated. He used contrasting techniques, explosive busts, and quiet brush work just to keep things interesting. Buddy Rich had the reputation of an unpleasant personality. He threatened to fire members of the band, but seldom did. Surreptitiously, some recordings were made of Rich's tantrums. They have been bootlegged, but are not available commercially. Some of the quotes have been used by Seinfeld. He was allegedly slapped by Dusty Springfield after several days of "putting up with his insults."<br />He threatened to fire a trombonist for wearing a beard. He held a black belt in karate, reportedly disliked Country and Western music, was a fan of Donny Osmond. At the end of his life he asked Mel Torme who was writing his authorized biography, to play the tapes of his tantrums for him. He died of a heart attack following brain tumor surgery in 1987. His friend and colleague said, "Rich had a soft heart underneath it all. His favorite song was "It's Not Easy Being Green."<br /><br />VIC FIRTH: Maine has it's own percussion celebrity. Vic Firth was born in Massachusetts, but was raised in Maine. His father, Everett Firth was a high school band leader, and as it happens was the leader of Kennebunk HIgh School Band, which is the band I participated in as member of the drum section. (There were about 350 kids in the high school, and over 100 participated in band, including the majorettes.) Anyway, Vic Firth started playing cornet at the age of four. He turned to drums at an older age, but meanwhile learned piano, vibraphone, trombone,clarinet, timpani. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> By age 18 he had formed his own 18 piece band. Firth performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for twelve years and became their premiere percussionist. He realized symphonic music needed a higher quality of stick than was on the market. Deciding to design his own sticks, he hand whittled the first ones himself, from the bulkier market sticks. He sent these prototypes to a wood turner in Montreal. They were the first of many drum sticks bearing the Vic Firth name.<br /><br />Today Firth's company manufactures 12 million sticks a year, and has added other items to the product line including mallets, salt and pepper mills and rolling pins. The Vic Firth products are made in Maine. Vic Firth is 80 years young.<br /><br />ADAM DEITCH. This is the very modern drummer I chose to "discuss" because he seems to be THE drummer today that ranks with Krupa and Rich. Adam is the son of two drummers; his father's uncle was a "famous drummer in the Big Band era" and his mother's grandfather was a also a drummer. So, if things like drumming can be transmitted genetically, Adam came quite naturally by his talent. But he has not rested on family name at all. He did not divulge in his interview with someone, his parents names or those of the other family members. I read carefully what I could find, and it is my thought that he might be the grandson of Buddy Rich, who did at one time have his own radio program.<br /><br />Adam grew up in a home that had a music studio complete with drum set, key board, and ping pong table. A boy's dream. His parents made music look like fun so he was quite naturally attracted to it. Adam is going on into technology and production. He has created start-up companies and has been involved with several groups. He is too new and too young to know where his career will lead, but he is considered to be a premiere drummer. If you go to his website you can listen in on a "session." He's good, no doubt about that.<br /><br />I am sure there are many many good drummers in our very vast musical field of performers today. But for smooth jazz, dance bands and easy listening Krupa and Rich are the obvious best. For symphony, Vic Firth is hard to beat (no pun intended) and probably for modern music Adam Deitch makdes the top of the list.<br /><br />An African quote: 'He who cannot dance will say "The drum is bad."<br /><br />"If thine enemy wrongs thee, buy each of his children a drum." (Chinese quote)<br /><br />I bought a grandson a small but nice drum set once and his parents made me keep it at my house. <br /><br />Keep a song in your heart and keep the music playing.<br /><br />From Scarborough, Jan Major<br />jmajor2@maine.rr.com<br /></span></span></span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-15013767307074964412010-11-10T11:38:00.000-08:002010-11-15T11:13:36.119-08:00AULD LANG SYNE<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It strikes me as strange that a young musician would choose a "goodbye" song as a theme song. But perhaps it was not so much intentional as situational. I have a friend who as a young trombone player became associated with "Stardust" because he played it well and with great feeling. When he formed a band and went pro it became his theme song. More incidental than intentional, he mentioned recently.<br /><br />Gaetano Lombardo was born in London, Ontario in 1902, one of five sons(Carmen, Lebert , Victor and Joseph) of a tailor who was also an amateur vocalist, and a stay-at-home but musical mom. There were also at least two girls, Elaine and Rose-Marie. Three boys were taught an instrument so they could play for their father. Joe was the dissenter - he had no interest in music but was interested in art and eventually became an interior decorator. In grade school, Guy had already become the leader - without challenge, apparently - of the Lombardo Quartet. Guy and Carmen performed for the first time at a lawn party in 1914. In 1919 the quartet had a summer engagement at a dance pavillion at Grand Bend, Ont. and expanded the group to include a saxophonist, drummer, tuba, guitar and trombone. UP to that point, the brothers had doubled in several slots including vocal. This larger orchestra got an engagement at the Winter Garden in London, and at Port Stanley, Ont. in the summer. Following those seasons they moved to Cleveland. America became their home thereafter, although they toured Canada in later years.<br /><br />By 1924 the orchestra, known as "Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians" became the resident orchestra at the Claremont Tent, a Cleveland nightclub.<br />A coach, Louis Bleet, slowed their tempo, lowered their volume and introduced the popular medley of songs requested by patrons of the club. The slow romantic dance style of the Lombardo orchestra became hugely popular. Smooth sax led by Carmen's alto, the use of a tuba instead of double bass, the quiet, barely audible drumming (except to the other musicians) contributed to the sweet harmonic rather than rhythmic style. Carmen was also an emotional vocalist, often satirized and mocked for his precise pronunciation. The magazine Downbeat, whose readers were mostly of the swing and jazz audience, referred to Lombardo as the "King of Corn."<br /><br />In 1924 the band made their first recording in a studio in Indiana. And they also arranged to play an unsponsored radio program , which gave them the opportunity to gather a following, and thus engagements in the area. In 1927 the band moved to Chicago where they got an engagement at the Granada Cafe. Guy realized early on that radio was the tool for publicity and with the aid of Jules Stein, convinced the owner of the cafe to put in a wire and broadcast the show.<br />They split the cost three ways.<br /><br />The first broadcast was New Year's Eve at 9:00 p.m. The program began with an almost empty cafe, but by closing there was a packed house. From that night, Lombardo's popularity soared. And the Granada Cafe kept the "wire" in place, and the cafe became the second most popular place in Chicago, right behind the Blackhawk Restaurant.<br /><br />The man who facilitated a lot of Guy's Chicago success was named Quadrach. When Lombardo felt he was ready to move on to New York he found out - Chicago style - that he was not as much in charge as he had thought. He was delayed several months disentangling himself from commitments Quadrach had made in his name. Accordng to what I could find, some of the stories did not come out until many years later. It was suggested that some of the people involved "were not the kind you would want to aggravate."<br /><br />The Royal Canadians moved into the Roosevelt Hotel in in New York 1929 which turned into a very long engagement. Except for the occasional hiatus when Lombardo chose to play elsewhere or take time off, that engagement lasted until the Roosevelt Grille closed in the late 1960's. Meanwhile, Decca began recording and The Royal Canadians were among the first to sign on. This resulted in a long list of best selling recordings including at least four which reached the million mark.<br />Some original compositions were "Boo Hoo", "Powder Your Face With Sunshine",<br />"Seems Like Old Times", "Coquette" and "Sweethearts on Parade." Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians closed out every year, for years, on radio and eventually television, with his "Auld Lang Syne" signature piece.<br /><br />Guy had another interest - quite unrelated and quite perilous. He was an avid speed boat racer who won the 1946 Gold Cup race on the Detroit River in a boat he called Tempo VI. The boat had an old hull and a new motor. It was said he had "a good rhythm and conducted to a fine crescendo, rather like as if he were directng Ravel's Bolero." Racing rules changed and boats became much faster in '47 and '48, and he did not win those races. However, he did break a world record in Miami in 1948.<br /><br /> His goal was to break a speed record of 141.74 mph set in 1939.<br />He said he needed a new boat and a suitable body of water.<br /><br />He was performing in Glens Falls, and he and his brothers and some members of the band as well as some of his racing crew went to Lake George to see if it was a good place to break the record. Seeing that it was, Guy began making contacts for the boat and the organization of a race. Henry Kaiser, who built fast ships for WWII, was going to pay for a new boat for Lombardo. Another character entered the picture, big in the racing world- the owner of Ventnor Boat Building, which had built Guy's Tempo VI. He said he wanted the record to be broken at Lake Placid where he had a summer home. Guy said he would use Tempo VI if it were going to be at Lake Placid, in deference to Ventnor's owner. Caused some publicity for both Lombardo, Ventnor and the racing community as it was seen as a conflict among the "big players." Lombardo left, and never returned. It was later implied that the whole "dust-up" over the location was a publicity stunt for Lake Placid and possibly for Guy Lombardo.<br /><br />There was a Lombardo Museum in London, Ontario, Canada. It was established and managed by Doug Flood who was dedicated to preserving the Lombardo relics. The TEMPO VI was found and restored. and a building was built especially to accommodate it. It became too much for Flood to handle, and he tried to make a deal with the city of London to take it over. The city of London apparently did not want to support it, and Flood could not continue it on it's merits alone. Thus, it has closed permanently, as far as I could find out. <br /><br />Flood, who owned the relics, took them out of the museum to his home. He commented, "My house is not longer a home, it's a warehouse." A few items have been donated to the Museum London, such as an award given Lombardo by the City of London. Other items may be donated to archives in the locality, but the manager of London City Services has said the items belong to Flood and he has the right to do with what he chooses with no influence by the city.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: arial;">This was one of the most interesting and most difficult items I have attempted. There is a great deal written in many sites on the band and the Lombardos.<br />Guy won the Ford Memorial competition in 1948; the President's Cup and Silver Cup in 1992; Was reigning US National Champ from 1946 to 1949; won every trophy in the sport before his retirement in the late '50s. In 2002 he was inducted into the Motorsport Hall of Fame.<br /><br />In later years Guy Lombardo lived in Freeport, L.I. NY, where he invested in "Liota's East Point House, a seafood restaurant, which later became known as "Guy Lombardo's East Point House." He became promoter and musical director of Jones Beach Marine Theater which was built by Robert Moses especially with Guy in mind.<br />Rose-Marie sang with the band, and by her own admission she wasn't a great singer.<br />Elaine Lombardo urged Guy to hire Kenny Gardner after seeing him in another night club. Guy did listen to him, and hire him, and Elaine married him.<br />Victor died in Bocca Raton of a heart attack in 1994. He left a wife, two sons and a step-daughter.<br />Carmen died in 1971 of Cancer. I could not find any reference to family.<br />Lebert died in 1993. His son Billy attempted unsuccessfully to keep the band together.<br /><br />jem<br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990453429022822493.post-10608518563712790292010-11-05T14:30:00.001-07:002010-11-05T15:37:52.878-07:00Margaret Whiting<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Margaret Whiting- as I mentioned, I asked my fellow high school drummer, Greg who he thought was the best singer of the time, and he said Margaret Whiting without hesitation. <br /><br />He told me she was the daughter of Richard Whiting, which proved that he was a lot more up on musicians than I was. I didn't know who Richard Whiting was. Richard wrote "On The Good Ship Lollipop", "The Japanese Sandman" and "Ain't We Got Fun?", "Breezin' Along With The Breeze", and "She's Funny That Way." There are many more but his isn't about Richard. Nor is it about Eleanor Young Whiting, her mother who was a homemaker and manager of Margaret Young* and Sophie Tucker.<br /><br />And then there was Barbara Whiting, Margaret's actress/singer sister. *And she also had an aunt who was a singer/recording artist in the '20's named Margaret Young. It could be said she inherited her talent if indeed we can inherit a gene for musical talent.<br /><br /> At the age of seven Johnny Mercer noticed that she had a true talent, and by age 18 she was signed to Capitol Records which Mercer owned. Margaret Whiting was Capitol's first "label" artist. Whiting served as President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation, and continued in the '40's to record and perform. At 15 she appeared in the Lucky Strike "Your Hit Parade", but was fired because the owner of the company said she could not dance to her songs. <br /><br />Mercer continued to guide and mentor her, and once told her to "grow up and learn to sing." She had plenty of opportunity to just that as she was in the frequent company of her father's and Mercer's collaborators, Harold Arlen, Mel Torme, Judy Garland and others.<br /><br />Margaret married Hubbell Robinson, a writer, producer and television executive. The marriage lasted about eight nonths.<br />She married Lou usch, a ragtime pianist known as "Joe ' Fingers' Carr". They had one daughter in 1951, but the marriage also ended in divorce. In 1958 she married Richard Moore, a founder of Panavision, again a marriage which did not last.<br /><br />In 1994 Margaret married Jack Wrangler (ne' John Stillman. He died in 2009. Wrangler, 20 years her junior, was gay. Margaret was attending one of Wrangler's one-man erotic shows in New York. He later said, "....when I looked over at Margaret, who was surrounded by five guys in a booth.....I thought, 'Boy, now that's New York! that's glamor!" I had to meet her." When they were first introduced Wrangler told her he was gay and her response was "...only around the edges, dear." Wrangler commented of himself, "I'm not bisexual and I'm not straight. I'm gay but I could never live a gay lifestyle because I'm much too competitive. When I was with a guy I would always want to be better than him; what we were accomplishing, what we were wearing - anything. With a woman you compete like crazy, but coming from different points of view, and as far as I'm concerned, that was doable." SO - now you know, I guess why some straight and gay couples seem be happy.<br /><br />Margaret Whiting's "A Tree In The Meadow" in 1948 made #1; and in 1949 she did it again with "Slippin' Around" with Jimmy Wakely. She appeared on stage in "Dreams" . There is a reference to "using her own name" but I could find no reference of any other name she recorded or performed with.<br /><br />You can listen to the recordings of most of the artists I profile by going to putting them names in your search engine. It's fun and it gives you a good idea of what some of the old songs should sound like if you are playing them. <br /><br />MIchigan John has suggested I look up Guy Lombardo. That will be my next project.<br /><br />Keep a song in your heart and keep the music playing. It's good for your soul.<br /><br />jem<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062018181627587585noreply@blogger.com0