Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Nancy...with a laughing face...who really wrote the song?
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| Nancy & Dad |
The authorship of the Sinatra classic, "Nancy...with a laughing face" is discussed/covered at great length on both the internet and in several books covering the tunes of the great american songbook. In every case, they have it mostly wrong. Here is my personal story:
"In 1979, I was working with songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen on a TV special with Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope that was never produced. Jimmy told me that one day (circa 1942) he and his lyricist Johnny Burke were working at 20th Century-Fox composing for a film. While Burke was out of their writer's bungalow, Phil Silvers, the comedian, a friend to both, entered and suggested to Jimmy that they write a song for Johnny's wife, Bessie, who was soon to celebrate a birthday. Silvers provided the lyrics, later revised by Van Heusen and Burke.
At the party they sang "Bessie... with the laughing face" It was such a hit that they used it at other female birthday events. When they sang it as "Nancy... with the laughing face" at little Nancy Sinatra's birthday party, Frank broke down and cried thinking that it was written specially for his daughter - the trio wisely didn't correct him. Jimmy assigned his royalties to Nancy after Frank recorded it for Columbia."
Friday, November 26, 2010
Frank Sinatra podcast available to download
Visit The Great American Songbook series of podcasts. Featured today is "Frank Sinatra...The Man and His Story" The program is produced and hosted by Examiner Rick Busciglio. CLICK HERE
For more about the series visit www.memory-lane.org
For more about the series visit www.memory-lane.org
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The story of "White Christmas"
Irving Berlin had the melody for what eventually became "White Christmas" lying around for a couple of years before he began writing songs for Paramount's film, "Holiday Inn". Berlin told an interviewer in 1954, "I took it off the shelf and polished the lyrics a little, and went to Bing Crosby's dressing room at Paramount to get his okay on allthe songs for the picture." Crosby nodded approvingly at several songs but, according to Berlin, "...when I did 'White Christmas' he came to life and said, 'Irving, you won't have to worry about that
one"'.
Bing's instinct was correct. By the time "Holiday Inn" was released in August 1942, a country at war had become captivated by the simple message of peace in Irving Berlin's song and Bing Crosby's voice.
Filming of "Holiday Inn" began in November 1941 and Bing first performed the song on his "Kraft Music Hall" radio program on December 25, 1941 - just eighteen days after the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor. He recorded the song for Decca in May 1942, and that master eventually became worn out from overuse, causing Decca to have Bing cut a nearly identical version in 1947.
On March 4, 1943, Irving Berlin collected the Academy Award for best original song. By the time of the Academy Awards, "White Christmas" had already enjoyed an eleven week stay at the number one spot in the
charts in the fall of 1942. It was too big a hit not to win the Oscar.
Writing about "White Christmas" in "the Chicago Times" during the first holiday season of its existence, Carl Sandburg summed up the song's appeal. "When we sing that, we don't hate anybody. And there
are things we love that we're going to have sometime if the breaks are not too bad against us. Way down under this latest hit of his, Irving Berlin catches us where we love peace."
Bing's Decca version of the song eventually became the best selling recording of all time, topping out at over 100 million sales and hitting the charts twenty separate times. The success of "White Christmas" firmly established that Christmas songs were commercially viable.
Frank Sinatra's lonely Thanksgiving in New York
“We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we would be today if it wasn’t for him,” Mr. Scognamillo said. Much of their high-profile customer base is like an exercise in six degrees of separation from Sinatra, he said. For example, he said, “Julia Roberts was brought in by George Clooney, who was brought in by Aunt Rosemary Clooney, and Rosemary Clooney was brought in by Frank Sinatra.”
There was one example of Patsy’s level of customer service for Sinatra, also recounted in “Patsy’s Cookbook,” that Mr. Scognamillo said sealed the singer’s loyalty to the restaurant. One November in the early 1950s, Mr. Sinatra was having a rough time both professionally and personally. His career was in a gradual slide that had steepened after 1948 and hit bottom in 1952. He had divorced and remarried into a tumultuous relationship with Ava Gardner, which was also in decline.
It was before his Oscar-winning performance in “From Here to Eternity,” before reinvention as a cosmopolitan crooner of the 1950s from the 1940s starry-eyed boy next door. “Before his comeback, he was down and out,” Mr. Scognamillo recalled.
Sinatra was alone at the restaurant the night before Thanksgiving, and many of the other customers walked right past him without acknowledging him. “They are all my fair-weather friends,” he said at the time, Mr. Scognamillo said. He said he wanted to eat Thanksgiving dinner at Patsy’s. Mr. Scognmillo’s grandfather did not have the heart to tell him that the restaurant was normally closed for the holiday. “He felt like he would have hurt his pride if he had done that, so he didn’t say anything,” Mr. Scognamillio said.
So the restaurant made the reservation. And his grandfather called up the staff and told them to bring their families in for Thanksgiving. “They were moaning and groaning,” Mr. Scognamillio said. But they understood it was for Sinatra. The restaurant also called in some other guests to fill out the restaurant — though not enough that Sinatra did not notice that it was somewhat emptier than usual the next day.
So they opened for Thanksgiving for Sinatra, who had a 3 p.m. reservation.
Not until years later did Sinatra find out that they had opened just for him, Mr. Scognamillo said. But no one ever said anything. And the lifelong relationship between Patsy’s and Sinatra was sealed."
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Best big band vocal group...The Pied Pipers?
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| PIED PIPERS - TOMMY DORSEY AND FRANK SINATRA |
A. Most big bands fans, at least at my lectures (presentations), pick Tommy Dorsey's vocal group "The Pied Pipers" as the very best.
Their path to success was far from easy. Originally consisting of eight members, seven men and one woman, the vocal group was formed in Los Angeles during the mid-1930s, an amalgamation of two groups, the Rhythm Kings and the Esquires, plus Jo Stafford. Their stylish harmonies proved appealing, and they began working at local radio stations and recording for Hollywood soundtracks. They soon attracted the attention of Dorsey arrangers Paul Weston and Axel Stordahl.
In 1938 Weston persuaded Dorsey to give the Pied Pipers a spot on the Raleigh-Kool Show, a popular radio program. All eight members piled into two cars and drove to New York, with no promise of work other than one shot on the radio. The show went well though, and they were signed to appear for ten weeks. Just as everything seemed to be going their way, however, disaster struck. During their second program the sponsor heard them for the first time, didn't like them, and promptly fired them. The Pipers remained in New York for seven more months, landing only one job the whole time from which they made $3.60 each, though they did record four sides for RCA Victor during their stay.
Returning to Los Angeles, the group lost four members to regular jobs on the way. The remaining members (Stafford, her then-husband John Huddleston, Billy Wilson and Chuck Lowry) struggled to make a living and were on the verge of calling it quits when, in 1939, they received an offer from Dorsey to join his orchestra. Shortly after Wilson was replaced by Clark Yocum, who had previously sang and played guitar for Mal Hallett's orchestra.
With Dorsey the Pipers finally found success. Jo Stafford was featured solo on several occasions, and the group backed up Frank Sinatra on many of his early numbers. The Pied Pipers remained with Dorsey until Thanksgiving Day 1942, when Dorsey exploded at one of the members, igniting an argument with the whole group, who promptly quit. They were immediately hired by three radio stations.
Huddleston left the group to join the service that same year. He was replaced by Hal Hopper, who had been one of the original eight members. In 1943 the Pipers were signed by Johnny Mercer to his newly-formed label Capitol Records. Stafford left the group in 1944 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by June Hutton, half-sister of bandleader Ina Ray Hutton and a former member of Charlie Spivak vocal group the Stardusters. The Pipers went on to record several hits during the remainder of the 1940s, including the famous ''Dream,'' their first million seller.
The groups' popularity began to wane in the 1950s, however, and the members drifted off into personal pursuits. Hutton recorded several solo albums for Capitol, backed by husband Alex Stordahl's orchestra. Hopper went on to play a regular role as Corporal Clark on the television series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He also appeared in several films, including the classic Beau Geste and the Ann-Margret vehicle Kitten with a Whip. Hutton passed away in 1973, Hopper in 1970. Jo Stafford died in 2008 in California. A group bearing the Pied Pipers' name still tours today." (edited from Wiki)
Visit the Frank Sinatra Examiner
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Patti Page's Birthday...Nov. 8th
Happy birthday Miss Patti Page! Patti was born in Oklahoma on November 8th, the year is not important.
"The Singing Rage" Patti Page is one of America’s true musical icons. In the course of her seven-decade recording career, she has become a living legend by selling more than 100 million records, making her one of the biggest selling female recording artists in history.
Patti’s silky-smooth voice engulfed the airwaves during the ‘50s and ‘60s, providing her with a staggering 111 hits, 15 gold records and four gold albums. Patti became the first crossover artist to take country music out of the country and onto the pop charts with such million record sellers as “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” “I Went To Your Wedding,” “Mister & Mississippi,” and, of course, the legendary “Tennessee Waltz,” which was #1 concurrently on all three charts (Pop, Country, & R&B) and sold more than 20 million copies. She was also the first artist to use multiple voice techniques on records and the only singer —male or female—to have had shows bearing her name on all three major television networks.
Patti’s accomplishments remain unparalleled. Today, she continues to use her sweet, tranquil voice to touch the hearts of many generations and has recorded four new albums in the past six years, one of which received a Grammy.
When not on her New England farm, Patti is performing 50 select concerts throughout the year, sharing her incredible list of chart-topping classics with her fans.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mel Tormé on Frank Sinatra
Here is a quote about Frank Sinatra from Mel Tormé that deserves repeating;"Some years ago, I shared a barber with the late Mel Tormé. It was a small, low-key shop where the talk was usually sports and the music on the radio was always jazz or vocals from the American Songbook.
One morning, Tormé and I found ourselves pausing amid an offhanded conversation as the radio played Frank Sinatra singing Gershwin's "A Foggy Day" — which figures in a rather important way in James Kaplan's marvelously thoughtful, readable biography, "Frank: The Voice." As we listened, I recall murmuring something to the effect of, "It's the phrasing, isn't it?" only to have Tormé correct me. "The diction comes before the phrasing," he said. "We all owe that to Ella [Fitzgerald] and to Frank. We all work in their shadow — and Frank cast a big shadow for such a skinny guy."
Thanks to Tim Rutten Los Angeles Times
Mel Torme sings "Body And Soul."
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Bea Wain bears ’Heart and Soul’ about Larry Clinton
Bea Wain bears ’Heart and Soul’ about Larry Clinton
Singer Bea Wain is best remembered for her time with Larry Clinton and his orchestra. In a recent interview, Bea, provided this inside look at Larry Clinton. Clinton has been described as a realist, businessman, organized, and well-liked, but not outgoing. Here is Bea's take on Larry.
"He was very intelligent, but he was... what's the word I want... he was a very quiet man," she said. "I was surprised when he became a bandleader, or that he became a bandleader, because he really didn't like standing in front of the band."
Clinton himself used to say that he had a "10:30 lip" (meaning that his weak embouchure would give out by 10:30 at night).
"You know, he played a few instruments, but none of them were solo instruments," she stated. "I mean, he played, like, third trumpet and fourth trombone, just so that he had something to hold on the bandstand. That's not quite fair, but it's true."
He didn't give her any instruction on how he wanted her to sing with the band.
"Absolutely never," she said. "He never told me what to do or how to do it, just handed me the song and said this is what we're gonna do and what key do you want it in?"
Here is Bea Wain with Larry Clinton and his orchestra singing their 1939 hit "Heart And Soul." This track can be found in the My Reverie CD by clicking here.Wednesday, October 27, 2010
When Artie Shaw bought Tommy Dorsey's bus
The life of a big band musician, even in the top bands of the late 30's and early 40's, was anything but glamorous.Food too often meant meals in greasy diners that announced via neon signs that they had "Good Eats" or many times simply sandwiches and beer back on the bus. The bus was the primary form of transportation, particularly due to the fact that very few bands were touring nationally. Most worked areas or regions such as New England, the Upper Midwest, California, etc.
When not sleeping on the bus during overnight journeys to the next play date or "gig" they would stay at hotels that were never of the "five star" variety.That was true for the white members of an inter-grated band....non-white members often had to stay in private homes or boarding houses with three or four per room.
Pay, was also, a major problem. It was never generous (Benny Goodman was notoriously "tight with a buck"). With this type of nomadic life it is not surprising to find alcholism, and drugs all too common.
The quality and comfort of the band bus rose, naturally, with the commercial success of the band. My favorite bus story involves the early days of the Artie Shaw band. Money was tight and the bus leaked, but a savior appeared in the shape of Tommy Dorsey. Dorsey's band was getting national attention, particularly due to the popularity of the skinny boy vocalist that Tommy had hired away from Harry James (more about the boy later). Flush with new found financial success, Tommy purchased a new bus. Artie Shaw jumped at the opportunity to buy Dorsey's bus. It took almost every penny he had....so much so that for many months after, the Artie Shaw band toured the North East in a bus that was still painted with the Tommy Dorsey name!
Listen to Artie Shaw's 1940 hit recording of Frenesi and view a list of the top song hits for that year by clicking http://memory-lane.org/TOPSONGSOF1940s.html
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Skyliner- Charley Barnet's big hit
During the Second World War period: Charlie Barnet's recording of "Skyliner" was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Here is what one British gentleman had to say about the song; "Many thanks!! This was playing on the P.A. system around the perimeter of the U.S.A.F. airbase near where I was evacuated from London in WWII, just as the first B.17's arrived.
We kids had not seen those beautiful silver birds, or heard this music before.
In my 80th. year, I cannot separate that sound from the image of the arrival of the U.S.A.F.
Thanks, again."
We kids had not seen those beautiful silver birds, or heard this music before.
In my 80th. year, I cannot separate that sound from the image of the arrival of the U.S.A.F.
Thanks, again."
Here is the Charlie Barnet band with "Skyliner" from a movie short.
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Frank Sinatra fights "Jim Crow"
Life on the road for the big bands was difficult at the best of times, but for the integrated bands travel, particularly in the South with the "Jim Crow" laws, could be overwhelmingly cruel. Black members were rarely permitted to stay in the same hotels or eat in the same restaurants as the white members.
One story concerns Frank Sinatra during his Dorsey years in the early 40's, and the band's arranger Sy Oliver, who was black. While the band was checking into a hotel, the clerk dispensed room keys to Sinatra and the other white members, but froze when he spotted the black arranger in the group. He refused to give him a key and indicated that he was not welcome in the hotel. Francis Albert Sinatra, no stranger to ethnic discrimination from his days in Hoboken, New Jersey, reportedly reached across the counter, grabbed the clerk by the tie, pulled him across the counter and simply said, "He stays". Sy Oliver stayed.
Second only to Frank's monumental contribution to popular music, he should be remembered (and honored) for his lifelong fight against racial, ethnic and religious discrimination.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Harry James' "I've Heard That Song Before"
Related articles
On July 31, 1942 - Harry James and his band with Helen Forrest recorded "I’ve Heard that Song Before." The music was by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was introduced by Martha O'Driscoll (dubbed by Margaret Whiting) in the 1942 film Youth on Parade.
July 31, 1942 was the last day of recording before the Musician Union's ban. The recording was issued on Columbia 36668 and became a number one hit on both the pop and R&B charts in the USA in early 1943 . This version of the song can be heard in Woody Allen's movie Hannah and Her Sisters.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
What were the Top Ten Songs of 1949 ?
Here are the Top Ten Songs of 1949;
1. Vaughn Monroe, "Riders in the Sky"
2. Frankie Laine, "That Lucky Old Sun"
3. Russ Morgan, "Crusing Down the River"
4. Blue Barron, "Crusing Down the River"
5. Evelyn Knight, "A Little Bird Told Me"
6. Frankie Laine, "Mule Train"
7. Perry Como, "Some Enchanted Evening"
8. Vic Damone, "You're Breaking My Heart"
9. Perry Como, "'A' You're Adorable"
10. Margaret Whiting, "Slippin Around"
"Some Enchanted Evening" from the Broadway production of South Pacific was a very big hit for ( Mr. Smooth) Perry Como. "Crusing Down the River" hit the top ten list with two big band versions.
Here is the singing bandleader Vaughn Monroe with "Ghost Riders In The Sky"....the number one tune of 1949.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
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