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| Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra |
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Frank Sinatra fights ’Jim Crow’ - National Frank Sinatra | Examiner.com
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The true story of the Frank Sinatra mug shot
In I938, Frank was singing at his first real professional gig at the Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, just up the road from the George Washington Bridge. Even at that young age, the other band members reported that Frank was a big attraction to the ladies. One night, so the story goes, Frank was invited out to the parking lot for a "personal encounter." Unfortunately, a policeman tapped on the car window sending the woman into a panic....she started screaming "rape." Frank was arrested, and these photos were taken. The next day, the woman, who was married, dropped the charges. Case dismissed. But, the pictures never went away.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Great American Musicals presentation in Livingston, NJ
Great American Musicals
from Broadway and Hollywood
from Broadway and Hollywood
Tuesday, March 15 @ 7:30 pm
Rick Busciglio will be your guide for a nostalgic tour of American musical favorites. He draws on 45+ years in broadcasting and his lifelong love of music for an entertaining evening!Presented with funding from Friends of the Livingston Library
Rick Busciglio will be your guide for a nostalgic tour of American musical favorites. He draws on 45+ years in broadcasting and his lifelong love of music for an entertaining evening. The program is a salute to the music from Broadway, Hollywood, New Orleans, Tin Pan Alley and the "melody makers;" i.e. the bands and singers that brought the music to us via the radio, recordings and live events in the period from the 1920's to the 1960's. This is the golden period of Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Larry Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy Van Heusen, Harold Arlen, Harry Warren, etc.
Rick Busciglio is a former broadcast marketing and advertising executive who has combined his life long love of films and music and experience in communications to create a series of mostly nostalgic programs. He does programs primarily in the NJ/NY/PA area and internationally aboard cruise ships. His presentations are designed to be both entertaining and informative. Mr. Busciglio writes two blogs on New Jersey theater and serves on the Board of The Chester Theatre Group in Chester, New Jersey. He recently started his own internet radio series, "The Great American Songbook,” and writes for www.Examiner.com on "Swing and Big Bands” and "Frank Sinatra."
This program is free and open to all. No registration is required.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Les Paul tribute from Jeff Beck and the Imelda May Band
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| Les Paul |
Concerts East and State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey will present Jeff Beck and the Imelda May Band on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 8pm. Tickets range from $40-85.
Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Beck, will mesmerize the audience with a tour de force performance of classics Paul recorded with Mary Ford: “How High The Moon,” “Vaya Con Dios,” and “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” along with such rock and roll standards as “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Walking In The Sand.”
This special performance is an extended celebration of Beck’s recent June 9th concert special “The Celebration to Honor Les Paul.” That night, Beck paid fitting tribute, celebrating what would have been the guitarist’s 95th birthday, by playing his friend and mentor’s music along with classic tunes from the era. The New Jersey setting is fitting since Les was a longtime NJ resident and has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame along with fellow music masters as Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen.
About Jeff Beck
Growing up in Wallington, England, four-time Grammy® Award-winner Jeff Beck was inspired by music at a very early age. It wasn’t long before Beck picked up a guitar and began playing around London. In 1965, he replaced Eric Clapton as the Yardbirds’ lead guitarist and then left the band in 1967 and formed The Jeff Beck Group, which featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. The band released two albums, Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969), that became musical touchstones for hard rockers in the years to come. Stewart and Wood left to join the Faces and Beck disbanded the group until 1971 when he formed a new version of the band and recorded two albums, Rough and Ready and The Jeff Beck Group. Beck again dissolved the group and formed a power trio with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, which released Beck, Bogert and Appice (1973).
Veering away from hard rock, Beck created two landmark jazz-fusion albums, Blow By Blow (1975) and Wired (1976). The all-instrumental albums shattered people’s preconceptions of what a rock guitarist was supposed to sound like. The albums, both a critical and popular success, remain two of the top-selling guitar instrumental albums of all time. These days, Beck continues to record and tour, recently embarking on a major world tour to support his latest album, Emotion & Commotion.
About Imelda May
Born in Dublin, Imelda May is unmistakable both in her music—a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly—and her style. Her debut album Love Tattoo, which she recorded and released on her own label, went Triple Platinum in Ireland. She has shared a stage with Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, David Gilmour, Sharon Shannon, Shane Macgowan, Kirsty McCall, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Wanda Jackson, Paul Brady, and Meatloaf. Her new album Mayhem shows May’s continued development of her uniquely modern fusion of classic musical genres and showcases her exceptional songwriting abilities.
For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday 1pm to 5pm; and at least one hour prior to curtain on performance dates. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517.
"How High The Moon" performed by Imelda May
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Top 20 Essential Frank Sinatra albums? - National Frank Sinatra | Examiner.com
1. A Swingin' Affair! by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Swinging tour de force: Sinatra, Riddle and a lot of Cole Porter. Enough said."
2. Songs for Swingin Lovers by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Too Marvelous for Words: A high watermark for popular music. 'I've Got You Under My Skin' is considered an ultimate Sinatra classic."
3. Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Devastating collection of ballads, with 'Angel Eyes' and 'Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry'. No popular music album since this has approached it. 'Scuse me while I disappear' indeed."
4. In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Stunning late night ballads; It hurts when the album comes to a close. This is Sinatra immersed in songs, as both actor and The Voice. A legendary concept album."
5. Ring a Ding Ding by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Sinatra's first Reprise album swings, with Johnny Mandel's jazz-fired arrangements and first class songs."
6. Nice 'n' Easy by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Treasurable remakes of great Sinatra standards, an all-time Sinatra bestseller."
7. Come Dance With Me by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"A raucous, swinging album and one of Sinatra's biggest records. Billy May's arrangements are all brass, all fast, all fun. Sinatra's voice in 1959? Perfect. Even the CD bonus tracks are fantastic."
8. September of My Years by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"A 1965 Grammy winner, from when that meant something. Powerful, reflective and superb."
9. Close to You & More by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Sinatra's most delicate vocals, superb songs, backed sparingly and tastefully by the Hollywood String Quartet."
10. Sinatra and Sextet: Live in Paris by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Sinatra's 1962 Paris concert is a time capsule portrait of the singers transition from The Voice to The Chairman. If Ol' Man River doesn't send chills through you, see a doctor."
11. Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Sinatra and Riddle's first concept album, and it sounds GREAT almost 50 years later. 'Violets for Your Furs', 'I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter' -- an early apex of popular music."
12. Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Pure class: Sinatra was so perfect for this music that his 'Girl from Ipanema' is definitive. This album is an experience apart from all others."
13. Where Are You by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Gordon Jenkins' exquisite strings are the perfect backdrop for first class Sinatra torch songs. Beautiful album."
14. Best Of Columbia Years 1943-52 [4-CD SET] by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Of course the Best of the Columbia Years wasn't really an album, but singles were the norm in the 1940s. Sinatra's young voice is wonderful: Stella by Starlight, Night and Day -- amazing."
15. No One Cares by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"The sequel to Where are You? -- and almost its equal. Sinatra carries the title theme throughout, and convincingly."
16. Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"The ascending opening of 'Come Fly with Me' is etched in the collective American musical conscience. Another fun Billy May album with some serious vocals at an artistic peak of Sinatra's career."
17. Sinatra & Strings by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Great standards, great voice; Don Costa's dramatic strings frame Sinatra's deepened baritone."
18. Sinatra's Swingin Session by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Not Sinatra's deepest album, but hard swing near his vocal prime. The best? "September in the Rain" would hold its own in any FS session."
19. Point of No Return by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Undeservedly obscure: Wistful, somber, reflective. 'I'll Remember April" is stunning. In any other catalogue this would be a standout album."
20. Swing Along With Me by Frank Sinatra
The list author says:
"Sinatra and Billy May, but not their best. Still, 'Granada' soars and 'Falling in Love' is a vocal tour de force. The final cut, 'You're Nobody...' is one of the finest things FS recorded."
Monday, March 7, 2011
Anniversary of the death of a great singer
Her death at age 30 in a plane crash was at the height of her career. She was the first country singer to cross over to the pop charts.
Patsy's signature song, "Crazy", was recorded just after she was in a near fatal car accident, she worked for most of a day in the studio with that song, but Patsy couldn't hit the high notes due to the pain from a broken rib. So the musicians went ahead and did it without her. After resting, she went back, two weeks later, and did the song in one take.
The song was a top 10 hit on the pop music charts....it reached the number two spot for the year 1961. She acheived broad national popularity via Arthur Godfrey's weekly radio and tv programs. She literally went from the Grand Ol' Opry to New York's Carnegie Hall.
Here is Patsy in a live tv performance of Willie Nelsen's, "Crazy."
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