Crystal Cruises Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme cruises for 2012

Cruise with the best of the Big Bands: With classic dance moves currently taking center stage on "Dancing with the Stars," Crystal Cruises has expanded its live Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme cruises for 2012. 

They promise that guests will feel like stars themselves as they swing, cha-cha, and tango across the Atlantic accompanied by two old-school favorites: the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Crystal Symphony's March 19th Miami-Madeira-Lisbon voyage, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra on Crystal Serenity's Barcelona-Canary Is.-St. Maarten-Miami cruise on December 9, 2012. 
 

Whether a dancer or just toe-tapping listener, guests will be surrounded by live 17-20-piece orchestras with vocalists, plus complimentary daily dance sessions, including:

-Professional group dance lessons for all levels of experience

-Advanced dance workshops for more proficient dancers

-Twice the usual number of professional dance instructors

-Extra Ambassador Hosts to lead women without dance partners

-Dancing both in the afternoon and late into the evening 

Says Entertainment Vice President Bret Bullock: "Big Band cruises are among our most popular and highly rated Experiences of Discovery theme cruises. Travelers love the timeless elegance of Trans-Atlantic cruising, Crystal Cruises' inviting onboard luxury experience, and the added pleasure of song and dance-filled days and nights." 

"Book Now" plus "Two-for-One" promotions amount to more than $5,000 per person in savings on each voyage. If booked by October 31, March's 10-day, "all-inclusive" (Crystal's first-ever) voyage starts at a remarkably-low $1,360/person, including complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff. December's 12-day sailing is also all-inclusive, with starting fares of $2,620/person, if booked by October 31. 

Crystal Cruise's award-winning entertainment offerings include a range of venues and performances, from cabaret nightclub to piano bar saloon; acclaimed productions to headline entertainers; and sophisticated enrichment activities to in-room Blu-ray-viewing. 

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com . 

Guitarist Jack Wilkins plays Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day"

Guitarist Jack Wilkins plays Jimmy Van Heusen's great American songbook classic "Here's That Rainy Day."

Centenary Stage Company will  present a special Valentine’s Day treat when guitarist Jack Wilkins performs with his Trio in the new Edith Bolte Kutz Theater of the David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Sunday, Feb 13 at 2 PM.


     A legend amongst jazz guitar fans,  Wilkins’ career spans several decades, performing with everyone from Sarah Vaughan to Mel Torme, Phil Woods , Bob Brookmeyer and Charles Mingus to the Brecker Brothers. He is known for a flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach.

Wilkins is one of the most accomplished guitarists around, playing with such angularity as to stay on the edge, as well as  creating fluid lines that seem to flow from a horn rather than a stringed instrument. Wilkins has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts for his work and contribution to the guitar.

JACK WILKINS

 The Centenary Stage Sunday  performance will feature special guest Tony Signa on flute, with Steve LaSpina on bass and Jeff Hirshfield on drums.  Signa has been on the jazz scene in and around N.Y.C. for over 30 years, and in addition to performing at places such as the Blue Note, the "new" Birdland, and the "old" Village Gate, he has been a featured performer on live broadcasts on WNEW and WBGO Radio.
LaSpina has toured and recorded with Phil Woods, Stan Getz, Clark Terry and Chet Baker, and traveled the world with legendary guitarist Jim Hall.  Hirshfield, who is said to “dance on the drums” [ Boston Globe], has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, and enjoyed extensive touring throughout  the U.S., Europe, and the world, performing in many of the major jazz and music festivals around the world.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Jack Wilkins and Trio to perform at the new Lackland Center in New Jersey - National Swing and Big Band | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/swing-and-big-band-in-national/jack-wilkins-and-trio-to-perform-at-the-new-lackland-center-new-jersey#ixzz1CikIYhGp

What did Frank Sinatra say about Sammy Cahn’s lyrics? - National Frank Sinatra | Examiner.com

What did Frank Sinatra say about Sammy Cahn’s lyrics? - National Frank Sinatra | Examiner.com

Nancy...with a laughing face...who really wrote the song?

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."

The story behind Bing Crosby's Oscar winning hit 'Swinging On A Star'

Here is the story of how the song Swinging On A Star was created:
In 1945, the Oscar winning Best Song  was Swinging on a Star. It was written for the Bing Crosby starring film Going My Way by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It was recorded in 1944 by Crosby. Legendary crooner Andy Williams and his brothers backed up Bing.
The song writer, Jimmy Van Heusen, was at Crosby’s house one evening for dinner and to discuss a song for the movie Going My Way. During the meal, one of the children began complaining about how he didn’t want to go to school the next day. The singer turned to his son and said to him, “If you don’t go to school, you might grow up to be a mule. Do you wanna do that?” Van Heusen thought that this clever rebuke would make a good song for the movie. He pictured Bing, playing a priest, talking to a group of children acting much the same way that his own child acted that night. When he took his idea to his partner, Johnny Burke, Johnny was quick to approve, and they wrote the song.

On the surface it may be the most ridiculous song ever written, but it is also one with an important message: of going to school, and getting an education or else who knows what will happen to you.

Here are the lyrics;

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears
Kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny but his brain is weak
He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak
And by the way, if you hate to go to school

You may grow up to be a mule
Oh would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He has no manners when he eats his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude

But if you don't care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

Oh would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Would you rather be a fish?
A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook
He can't write his name or read a book
To fool the people is his only thought
And though he's slippery, he still gets caught

But then if that sort of life is what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish
A new kind of jumped-up slippery fish

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it's all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star

Here is Bing Crosby... Swinging On A Star;

The Top Songs of 1944-Bing Crosby's 'Swinging On A Star' number one

Here are the Top Ten Songs of 1944;

1) Bing Crosby, "Swinging on a Star"
2) Andrews Sisters, "Shoo-Shoo Baby"
3) Bing Crosby & Andrews Sisters, "Don't Fence Me In"
4) Jimmy Dorsey, "Besame Mucho"
5) Harry James, "I'll Get By"
6) Merry Macs, "Mairzy Doats"
7) Bing Crosby, "San Fernando Valley"
8) Bing Crosby, "I Love You"
9) Mills Brothers, "You Always Hurt the One You Love"
10) Dinah Shore, "I'll Walk Alone"

Bing Crosby starred in the movie "Going My Way" (Swinging On A Star-Oscar winning song by Jimmy Van Heusen). Only two big band tunes, from Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James, made the top ten list. "I'll Get By" has since become one of the best love songs of the century.Here is Bing in a clip from "Going My Way" singing "Swinging On A Star."
Read about the creation of the song by Jimmy Van Heusen.

Nancy with a laughing face...the true story

The authorship of the Sinatra classic, "Nancy...with a laughing face" is discussed/covered  at great lengths 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 (PHOTO) 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."
Here is a video clip from one of my shipboard lectures for Celebrity Cruises. It covers not only the writing of the song "Nancy," but, a frank discussion of Frank Sinatra and the "mob."