Glenn Miller Story actor dead at 96

Tv and film actor Harry Morgan has died at age 96 at his home in California. Glenn Miller fans will remember Morgan from two Glenn Miller films.
   In 1942, Morgan had a small part in Orchestra Wives (1942) featuring Glenn Miller. In 1953, he co-starred in The Glenn Miller Story (1954) with Jimmy Stewart. In both films he was billed as Henry Morgan. He changed it latter to avoid confusion with the radio comedian with the same stage name, Henry Morgan.

   A character actor for almost five decades, Morgan's best known tv role was playing Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the long-running Korean war comedy that starred Alan Alda as Hawkeye.
   Morgan's first major television success was as Officer Bill Gannon, Joe Friday's partner on the revived version of "Dragnet," which aired on NBC from 1967-70. (Trivia: Ben Alexander originated the part in the series that starred Jack Webb.)

   He had a long career in the movies, also, having appeared in over 100 films, many of them classics such as "The Ox-Bow Incident," "High Noon,"  and "Inherit the Wind." He was married to Eileen Detchon for 45 years until her death in 1985.
Morgan was born in Detroit, on April 10, 1915.
   He is survived by his wife second wife Barbara and three sons from his first marriage, Christopher, Charles and Paul... and eight grandchildren.

Frank Sinatra: The Best of The Best

The new deluxe FrankSinatra: Best of The Best CD set is now available.

Read Sinatra fan B. Stockwell of San Francisco's review for Amazon shoppers;

 

   "I'm reviewing the superb DELUXE 2-CD box edition with all the trimmings.
Until now, you had to buy from either the Capitol or the Reprise catalog. Sinatra collections were one or the other. If you wanted to introduce his music to someone, you had to get one of each or skip an era. You want "New New, York," "My Way," or "That's Life"? You're going to have to lose "Come Fly with Me," "Witchcraft," and "One for My Baby." Two different labels; two different catalogs. FINALLY, they got together so here you have Sinatra from 1953 ("I've got the World on a String") to "New York, New York."

So, we finally have a definitive Sinatra 101 compilation. 23 tracks. Icing on the cake: an entire live concert from the Capitol era. I might be wrong about this but this June 9th 1957 concert might be the only one we have of Sinatra performing live with Nelson Riddle; yes, they went on tour. To Seattle.
   The first CD is as described: classic Sinatra and well chosen. "Night and Day," for instance. The obvious choice would be the Capitol swinging version. Here, the choice was the later, slower, Don Costa arrangement from the 1961 "Sinatra and Strings" album (Reprise).
   The liner notes are by Frank Sinatra Jr. They're sharp, insightful, and written by a musician who knows this music. Example: "'Fly Me to the Moon': A complete misnomer! The correct title of this popular standard is 'In Other Words." But nobody refers to it by that name." That's sort of important. Sinatra Jr. has a lot to say about this music. Lots of perspective. (Next article will include an interview with FS Jr.)
   The packaging in the Deluxe Edition is exemplary, tasteful, retrained, and appropriate. Someone is making sure Sinatra's music is presented decently. The use of blue is a no-brainer but the use of blue foil lettering and the layout of this release is a thrill. It's like they're serving up class. The box feels and looks suave. The box lid pulls up and was a minor nightmare to pry up - a little too tight. (Right - like that's why I bought this.) CDs are in separate cardboard sleeves, like mini-LPs. There's no plastic here, at all. This is the real stuff - paper and cardboard. First class design. Bravo, somebody.
   Five square photos of Sinatra that cover the years the music recorded during are a nice addition - but this is an extra; I'm not sure what to do with them.
I have to apologise for another reviewer who didn't see the point of a live concert performance by Sinatra. That reviewer actually wrote he didn't like live recordings and so opted for the 1-CD release of "The Best of the Best."
   That reviewer has my sympathy because the live 1957 concert is astonishing. Sinatra is in his Capitol years prime. The sound quality is wonderful - this doesn't sound like a crappy "historic" bootleg. Sinatra is so relaxed and relaxed. He just flows through the quieter material and digs into the livelier stuff. Nelson Riddle and Sinatra's pianist, Bill Miller, are there with him. Live. This is a good as it gets - this is as good he HE gets. These aren't studio recordings. The same arrangements and musicians but now they've settled into the music. The live performance, a full hour long, is reason alone to justify this release. I wasn't about to buy the same recordings again. Even if it's in the latest digital/laser-powered/photon-enhanced format, there's no reason for ME to grab everything that says "Frank Sinatra" on the cover.
   But this, this is wonderful. If you're just getting into Sinatra, sure, buy the single CD release. If you're already a resident of Sinatraville, then buy the Deluxe Edition - they made it just for YOU!"

B. Stockwell...well done....thank you for sharing! 
The other residents of Sinatraville.

Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Legacy on PBS tonight

PBS will rebroadcast Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Legacy as part of its special programming tonight at 10 pm, December 6, 2011. Check your local station.


The program was recorded on May 12, 2011 in the newly completed, state-of-the-art concert hall, the Palladium in Carmel, Indiana. Backed by a 32-piece orchestra, Feinstein guides viewers on a musical journey of Sinatra and his contemporaries, and how they influenced each other.

Through his performance, Feinstein conjures up the biggest musical legends of that golden era using their extraordinary music, spiced with intimate stories about their larger-than-life personalities.

Featured songs include "Once in a Lifetime," "I Thought About You," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Put on a Happy Face"/"Lotta Livin'," "So In Love," "There'll Be Some Changes Made," "Begin the Beguine," "Brazil," "For Once in My Life," and "New York, New York."

A five-time Grammy Award nominee, Feinstein maintains an extensive touring schedule and has appeared at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to the White House and Buckingham Palace. In addition, he serves on the Library of Congress' National Recording Preservation Board, and is artistic director of the Center for Performing Arts.

Michael Bublé Christmas tv special

Attention Michael Bublé fans: Tonight at 8 PM (EST)  A MICHAEL BUBLÉ CHRISTMAS special will air on NBC.
 
Mr. Bublé croons classics from his latest holiday recording, including “White Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad” and “Jingle Bells,” with guests like Justin Bieber, Kellie Pickler, Thalia, Oscar the Grouch, the Puppini Sisters and Naturally 7. He also performs comedy sketches with Tracy Morgan and Ed Helms.

Since the program is designed to sell his new Christmas album here is the complete list of songs on the album;
The CD includes guest performances by Shania Twain on "White Christmas" and The Puppini Sisters on "Jingle Bells." Also included in the CD is a new song "Cold December Night," a Bublé penned original written for the record.

The Special Edition which includes:
"Christmas" on CD
3 bonus tracks
Plus an exclusive 4"x4" acrylic ornament tucked inside extended album packaging

Full Track Listing Includes:
1. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Jingle Bells [featuring the Puppini Sisters]
4. White Christmas [duet with Shania Twain]
5. All I Want For Christmas Is You
6. Holly Jolly Christmas
7. Santa Baby
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
10. Silent Night
11. Blue Christmas
12. Cold December Night
13. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
14. Ave Maria
15. Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad" [duet with Thalia]

To purchase CLICK HERE

Review: New Bunny Berigan book

Our friend in music, Glenn Miller style...of course, Dennis M. Spragg has provided this review of the book "Mr. Trumpet, The Trials, Tribulations and Triumph of Bunny Berigan"

"From time to time, the opportunity comes along to praise the dedication and hard
work of a respected acquaintance. This is an especially pleasant opportunity
when a book exceeds the already high expectations that one may have had in
advance of publication. Knowing the writer and the subject matter led me to
expect nothing but the best and most informative read. However, having read and
considered the contents of the work, I can enthusiastically say that I have just
finished an impressive work of professional scholarship that will stand as one
of the rare and essential histories of jazz and the big band era.

"Mr. Trumpet, The Trials, Tribulations and Triumph of Bunny Berigan" has been
published by Scarecrow Press, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman and
Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., Lanham, Maryland. It is Publication No. 64
in the "Studies of Jazz" Series.

This book is the comprehensive and indispensable biography of Roland Bernard
"Bunny" Berigan. The author is Michael Zirpolo.

Anyone interested in Bunny Berigan, his contemporaries, jazz and big band
history will be riveted to this book from the moment that they open it. Michael
Zirpolo has captured the essence of his subject. Not only does Michael's love
and respect for Bunny create a very enjoyable read, his attention to detail and
precision result in a most informative, thorough and balanced tour-de-force.
The biography includes numerous previously unpublished photographs and a
comprehensive broadcast discography.

Over years of dedicated study, Michael has thoughtfully assembled information
from numerous sources and has unlocked valuable documentation from the
University of Wisconsin, Madison and the Fox Lake Public Library among many
other sources.

The reader follows the life and career of Bunny Berigan from his beginnings in
Fox Lake, Wisconsin. We learn of Berigan's Irish and German ancestry and the
effect of his family and upbringing on the direction that he would pursue. For
the next 500 or so pages we are taken to the world of Bunny Berigan, Hal Kemp,
Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and many other giants of jazz.

Michael takes us through the history of Berigan the talent as leader, sideman,
soloist and improviser. There are many aspects to his associations that the
reader will not have known or associations that were different or of longer
duration and depth than the reader will have previously understood. Michael
pulls no punches in a balanced and thoughtful presentation of Berigan's
character, challenges and health issues. What is especially poignant is the
story of Berigan's marriage, children and devotion to family which no one,
including the late George T. Simon, has previously documented with such honesty
and tenderness.

What greatly impresses someone currently writing their own manuscript are the
detailed chapter notes that Michael has assiduously assembled. The focus and
level of detail that is presented is monumental. The chapter notes include
dozens of insightful observations about many people, events, recordings and
venues that in themselves are more than worth adding the book to anyone's jazz
and big band collection. My knowledge of details has been increased ten fold by
Michael's attention to detail.

From my specific vantage point, a very minor quibble is that it would have been
interesting to learn something more of Berigan's presence with the first Glenn
Miller recording session. However, we do learn a great deal about vocalists
Kathleen Lane and Gail Reese and their associations with Berigan, which
paralleled their associations with the then-struggling Miller.

Michael Zirpolo has captured the story of Bunny Berigan in an entertaining and
informative read. I will not go on and give away all the details or the plot
but suffice to say that there are revelations and surprises. My personal
experience has been that with this book my understanding of an essential
personality and talent of jazz and big band history has come to life in way that
my superficial and anecdotal knowledge of the man from other accounts and
recordings had never done justice to. I suspect that everyone else interested
in the subject matter will come away feeling the same way.

Our appreciation for Bunny Berigan, his talent, place in American music history
and stature as a giant of jazz has thus been lovingly established and confirmed
for all time by his devoted biographer Michael Zirpolo.

Michael's work is a monumental contribution to jazz history which I highly
recommend without reservation and with profound respect and appreciation."

Dennis M. Spragg
Glenn Miller Archive
American Music Research Center
University of Colorado, Boulder

TO BUY THE BOOK OR BUNNY's MUSIC JUST CLICK HERE