Now we get to, what probably is, my favorite song of the Fifties. When I think of the Fifties, I think of “The Green Door.” The song was written by Bob Davie (music) and Marvin Moore (lyrics). Jim Lowe, of … Continue reading →
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPU0H6A Last time, I mentioned that Elvis was in Las Vegas when he “discovered” the song “Hound Dog.” After his gig in Vegas was done, he went to Los Angeles to audition for the movies. He really didn’t care what … Continue reading →
Yesterday was the anniversary of Elvis Presley death. Today we celebrate his life with another number one single. One day, early in his career, Elvis was playing Las Vegas and had some time off. He wandered into a casino where … Continue reading →
Elvis Presley died on this day, Aug 16, 1977. That’s 39 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving to work on that morning in 1977 and they announced on the radio that Elvis had been … Continue reading →
The Platters were the first black super group of the Fifties. They had already had a number one with “The Great Pretender” and now, in the late summer of 1956, they got their second. “My Prayer” is another song that … Continue reading →
“I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” was Elvis’ fourth single to hit the pop charts and the second to hit number one, following “Heartbreak Hotel.” As we all know, he would have many more in his career. … Continue reading →
Another R&B crossover song. “I Almost Lost My Mind” was written by and originally recorded by Ivory Joe Hunter in 1950. The song hit number one on the R&B chart for Hunter. After the success of “Ain’t That a Shame” … Continue reading →
As you might guess, Gogi Grant was not her real name. She was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A singer from a young age, she won several talent shows until one day she got the attention … Continue reading →
Morris Stoloff was a musical producer for Columbia Pictures. He worked on the music for many of the pictures that came out of Hollywood during the Forties and Fifties and even into the Sixties. No other work he did got … Continue reading →
“Hot Diggity” is what I call a cross-over song. But not from, say, country to pop, but instead from pre-rock and roll to full blown rock and roll. Perry Como was certainly one of the establishment. He had been around … Continue reading →