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Reading List
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- All Shook Up: How Rock 'N' Roll Changed America - Glenn C. Altshuler
- The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee, Peter Richmond
- The B-Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song - Ben Yadoga
- Singing From the Floor: A History of British Folk Clubs - JP Bean
- Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century - Nate Chinen
- Lets Do It: The Birth of Pop - Bob Stanley
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Resources
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Roots Music Podcasts
Author Archives: Richard Barry
“Walkin’ With Mr. Lee” – Lee Allen (1958)
Pete Thomas’s terrific website Taming the Saxophone has a page dedicated to the masters of Rhythm and Blues saxophone, with bios and clips. He writes: These biographies, photos and sound clips include all the influential rhythm and blues saxophone players … Continue reading
Posted in R & B
Tagged Lee Allen, Pete Thomas
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“It Ain’t Like That” – Una Mae Carlisle (1941)
Una Mae Carlisle (1915 – 1956) was an American jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter, born in Xenia, Ohio. She was “discovered” by Fats Waller while still in her teens. Waller strongly influenced her boogie-woogie/stride piano style. Humour was also a part of her … Continue reading
Posted in Jazz
Tagged Una Mae Carlisle
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“Serenity” – Joe Henderson (1964)
Once the British Invasion took hold, times were tough for all sorts of competing genre, not the least of which was jazz. So, what was happening in jazz after the Beatles made their debut on the Ed Sullivan show and … Continue reading
“The Israelites” – Desmond Dekker and The Aces (1969)
Perhaps the oddest thing about this very cool tune by Desmond Dekker & The Aces is that the lyrics are very nearly indecipherable. “The Israelites” was written by Dekker and Leslie King. It peaked on the charts in 1969 as the first … Continue reading
Posted in Ska
Tagged Desmond Dekker, Leslie King
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“The Stripper” – David Rose and His Orchestra – 1962
I would have thought this one to be a lot older, but no. It was written by David Rose in 1958, and released in 1962. In addition to “The Stripper,” Rose wrote “Holiday for Strings,” and “Calypso Melody.” He also … Continue reading
Posted in Pop music
Tagged David Rose
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“Jamaica Jam” – Teddy Powell and His Orchestra (1939)
In my search to learn about big band leaders of whom I had not been previously aware, I came across the name Teddy Powell. Mr Powell (1905-1993) was a jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader who had significant success … Continue reading
Posted in Big Band Jazz
Tagged Teddy Powell
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“Some of These Days” – Sophie Tucker (1910)
Published in 1910, “Some of These Days” was written and composed by Shelton Brooks and is most associated with legendary performer Sophie Tucker who recorded it several times beginning in 1911. The best known of her versions was done in … Continue reading
Posted in Early Jazz
Tagged Shelton Brooks, Sophie Tucker
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“The Last Rose of Summer” – Nina Simone (1964)
In his book, Yesterdays: Popular Song in America, Charles Hamm lists “The Last Rose of Summer” as among the Top Selling Foreign Songs in America in 1870. The lyrics are from a poem by Irish poet Thomas Moore written in … Continue reading
Posted in 19th Century
Tagged Nina Simone
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“Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” – Rudy Vallee (1932)
“Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” is of course one of the, if not the, most recognizable songs of the Depression Era. The words are by Yip Harburg (1896-1981), the music by Jay Gorney (1896-1990). It was written in 1932 … Continue reading
Posted in Depression Era
Tagged Jay Gorney, Rudy Vallee, Yip Harburg
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“My Heart is a Hobo” – Big Crosby (1947)
“My Heart is a Hobo” is a ballad written by Johnny Burke (lyrics) (1908-1964) and Jimmy Van Heusen (music) (1913-1990) for the 1947 movie musical Welcome Stranger. Bing Crosby, playing a young doctor, sings the song in a scene that … Continue reading
Posted in Movies
Tagged Bing Crosby, Lena Horne
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