What are you listening to?

[HadleyH]

Ray Starita: "Gee, It Must Be Love"



with the amazing Sam Browne as vocalist!





[video=youtube;p7m_7KlzESo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7m_7KlzESo[/video]

 

[HadleyH]

I'm Shooting High - Sam Browne & The Rhythm Sisters


[video=youtube;64KK3rVyKy0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64KK3rVyKy0[/video]

 

[HadleyH]

Ray Starita's Band - Wake Up Chill'un, Wake Up! 1929


I always say...for music..... yes music only LOL .... 1929 was a good year!

[video=youtube;zF_f1PwhbHY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF_f1PwhbHY[/video]

 

[ChiTownScion]

I think the real difference between Fibber and Gildersleeve is that the former was written by a cartoonist -- Don Quinn, whose comedy style emphasized broad, exaggerated characters -- while Gildy was written in a far more realistic vein. It really hit its stride in 1943, when John Whedon took over as head writer -- he made the town of Summerfield as much a character as Gildersleeve himself, and turned the series into a semi-serialized program stressing continuing storylines that allowed for much stronger character development.

There are very strong similarities between Summerfield and Andy Griffith's Mayberry -- and John Whedon is the connecting link, as he also wrote for the Griffith show in the early sixties. Whedon was, by the way, the father of Tom Whedon -- who wrote extensively for children's television in the sixties and seventies -- and the grandfather of Joss Whedon, who gave the world "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." The distance between Summerfield and Sunnydale is not at all far.

Gildersleeve's druggist, Mr. Peavey, never fails to crack me up. Our own local pharmacist, when I was growing up, was exactly like him.

"Well, now, I wouldn't say that..."

But I was listening to another Gildersleeve broadcast, and got to thinking about the actor who portrayed Leroy (he later did the voice of pet boy, Sherman, in the Mr. Peabody cartoons), Walter Tetley. I read a disturbing account, attributed to Bill Scott (Mr. Peabody) that Walter's mother had him castrated so that she wouldn't lose his boy actor income. Other accounts dismissed that, saying that his perpetual pre-pubescent voice was due to a hormonal condition. Do you know what the real store is?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Walter Tetley was indeed a "child impersonator," but the official explanation was that he had a glandular disorder that arrested his physical development. He was born in 1915, and was an actual child star in vaudeville in the twenties doing impressions of Sir Harry Lauder. He got into radio as a teenager, and remained there on and off for nearly forty years, but his voice and his face remained those of a child his entire life.

He was very private about his situation, and was never personally close to co-stars or co-workers, which led to the stories being whispered around. When he was in his thirties, he had a brief growth spurt which took him to about five feet tall, which suggests either some sort of medical treatment, or something going in his endocrine system, but if there's a definitive explanation I've never come across it. There were several other performers in the Era in the same situation, most notably Johnny Roventini, the "Philip Morris Bellhop," and Dick Beals, who was Tetley's biggest rival for child roles on radio, and went on to provide the voice of Speedy Alka-Seltzer.

Astonishing fact: Harold Peary, Gildy himself, was only seven years older than Tetley.

 

[Retro Spectator]

Today, I recorded some more tunes! Here is one titled Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen!

ray2ear God, thank you for helping me get, and play the melodeon, and harmonica. I am extremely grateful for these gifts. Amen.ray2:

[video=youtube;Ie57k4u7c6Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie57k4u7c6Q[/video]

 

[jamespowers]

Your tunes are very wonderful & I enjoy them. Very relaxing.

When I was 17, I tried to learn the violin but was very difficult for me.

You have many talents. You are indeed blessed.

This world would be a better place with more people like you. Thanks.

Sincerely,
jake

Agreed!

 

[Retro Spectator]

Thanks for your kind compliments! Playing the melodeon makes me feel happy!

 

[jamespowers]

Thanks for your kind compliments! Playing the melodeon makes me feel happy!

It looks it. You are smiling through the whole thing.

 

[Bamaboots]

Thanks for your kind compliments! Playing the melodeon makes me feel happy!

I love it. As one who struggles to play a three chord song on the guitar, I am in awe. As we say here in the south, YOU GO BOY! And your playing is only matched by your sense of style.

 

[ChiTownScion]

Today, I recorded some more tunes! Here is one titled Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen!

ray2ear God, thank you for helping me get, and play the melodeon, and harmonica. I am extremely grateful for these gifts. Amen.ray2:

[video=youtube;Ie57k4u7c6Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie57k4u7c6Q[/video]

I always enjoy that tune.

 

[Trapped in T-wilight Zone]

At the moment, I am listening to Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake Suite, OP 20. Lately, I had been listening to pieces from Wagner's Ring Cycle most evenings. I love Woten's Farewell and the Magic Fire Music, especially mixed with Ride of the Valkyries, and a few other related pieces. However, after listening to it for about two weeks, I decided to go with this for awhile.

I may love good music, and many different kinds of music. But I have absolutely NO musical talent whatsoever. I do not envy other people for much. But I do envy anyone that can play almost any instrument, and make it sound like music.

And I have tried to learn. Lessons, practice, practice, practice, more lessons. It just doesn't come out as music.

 

[HadleyH]

1935 - Don’t Mention Love To Me (Chick Bullock, vocal)


[video=youtube;j_h6-BDgr9U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_h6-BDgr9U[/video]

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra -- Rhapsody In Blue (electric re-recording, 1927)
Recorded on April 21, 1927 at the Liederkranz Hall in New York. On that day Paul Whiteman got into a disagreement and angrily stormed out. So instead Victor music director Nat Shilkret ended up leading the session.

[video=youtube;dYGEES4EPo0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYGEES4EPo0[/video]

Liederkranz Hall
6 E 87th Street, New York, NY

 

[HadleyH]

1935 Mario Braggiotti - I’m The Echo (You’re The Song That I Sing)




I dedicate this tune to my family in the Fedora Lounge.




[video=youtube;AH_fbTH3VYw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH_fbTH3VYw[/video]

 

[Bamaboots]

I really enjoy all of these posts and some of them, such as Hadley's cause me to listen to music I might not have otherwise. 2jakes, you're post about the rain reminded me I haven't seen a star around here in 5 or 6 days so, here's to hope.http://youtu.be/xAbCxSWhhEw

 

[vitanola]

Apropos today's soggy weather, Fletcher Henderson and his Connie's Inn Orchestra, July, '31:

[video=youtube_share;luDCu4wZjVU]http://youtu.be/luDCu4wZjVU[/video]

 

[vitanola]

I really enjoy all of these posts and some of them, such as Hadley's cause me to listen to music I might not have otherwise. 2jakes, you're post about the rain reminded me I haven't seen a star around here in 5 or 6 days so, here's to hope.http://youtu.be/xAbCxSWhhEw

Wow. Buffett does a nice job with that number!
Never heard that recording. Thanks!

My favorite version is Teagarden's 1934 waxing; [video=youtube_share;cc8hmvaseRA]http://youtu.be/cc8hmvaseRA[/video]

Although Guy Lombardo's earlier recording, with a vocal by Carmen has its virtues.

 

[vitanola]

Today, I recorded some more tunes! Here is one titled Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen!

ray2ear God, thank you for helping me get, and play the melodeon, and harmonica. I am extremely grateful for these gifts. Amen.ray2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie57k4u7c6Q

Nice work! When I see a little Melodeon or Harmonika I think of my grandfather, who would play on summer evenings. My mother remembered him sitting up in a tree along with her Uncle Charlie and Uncle Franz playing as a trio the old Bohemian songs, "Barushka", "Svestovke Ale", "Cikanka" "Zvadla Ruze"... This would have been some time before the family moved to Cleveland, so, perhaps the summer of 1927 or 1928.

Of course there are folks who play well, and then there are virtuosi. One of the best was Cleveland's own Matt Hoyer, a Slovenian. [video=youtube_share;uX3FXplI1zg]http://youtu.be/uX3FXplI1zg[/video]

 

[Bamaboots]

vitanola, glad you enjoyed it. I've been a Buffett fan for a long time and when it came out on 1981's "Coconut Telegraph", I remember thinking, what the hell? Took me some research to discover what a standard it is, covered by so many great singers. Not that Buffett is one, but he does a nice job with that song.