Mickey Rooney… An Era Of Legendary Hollywood Has Died.

 

Lord, what can you not say about this man and actor.

I have been watching him all my life, my mom all of her life. Generation after generation after generation.

Of course I’ll always have forever etched in my mind all those Andy Hardy movies he made with Judy Garland, but there’s one in particular I have never forgotten.

A Human Comedy.

I first watched this movie when I was about 6 years-old and remember crying at the scene in-which he reads a letter from his brother. At almost 57 I still remember Homer Macauley. To this day I still believe it was Rooney’s best performance ever at a young 22.

I can’t count all the movies he made in an era when an actor signed to a studio pumped out 7, 8 movies a year. All I know is with his passing you feel as if a part of your family has left.

All the words apply, Icon, Legend in reality with the acting, dancing & singing abilities Mickey Rooney was a Monument of Entertainment.

He has left this world with enough of it on film and television there would be always something on to watch. Something that a thousand cable channels can’t seem to provide. Just goes to show you what classics are all about and class acts. Mickey was on the top of the list.

93+ years of life God graced us with of this man and after God welcomed to Heaven I’m sure Judy was standing there waiting. What a grand reunion that must be taking place right now. There always smiling in one place and tears left behind, yet still these stars always remain with us forever.

There’s only one channel I need, Turner Classic Movies. It’s where they keep our happiest memories for us and put them on display.

Hollywood lost its biggest star, a Hollywood Golden Era very much missed.

 

Eydie Gormé 1928-2013 … What a Voice.

 

Very sad to have heard this grand talent died yesterday. Eydie Gormé and husband Steve Lawrence defined what it is to have Class.

Both blessed with fabulous pipes but Eydie performed like a stick of dynamite. Her vocal chords absolutely exploded along with the rest of the cream of the crop of her era. She could belt out songs so powerful she left the host of any show she was on in awe.

Monday Moanin’ ~ “Darkness” ~ Tab Benoit

This Louisiana man has been playing since the late 80s then burst onto the music scene in 1992 with his first album. Playing and preserving pure Delta Swamp Blues. His compositions are soulfully honest and raw but he has also done some of the best covers of legends such as Professor Longhair’s “Her Mind Is Gone” and Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”.

You can find those off his 2002 album “Wetlands”.

In 2012 he was named best Contemporary Blues Male Artist and won the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Through the years has toured everywhere but always keeping his Cajun roots, Benoit’s guitar and vocals are infused fire.

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ “Angel Eyes” ~ Frank Sinatra

This performance was recorded in Dallas, October 24, 1987. It was released off the 1995 Sinatra 80th album.

In reality I fell in love with it in 1976 watching The Main Event and prefer that version with the Woody Herman Orchestra. But the sound quality of the versions I found from that TV special on YT were horrific.

No one I know could sing a song in an arena of thousands but make it sound as if it was in a shrunken down saloon as he described in that concert.

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ Jerry Vale ~ Al di là (Beyond)

Written in 1961 by Labati Carlo Donida – Music
Giulio Rapetti aka Mogol – Lyrics

Sunday Suave’ ~ Spencer Day ~ Till You Come to Me

This young cat hit the scene in 2004 with his first album ‘Introducing Spencer Day’, his second one came out in 2005 ‘Movie of Your Life’ featuring his own songs. And the same year wrote the whole score and stared in a 20 song musical revue ‘Someday, Love’.

Born in 1981 this 30-year-old croons with a style of other contemporary pop, jazz and blues artists from years past that seemed to come out of my parents generation.

I mean this guy’s voice, sound and style is as sexy and as smooth as they come. He composes, plays piano and from this 2009 release of the album ‘Vagabond’ Till You Come to Me is only one prime example of his sophisticated writing and smooth baritone of phrasing.

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ Walk On By ~ Dionne Warwick

In reality the video itself tells the story of the magic that was created with Composer Burt Bacharach, Co-Writing Lyricist partner Hal David and Singer Dionne Warwick.

It was the time of an era that spoke to you through the muse, words and vocals like none other. And it was the beginning of one of the best combinations of Music Ever.

Something today that nobody seems to have anymore. A collaboration that lasts because it’s that good.

“Walk On By” was just one of multitudes of hits she would sing with Bacharach & David who wrote over a 100 songs together in the early sixties alone with a good portion of them with Warwick in mind.

Over a 20-year period, beginning in the early 1960s, Warwick charted 38 singles co-written or produced by Bacharach and David, including 22 Top-40, 12 Top-20, and nine Top-10 hits on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts.

So Sexy, So Talented… Yet so Vulnerable. Chet Baker ~ Songs of the Weekend.

Man take your choice.

Eddie Fisher ~ One of the Greatest Singers.

Say what you will about this Man. At one time Eddie Fisher had one of the most recognizable voices in the world.

Now silenced at the age of 82.