Select Page

She Did it All

by | Oct 3, 2022 | People | 0 comments

Photo by Dolls Magazine

 

 

Model/Singer/Actress/Activist Par Excellence

 

She was Julia, a widowed mother and professional nurse in a landmark television series. In my little girl eyes at age seven, this portrayal was her sole identity, and I adored her in each scene.

The many fascinating feats Diahann Carroll achieved are fond discoveries I’ve recently made.

She became a prolific person who rose to stardom and strongly held it throughout her lifetime.

 

 

Diahann Carroll and her parents Mabel Faulk and John Johnson | Source: youtube.com/OWN

 

My favorite aspect of Diahann is how she held onto public fame in her prime, while privately becoming the “saving grace” of her aging parents. 

Diahann truly embodied devotion when she nurtured the two people who brought her into the world; the same two people who had chosen to separate themselves from her life for one year when she was a toddler. While love often calls for complete forgiveness, there’s evidence Diahann displayed this pure love when it was needed most.

 

 

 

 

Dust Bowl Troubadour

by | Sep 14, 2022 | People | 0 comments

Photo by: Celebrate America

 

This controversial American singer/songwriter

was also an activist and author.

He left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country. 

His Legacy Lives Here

 

Any fool can make something complicated.

It takes a genius to make it simple.

 

― Woody Guthrie

 

The folk music I learned in grade school music classes and while singing along with my family carried a wide range of mood and meaning. We’d belt out, Oh Susannah, Red River Valley, Puff the Magic Dragon, Scarborough Fair, and This Land is Your Land.

 

 

 

 

‘Til the Clouds Roll By

by | Aug 31, 2022 | People | 0 comments

Photo by Ulrika Clouds on Flikr

 

American composers are often household names to those who think of themselves as music lovers.

Yet the names of even prolific composers may elude us at times, and we go instantly to Google.

 

The life story (both true and fictional) of composer Jerome Kern was depicted in an MGM film tribute. The trailer is posted below for your pleasure.

By the way, his song All The Things You Are is ranked #2 of 300 in the catalog of Jazz Standards.

 

 

My favorite Jerome Kern composition was nominated for the 1944 Academy Award for Best Original Song, yet Swinging on a Star took it home.

Long Ago (and Far Away) is honored here in this perfect audio recording by artist Johnny Mathis:

 

 

 From YouTuber  lenoremewton:

“‘Long Ago and Far Away’ is one of Jerome Kern’s most haunting melodies–his ‘last great masterpiece,’ in the words of his biographer, Gerald Bordman….. In Johnny’s hands, this ‘haunting’ essence and emotional appeal to the sweet memory of love emerges effortlessly. While there is a live version of this up on YT, I wanted to offer just one other perspective with a focus on the entirety of the song’s origin, including some photo stills of Johnny that I hope will touch you as much as the song. Please enjoy. This IS romance at its very, very best. (Read on for more history of Gershwin, Kern and history of the song and film for which it was written- “Cover Girl,” ’44, and the ‘breakthrough’ roles for Hayworth and Kelly). As you’ll see in the film clip stills (middle of video), Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin, who wrote this and all of the songs for the 1944 film Cover Girl, stars Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. The film made a pinup girl of Hayworth in ‘world weary WWII when lovers and families were separated,’ and a leading man of Gene Kelly. Gershwin apparently struggled throughout with the lyric and title- but finally emerged with the greatest lyric of his career- and biggest hit in any one year with over 600,000 copies of sheet music sales. (see article

https://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-2/longago.htm).”