For some odd reason Autumn stirs deep memories in me. As of late I have thought a lot about my grandmother. She spoke very little English and always pronounced my name as “Ronyal”. She was a very tiny woman and a prolific rose gardener. Only now (alas, too late) do I realize what a unique link I had not only […]
My first contact with the music of composer and arranger Nelson Riddle came about as a very young kid. I loved the theme from the early sixties television show Route 66. Nelson Riddle wrote that and lots of other film music. That piece still does something crazy to me. It has some blend of nostalgia and hipness that always sends
Nelson Riddle (1921-1985) Read More »
A pretty sure sign that your having “writers block” is when you commence making lists of your favorite compositions much like I did in my last blog. I have had “blocks” before and I don’t much let them upset me like I used to. S. J. Perelman (perhaps my favorite writer) explained them as being the natural consequence of having
Writers Block etc. Read More »
According to the BMI catalog (and they should know) I have written and recorded 233 songs thus far. This number surprised me a little but also got me to thinking on the subject. Of course many of the 233 pieces are forgotten even to me. So I thought I would compile a list of songs that I have written and
My original repertoire Read More »
“Elis and Tom” (Elis Regina and Antonio “Tom” Jobim) is the title of an album recorded in L.A. in 1974. It was not released in the U.S. until 1989 but I found a copy of it years before 1989 and it has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps the reason it was not released in this country until 15
Elis and Tom (1974) Read More »
Since Django only lived to the age of 43 it may seem odd to refer to any point that could be considered a “late” period. Yet, the recording he did from about 1948 until his death in 1953 are what I am referring to. This was the period immediately following his short tour of the United States with Duke Ellington.
Django Reinhardt (late period) Read More »