I was never really that into the guitar. I mean, I play chords, but I’m a pianist, a singer, not a guitar guy. But I knew who Les Paul was early on. Every kid did. Somebody’s older brother, their cousin, their dad played in a garage band (or wished they did) and had a Les Paul. In guitar lingo that’s the same as saying “Steinway.” And that was just the start of what he did. He made more than a guitar, he made a new instrument – and with that he made music. The Les Paul – the solid electric guitar – was revolutionary. Rock and roll, pop, jazz – none of it would sound the way it does without him. He invented tracking – the idea that you could layer recordings one on top of the other. That was really the beginning of mixing music, synthesized music and more. And he didn’t do it to be impressive, he did it to make music. And he kept on making music. There was no retirement for Les Paul – in fact there still won’t be. Like Bell and Edison, his name will be forever connected with sound, with music. Thanks Les, for all of us who have stood on Mockingbird Hill and felt your vision. It’s been an honor.
Current Events Soundtracks:
It’s Independence Day in the Central African Republic and Laos
Soundtracks for This Day in History:
In 1521, the Aztecs lose their capital, Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) to Hernando Cortez. And a vibrant culture is lost along with it.
1889 – Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents the derigible, changing pro-sports events forever (well, think about it). All kidding aside, the blimp was a huge invention at the time. In fact, Come Take a Trip in My Airship was one of the earliest hit songs in the history of American popular music. This recording is Billy Murray, a noted variety singer popular between 1890 and 1910.
1940 – The Battle of Britain began, as the Germans attempted to use constant nightly bombing raids to wear down the morale of the British. And as Londoners spent night after night in air raid shelters, songs like The White Cliffs of Dover reminded them of better times to come. This Vera Lynn recording was the original – and became a smash hit overnight on both sides of the Atlantic.
1942 – Bambi premieres in movie theatres, featuring a dramatic plot, cute forest creatures, the requisite death/abandonment by the hero’s mother (what was Walt Disney’s problem, anyway? And they keep on doing it. Over and over again cartoon mommy disappears.), and this wonderful song.
Birthday Soundtracks
1820 Sir George Grove. As any musicologist knows, Sir George Grove is to music what Larousse is to gastronomy. Specifically, he wrote the book – literally. Grove’s dictionary of music and musicians was the definitive music reference book of its day, and it continues to be republished and updated to this day (even now online). Grove was a good friend of Sir Arthur Sullivan (one half of Gilbert and Sullivan – never to be confused with Gilbert O’Sullivan) and was responsible for finding a large cache of previously undiscovered Schubert works, including the music to Rosamunde (this is a recording by the Utah Symphony).
1860 Annie Oakley. America’s greatest woman gunslinger, immortalized in the Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun. Take it away, Ethel. Her duet partner is Bruce Yarnell (like you care).
1879 John Ireland. An English composer with a flare for the dramatic, as represented in his Elegy from the Downland Suite. This is Andre Previn conducting the Leicester Schools Symphony Orchestra in 1970.
1895 Bert Lahr. The guy was really funny, even without the lion costume.
1899 Alfred Hitchcock. Good evening – deep breath – your suspicions were correct. I’m going to link now to Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod (the Hitchcock television theme). But – deep breath – I’m not going to stop there. So many great movies with great soundtracks (mostly by Bernard Herrman), like North by Northwest (my favorite of them). Oh yes, and have you ever heard the singing of school children by so spooky? Unfortunately I cannot find it to link to – if you have it, send it over.
1912 Ben Hogan. Hogan was one of the true legends of golf. And, I know he’s not in The Legend of Bagger Vance, but the Rachel Portman score seems perfect for his birthday, anyway.
1919 George Shearing. There’s jazz piano, and then there’s George Shearing’s jazz piano. Born blind, he developed an extraordinary and unique style that involves block chording and a improvisational style that draws heavily on classical French impressionist music. This version of Lullaby of Birdland is a great example.
1930 Don Ho. Ho was the icon of Hawaiian music, and an ambassador for that music to the entire world. There are certainly plenty of choices when it comes to his prolific repertoire. But this is just too weird: Don Ho singing on I Dream of Jeannie.
1948 Kathleen Battle. Her distinctive, light soprano voice has made Kathleen Battle an icon of American opera singers. In short, when she sings you think: O God is that angelic! Over the years, her repertoire has diversified to include more contemporary and avante garde projects. Here she is singing O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. By the way, this is my favorite Puccini soprano aria. My favorite Puccini tenor aria: Nessun Dorma from Turandot. There is no better tenor to compliment Kathleen Battle than Luciano Pavarotti.
1951 Dan Fogelberg. In my opinion he only needed to write one song. Leader of the Band, apparently, was written for his father. It could have been written for my father, who has been gone now for 14 years. He gave me my music, and even now – as I sit here listening to Fogelberg, I’m crying. I love you Dad.
1959 Danny Bonaduce. Danny Partridge. Come on, get happy.
1960 Koji Kondo. Kondo is Nintendo’s most prolific video game soundtrack composer. Here his is playing his Super Mario music on an acoustic piano.
Passing Anniversary Soundtracks:
Francesco Durante (1757), often overlooked Italian baroque composer. Here is his Concerto a Cinque in G minor.
Jules Massanet (1912), best known for his Meditation from Thais, a violin piece. The voilinist is Sarah Chang. And yes, that is Placido Domingo conducting.
H.G. Wells (1946), one of the world’s first science fiction writers. Here is something rare indeed, the opening scene (and title score) for Things To Come by Arthur Bliss. Interestingly, the printed score was destroyed during the Blitz in World War II, but later reconstructed – painstakingly – through the use of computer technology and the actual film.
Nino Ferrer (1998), a well-known French pop and jazz musician who really hit his stride in the 1970’s. Here is an interesting song of his called Oh! He! Hein! Bon!
Nazia Hassan (2000), who died tragically young from lung cancer, was a rarity in south central Asia: A Pakistani singer that was also successful in India. Her first hit was in 1980 with Aap Jaisa Koi, which she recorded for the film Qurbani when she was only 17.
Phil Rizzuto (2007), legendary short stop for the New York Yankees, is probably the only baseball player turned announcer to be featured in a rock song.
More notes on notes tomorrow.
Taking Note 