Natalie Cole, a daughter of music legend Nat King Cole who became a music star in her own right, died Thursday of heart failure. She was 65. Cole earned several platinum albums and nine Grammy awards during her career, but she probably will be best known for her smash-hit "Unforgettable" album, where studio wizardry allowed her to … Continue reading Natalie Cole, R.I.P.
Tag: Bobby Troup
An oldie with the Dixie Chicks
The YouTube account that posted this today proclaims this 20-plus-year-old clip as "rare." I see no reason to disbelieve that. It's Ray Benson of the western swing band Asleep At the Wheel singing "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" with an early edition of the Dixie Chicks on the "American Music Shop" television show, which … Continue reading An oldie with the Dixie Chicks
“Route 66” from behind the wheel
If you're going to perform Bobby Troup's song about cruising the Mother Road, what better way to do it while behind the wheel? They are the Blues Point Vocal Group of Australia, who clearly take a lot of stylistic inspiration from the Manhattan Transfer. Route 66 from George Washingmachine on Vimeo. The advent of small … Continue reading “Route 66” from behind the wheel
Old-school “Route 66”
If you want to know what it sounded like when the Nat King Cole Trio's version of "Route 66" came out on 78 rpm record in 1946, you have your chance -- cracks, pops and all. Route 66 from Ricky Doo Wop on Vimeo. This was the record that jump-started Bobby Troup's career and spawned … Continue reading Old-school “Route 66”
Sam Payne gets his kicks
Based on this performance with guitarist Brady Bills, you'd think Sam Payne is some sort of jazz artist. https://youtu.be/e5nV4LasR7E But you go to his website, and you hear country-folk music -- which indicates a musician with considerable chops. You may find yourself listening to the tunes the Utah native streams through there, as I did.
Co-founder of Manhattan Transfer dies
Tim Hauser, a co-founder of the Manhattan Transfer jazz vocal quartet in 1969 and the only original member still with the group, died at age 72 this week, reported JazzTimes and other media outlets. The cause of death was not disclosed, but a post through the group's Facebook page confirmed his passing. We spent more than 40 … Continue reading Co-founder of Manhattan Transfer dies
Two rockers on the road
In recent days, Music Vault has posted two vintage videos of rock bands covering Bobby Troup's big road song. The first is by Earth Quake, playing at Winterland in San Francisco in 1974: https://youtu.be/hC5ZZpRF7p0 The next one is by the Greg Kihn Band, playing at Capital Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey in 1984. https://youtu.be/I6uDcpk21MA
Hello from Moscow
I bet you haven't heard this one. It's Ned Wright, singing Bobby Troup's "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" in 1955 in Moscow as part of The Everyman's Opera Concerto. It's a lot jazzier than you might think it is. Wright, by the way, was one of the first Americans allowed to perform behind the … Continue reading Hello from Moscow
“Route 66” performed on Indonesia TV
Bobby Troup's estate got another dose of cha-ching Friday. On a show called "Rising Star Indonesia," contestant Reyna Qotrunnada performed his best-known song. https://youtu.be/cdgDKj131No Yes, her English during the song is a clumsy, but do remember it's not her mother tongue. But it seemed a lot of people in the audience recognized it. It's amazing … Continue reading “Route 66” performed on Indonesia TV
Another tune from the garage
The Beatles' invasion of America in early 1964 and later rush of British acts spawned a lot of rock bands in the United States. Here's one in the seemingly endless list, The Fabulous Pharaohs of Newark, Delaware. The band's take on Bobby Troup's "Route 66" is notable in the lyrics are about as butchered as any version … Continue reading Another tune from the garage