| Duane Keilstrup Broadcast Archives June, 2020 |
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This Week's Classics & Curios Show:
"Echoes of Songs and Laughter" Episode 392 CLASSICS & CURIOS: SILENT NIGHT AT PEARL HARBOR (downloadable) No, it’s not December 7 for this show. This episode, to continue our Memorial Day theme one more time, was originally broadcast here in remembrance of Pearl Harbor in tribute to all those in the armed forces who gave the ultimate gift of their lives to protect our freedom and to preserve our way of life. It was the beginning of the Christmas season and reminded us dramatically of the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave His life to free us from separation from God and give us the promise of eternal life. We repeat this tribute appropriately now with songs of remembrance from World War II that touched our hearts and still stir our souls — songs such as "Wings Over The Navy," by Lou Stone and his orchestra, "I'll Walk Alone" by Martha Tilton, "God Bless America" by Kate Smith on Armistice Day in 1938, "White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn in 1942, and "A Soldier's Last Letter" by Colonel William Bayes. "Buy American" by Ted Lewis reminds us of our obligation to our troops to do our duty at home, The Sons of the Pioneers perform that touching patriotic song "Stars and Stripes On Iwo Jima Isle" about the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima. The song brings to mind Felix de Weldon's moving 1954 sculpture which forever reminds us of the bravery and pride of those courageous men on Mount Suribachi. The sculpture was based on the famous photo by Joe Rosenthal taken during a staged flag raising during that famous battle. It is dedicated to all marines who gave their lives defending our country since 1775, including my brother-in-law Eugene Jernigan who survived the Bataan death march and later lost his life in Viet Nam. "Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue" reads the inscription as quoted from Admiral Chester A. Nimitz. Vera Lynn, British singer, songwriter, and actress was known as the British Forces Sweetheart for her dedication to the war effort and personal involvement with the troops and their families. In the year 2000 she was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century. Irving Berlin wrote "God Bless America" in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army but felt it was not right for a local revue called "Yip Yip Yaphank" but later, as Hitler came on the scene, changed a few lyrics and revived it as a song of peace. He added a prayerful introduction: "While the storm clouds gather far across the sea / Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free. / Let us all be grateful for a land so fair / As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer." Kate Smith introduced those words and song on her radio show in 1938. "More than just the dramatic words and melody, the arrangement for Kate Smith's performance was accompanied by full orchestra and chorus, progressing into a grand march tempo, with trumpets triple reinforcing the harmonies between stanzas: the dramatic build-up ends on the final exposed high note, which Kate Smith sang in the solo as a sustained note (a cappella), with the orchestra and full chorus then joining for the final chords." Later in 1943 Kate sang the song in the musical and also in the movie "This Is the Army" which featured an actor named Ronald Reagan. A special prologue accompanies this edition. It's a Christmas recitation in honor of our troops, a recording which received a March of Dimes Achievement in Radio award. It's called "A Soldier's Silent Night" recorded in 2003 in the style of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Father Ted Berndt, himself a former marine. The poem was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1986 and was originally called "Merry Christmas, My Friend." There is no closing theme after the prologue. Yes, it’s a pretty long while until Christmas again. But let us pause each day to thank God for our troops as they carry the torch of freedom. Let’s continue to pray for their safety, strength, and enduring hope in the One whose birthday Christians around the world like me celebrate every day, not just at Christmas. .
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Click to hear the Program of 6-7-20|
 
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This Week's Classics & Curios Show:
"Echoes of Songs and Laughter" Episode 393
THE BEST OF CLASSICS & CURIOS PRESENTS “HERE COME THE BIG BANDS, AGAIN” — AGAIN! WITH RAY ANTHONY, STAN KENTON, GEORGIE AULD AND MORE (downloadable) From ABC radio and the AFRS “Here Come the Big Bands, Again” — Again! On this Classics & Curios Episode of “Man About Music” Ted Lawrence showcases more programs featuring fine orchestras and great songs, mostly from the 1930’s and 1940’s, songs many of our brave, precious, and frightened WWII troops listened to before, during, and after WWII. Ray Anthony, at one time a member of Glenn Miller’s band, begins the first show with “Mr. Anthony’s Boogie.” Other bands on the bill include:
Nelson Riddle with “No Letter Today”
This program ends with a short clip from the “Dictionary of Freedom. Then Stan Kenton takes the show spotlight with songs and bits and pieces about his career. Once known as “The Kansas Kid,” Kenton eventually introduced a new jazz orchestral dissonant sound with the recording “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads,” as he focused on music as concert oriented rather than for dancing, as listeners became spectators. Critic George T. Simon wrote, “Within the Stan Kenton band nestles one of the greatest combinations of rhythm, harmony and melody that’s ever been assembled by one leader.” Though Kenton “mellowed” somewhat in later years his music remained “controversial” and at times ‘ponderous,” “depressive,” yet “impressive” and even “exciting,” according to Simon. Other recordings by Kenton on this broadcast, besides his theme “Artistry in Rhythm,” include “Love Letters,” “Eager Beaver” and “Lover.” Finally, Ted Lawrence brings Canadian Georgie Auld and his brilliant and biting tenor sax to be the focus of this last program as he plays “Back Home Again in Indiana,” “Blue Lou,” “Dinah,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Swingin’ in the Moore Park,” and “Tippin’ In.” Auld played with Artie Shaw (leading Artie’s band briefly until it disbanded). He also was with Benny Goodman, Bunny Berrigan, and, as Lawrence points out, he was influenced especially by Jimmy Lunceford’s back beat shuffle style behind the melody Musical thoughts: “I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy, but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” — Plato “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” — Confucius .
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This Week's Classics & Curios Show:
"Echoes of Songs and Laughter" Episode 394
DUANE KEILSTRUP’S THE BEST OF CLASSICS & CURIOS: “THE DIXIELAND CLUB IS ON THE AIR" Especially in honor of my dear late father Victor and my sweet “lifelong” wife Glenda, it’s time again for “Joyful Jazz” with this replay of the rare 1950’s Dixieland Club series heard originally daily with host Hall Murray on Mutual radio and AFRS as Dixie Matinee and resurrected today by Jerry Haendiges Productions. The Dixieland Club is made up of drummer Preacher Rollo & the Five Saints with clarinetist Tony Parenti’s Ragpickers, along with pianist Marie Marcus, cornetist Tommy Justice, trombonist Jerry Gorman, and bassist Al Matucci. It’s time again for “Joyful Jazz” with this replay of the rare 1950’s Dixieland Club series heard originally daily with host Hall Murray on Mutual radio and AFRS as Dixie Matinee and resurrected today by Jerry Haendiges Productions. The Dixieland Club is made up of drummer Preacher Rollo & the Five Saints with clarinetist Tony Parenti’s Ragpickers, along with pianist Marie Marcus, cornetist Tommy Justice, trombonist Jerry Gorman, and bassist Al Matucci. Four fifteen minute shows make up this Episode as this spirited group clearly has great fun with great tunes. These fine musicians capitalized on the resurgence of “hot” or “traditional” jazz and boogie woogie during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Here are the sixteen songs on this Episode’s playbill:
Show number one:
Copenhagen
Show number two:
Jazz Me Blues
Show number three:
Show number four: NOTES “The Dixieland revival music during the 1940s and 1950s gained a broad audience that established traditional jazz as an enduring part of the American cultural landscape, and spawned revival movements in Europe.” (Wikimania-Wikipedia) I especially like jazz critic Scott Yanow’s comment on Dixieland jazz: “Arguably the happiest of all music is Dixieland jazz. The sound of several horns all improvising together on fairly simple chord changes with definite roles for each instrument but a large amount of freedom, cannot help but sound consistently joyful.” As Louis Armstrong proclaimed in the 1956 movie “High Society:” — “End of story!” Musical Thought: “A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” — Leopold Stokowsky
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This Week's Classics & Curios Show:
"Echoes of Songs and Laughter" Episode 395
CLASSICS & CURIOS: MORE DIXIELAND CLUB JOYFUL JAZZ CLASSICS & CURIOS: STILL MORE DIXIELAND CLUB JOYFUL JAZZ It’s time again for more “Joyful Jazz” with samples of this rare 1950’s Dixieland Club series heard originally daily with host Hall Murray on Mutual radio and AFRS as Dixie Matinee, resurrected today by Jerry Haendiges Productions. The Dixieland Club is made up of drummer Preacher Rollo & the Five Saints with super clarinetist Tony Parenti, along with lively pianist Marie Marcus, cornetist Tommy Justice, trombonist Jerry Gorman, and on occasion Al Matucci on contrabass. Rolllo overcame polio as a child and became a sufficiently proficient drummer to join Bunny Berigan, Jack Teagarden, Eddie Condon, and also Paul Whitman’s band for three years. He served in the U.S. Air force during World War II, following which he worked briefly with Ray McKinley before forming his own Dixieland group. Rollo’s pianist Marie Marcus, who was known as ‘Cape Cod’s first lady of jazz,” received stride piano lessons from Fats Waller, who is quoted as telling her, “For a white gal, you sure got it here” as he pointed to his heart. Three fifteen minute shows make up this Episode as this spirited group clearly has more great fun with great tunes. These fine musicians capitalized on the resurgence of “hot” or “traditional” jazz and boogie woogie during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Here are the twelve songs on this Episode’s playbill:
Show number one:
Show number two:
Show number three: NOTES “The Dixieland revival music during the 1940s and 1950s gained a broad audience that established traditional jazz as an enduring part of the American cultural landscape, and spawned revival movements in Europe.” (Wikimania-Wikipedia) Let me quote once more jazz critic Scott Yanow’s comment on Dixieland jazz: “Arguably the happiest of all music is Dixieland jazz. The sound of several horns all improvising together on fairly simple chord changes with definite roles for each instrument but a large amount of freedom, cannot help but sound consistently joyful.” And, again, as Louis Armstrong proclaimed in the 1956 movie “High Society:” — “End of story!”
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