Louis Armstrong, The Jazz Master

Louis Armstrong was born August 4, 1901 in New Orleans.  He was born into a very poor family and the grandson of slaves.  He credited Joe “King” Oliver with teaching him to play the trumpet by ear.  By the age of eleven, he’d dropped out of school and was singing on the streets for money.  Read More

Who Is the Wind Beneath Your Wings?

One of the residents at the nursing home where I do music always request “Wind Beneath My Wings.” The song was one of my favorites by Bette Midler in her movie Beaches. The song was written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley in 1982. The title came from a poem Henley had written. Silbar was Read More

Irving Berlin, He Was American Music

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidore Baline on May 11, 1888, in Tyumen, Russian Empire.  He was one of eight children born to his parents.  In 1893 his family immigrated and settled in New York City.  By the age of eight, he’d quit school and was selling newspapers.  While selling papers he would hear the Read More

Star Wars, Stargate Composer Dies

Did you recently hear of the death of Joel Goldsmith?  Did you also wonder who he was? Joel Goldsmith was born November 19, 1957, in Los Angeles, California.  This oldest of six children was born into a musical family.   He is best known for his work on Star Wars, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis and other Read More