Frank Sinatra was the biggest star of his day. He suffered numerous ups and downs throughout his career. Yet, how did it all begin? Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915. From all accounts his birth was extremely traumatic and he almost did not survive. He had a scar on his left ear, Read More
Category: Oldies
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Let Me Call You Sweetheart is a longtime favorite. Every time I go to the nursing homes to perform, the residents LOVE this song. One time we sang this song through about a dozen times in a row. As we sing through the song, we would dance {usually with them sitting in their chair} with 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
Bing Crosby, the Original Crooner
Bing Crosby mesmerized all of us with his soothing voice. The famous crooner was born Harry Lillis Crosby on May 3, 1902, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the fourth of seven children of bookkeeper, Harry Lincoln Crosby. Little Harry was a fan of “The Bingville Bugle” a Sunday feature of the local newspaper. A neighborhood Read More
The Carpenter’s Left a Lasting Impression
During the 1970s the Carpenter’s were very popular. Even today their hits can still be heard in commercials and movies. The Carpenter’s were a brother and sister group. Richard was born on October 15, 1946, and Karen was born on March 2, 1950. They were born in Connecticut and later moved to California. In his Read More
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
This hit was written by Irving Berlin in 1911. The belief is the song refers to the then “new ideas” of standard music that was popping up, from ragtime to the blues and jazz. Vaudeville singer Emma Carus introduced the song and helped make it popular. By the time the Titanic sailed in April 1912, Read More
Nearer, My God, To Thee, Last Song Played As the Titanic Sinks
Nearer, My God, To Thee is commonly believed to be the last song the Titanic played as the ship sank. The popular hymn was written by Sarah Flower Adams and is loosely based on Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:11-19. This hymn is considered by hymnology students to be the finest hymn ever written by a Read More
Autumn, heard the night of Titanic’s Sinking
There are conflicting reports among survivors regarding the last song the Band played as the Titanic was sinking. We know it was either “Autumn” or “Nearer My God to Thee.” We will discuss the later song next time. Let’s take a look at “Autumn”. I’m familiar with this legend, but knew nothing about the song. Read More
Songs Heard on the Titanic
The White Star Line Songbook Had More than 150 Songs for the musicians to learn. The songs were mainly upbeat and consisted of ragtime and waltzes. Hymns would have been appropriate for Sunday services. The musicians were expected to know all of these songs by memory and play any of them upon request from a Read More
Heroes: The Titanic Band
“They kept it up to the very end. Only the engulfing ocean had power to drown them into silence. The band was playing ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ I could hear it distinctly. The end was very close.” -CHARLOTTE COLLYER, TITANIC SURVIVOR We have all heard the stories of how the Titanic orchestra played until Read More