Friends, Thank You for sending comments and questions to me and Christine about my acting career. Let's try and let this blog answer some of those.
If you read from the beginning of this blog, you know that I was given a tremendous opportunity to be an actor early on. Then, well... The details of what happened with my acting career are in my unpublished memoir and might even shock you, but my focus became my music career.
This blog is focusing on my life in music because ultimately that is where I went when I followed my own North Star. Still, I feel that I learned so much about life being in New York young, studying acting and James Dean, and being part of a generation who emerged into the 1960's at a time when technology was advancing rapidly, allowing us to perform live on radio and television, moving from black and white to color, and, more than anything, living through changes in social attitudes and conditions that were reflected in music.
We posted a comment someone sent in that said this:
"The United States of America, that you grew up in, is rapidly falling apart. God bless you and your generation that lived and thrived in a country unique in human history. I am so sorry to see the rapid demise of a democracy that stood alone for such a brief moment in world history. Never again, in our brief life time, will we see a time when a young man from North Carolina could rise from the masses to follow a dream that all humankind shares. God bless you, Wes Bryan."
Now I appreciated the God Bless, but actually both Christine and I have more hope than this person. We still think that common people have a chance to rise up from their beginnings and become famous or at least have a great career. We know it happens all the time even if it is a rare thing and it happens more in this great United States of America than anywhere else in the world because here you don't necessarily live the life you were born into.
How much is anyone's fate we don't know. We know that hard work alone won't do it, though hard work is necessary. It is always fascinating, if not downright mystifying, to see how some idea takes hold and spreads, how trends come and go. So we want to encourage you all to know what it is you want out of life and then try your damnedest to make that happen! You never know if you don't try...
Wes and Christine
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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS Quote on Friendship
"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose." -Tennessee Williams
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
(152) STATE FAIR - A ROCK AND ROLL MOVIE
Gene Vincent, in that interview we posted recently, mentioned that he was going to the states to do the movie called "State Fair." This was a rock and roll movie, young and hip, and guess who else was in it? My friend Bobby Darin, as well as Pat Boone and Ann-Margret.
Go to the IMDB movie database STATE FAIR link above!
Now, take a look at this YouTube video that features the sexy Ann with someone who you might be surprised did a bare-chested love scene with her - Pat Boone! Yea, really!
Go to the IMDB movie database STATE FAIR link above!
Now, take a look at this YouTube video that features the sexy Ann with someone who you might be surprised did a bare-chested love scene with her - Pat Boone! Yea, really!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
(151) THE ACADEMY AWARDS
I attended the Academy Awards a couple times because Phil Sadona, who was on the board of the Academy liked me and gave me tickets. He was one of the people who felt that I should not give up on acting. Phil had once had a contract with 20th Century Fox at the same time as Marilyn Monroe, my favorite actress. He had curly black hair and looked like the old actor Errol Flynn. He used the stage name Tony Roman when he was an actor.
There is always controversy over the Academy Awards and how the Academy selects the winners. But I believe that the Academy Awards has elevated the art of acting and that this is a coveted and desireable acheivement to be recognized by them.
There is always controversy over the Academy Awards and how the Academy selects the winners. But I believe that the Academy Awards has elevated the art of acting and that this is a coveted and desireable acheivement to be recognized by them.
Monday, May 19, 2008
GOING Going GONE! E-BAY AUCTION OF TINY SPACEMAN
What the heck! Christine and I decided to give ol' JD's record shop a little help in auctioing off a copy of my Gold Record, "Tiny Spaceman" and "Lonesome Love." Click on the Title above Going Going Gone! and give a listen to my 1957 hit that lauched my United Artists career!
Trying a new Google Blogger Feature - Presetting Time for Publication
We're trying a new Google Blogger feature that allows us to preset the time and date for publishing a blog entry. We think that this may be of benefit to those who subscribe to our RSS FEED due to the consistent time of day we set up. A trial run of this feature in the last week or so has resulted in a concern for us. This involves the font we choose for this blog which is Georgia. We've checked our blog on the net and noticed that some of our posts showed up in a different font, primarily Ariel. So that makes us feel that using this preset may result in an overall inconsistent look of the blog and that it is not safe for us to not check in every day quite yet. Any feedback?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
(150) THE HOLLYWOOD BUG CONTINUES TO BITE ME
In New York acting was respected as a dramatic art and the stage was the place to be. I studied at Actors Studio in New York with Lee Strasberg, who is now legendary.
The Studio System of Hollywood put actors on contract. The amount of money to be made was quite limited in those years compared to what successful actors demand and get today - very limited. Even when an actor made millions for the studios on a picture, or a top agent like Henry Wilson was going to negotiate for you, the actors take was limited.
Of course some stars managed to get their contracts rewritten for more money. Wealth for many didn't come outright from pay or overnight but from investing what they earned in real estate - land especially - in Southern California, which had experienced a first surge of the building boom after World War II.
So you had to love acting and love it enough to do it knowing you might never make a lot of money. You had to appreciate the many perks that came with being a famous actor, including meeting people and making connections that could do you some good, but you had to earn it all the time. You had to do things their way.
Just as James Dean had moved to Hollywood and making films, many of my peers, including of course Bobby Darin, looked forward to a movie acting career. It was one thing to make grueling promotional tours around the country, one radio or television station after another, and another to be known almost instantly around the whole country because you were seen in the movies. So long as the move from stage to screen included musicals, it made sense to the viewing public that an actor would launch into song.
The Studio System of Hollywood put actors on contract. The amount of money to be made was quite limited in those years compared to what successful actors demand and get today - very limited. Even when an actor made millions for the studios on a picture, or a top agent like Henry Wilson was going to negotiate for you, the actors take was limited.
Of course some stars managed to get their contracts rewritten for more money. Wealth for many didn't come outright from pay or overnight but from investing what they earned in real estate - land especially - in Southern California, which had experienced a first surge of the building boom after World War II.
So you had to love acting and love it enough to do it knowing you might never make a lot of money. You had to appreciate the many perks that came with being a famous actor, including meeting people and making connections that could do you some good, but you had to earn it all the time. You had to do things their way.
Just as James Dean had moved to Hollywood and making films, many of my peers, including of course Bobby Darin, looked forward to a movie acting career. It was one thing to make grueling promotional tours around the country, one radio or television station after another, and another to be known almost instantly around the whole country because you were seen in the movies. So long as the move from stage to screen included musicals, it made sense to the viewing public that an actor would launch into song.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
(149) THE INSIDERS RULE ON PRIVACY and PHOTOS of ELVIS
As soon as a actor had a contract with a movie studio, they had to be concerned with morality clauses in the contract which instructed them to live their lives clean or at least conduct themselves so that they didn't get caught in a compromising situation.
THE INSIDERS RULE was a Rule about keeping the privacy of your famous friends.
It meant not telling anyone what you knew, of keeping private life private - theirs and yours.
A real friend was never someone who would call a rag sheet with a story that could cause you trouble. Sadly, many stars who were jealous of their competitors did call the rag sheets and tell what they knew or make up stories. These publications thrived on scandal but could also make or break a star's image. Many stars were afraid of them, while others fed them.
Elvis went by the insiders rule and the entourage and his close friends at the house were expected to do so as well. Being with Elvis every moment could have been a "photo-op," but those of us close to him never demanded photos. Remember too that this was the era of the flash bulb going off indoors, or being temporarily blinded by picture taking.
Elvis was the first to pose with just about any fan that approached him but outside his home. Home was not the place for such intrusions.
THE INSIDERS RULE was a Rule about keeping the privacy of your famous friends.
It meant not telling anyone what you knew, of keeping private life private - theirs and yours.
A real friend was never someone who would call a rag sheet with a story that could cause you trouble. Sadly, many stars who were jealous of their competitors did call the rag sheets and tell what they knew or make up stories. These publications thrived on scandal but could also make or break a star's image. Many stars were afraid of them, while others fed them.
Elvis went by the insiders rule and the entourage and his close friends at the house were expected to do so as well. Being with Elvis every moment could have been a "photo-op," but those of us close to him never demanded photos. Remember too that this was the era of the flash bulb going off indoors, or being temporarily blinded by picture taking.
Elvis was the first to pose with just about any fan that approached him but outside his home. Home was not the place for such intrusions.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC - RIGHTS INFORMATION
Once in a while we'll be posting a notice like this one that reminds readers that the content of this blog is Copyright Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna with all rights reserved including Internet and International Rights. If interested in speaking to me, Wes Bryan, please contact us at the e-mail address we've provided. (By the way folks, don't phish us or spam us, or try to scam us; We report it all and block offenders addresses!)
We are linking to a good many web sites, favoring the official web sites of various famous and important people as well as reference sites. If we link to your site and you don't want us to, please let us know, and we'll take down the link.
The content of other people's sites remains theirs.
Thank you for your consideration and courtesy.
Christine Trzyna & Wes Bryan
http://wesbryan.blogspot.com
WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC
e-mail is wewritethebook@yahoo.com
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
ROCKIN' COUNTRY STYLE
We want to THANK ROCKIN' COUNTRY STYLE, also called RCS Discography, for all the hard work they've done over there at Emory University to present a viable history of Country Rock and Roll - sometimes called Rockabilly - to us.
If you've been reading this blog and listening to the sound samples, you know we've been leaning on RCS heavily. Now folks, RCS can't take donations as things are set up, but you can always express your appreciation in other ways. Send them a note in the U.S. mail or an e-mail ! Or get involved if you have some records you are willing to share for a time so that more clips can be uploaded!
The volunteer team there headed up by Terry Gordon has done a great job of supplying music clips as well as photos of actual records and covers.
Using the GEOGRAPHICAL search is a fascinating way to see what SMALL LABELS existed and who recorded on them. Elvis Presley and so many others walked into Sun Records in Memphis to produce a recording - vanity or low budget. Other Rockabilly and Country artists to be were doing so all over America in smaller towns and markets. Go to the state and the town/label and give a listen to a local hopeful giving it their all!
You can also use the RCS LABEL search to see who was recording at Sun besides Elvis and get a feel for the body of work from a particular studio.
If you've been reading this blog and listening to the sound samples, you know we've been leaning on RCS heavily. Now folks, RCS can't take donations as things are set up, but you can always express your appreciation in other ways. Send them a note in the U.S. mail or an e-mail ! Or get involved if you have some records you are willing to share for a time so that more clips can be uploaded!
The volunteer team there headed up by Terry Gordon has done a great job of supplying music clips as well as photos of actual records and covers.
Using the GEOGRAPHICAL search is a fascinating way to see what SMALL LABELS existed and who recorded on them. Elvis Presley and so many others walked into Sun Records in Memphis to produce a recording - vanity or low budget. Other Rockabilly and Country artists to be were doing so all over America in smaller towns and markets. Go to the state and the town/label and give a listen to a local hopeful giving it their all!
You can also use the RCS LABEL search to see who was recording at Sun besides Elvis and get a feel for the body of work from a particular studio.
Monday, May 12, 2008
(148) ERSEL - LIPS OF ROSES - 1961
And here is Ersel Hickey and his 1961 song "Lips of Roses."
Also, let's take another look at Ersel's RCS Discography page - linked above!
Also, let's take another look at Ersel's RCS Discography page - linked above!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
(147) ERSEL HICKEY - I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT LOVE - 1961
Here's Ersel's song "I Guess You Could Call It Love." Now you may know this, but if you click on the block icon to the bottom left of the YouTube video screen, you will enlarge the picture to the size of your computer screen.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
(146) ERSEL HICKEY
Ersel Hickey, as you know, was one of my best friends in New York, one of the best friends of the guys. I invited Ersel to come out to Los Angeles, follow the guys who were moving West for their careers, and told him he could stay with me and one of my brothers who was now living with me in Hollywood. But Ersel remained a true New Yorker. I doubt he even considered it.
New York always had an element of excitement and energy to it. I always felt myself to be at the center of creative enterprise there and when I look back on my days in New York now, I feel the same way.
1961 proved to be a good year for Ersel and music. So the next couple blogs will be Ersel's music. Now these YouTube videos unfortunately do not feature his performing. I shared the stage with Ersel more than once and believe me, the girls went crazy for him and those shakin' legs of his. Maybe someday some old film of Ersel will appear.
Just so you know, Ersel passed away a couple years ago. I had an old TV guide that had an ad with him in it to give him for his own career collection and before I could, we learned he had gone to his reward of eternal life. Christine lights a candle for someone when she hears they have passed and while working on our book she lit quite a few- including for Ersel.
New York always had an element of excitement and energy to it. I always felt myself to be at the center of creative enterprise there and when I look back on my days in New York now, I feel the same way.
1961 proved to be a good year for Ersel and music. So the next couple blogs will be Ersel's music. Now these YouTube videos unfortunately do not feature his performing. I shared the stage with Ersel more than once and believe me, the girls went crazy for him and those shakin' legs of his. Maybe someday some old film of Ersel will appear.
Just so you know, Ersel passed away a couple years ago. I had an old TV guide that had an ad with him in it to give him for his own career collection and before I could, we learned he had gone to his reward of eternal life. Christine lights a candle for someone when she hears they have passed and while working on our book she lit quite a few- including for Ersel.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
(145) GENE VINCENT 1961 BRITISH INTERVIEW
What do you know! AOL video site has an 1961 interview with rock 'n roller Gene Vincent!
Click on the title above to go right to the interview!
(And check out our previous posts on Gene with a search of our blog or go to the links about him to the left!)
Click on the title above to go right to the interview!
(And check out our previous posts on Gene with a search of our blog or go to the links about him to the left!)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
(144) PHIL AND DON EVERLY 1961 - THE HITS GO ON
Here's a YouTube presentation of Phil and Don Everly doing one of their recently older hit as well as the newer "Cathy's Clown."
Click on the Everly Brothers Links to the left to learn more about them or search this blog with their name to read what we've posted on the brothers already.
And don't forget about the RCS Discography for the Everly Brothers NEW LINK MARCH 2011 above!
Click on the Everly Brothers Links to the left to learn more about them or search this blog with their name to read what we've posted on the brothers already.
And don't forget about the RCS Discography for the Everly Brothers NEW LINK MARCH 2011 above!
Monday, May 5, 2008
(143) FABIAN COVERBOY ON OCTOBER 1961 TEEN MAGAZINE
My friend Fabian Forte put out six singles in 1961 that didn't make the top 100 on the music charts. His music career was on the wane with album sales in 1960 also failing.
But Fabian still made the cover of Teen Magazine that October and when things looked down for him musically, acting picked up for him. That was the beauty of being a "singing-acting sensation" as I had once been groomed to be myself.
OFFICIAL FABIAN SITE LINK ABOVE - UPDATED MARCH 2011
But Fabian still made the cover of Teen Magazine that October and when things looked down for him musically, acting picked up for him. That was the beauty of being a "singing-acting sensation" as I had once been groomed to be myself.
OFFICIAL FABIAN SITE LINK ABOVE - UPDATED MARCH 2011
Sunday, May 4, 2008
(142) ROY ORBISON'S 1961 #1 RUNNING SCARED
Roy could hit those high C's and seemed to be the King of the Crying Song! Of course I was busy trying to write some crying songs and hit some high C's myself. This is a later-than-1961 performance...
(141) BOBBY DARIN ON GROUCHO MARX -1961
My old friend Bobby Darin had moved to Los Angeles to make movies and continued to make television appearances and record promotional tours. Here's Bobby on the Groucho Marx television show. (Groucho was one of the famous Marx Brothers comedy team.)
Click on the title above to go right to the YouTube video!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
(140) DION and the BELLMONTS 1961 # 1 RUNAROUND SUE
Dion and the Bellmonts had the #1 hit "Runaround Sue," in 1961. Here's a YouTube video of the performance.
Now, the number one hits of the year included a diverse number of sounds. "Runaround Sue" is in the DooWop category... and more than one DooWop song went high on the charts even though this sound is thought of as the 1950's now, plenty of people loved that sound and continued to buy records.
Video replaced November 2013
DION DI MUCCI OFFICIAL new link!
Friday, May 2, 2008
(139) PAT BOONE's 1961 #1 HIT MOODY RIVER
You may recall from an early blog that my voice was being compared to Pat Boone's. Well Pat was out in Los Angeles - another Southern boy from Nashville, Tennessee - before I moved out and his career was doing really well. In 1961 he had a #1 hit with "Moody River."
THIS BLOG POST UPDATED MAY 26, 2010 by Christine Trzyna
NEW! A link to PAT BOONE's OFFICIAL WEB SITE and YouTube presented videos of Pat on the Lawrence Welk show when he had 12 number one hits to his name already!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
(138) MY PEERS AND THEIR CELEBRITY
Friends, the next several blogs are meant to help you keep Elvis, me, and our peers in musical perspective.
While I was working at the songwriting factory, ambitious to write songs that would be hits for other artists, people like Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Ersel Hickey, The Everly Brothers, Pat Boone, and Dion and the Bellmonts, continued to perform, make records, and have hits. I was so proud to know them and to be associated with them. I knew that keeping celebrity was more difficult than becoming one. And though Melodie D'Amour had done well and I promoted it with live performances and radio interviews, bit by bit I was receding from public life even as the Hollywood bug continued to bite me.
While I was working at the songwriting factory, ambitious to write songs that would be hits for other artists, people like Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Ersel Hickey, The Everly Brothers, Pat Boone, and Dion and the Bellmonts, continued to perform, make records, and have hits. I was so proud to know them and to be associated with them. I knew that keeping celebrity was more difficult than becoming one. And though Melodie D'Amour had done well and I promoted it with live performances and radio interviews, bit by bit I was receding from public life even as the Hollywood bug continued to bite me.