It's that time, time to take a break, think back on this past year, and plan for 2012. Couple of the things we'll be talking about is posting days and times, if we want to give up on our embedded player or not and perhaps substitute links to our three playlists on Youtube. We have enjoyed working on this blog and hope to continue to do so. If you have any suggestions for us, please leave a comment!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
ELVIS PRESLEY : IF EVERY DAY WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS
This YouTube poster did a great job of giving the history of this song, written by Red West, and performed by Elvis, and the Youtube video is original and of excellent sound quality!
To quote him, "Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas (1966), the last holiday single Elvis ever released, was written by a childhood friend, Red West. The Imperials Quartet and the Jordanaires are providing the backing vocals. Elvis recorded it on June 10, 1966 at RCAs Nashville studios. The single release in November 15, 1966 (If Every Day Was Like Christmas - How Would You Like To Be), it has been credited for selling over 1,000,000 copies. Red West wrote "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" in 1965 and recorded his own version on the Brent label, which was his own label, named after his son. Although the writing credits on the label show Red West's own name, the artist is shown as Bobby West. 2,000 copies were pressed and sold locally in the Memphis area around Christmas 1965."
To quote him, "Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas (1966), the last holiday single Elvis ever released, was written by a childhood friend, Red West. The Imperials Quartet and the Jordanaires are providing the backing vocals. Elvis recorded it on June 10, 1966 at RCAs Nashville studios. The single release in November 15, 1966 (If Every Day Was Like Christmas - How Would You Like To Be), it has been credited for selling over 1,000,000 copies. Red West wrote "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" in 1965 and recorded his own version on the Brent label, which was his own label, named after his son. Although the writing credits on the label show Red West's own name, the artist is shown as Bobby West. 2,000 copies were pressed and sold locally in the Memphis area around Christmas 1965."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
DECEMBER 21 1970 ELVIS DELIVERED THIS LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
National Archives link above. Elvis documents are their most popular. Here's a copy of the letter Elvis handwrote to the President and delivered to the White House.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
FROM OUR ARCHIVES : ELVIS INTO THE HOLIDAYS : POST 208
(206) ELVIS INTO THE HOLIDAYS
My friend Elvis Presley lived in Los Angeles during the years he was making movies. His houses in the early 1960's were party houses he rented in Bel Air. I was a frequent guest there, welcome to stay entire weekends if it suited me and often it did. I had some of the best times of my life there.
Of course Elvis loved his family a great deal and when he was feeling sentimental for the South, he would head for Graceland TM for the holidays. Perhaps for that reason there is no better time of the year to see the house than decorated for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Elvis I knew was a dichotomy in his way. He was a famous Rock and Roller and a sensualist, but also a Gospel Singer, a devout believer in Christ, with great loyalty to family and his family of friends. To be part of his musical Rock and Roll family at the house was a honor.
My friend Elvis Presley lived in Los Angeles during the years he was making movies. His houses in the early 1960's were party houses he rented in Bel Air. I was a frequent guest there, welcome to stay entire weekends if it suited me and often it did. I had some of the best times of my life there.
Of course Elvis loved his family a great deal and when he was feeling sentimental for the South, he would head for Graceland TM for the holidays. Perhaps for that reason there is no better time of the year to see the house than decorated for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Elvis I knew was a dichotomy in his way. He was a famous Rock and Roller and a sensualist, but also a Gospel Singer, a devout believer in Christ, with great loyalty to family and his family of friends. To be part of his musical Rock and Roll family at the house was a honor.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
BLUE CHRISTMAS : 1964 : BRIAN WILSON OF THE BEACH BOYS SINGING
Thanks to one of our YouTube friends we decided to post this music video, singer-songwriter, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys covering a Christmas classic. (Brian recorded Ersel Hickey's Blue Birds Over the Mountains.)
Just heard that the Beach Boys are regrouping to do a 50th Anniversary Tour! So we're linking to a news article that gives the details! Brian Wilson is well enough to tour and we're glad to hear it!
Just heard that the Beach Boys are regrouping to do a 50th Anniversary Tour! So we're linking to a news article that gives the details! Brian Wilson is well enough to tour and we're glad to hear it!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL : HIS VOICE FROM RECORDINGS IN THE 1880'S THRILL SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS
Breaking Yahoo news here! Recordings made in the 1880's by Alexander Graham Bell on green wax, and stored at the Smithsonian (carefully wrapped by Bell himself to be preserved) can now be listened to with new computer technology. The full story by Associated Press writer Brett Zonger should appear if you'll click on the link title above!
Monday, December 12, 2011
FROM OUR ARCHIVES (286) FRANKIE AVALON : YOU'RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
FROM OUR ARCHIVES (286) FRANKIE AVALON : YOU'RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Frankie came out with a Christmas album in 1962, after acting in a film called Panic In The Year Zero, a war picture. This smooth romantic song was one of the songs he recorded for the album along with classics. Frankie and his wife have eight children and are still together after all these years.
Frankie came out with a Christmas album in 1962, after acting in a film called Panic In The Year Zero, a war picture. This smooth romantic song was one of the songs he recorded for the album along with classics. Frankie and his wife have eight children and are still together after all these years.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
FERLIN HUSKY and PATSY CLINE LET IT SNOW
Use the Google Search feature embedded in this blog to find past posts about Ferlin Husky!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
FROM OUR ARCHIVES : (344) END OF THE YEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
(344) END OF THE YEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
Christine remembers that her family brought live trees that waited outside until Christmas eve to be brought indoors and decorated, which is, she tells me, the custom in Central and Eastern Europe, and I was thinking about living surrounded by evergreen trees in the Smokey Mountains where my family lived when I was growing up and I still have so many well loved relatives and friends who I don't get to talking to near enough.
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Christine remembers that her family brought live trees that waited outside until Christmas eve to be brought indoors and decorated, which is, she tells me, the custom in Central and Eastern Europe, and I was thinking about living surrounded by evergreen trees in the Smokey Mountains where my family lived when I was growing up and I still have so many well loved relatives and friends who I don't get to talking to near enough.
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Thursday, December 8, 2011
PSYCHIC JOHN EDWARD ON CARL PERKINS, PAUL MCCARTNEY and JOHN LENNON : DECEMBER 8 1980 JOHN LENNON'S DEATH
page 151 of CROSSING OVER by John Edward
(CT: It's 1981 and Paul McCartney has sent Carl Perkins a ticket to fly to the Caribbean where he and George Martin have a recording studio. Carl plays guitar on the "Tug of War" album and spends eight days with Paul and Linda McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Beatles' producer George Martin.)
"As the time was drawing near for me to go home, I was sitting out on the patio, Carl told Dominic Ambrosio and his camera, his guitar sitting on his lap and looking like a part of him.
(Carl speaking)... "Sometimes I can sing it but I can't say it, and that night before, I wrote a song. And in the morning, I went down to the studio and said to Paul and Linda, 'I'm not good at saying good-bye, but I wrote this song last night, and I want to play it for you.' It was called 'My Old Friend'..."
Carl sang it now for Dominic with the extra emotional emphasis on the refrain: My old friend, won't you think about me every now and then...
"Well halfway through the song, I see Paul is really crying, tears flowing down his face," Carl said. "And he stepped outside. I said to Linda, 'Linda, I didn't mean to upset him.' She says, 'Carl Perkins, how did you know?' I said, 'Darlin', I don't know what yer talkin' about. How did I know what?"
John Lennon had been killed only months before outside his apart met building, the Dakota in New York. Linda explained that, although it wasn't publicly known, only days before his death, she and Paul had visited John and Yoga at the Dakota. At the end of the visit, as they were saying good-bye, John said to Paul, "Think of me every now and then, my old friend."
"Linda put her arms around me, :" Carl said now on a cold January day in Tennessee sixteen years later, "and she said, "Thank you, Carl, he needed that."
(CT: It's 1981 and Paul McCartney has sent Carl Perkins a ticket to fly to the Caribbean where he and George Martin have a recording studio. Carl plays guitar on the "Tug of War" album and spends eight days with Paul and Linda McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Beatles' producer George Martin.)
"As the time was drawing near for me to go home, I was sitting out on the patio, Carl told Dominic Ambrosio and his camera, his guitar sitting on his lap and looking like a part of him.
(Carl speaking)... "Sometimes I can sing it but I can't say it, and that night before, I wrote a song. And in the morning, I went down to the studio and said to Paul and Linda, 'I'm not good at saying good-bye, but I wrote this song last night, and I want to play it for you.' It was called 'My Old Friend'..."
Carl sang it now for Dominic with the extra emotional emphasis on the refrain: My old friend, won't you think about me every now and then...
"Well halfway through the song, I see Paul is really crying, tears flowing down his face," Carl said. "And he stepped outside. I said to Linda, 'Linda, I didn't mean to upset him.' She says, 'Carl Perkins, how did you know?' I said, 'Darlin', I don't know what yer talkin' about. How did I know what?"
John Lennon had been killed only months before outside his apart met building, the Dakota in New York. Linda explained that, although it wasn't publicly known, only days before his death, she and Paul had visited John and Yoga at the Dakota. At the end of the visit, as they were saying good-bye, John said to Paul, "Think of me every now and then, my old friend."
"Linda put her arms around me, :" Carl said now on a cold January day in Tennessee sixteen years later, "and she said, "Thank you, Carl, he needed that."
Saturday, December 3, 2011
SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR Quotation on Friendship
"One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion." - Simone de Beauvoir
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
(402) DICK KLEINER "THE RECORD SHOP" : DICKS PICKS
Dick Kleiner mentioned me and a couple of my records in his nationally-syndicated column, called. "The Record Shop" which began in 1953. I don't think I ever met Dick, but I know that his column appeared in dozens of small newspapers around the country. I believe he went on to write Hollywood journalism. I haven't been able to find out too much about him but like so many others who influenced my life in good ways, I wish I had a way to find him and say hello and Thanks!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Just want to say "THANK YOU" to all of you who have been supportive of my efforts these last few years.It means a lot to me. Wes
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
(401) MIDNIGHT EARL WILSON : HE ANNOUNCED THAT I LOOKED A LOT LIKE JAMES DEAN
An Evening News copy of an Earl Wilson Column that mentioned me! (We couldn't get it to enlarge so you could read it, but you can try!)
EARL WILSON was the syndicated columnist who announced that I'd been signed to United Artists and that I looked a lot like James Dean. One of the hardest working journalists that ever lived, Earl didn't just rely on contacts to give him information, he continued to interview even as the years went by. Being mentioned by Earl ever so briefly was a dream come true for the up and coming actor - singer - songwriter I was back in New York.
We're linking to his New York Times obit above which sings his praises.
We learned that Earl's son, Earl Junior, gave his father's papers to Ohio State college, the school he had graduated from.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
(399) STRICTLY OFF THE RECORD : SALT LAKE TRIBUNE REVIEW :
Some newspapers used pictures of me supplied by United Artists and other's went without. Here's one that the Salt Lake City Tribune Review published with one of my publicity photos. Christine and me found this one in a newspaper database. My father was the person on the family who kept scrapbooks of my career when I was too busy on the road to keep track.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
(398) MEDIA HOLLYWOOD STYLE : HEDDA HOPPER
Who better to move their careers to writing about Hollywood than a once very pretty young woman who came to Hollywood from a small town in Pennsylvania to act herself?
We're linking to a Biography.com which has a comprehensive biography of Hedda, who made films from 1916-1940 and then hosted Playhouse type TV shows in the 1950's.
By the time I got to Hollywood I knew Hedda was a respected and feared personality, known for feuding with her counterpart Louella Parsons. Both probably made and broke the careers of a number of Hollywood personalities but I had nothing to fear. She was in her seventies when I met her and kept an office not far from where I would once set up my own.
"In 1937, the Esquire Feature Syndicate was looking for a Hollywood columnist and found one in Hopper. Untried, her column was sold to 13 papers and a career was launched... When the column began appearing in the prestigious Los Angeles Times, her status shot upward and her power grew. Her column appeared in 85 metropolitan papers, 3000 small-town dailies, and 2000 weeklies. When she replaced John Chapman at The New York Daily News, she picked up an additional audience of 5,750,000 daily and 7,500,000 on Sunday. She appeared on weekly radio shows and wrote two best sellers: From Under My Hat and The Whole Truth and Nothing But."
We're linking to a Biography.com which has a comprehensive biography of Hedda, who made films from 1916-1940 and then hosted Playhouse type TV shows in the 1950's.
By the time I got to Hollywood I knew Hedda was a respected and feared personality, known for feuding with her counterpart Louella Parsons. Both probably made and broke the careers of a number of Hollywood personalities but I had nothing to fear. She was in her seventies when I met her and kept an office not far from where I would once set up my own.
"In 1937, the Esquire Feature Syndicate was looking for a Hollywood columnist and found one in Hopper. Untried, her column was sold to 13 papers and a career was launched... When the column began appearing in the prestigious Los Angeles Times, her status shot upward and her power grew. Her column appeared in 85 metropolitan papers, 3000 small-town dailies, and 2000 weeklies. When she replaced John Chapman at The New York Daily News, she picked up an additional audience of 5,750,000 daily and 7,500,000 on Sunday. She appeared on weekly radio shows and wrote two best sellers: From Under My Hat and The Whole Truth and Nothing But."
Saturday, November 5, 2011
IT WAS GREAT MEETING AND GETTING TO KNOW
It was great meeting and getting to know some of the artists who were covered in these magazines. As a teenager I ate up the stories in magazines like these. But once I was a star myself, I learned that some writers made up sensational stories without even talking to the artist and some publishers published anyway.Debbie Reynolds was just in the news because she put some of her Hollywood memorabilia collection up for auction, including some dresses that Marilyn Monroe wore in her films that earned Debbie millions.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
SHARTA GADISON Quote on Friendship
"Some friends come and go like a season. Others are arranged in our lives for good reason." - Sharita Gadison
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
(279) BOBBY PICKETT MONSTER MASH 1962 : FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Monster Mash was a hit and became a Halloween Classic, and while you can make a great living as a successful songwriter, and the residuals can come in for years on a "one hit wonder," Bobby's novelty song has kept ringing the cash registers for the last 47 years.
(MAKE THAT 49 YEARS in 2011!)
I remember how happy we all were for Bobby when this song hit! Wes Bryan
I'm over here doing the "Transylvania Twist" since I'm related to Vlad the Impaler!
Christine Trzyna
video replaced October 2012
(MAKE THAT 49 YEARS in 2011!)
I remember how happy we all were for Bobby when this song hit! Wes Bryan
I'm over here doing the "Transylvania Twist" since I'm related to Vlad the Impaler!
Christine Trzyna
video replaced October 2012
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
WES BRYAN RARE RECORD : I'LL CRY MY LOVE AND PIERE LA FITTE on BLUE STAR
On my own label BLUE STAR, I put out a single 45 RPM with "I'LL CRY MY LOVE" on one side and "PIERE LA FITTE" on the other. Piere La Fitte was about my favorite pirate. My cousin Dean went into the recording studio with me to produce some of the sound effects on the record. (The song was originally written and demoed as a presentation for a movie.)
Sunday, October 23, 2011
(397) MEDIA IN THE LATE 1950'S and EARLY 1960'S : SYNDICATED COLUMNISTS
Christine and I watch the e-Bay auctions to see if anything is for sale under the Wes Bryan category that I don't own or haven't seen in years or don't know about and once in a while I'm surprised. Once in a while a magazine comes up for sale that I know there was an article - or a mention - in.
In the 1950's and early 1960's there were a few important and powerful writers - columnists - who were syndicated, which means that whatever they wrote was printed in small newspapers that couldn't afford their own music critic, all about the same time. These articles went over the wire to reach news rooms where local journalists worked, and typesetters made the article fit.
Some of these writers did mention me and my colleagues in their columns, and recently some of these columns have started appearing on databases that make it easier to research than cranking the old microfilm.
We're going to blog about a few of them.
In the 1950's and early 1960's there were a few important and powerful writers - columnists - who were syndicated, which means that whatever they wrote was printed in small newspapers that couldn't afford their own music critic, all about the same time. These articles went over the wire to reach news rooms where local journalists worked, and typesetters made the article fit.
Some of these writers did mention me and my colleagues in their columns, and recently some of these columns have started appearing on databases that make it easier to research than cranking the old microfilm.
We're going to blog about a few of them.
Friday, October 21, 2011
BROWSER UPDATED TO INTERNET EXPLORER 9.0.3
This blog is now being posted using Internet Explorer 9.0.3. And we use Windows 7. The COMPATIBILITY VIEW OPTION should help you view WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC on older browsers and correct problems such as out of place menus, images, and texts.
We are fond of our design and have not updated to the newer Google Blogger options, especially as this is a custom designed blog which is holding a lot of content. However, we did check the functioning on another Google Blogger that has been upgraded and didn't notice a difference.
WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU VIEW OUR BLOG ON YOUR COMPUTER!
Wes and Christine
We are fond of our design and have not updated to the newer Google Blogger options, especially as this is a custom designed blog which is holding a lot of content. However, we did check the functioning on another Google Blogger that has been upgraded and didn't notice a difference.
WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU VIEW OUR BLOG ON YOUR COMPUTER!
Wes and Christine
Thursday, October 20, 2011
(396) WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A LABEL YOU MARKET YOURSELF
What does a musical artist do when they don't have a label?
Today there are so many Independent ("Indie") artists who know the answer to that question!
You pay for your own studio time and record not just a demo to send around to agents but a CD for sale on the Internet. You have a web site. You use Social Networking sites to reach your fans. The Internet means that you have potential International Readership. (Just as we've experienced here at WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC - Hello Latvia!)
Today you can be your own company, your own boss, the talent and the marketing department. If you are successful, you make money, and more money than if you had a contract with a label. Sell enough and the major labels may even come calling.
Earlier in this blog I may've mentioned that I was surprised - maybe even shocked - to learn several years ago that I was on the net - the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site and RCS Discography. (Christine calls this "Web Presence.") It took me some time to get used to it. I had lived the life of a private citizen for many years at that point.
Steve Jobs, one of three founders of Apple Computers, has just passed on, and there's been so much media coverage of this inventor and business mogul who became a billionaire. (Christine uses PC's for this blog but swears by Apple.)
In the early 1960's all this was not technologically possible. Wasn't possible for another 30 years or so.
Marketing depended before the age of the Internet on word of mouth - who you knew or who you could network with personally. It was by ads placed individually in newspapers or trade journals or by writers who were syndicated.
Small labels that so many of us depended on often didn't have the marketing power that the big labels did so you had to entertain on live radio programs or television shows.
Today there are so many Independent ("Indie") artists who know the answer to that question!
You pay for your own studio time and record not just a demo to send around to agents but a CD for sale on the Internet. You have a web site. You use Social Networking sites to reach your fans. The Internet means that you have potential International Readership. (Just as we've experienced here at WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC - Hello Latvia!)
Today you can be your own company, your own boss, the talent and the marketing department. If you are successful, you make money, and more money than if you had a contract with a label. Sell enough and the major labels may even come calling.
Earlier in this blog I may've mentioned that I was surprised - maybe even shocked - to learn several years ago that I was on the net - the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site and RCS Discography. (Christine calls this "Web Presence.") It took me some time to get used to it. I had lived the life of a private citizen for many years at that point.
Steve Jobs, one of three founders of Apple Computers, has just passed on, and there's been so much media coverage of this inventor and business mogul who became a billionaire. (Christine uses PC's for this blog but swears by Apple.)
In the early 1960's all this was not technologically possible. Wasn't possible for another 30 years or so.
Marketing depended before the age of the Internet on word of mouth - who you knew or who you could network with personally. It was by ads placed individually in newspapers or trade journals or by writers who were syndicated.
Small labels that so many of us depended on often didn't have the marketing power that the big labels did so you had to entertain on live radio programs or television shows.
Monday, October 17, 2011
(395) READERS OPINIONS! WHEN DO YOU BECOME A CLASSIC?
Christine Trzyna here!
I've been thrift shopping. You see I have a collection that I try to add to this time of the year.
There's this one particular owner-operated (not a charity) thrift store that has the very best deals so I've been going there frequently. I noticed that every Saturday this owner-operator plays the Beatles, one album after another. I imagine this has been the case for years, that he is a total Beatles fan, and that the ambiance of that music has actually helped his sales over time, though I also note, that the majority of the shoppers seem to be Spanish speaking - Hispanic.
During the week, however, what's playing is Classic Hits of the 1950's.
So I was thinking about this notion of Classic.
When does a musical artist become a Classic?
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
I've been thrift shopping. You see I have a collection that I try to add to this time of the year.
There's this one particular owner-operated (not a charity) thrift store that has the very best deals so I've been going there frequently. I noticed that every Saturday this owner-operator plays the Beatles, one album after another. I imagine this has been the case for years, that he is a total Beatles fan, and that the ambiance of that music has actually helped his sales over time, though I also note, that the majority of the shoppers seem to be Spanish speaking - Hispanic.
During the week, however, what's playing is Classic Hits of the 1950's.
So I was thinking about this notion of Classic.
When does a musical artist become a Classic?
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
Saturday, October 15, 2011
(394) CHANGE WAS IN THE AIR
No doubt change was in the air.
One of the things that started happening about this time is that executives from various labels started changing labels.
Some of us who had been musical artists, singer-songwriters, and "Singing - Acting Sensations" started moving from making demos to music production.
There was a shuffle there, as the popularity of The Beatles and phenomenal sales of their records started creating more competition for chart space. (But keep in mind that a single or an album didn't necessarily have to chart to eventually sell enough to earn a Gold.)
Many of my peers who had put in more time entertaining than I did and who were identified with the 1950's started to feel it in their pocketbooks which meant that their labels were feeling it in their pockets too: eventually so many of those talented artists who had kept us all entertained, who had provided us the soundtrack of our youthful lives, would slowly loose coverage in the media too.
BUT NOT ELVIS!
One of the things that started happening about this time is that executives from various labels started changing labels.
Some of us who had been musical artists, singer-songwriters, and "Singing - Acting Sensations" started moving from making demos to music production.
There was a shuffle there, as the popularity of The Beatles and phenomenal sales of their records started creating more competition for chart space. (But keep in mind that a single or an album didn't necessarily have to chart to eventually sell enough to earn a Gold.)
Many of my peers who had put in more time entertaining than I did and who were identified with the 1950's started to feel it in their pocketbooks which meant that their labels were feeling it in their pockets too: eventually so many of those talented artists who had kept us all entertained, who had provided us the soundtrack of our youthful lives, would slowly loose coverage in the media too.
BUT NOT ELVIS!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
THE LADY (BARBARA GRAY) AND THE KING : MYSTERY OF THE KISSED SOLVED : VANITY FAIR LINK
Linking here to the classic photo of Elvis kissing a mystery woman near 55 years ago - a mystery solved - in an article by Lenora Jane Estes, in August Vanity Fair magazine. The photo was taken by Alfred Wertheimer. Now Barbara Gray, the kissed, has been identified.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
(393) AMERICAN MUSIC : SYLVESTER CROSS DIES : I KEEP WORKING WITH BOONE AND CAPEHEART
1964 seemed like a happy time to me when I was living it, and in my memory.
We songwriters were not especially concerned about the effects of the so called British Invasion of the Beatles and other groups would have on our own careers. Shows like Shindig celebrated rock and roll in Great Britain and the United States and we had confidence in our talents and abilities.
But that year there was a big change coming for those of us who were on contract with American Music, the big music publishing house that I had come to Los Angeles to work for, where Jerry Capeheart, who once worked with Eddie Cochran and who had signed me on staff was my boss.
Sylvester Cross, the owner of American Music died. I'd signed a five year contract but it was cut short. We kept going to work until Sylvester's wife sold the American Music catalogue for a song (!) and shut down operations.
I kept working for Jerry and for Pat Boone, making demos.
We songwriters were not especially concerned about the effects of the so called British Invasion of the Beatles and other groups would have on our own careers. Shows like Shindig celebrated rock and roll in Great Britain and the United States and we had confidence in our talents and abilities.
But that year there was a big change coming for those of us who were on contract with American Music, the big music publishing house that I had come to Los Angeles to work for, where Jerry Capeheart, who once worked with Eddie Cochran and who had signed me on staff was my boss.
Sylvester Cross, the owner of American Music died. I'd signed a five year contract but it was cut short. We kept going to work until Sylvester's wife sold the American Music catalogue for a song (!) and shut down operations.
I kept working for Jerry and for Pat Boone, making demos.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
ARNOLD H. GLASGOW Quote on Friendship
"A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad."
From A Little Book of Friendship
Published by History and Heraldry 2002
From A Little Book of Friendship
Published by History and Heraldry 2002
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
(392) PJ PROBY ON SHINDIG AND AROUND THE BEATLES
Texan PJ Proby was on Shindig a few times, 1964 and 1965. Here's one of the Youtube videos of PJ's performance in 1964, which I believe was taped in England, his adopted country. (P.J. is still in England, still performing, and we've posted a lot about him so search!)
We're grateful to the YouTuber who posted this video of PJ. being presented by the Beatles on a 1964 TV show called "Around the Beatles". (The Beatle's first performance on Shindig was also taped in England.) UPDATE: We'll replace this video as soon as possible.Technical difficulties.
We're grateful to the YouTuber who posted this video of PJ. being presented by the Beatles on a 1964 TV show called "Around the Beatles". (The Beatle's first performance on Shindig was also taped in England.) UPDATE: We'll replace this video as soon as possible.Technical difficulties.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
(391) SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT I'M BEHIND BONNIE and DELANY BRAMLETT'S DAUGHTERS CAMPAIGN TO GET DADDY INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!
From BONNIE BRAMLETT'S OFFICIAL SITE (Linked here)!
"As you may have noticed my daughters are campaigning for their father's musical legacy. Our Michele has taken the reins and with her sisters right by her side, she has tested the waters (so to speak) to see if she would be embraced by our peers and she has been :-)
Delaney passed away not long ago and his daughters naturally want to celebrate his life's work, secure the recognition it deserves and bring it to a wider audience. He made some great music as a solo artist, as well as with Delaney & Bonnie.
I want to ask you all to support my girls in their endeavor to make things right. For whatever reasons, the girls have not inherited from their father, so they have no hope chest to work with.
They're working on their own so far. I want you all to know that I plan to support them with my performances if and when they need me. I will receive no financial benefit in any form for my performances or any other participation I may be asked to do. This IS NOT a request for any support in the form of $, just need your prayers and your votes. Just go see what the girls are up to. They are good girls and I'm very proud of them. I hope you will be as well :-) " - Bonnie Bramlett
"As you may have noticed my daughters are campaigning for their father's musical legacy. Our Michele has taken the reins and with her sisters right by her side, she has tested the waters (so to speak) to see if she would be embraced by our peers and she has been :-)
Delaney passed away not long ago and his daughters naturally want to celebrate his life's work, secure the recognition it deserves and bring it to a wider audience. He made some great music as a solo artist, as well as with Delaney & Bonnie.
I want to ask you all to support my girls in their endeavor to make things right. For whatever reasons, the girls have not inherited from their father, so they have no hope chest to work with.
They're working on their own so far. I want you all to know that I plan to support them with my performances if and when they need me. I will receive no financial benefit in any form for my performances or any other participation I may be asked to do. This IS NOT a request for any support in the form of $, just need your prayers and your votes. Just go see what the girls are up to. They are good girls and I'm very proud of them. I hope you will be as well :-) " - Bonnie Bramlett
Friday, September 23, 2011
(390) DELANY BRAMLETT ON SHINDIG and at KULAKS WOODSHED
LINKING TO THE OFFICIAL SITE FOR soul singer DELANY BRAMLETT!
There is some great information here including links to biography, interviews, concerts... Delany was a good friend of mine back in the day...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
FROM OUR ARCHIVES : (11) CHRISTINE WHITE, JAMES DEAN, & ME
FROM OUR ARCHIVES from October 27, 2008
(11) CHRISTINE WHITE, JAMES DEAN, & ME
Uncanny as it is, before I was "discovered" to be The Next James Dean, I took my first trip to Hollywood, and it was my fate to meet one of Jimmy's best friends! Dad and I were on a respite from home building. I loved to read all the fan magazines and I wanted to see the streets that all the stars - including James Dean - walked on.
So I headed to Los Angeles, California for the first time. I was coming out of a department store when I saw a beautiful young blond woman on the street. I recognized her from one of the movie magazines I'd read, an article called "The Girl He Left Behind." He meaning James Dean. The blond was CHRISTINE WHITE, a great actress in her own right. She and James Dean had auditioned together for the famous and prestigious Actors Studio in New York and both got in. James Dean might have been the youngest actor to be accepted there. Like James Dean, Christine White was active in television, live theater, and movies.
I introduced myself and Christine and I spent a few hours talking in a restaurant over tea. I asked her to tell me everything she knew about Jimmy. Christine and I would pick up our friendship years later when I moved to Los Angeles and I am blessed with her friendship to this day. Christine White is a devout Christian. I can tell you that she's played the part of angel in my life! Christine White is a regular speaker at the James Dean Conventions and has made many appearances in biographical films about James Dean.
CHRISTINE WHITE on IMDb World's Largest Movie Database linked above!
(11) CHRISTINE WHITE, JAMES DEAN, & ME
Uncanny as it is, before I was "discovered" to be The Next James Dean, I took my first trip to Hollywood, and it was my fate to meet one of Jimmy's best friends! Dad and I were on a respite from home building. I loved to read all the fan magazines and I wanted to see the streets that all the stars - including James Dean - walked on.
So I headed to Los Angeles, California for the first time. I was coming out of a department store when I saw a beautiful young blond woman on the street. I recognized her from one of the movie magazines I'd read, an article called "The Girl He Left Behind." He meaning James Dean. The blond was CHRISTINE WHITE, a great actress in her own right. She and James Dean had auditioned together for the famous and prestigious Actors Studio in New York and both got in. James Dean might have been the youngest actor to be accepted there. Like James Dean, Christine White was active in television, live theater, and movies.
I introduced myself and Christine and I spent a few hours talking in a restaurant over tea. I asked her to tell me everything she knew about Jimmy. Christine and I would pick up our friendship years later when I moved to Los Angeles and I am blessed with her friendship to this day. Christine White is a devout Christian. I can tell you that she's played the part of angel in my life! Christine White is a regular speaker at the James Dean Conventions and has made many appearances in biographical films about James Dean.
CHRISTINE WHITE on IMDb World's Largest Movie Database linked above!
FAIRMOUNT HISTORICAL MUSEUM : JAMES DEAN FESTIVAL 2011
The 2011 James Dean Festival runs from Thursday, September 22nd through Sunday, September 25th.
The festival's main attractions will be the Annual Museum Days and the Annual James Dean Run.
Linking to the Fairmount Museum for more information!
The festival's main attractions will be the Annual Museum Days and the Annual James Dean Run.
Linking to the Fairmount Museum for more information!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
(389) JERRY COLE ON SHINDIG : THE SHINDOG
SHINDIG first premiered September 16, 2011. It was the Rock and Roll television show that some of my friends, like Jerry Cole, worked on. Jerry was part of the show band called The SHINDOGS! The band started the show out with an intro composed of a selection of hit songs, just to get the audience warmed up. They threw a few Beatles songs in there and various guests took their turn at singing four bars.
Jerry was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000 and was considered to be a charter member of the LA "Wrecking Crew," one of the best studio musicians around town.
Jerry Cole was a great friend of mine who we've blogged about before. Here he is on Shindig singing an intro to the show song called "Welcome To My Place." Oh those background singers are The Blossoms!
Wes says : Delaney Bramlett and Joey Cooper (who recorded a song I wrote called"I'm A Fool") were singers of the Shindogs. Most of the guys played their own instruments. Joey played the guitar....
Jerry was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000 and was considered to be a charter member of the LA "Wrecking Crew," one of the best studio musicians around town.
Jerry Cole was a great friend of mine who we've blogged about before. Here he is on Shindig singing an intro to the show song called "Welcome To My Place." Oh those background singers are The Blossoms!
Wes says : Delaney Bramlett and Joey Cooper (who recorded a song I wrote called"I'm A Fool") were singers of the Shindogs. Most of the guys played their own instruments. Joey played the guitar....
Friday, September 16, 2011
(388) ANN-MARGRET STARS ON A "SHINDIG" ALBUM
RCA Victor put this one out. That was Ann's label. The same label Elvis was on.
It's a "Shindig" album that "Stars" Ann-Margret. I don't think Ann was ever on the television show Shindig but she was associated with Rock and Roll early in her career not only because of her own music because of her movie roles and of course, because of her relationship with Elvis Presley.
I've blogged about Ann before - WES BRYAN is a FAN! - and we're linking to Ann's OFFICIAL web site again!
(She's been recording a Gospel album.)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
(387) JOHNNY RIVERS STARS ON "SWINGING SHINDIG" ALBUM
The word "Shindig" came into common use as slang to mean...a rock and roll event...a jam...a party... and since titles are not copyrightable...Johnny Rivers appeared on the television show but I don't think this album came out of the show.
Check out our previous posts about Johnny and go to his web site by clicking on the title above!
Here you get the whole Shindig segment including an ad for zit busters ! (Eeeewwe!) Right after the zits came Johnny playing "Maybellene" and "Memphis," both cover-tunes of the songs written by Chuck Berry. We're struck by the high energy of the shows.
Monday, September 12, 2011
(386) JAMES BURTON INTERVIEW and on SHINDIG
JAMES BURTON, studio guitarist extraordinaire worked with - almost everybody (even me) - but is most famous for working with Elvis Presley. Writer James Calemine with the Swampland site featured this interview with Burton in 2007.
Here's James playing on Shindig in 1965:
Here's James playing on Shindig in 1965:
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
(385) THE EVERLY BROTHERS ON SHINDIG : LINK NOW TO EVERLY NET
This segment begins with the Everly Brothers performing "Wake Up Little Suzy" (a provocative song lyric for the time) and also includes James Brown.
We've posted several times over the years on the Everly Brothers (you can use that search feature to find archived posts) and we're linking to EVERLY NET which has some of the latest on the performances of Phil and Don, who've been working with other musical greats such as Paul Simon and a benefit for Habitat for Humanity.
We've posted several times over the years on the Everly Brothers (you can use that search feature to find archived posts) and we're linking to EVERLY NET which has some of the latest on the performances of Phil and Don, who've been working with other musical greats such as Paul Simon and a benefit for Habitat for Humanity.
Friday, September 9, 2011
(384) AN INTERVIEW WITH SHINDIG HOST JIMMY O'NEILL
JIMMY O'NEILL was the host of Shindig and this is a link to an interview with him posted originally by the Classic Bands site, written by Gary James. Link above!
"Q - Couldn't Shindig! have lasted as long as American Bandstand?"
"A - No doubt in my mind. ... I knew that if Jack did quit, chances were the show would not survive. Sure enough, it took about six months, but I could see almost with the first episode without Jack, that we had begun to stray off the track."
"Q - Couldn't Shindig! have lasted as long as American Bandstand?"
"A - No doubt in my mind. ... I knew that if Jack did quit, chances were the show would not survive. Sure enough, it took about six months, but I could see almost with the first episode without Jack, that we had begun to stray off the track."
Thursday, September 8, 2011
BUDDY HOLLY RECEIVES HIS STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME AS A 75th BIRTHDAY PRESENT!
Linking to the article and pictures from the Los Angeles Times newspaper:
Said Maria Elena Holly: “One of his dreams was to write scores for movies and to come to Hollywood and make his mark,” Holly, 78, said during the midday ceremony outside the Capitol Records tower before a crowd of a couple hundred fans and several dozen guests from the entertainment world and local politics. The ceremony was timed in conjunction with what would have been Holly’s 75th birthday. “Half of that dream did not come true,” she said, choking back a tear. “But the other half did come true with this beautiful star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Said Maria Elena Holly: “One of his dreams was to write scores for movies and to come to Hollywood and make his mark,” Holly, 78, said during the midday ceremony outside the Capitol Records tower before a crowd of a couple hundred fans and several dozen guests from the entertainment world and local politics. The ceremony was timed in conjunction with what would have been Holly’s 75th birthday. “Half of that dream did not come true,” she said, choking back a tear. “But the other half did come true with this beautiful star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
(383) GLEN CAMPBELL ON SHINDIG
Since we recently posted on Glen Campbell, we thought we'd start off our videos of this one of Glen on Shindig. Check out our other posts for more on Glen!
UPDATE BY WES: I forgot to mention that Glen's appearances on Shindig and then on The Joey Bishop show caught the attention of The Smothers Brothers, and they decided to produce a show for him on CBS.
UPDATE BY WES: I forgot to mention that Glen's appearances on Shindig and then on The Joey Bishop show caught the attention of The Smothers Brothers, and they decided to produce a show for him on CBS.
Monday, September 5, 2011
(382) JACK GOOD : SHINDIG BLACKCAT: ROCKABILLY EUROPE
SHIINDIG was the hot Rock and Roll television show that aired for a couple years starting in 1964. Eventually the Beatles and the Rolling Stones performed and at the time we didn't know what we do now, how successful they would be or how enduring.
British JACK GOOD came to the United States to be producer. We thought he did a great job of it.
We're linking here to Black Dog Rockabilly, a site from Europe, that has a great profile of Shindig Producer and Creator Jack Good.
At the end of the article the question is WHAT HAPPENED TO JACK GOOD?
DO YOU KNOW?
"(Jack) superintended the nationally-broadcast pop showcase "Shindig" which, as well as "discoveries" like the Righteous Brothers and Sonny & Cher, represented a media breakthrough for diverse black artists from Howlin' Wolf to The Chambers Brothers...
"Cher tells the story of how and she and Sonny first got started in the US, and how they were not well received because people thought they were weird. She went on to say, "There was a man called Jack Good who was presenting a USA show called Shindig, who loved us. He said "You've got to go to England," so we sold everything, and we were famous there first. Even the older generation would ask for our autographs, and when we got back to America we were huge, and everyone thought we were English."
THIS MONTH WE FOCUS ON SHINDIG!
British JACK GOOD came to the United States to be producer. We thought he did a great job of it.
We're linking here to Black Dog Rockabilly, a site from Europe, that has a great profile of Shindig Producer and Creator Jack Good.
At the end of the article the question is WHAT HAPPENED TO JACK GOOD?
DO YOU KNOW?
"(Jack) superintended the nationally-broadcast pop showcase "Shindig" which, as well as "discoveries" like the Righteous Brothers and Sonny & Cher, represented a media breakthrough for diverse black artists from Howlin' Wolf to The Chambers Brothers...
"Cher tells the story of how and she and Sonny first got started in the US, and how they were not well received because people thought they were weird. She went on to say, "There was a man called Jack Good who was presenting a USA show called Shindig, who loved us. He said "You've got to go to England," so we sold everything, and we were famous there first. Even the older generation would ask for our autographs, and when we got back to America we were huge, and everyone thought we were English."
THIS MONTH WE FOCUS ON SHINDIG!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
OUR CRITEREA FOR YOUTUBE VIDEOS : HAVE A LISTEN TO OUR YOUTUBE STATION
The YouTube station we have is embedded to the left is PLAYLIST ONE. On the net you can also see the station itself along with PLAYLIST TWO. Each features a different set of music. And from time to time we check to see what videos have expired and find the best substitute possible.
We often seek videos that have historical value because we like the idea that you can get a view of the performers and the times - the sets - the fashions - the overall style of a concert or television show.
We listen and watch each video because we want to make sure that it fits into our standards for the blog. That means parents should not be concerned if their child is watching that video, though we love creativity and innovation.
We also give lots of points when a YouTuber provides some historical information as part of their post. We know opinions vary, but we appreciate the effort.
Last but not least (not at all) we care that a YouTuber is following the guidelines that we all agree to in having these wonderful accounts. That means that the particular account owner does not indulge in any abusive practices. Let's face it. It's easy for people to hide out behind an account on the Internet and post just about anything, even things they would never say to someone's face. That is not at all in the spirit of helpfulness or cooperation.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED VIDEOS and SENT US SUGGESTIONS!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
We often seek videos that have historical value because we like the idea that you can get a view of the performers and the times - the sets - the fashions - the overall style of a concert or television show.
We listen and watch each video because we want to make sure that it fits into our standards for the blog. That means parents should not be concerned if their child is watching that video, though we love creativity and innovation.
We also give lots of points when a YouTuber provides some historical information as part of their post. We know opinions vary, but we appreciate the effort.
Last but not least (not at all) we care that a YouTuber is following the guidelines that we all agree to in having these wonderful accounts. That means that the particular account owner does not indulge in any abusive practices. Let's face it. It's easy for people to hide out behind an account on the Internet and post just about anything, even things they would never say to someone's face. That is not at all in the spirit of helpfulness or cooperation.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED VIDEOS and SENT US SUGGESTIONS!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Thursday, August 25, 2011
(381) RCA A GREAT BIG RECORD LABEL
Elvis Presley left the Sun record label because RCA bought his contract from Sam Phillips about a year later, in 1955. So when I met Elvis in 1957 the old hound dog was already on a great big label, RCA.
Elvis is still on RCA!
We're linking to the RCA site!
In the 1920's RCA (Radio Corporation of America), which manufactured radios - the way most Americans first heard a record, purchased Victor and the label became RCA Victor. In the early 1950's RCA Victor was one of the big five. The others were Capitol, Mercury, Columbia, and Decca. EMI, the biggest label in the United Kingdom bought Capitol in 1955.
The big labels had the money to market, and marketing was an important part of moving a record into stores quickly so that sales could move it up the chart.
The smaller labels didn't have much of a marketing budget so it was up to the entertainer to promote. Sometimes playing a song on radio or TV sent fans into the record stores where there were few to no records to buy. They bought something else, something available.
By the late 1950's, the smaller independent labels that had been pioneers in releasing Rock and Roll records began to loose sales to the great big labels.
Elvis is still on RCA!
We're linking to the RCA site!
In the 1920's RCA (Radio Corporation of America), which manufactured radios - the way most Americans first heard a record, purchased Victor and the label became RCA Victor. In the early 1950's RCA Victor was one of the big five. The others were Capitol, Mercury, Columbia, and Decca. EMI, the biggest label in the United Kingdom bought Capitol in 1955.
The big labels had the money to market, and marketing was an important part of moving a record into stores quickly so that sales could move it up the chart.
The smaller labels didn't have much of a marketing budget so it was up to the entertainer to promote. Sometimes playing a song on radio or TV sent fans into the record stores where there were few to no records to buy. They bought something else, something available.
By the late 1950's, the smaller independent labels that had been pioneers in releasing Rock and Roll records began to loose sales to the great big labels.
Monday, August 22, 2011
HOUND DOG SONGWRITER JERRY LEIBER HEADS FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL MANSION IN HEAVEN
"Rock 'n' roll songwriter Jerry Leiber, who wrote lyrics for such hits as "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock," died Monday. ...With Leiber as lyricist and partner Mike Stoller as composer, the team channeled their blues and jazz backgrounds into pop songs performed by such artists as Elvis Presley, the Coasters and Ben E. King... Their breakout hit was blues great Big Mama Thornton's 1953 rendition of "Hound Dog." Presley's version hit No. 1 in 1956."
We're linking to the Daily News article, one of many, put out by Associated Press."
Christine here : If you believe what the psychic Sylvia Browne has to say about heaven, there's a rock and roll concert going on over there where all the greats get to play together, so maybe Jerry gets to work with Elvis again! (And where Elvis gets to perform at the biggest arena ever!)
UPDATE MARCH 16 2012 We're adding the official Leiber -Stoller Site to our links list.
We're linking to the Daily News article, one of many, put out by Associated Press."
Christine here : If you believe what the psychic Sylvia Browne has to say about heaven, there's a rock and roll concert going on over there where all the greats get to play together, so maybe Jerry gets to work with Elvis again! (And where Elvis gets to perform at the biggest arena ever!)
UPDATE MARCH 16 2012 We're adding the official Leiber -Stoller Site to our links list.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC BLOG : THANKS GOOGLE!
Christine here: Wes called me the other day, the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. We reminisced. Elvis was one of the big inspirations for us to start this blog. In fact we dedicated it to him. When I first met Wes Bryan, it was in a local library where he liked to meet with some of his friends. I knew Wes and his friends liked to talk old Hollywood. One day I realized that when he said anything about Elvis there was almost a reverent hush. Wes had a lot of fun with Elvis.
Blogging was an endeavor that was new to us. We have learned so much in the process! We couldn't do it without Google Blogger, which remains at no charge to us. Google recently bought YouTube, another site with thousands of contributor posted music videos that have become a resource for music historians all over the world. When we link to a site or a video we like to think we are sending our readers to more information and experience.
One of the thrills for Wes is that this blog has attracted not only new friends like Arne in Sweden, but so many old friends have found this way to reconnect. We say hello to all of you and thank you again for your contributions to the success of Wes Bryan - My Life in Music.
Blogging was an endeavor that was new to us. We have learned so much in the process! We couldn't do it without Google Blogger, which remains at no charge to us. Google recently bought YouTube, another site with thousands of contributor posted music videos that have become a resource for music historians all over the world. When we link to a site or a video we like to think we are sending our readers to more information and experience.
One of the thrills for Wes is that this blog has attracted not only new friends like Arne in Sweden, but so many old friends have found this way to reconnect. We say hello to all of you and thank you again for your contributions to the success of Wes Bryan - My Life in Music.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
(380) 1964 ELVIS' GREAT YEAR : VIVA LAS VEGAS CAME OUT
I've said that Viva Las Vegas remains one of my favorite movies. Elvis was working on it in 1963, which is when he met Ann-Margret, but it came out in 1964. (It's my favorite Elvis movie.) It was very popular, so while the Beatles were "invading" America, Elvis was having a great year too. Was he worried about the Beatles' chart toppers effecting his success? No. But he was aware.
When Elvis was in Germany he had all the top hits sent over to him. Back in the states he loaded his juke box with his favorites. It was part of the business to know who was who and what was what. At the house he often played demos for me and Johnny Rivers, wanting our opinions; which ones should he record?
When Elvis was in Germany he had all the top hits sent over to him. Back in the states he loaded his juke box with his favorites. It was part of the business to know who was who and what was what. At the house he often played demos for me and Johnny Rivers, wanting our opinions; which ones should he record?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
(379) BILLBOARD AD FOR 5th ANNIVERSARY OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S DEATH
Friends, we're linking here to the page in BILLBOARD MAGAZINE in which a few of us ran an ad in remembrance of ELVIS PRESLEY on the 5th anniversary of his death.
The ad was in the Aug 21, 1982 edition and we continued to place these ads, gaining more contributors, for both his birthday and these remembrances.
If you go back to my earliest posts - the very beginning of this blog in 2007 - you can read a bit more about what I have to say about Elvis, who was a friend of mine from 1957 on and one of the best friends a man could have.
Use the search feature of this blog to bring up some of my memories of this great man, and a great friend.
The ad was in the Aug 21, 1982 edition and we continued to place these ads, gaining more contributors, for both his birthday and these remembrances.
If you go back to my earliest posts - the very beginning of this blog in 2007 - you can read a bit more about what I have to say about Elvis, who was a friend of mine from 1957 on and one of the best friends a man could have.
Use the search feature of this blog to bring up some of my memories of this great man, and a great friend.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
(378) ABOUT THE TIME I MET ELVIS IN 1957 : WES BRYAN
The Brooding James Dean type? So the photograph says. That's me, Wes Bryan, in New York about the time I was signed to a contract with United Artists to act and also to sing about 1957. It was about the time that I met Elvis Presley while on a UA tour of the deep south, which included Memphis.I was optimistic about life and worked hard. Traveling, meeting people, and performing around the country brought me out of my shyness and into my confidence about my abilities.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
(377) 1964 THE BEATLES TOUR AMERICA : CAPITOL RECORDS : STILL RECORDING "OLD TIME" ROCK AND ROLL
Christine here : The Beatles had been in the United States before, in 1963, and they lead a lot of British groups in what's been called "THE BRITISH INVASION" to success in America.
The Beatles got signed to Capitol Records, which had an association with EMI. Capitol put out the"Meet The Beatles" album, the first of four for that year. The Beatles were all over and up the charts. In Great Britain they put out an album called "Beatles For Sale." It was released as "Beatles IV" in the US.
The "Beatles For Sale" album was a tribute album to the early rock and rollers that the Beatles loved. It featured songs like Carol Perkins' "Honey Don't" with Ringo Starr singing, Carl Perkin's "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby," with George Harrison singing, Buddy Holly's "Words of Love," sung by Paul McCartney and harmonies with John Lennon. While Paul and John were writing original songs and would become two of the most prolific and famous songwriters of the Twentieth century, they covered these songs that were already considered "oldies" too.
The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964 and toured the country. By August of 1964 they were featured guests at a charity event in Los Angeles arranged by Capitol records ; old Hollywood stars brought their teenagers. Back in England they went on the popular rock and roll "Ready Steady Go" television show, which was a project of Dave Clark of the group Dave Clark Five.
I had several friends over the years who were major Beatles fans and I became one too, turned on to the group listening to their records. I still love these early albums. They had such energy! There was so much excitement!
The Beatles very much part of my introduction to Rock and Roll and my lifelong love of music.
The Beatles got signed to Capitol Records, which had an association with EMI. Capitol put out the"Meet The Beatles" album, the first of four for that year. The Beatles were all over and up the charts. In Great Britain they put out an album called "Beatles For Sale." It was released as "Beatles IV" in the US.
The "Beatles For Sale" album was a tribute album to the early rock and rollers that the Beatles loved. It featured songs like Carol Perkins' "Honey Don't" with Ringo Starr singing, Carl Perkin's "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby," with George Harrison singing, Buddy Holly's "Words of Love," sung by Paul McCartney and harmonies with John Lennon. While Paul and John were writing original songs and would become two of the most prolific and famous songwriters of the Twentieth century, they covered these songs that were already considered "oldies" too.
The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964 and toured the country. By August of 1964 they were featured guests at a charity event in Los Angeles arranged by Capitol records ; old Hollywood stars brought their teenagers. Back in England they went on the popular rock and roll "Ready Steady Go" television show, which was a project of Dave Clark of the group Dave Clark Five.
I had several friends over the years who were major Beatles fans and I became one too, turned on to the group listening to their records. I still love these early albums. They had such energy! There was so much excitement!
The Beatles very much part of my introduction to Rock and Roll and my lifelong love of music.
Monday, August 8, 2011
(376) FRED NEIL : STUDIO MUSICIAN : CAPITOL RECORDS ARTIST
FRED NEIL : What a voice! And a great person!
Freddy was six foot two, a freckled face, red hair. I met him in Saint Petersberg, Florida in December of 1957. He paled around with me and Ersel Hickey in New York and became a real good friend. He was a lot of fun - very comical - a prankster.
One time as I was walking across Broadway with some business people, I heard a loud voice, someone yelling for me with some profanity thrown in. I turned around and there he was, laughing at me. Freddy was turned loose in a big city.
Fred had a couple records on Capitol Records but his claim to fame was the song "Everybody's Talking," the movie Midnight Cowboy's theme song.
NICK VENET WAS THE PRODUCER ON THIS HIT.
Fred signed a contract with Southern Music. a division of Hill and Range, and became a big writer.
I wrote a song for Buddy Knox called "Bye Bye Helloa" and Freddy played all the instruments on the demo. It was recorded in a little studio in the Brill building. Freddy also worked in the studio with Bobby Darin.
Freddy was six foot two, a freckled face, red hair. I met him in Saint Petersberg, Florida in December of 1957. He paled around with me and Ersel Hickey in New York and became a real good friend. He was a lot of fun - very comical - a prankster.
One time as I was walking across Broadway with some business people, I heard a loud voice, someone yelling for me with some profanity thrown in. I turned around and there he was, laughing at me. Freddy was turned loose in a big city.
Fred had a couple records on Capitol Records but his claim to fame was the song "Everybody's Talking," the movie Midnight Cowboy's theme song.
NICK VENET WAS THE PRODUCER ON THIS HIT.
Fred signed a contract with Southern Music. a division of Hill and Range, and became a big writer.
I wrote a song for Buddy Knox called "Bye Bye Helloa" and Freddy played all the instruments on the demo. It was recorded in a little studio in the Brill building. Freddy also worked in the studio with Bobby Darin.
Friday, August 5, 2011
(375) NICK VENET - PRODUCER AT CAPITOL HAD HIS OWN ROCKABILLY ORIGINS
CAPITOL RECORDS music producer Nick Venet had a rockabilly past of his own. This one is from 1957.
If you'll click on the title above you will go to a National Public Radio interview of Nick, who among many others, worked with Bobby Darin and Glen Campbell. This interview includes a Nick Venet produced version of Bobby Darin singing Dream Lover and is mostly about Bobby. Nick and Bobby went back to the Brill Building in New York, where Bobby was doing demos for other artists. There was a group of people who hung out in the restaurants nearby. I was one of them.
Nick Venet on Bobby Darin's career : "Being a songwriter was more realistic"
If you'll click on the title above you will go to a National Public Radio interview of Nick, who among many others, worked with Bobby Darin and Glen Campbell. This interview includes a Nick Venet produced version of Bobby Darin singing Dream Lover and is mostly about Bobby. Nick and Bobby went back to the Brill Building in New York, where Bobby was doing demos for other artists. There was a group of people who hung out in the restaurants nearby. I was one of them.
Nick Venet on Bobby Darin's career : "Being a songwriter was more realistic"
Monday, August 1, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
P.J. PROBY PROMOTIONAL VIDEO CIRCA 2011 !
Friends, we felt real lucky to have received this P.J. PROBY Promotional Video in our very own e-mail from P.J.'s manager Manja, who is in Holland. P.J. has just finished with the Elvis themed show and other venues are calling. There aren't many left of our generation who are as active in entertainment.
We're so Excited for P.J.! This video shows his range - which has always been incredible - his talent and energy. Hey P.J. I want a silver suit too!
We're so Excited for P.J.! This video shows his range - which has always been incredible - his talent and energy. Hey P.J. I want a silver suit too!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
HELLO TO NEW FRIENDS USING TRANSLATORS IN FARSI AND ARABIC and A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RECENT READERSHIP
Christine Trzyna here: Sleuth that I am (it must be all those NANCY DREW books I read in the fifth grade along with the English Classics!) I recently discovered that our blog is being translated in some languages we don't have translator flags for including Farsi and Arabic. We are a bit in awe that there are people in the Arabic and Farsi speaking countries interested in early American rock and roll and the cover tune era!
We appreciate our friends; the old friends as well as the new ones we're making!
You know we don't write for statistics but we do find our readership interesting. In the last 30 days the United States takes the lead as we tend to expect. Coming in second place are readers from Germany. Readers from France and the United Kingdom are almost tied. As are Canada and the Ukraine! We had a dozen or so readers from Australia and Poland. This week Latvia and India checked in! Welcome to you all!
UPDATE MAY 23 2012 - WE'VE INSTALLED THE NEW GOOGLE TRANSLATOR TO HELP YOU READ THIS BLOG! GIVE IT A TRY!
We appreciate our friends; the old friends as well as the new ones we're making!
You know we don't write for statistics but we do find our readership interesting. In the last 30 days the United States takes the lead as we tend to expect. Coming in second place are readers from Germany. Readers from France and the United Kingdom are almost tied. As are Canada and the Ukraine! We had a dozen or so readers from Australia and Poland. This week Latvia and India checked in! Welcome to you all!
UPDATE MAY 23 2012 - WE'VE INSTALLED THE NEW GOOGLE TRANSLATOR TO HELP YOU READ THIS BLOG! GIVE IT A TRY!
Monday, July 25, 2011
(374) FROM OUR ARCHIVE (316) VIVA LAS VEGAS AND GLEN CAMPBELL
Friday, June 18, 2010
(316) VIVA LAS VEGAS and GLEN CAMPBELL
Glen Campbell was aboard at American Music where I worked. When he moved to Los Angeles after Jerry Capeheart signed him, he spent a lot of time with me at my place. I got Glen Campbell the gig with Elvis Presley for the music for VIVA LAS VEGAS. Glen had asked me to introduce him to Elvis many times so I eventually did introduce the two men. Elvis asked Glen for a demo record and Glen provided it. Glen gave Elvis a demo of an instrumental he did called "Buzz Saw" that really showed off his musical genius. Because Elvis loved the demo he made the phone calls and Glen was assigned to be the LEAD GUITARIST - the LEADER OF THE BAND - for the movie music. As a member of the Musicians Union he was paid triple scale for the soundtrack work. This was before Glen become famous. He was a songwriter and studio musician much in demand for years before "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," the Jimmy Webb composition.
(316) VIVA LAS VEGAS and GLEN CAMPBELL
Glen Campbell was aboard at American Music where I worked. When he moved to Los Angeles after Jerry Capeheart signed him, he spent a lot of time with me at my place. I got Glen Campbell the gig with Elvis Presley for the music for VIVA LAS VEGAS. Glen had asked me to introduce him to Elvis many times so I eventually did introduce the two men. Elvis asked Glen for a demo record and Glen provided it. Glen gave Elvis a demo of an instrumental he did called "Buzz Saw" that really showed off his musical genius. Because Elvis loved the demo he made the phone calls and Glen was assigned to be the LEAD GUITARIST - the LEADER OF THE BAND - for the movie music. As a member of the Musicians Union he was paid triple scale for the soundtrack work. This was before Glen become famous. He was a songwriter and studio musician much in demand for years before "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," the Jimmy Webb composition.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
(373) GLEN CAMPBELL : ALZHEIMERS : LAST TOUR AND ALBUM
We're linking here to a recent LA Times Blog article about Glen Campbell, who has announced that, at 75, he has Alzheimer's but will go on one last tour.
And to what we believe to be his own site which has some excellent photos including of his latest album: http://surfdog.com/glencampbellshow/index.html
Glen was blessed with amazing musical talent, has had a long and winding road of a career and is known for his dozens of hit records, but his journey in life was not and is not easy going.
And to what we believe to be his own site which has some excellent photos including of his latest album: http://surfdog.com/glencampbellshow/index.html
Glen was blessed with amazing musical talent, has had a long and winding road of a career and is known for his dozens of hit records, but his journey in life was not and is not easy going.
Friday, July 22, 2011
GLEN CAMPBELL : A AND W ROOTBEER 1966
Yes, Glen even worked on commercial jingles and promotions for products like rootbeer. But besides the interest here in Glen Campbell, let's just say in posting this that there has never been any shame attached to an honest day's work.
And for all of you who love music (and you have to love music to be in the business) there is no shame in background singing, jingle writing, or any of the behind the scenes work, like songwriting or music production; not everyone can become a star or have a public career that goes on for years. I feel lucky to have participated as much as I have! Wes
And for all of you who love music (and you have to love music to be in the business) there is no shame in background singing, jingle writing, or any of the behind the scenes work, like songwriting or music production; not everyone can become a star or have a public career that goes on for years. I feel lucky to have participated as much as I have! Wes
Thursday, July 21, 2011
(372) GLEN CAMPBELL 1964 ALBUM SHOWS OFF HIS 12 STRING GUITAR PLAYING EXCELLENCE
Jerry Capeheart, Eddie Cochran's old manager, discovered Glen Campbell and invited him out to Los Angeles, gave him an American Music songwriting contract. Glen played in studios as a musician, making his living behind the scenes, until performing called to him again.
Monday, July 18, 2011
(371) CAPITOL RECORDS : A GREAT BIG RECORD LABEL
Throughout this blog we've posted on many of the smaller or regional record labels.
These labels were extrememly important to my generation of rockabilly and early rock and roll artists, as was the personality DJ who still was able to pick his or her favorites and give them a spin on the radio, often making stars out of artists. Many of these smaller labels had near no budget for promotion but the great big labels, such as Capitol Records did and so being signed by them usually meant that you'd have a publicity machine behind your efforts.
(YOU CAN USE THE SEARCH FEATURE OF THIS GOOGLE BLOGGER TO look up "personality DJ's" such as Cliff Gleaves, or Wolfman Jack!)
By 1964 Capitol had The Beatles of Great Britain and The Beach Boys of Los Angeles, California. They also had Glen Campbell, who was starting to move forward in his entertainment career after years of performing in small venues. (But let's hold a bit on the Glen Campbell story, which has been in the media lately.)
We're linking to the present day Capitol Records site where we noticed that BRIAN WILSON of the Beach Boys and RINGO STAR of the Beatles are still signed artists with this label!
These labels were extrememly important to my generation of rockabilly and early rock and roll artists, as was the personality DJ who still was able to pick his or her favorites and give them a spin on the radio, often making stars out of artists. Many of these smaller labels had near no budget for promotion but the great big labels, such as Capitol Records did and so being signed by them usually meant that you'd have a publicity machine behind your efforts.
(YOU CAN USE THE SEARCH FEATURE OF THIS GOOGLE BLOGGER TO look up "personality DJ's" such as Cliff Gleaves, or Wolfman Jack!)
By 1964 Capitol had The Beatles of Great Britain and The Beach Boys of Los Angeles, California. They also had Glen Campbell, who was starting to move forward in his entertainment career after years of performing in small venues. (But let's hold a bit on the Glen Campbell story, which has been in the media lately.)
We're linking to the present day Capitol Records site where we noticed that BRIAN WILSON of the Beach Boys and RINGO STAR of the Beatles are still signed artists with this label!
Friday, July 15, 2011
OLD GOLDEN HOLLYWOOD
Probably the 1930's. A bit before my time in Hollywood, which began in the late 1950's when the Capitol Records building towered over the record business. Looks like Vine Street to me.Used under terms and conditions with thanks from Dover Publishing
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
CAPITOL RECORDS : MISSING ROYALTIES : ARE YOU AN ARTIST WHO FORGOT TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS AT THE OFFICE?
ARE YOU A "MISSING IN ACTION" SONG WRITER OR MUSIC PRODUCER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SOME ROYALTY CHECKS?
CAPITOL RECORDS MAY BE LOOKING FOR YOU TO PAY YOU WHAT THEY OWE!
Linking here to a small database of people who left town and forgot their pay!
WES HERE : I looked at a number of these and recognized a few names!
Liberty Records was sold to United Artists and then UA sold them to EMI which owns Capitol Records.
CAPITOL RECORDS MAY BE LOOKING FOR YOU TO PAY YOU WHAT THEY OWE!
Linking here to a small database of people who left town and forgot their pay!
WES HERE : I looked at a number of these and recognized a few names!
Liberty Records was sold to United Artists and then UA sold them to EMI which owns Capitol Records.
Monday, July 11, 2011
CAPITOL RECORDS and THE PLAZA HOTEL
From Our Archives
Capitol Records and the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood circa 1960, credited to photographer Roy Hankey, through Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection Database. We've been looking through free image collections for a good photo of the Capitol building which looked a bit like a stack of records.
Besides Capitol records, we also see the Plaza Hotel- where I had tea with actress and James Dean's great friend Christine White, the Huntington-Hartford, and the Broadway Department store.
UPDATE July 2011. We're linking to a Hollywood/ Capitol Records Memory Site by Nori Muster. This site includes "The Capitol Tower Turned fifty in 2006. Read correspondence, remembrance, and images from the grand opening, including the 1956 press release, information sheet, tour guide script, and Tower booklet." and more!
Capitol Records and the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood circa 1960, credited to photographer Roy Hankey, through Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection Database. We've been looking through free image collections for a good photo of the Capitol building which looked a bit like a stack of records.
Besides Capitol records, we also see the Plaza Hotel- where I had tea with actress and James Dean's great friend Christine White, the Huntington-Hartford, and the Broadway Department store.
UPDATE July 2011. We're linking to a Hollywood/ Capitol Records Memory Site by Nori Muster. This site includes "The Capitol Tower Turned fifty in 2006. Read correspondence, remembrance, and images from the grand opening, including the 1956 press release, information sheet, tour guide script, and Tower booklet." and more!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
(370) BUDDY KNOX and WES BRYAN SINGER-SONGWRITERS COMPOSE ALL BY MYSELF RECORDED ON LIBERTY RECORDS
Here are two variations of the LIBERTY RECORDS labels for the song Buddy Knox recorded with the Johnny Mann Singers as background, that he and I wrote called "All By Myself." It sold well enough to get a Gold Record and went for a second pressing. The song also appeared on an album of his. Glenda Music was Buddy's own publishing company.
This was the promo copy that went to DJ's only. It was played on radio stations.
This was the store copy.
This was the promo copy that went to DJ's only. It was played on radio stations.
This was the store copy.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
(369) JOHNNY MANN SINGERS : BACKGROUND SINGERS OF IMPORTANCE
Like the Ray Charles Singers, the Johnny Mann Singers have recorded for years and sometimes the two groups recorded the same songs, popular music that appealed to three generations. The Johnny Mann Singers covered some of the songs Elvis recorded and songs recorded by the Beatles too. My friend Buddy Knox had them for his whole album that the song he and I wrote, "All By Myself", was on. Snuffy Garret was the producer on that album Buddy Knox on Liberty Records.
In this video the Johnny Mann singers record commercial music for KEARTH 101, a popular radio station in Los Angeles with a rock and oldies format.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
JAQUES DELILLE Quote on Friendship
"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends." - Jacques DeLille
Friday, July 1, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
(368) RAY CHARLES SINGERS : BACKGROUND SINGERS OF IMPORTANCE 1964 HIT
From our archives post (91) THE RAY CHARLES SINGERS
from Saturday, December 15, 2007
I had a connection with Perry Como. He worked with the Ray Charles Singers as his background singers. They worked on most everything he recorded and on television.
When I recorded "Lonesome Love," at a giant studio in New York, RCA Victor, right on Broadway, the Ray Charles Singers were my background singers. I was scared to death. They came over. They didn't put on any aires. One of the guys put his arm around me and said, "Now just relax a little bit." They were Regular Joes, and helpful to me.
Now, a few years later, when I had the song "I Feel Like Crying," that Red West and I wrote in Elvis' den on Bellagio in Bel Air, and Pat Boone bought it for Cooga Mooga, Jack Spena, Pat's manager, pitched the song to Perry. Perry was doing an album and Jack and Pat thought it would be a great cut. But Perry listened to Pat Boone's version and he chuckled. "I can't do it as good as Pat can," Perry said.
UPDATE! Linking to the RAY CHARLES SINGERS SITE (Yes they are still working!)
PS. "He is sometimes known humorously as "The Other Ray Charles" to distinguish him from the great soul musician of the same name."
NEW VIDEO The Ray Charles Singers had a top ten hit in 1964 with this recording of a song that was so popular it was recorded by at least a half a dozen other artists, Love Me With All Of Your Heart.
from Saturday, December 15, 2007
I had a connection with Perry Como. He worked with the Ray Charles Singers as his background singers. They worked on most everything he recorded and on television.
When I recorded "Lonesome Love," at a giant studio in New York, RCA Victor, right on Broadway, the Ray Charles Singers were my background singers. I was scared to death. They came over. They didn't put on any aires. One of the guys put his arm around me and said, "Now just relax a little bit." They were Regular Joes, and helpful to me.
Now, a few years later, when I had the song "I Feel Like Crying," that Red West and I wrote in Elvis' den on Bellagio in Bel Air, and Pat Boone bought it for Cooga Mooga, Jack Spena, Pat's manager, pitched the song to Perry. Perry was doing an album and Jack and Pat thought it would be a great cut. But Perry listened to Pat Boone's version and he chuckled. "I can't do it as good as Pat can," Perry said.
UPDATE! Linking to the RAY CHARLES SINGERS SITE (Yes they are still working!)
PS. "He is sometimes known humorously as "The Other Ray Charles" to distinguish him from the great soul musician of the same name."
NEW VIDEO The Ray Charles Singers had a top ten hit in 1964 with this recording of a song that was so popular it was recorded by at least a half a dozen other artists, Love Me With All Of Your Heart.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
(367) 1964 MY FRIEND ERSEL HICKEY'S CROOKED LITTLE MAN BECOMES A CLASSIC : SERENDIPITY SINGERS
Ersel Hickey, one of the first friends I made in my New York days, wrote this song called "Crooked Little Man" /"Don't Let The Rain Come Down, and in 1964 the Serendipity Singers had a top ten hit with it. Before you know it, the Beach Boys recorded it too. The Serendipity singers were considered a folk group, in the tradition of Peter, Paul, and Mary. And in 1964 they performed at the Democratic National Convention.
This song was also recorded by Johnny Rivers. Trini Lopez performed it and so did many other performers. We've even heard a punk rock version. It's called a "classic" now. Back then the song writing residuals bought Ersel got a house.
The Serendipity Singers have had many changes through the years. Some incarnation of the group was performing through the 1990's.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
(366) FERLIN HUSKY PASSED MARCH 17 2011 REMEMBERING FERLIN LINK TO HIS OFFICIAL SITE!
FROM OUR ARCHIVES in Memorial of Ferlin Husky!
POST (204) FERLIN HUSKY and PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS
UPDATED VIDEO JULY 2011 Now, if you've read about me as a cover blurb on Cool Magazine's hipster cover in 1958, along with James Dean and Ferlin Husky, and Ferlin as one of the men on the video from a YouTube presenter said to be one of the earliest of Elvis (along with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Blue Moon Boys Bill Black and Scotty "The Guitar that Changed the World" Moore), you may be wondering "who is Ferlin Husky?" What a name? Right?
Like Elvis Presley, Ferlin Husky's a southerner who recorded Country, Country-Pop, religious music and funny songs. Here is COUNTRYPOLITAN's Profile of Ferlin Husky: http://www.countrypolitan.com/bio-ferlin-husky.php
And above the link to Ferlin's Official Web Site! Ferlin recorded "Gone" in 1954 as a country song which didn't chart well, but a new producer worked on the 1957 version and he continued to sing this song throughout his career. Now, this may seem improbable but the American Invasion of Britian continued when in 1965 the Paul Revere and the Raiders covered "Gone." Yes! Really! Ferlin also recorded a couple of my songs, and I'm proud of that!
POST (204) FERLIN HUSKY and PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS
UPDATED VIDEO JULY 2011 Now, if you've read about me as a cover blurb on Cool Magazine's hipster cover in 1958, along with James Dean and Ferlin Husky, and Ferlin as one of the men on the video from a YouTube presenter said to be one of the earliest of Elvis (along with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Blue Moon Boys Bill Black and Scotty "The Guitar that Changed the World" Moore), you may be wondering "who is Ferlin Husky?" What a name? Right?
Like Elvis Presley, Ferlin Husky's a southerner who recorded Country, Country-Pop, religious music and funny songs. Here is COUNTRYPOLITAN's Profile of Ferlin Husky: http://www.countrypolitan.com/bio-ferlin-husky.php
And above the link to Ferlin's Official Web Site! Ferlin recorded "Gone" in 1954 as a country song which didn't chart well, but a new producer worked on the 1957 version and he continued to sing this song throughout his career. Now, this may seem improbable but the American Invasion of Britian continued when in 1965 the Paul Revere and the Raiders covered "Gone." Yes! Really! Ferlin also recorded a couple of my songs, and I'm proud of that!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
WAIT FOR ME BABY WES BRYAN
The flip side of Freeze, a Doo Wop song sung by me with the great Ben Alexander on the sax! We'll be replacing this video soon: the Youtuber who first presented it is reworking his channel and has been in touch!
Monday, June 13, 2011
WES BRYAN TAKES A QUESTION : COPYRIGHT ? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
Adam : "I'm an aspiring song writer. I was wondering where I might find information on using famous quotes in song lyrics."
Wes : We're linking to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION here which has some good information and links about music copyright. You may want to contact them and see if they can guide you to the correct answer.
I think the question may be who owns the copyright to a quote and if they are policing the use of their words. Fair Use of a quote for this blog includes attributing it to the person who said (or wrote) those words. There are many ways to express the same thought though, and we notice that some quotes are repeated (and published in books and on the net) with slight changes, attributed to different people. This question also falls into the same category of "song sampling" by rap artists and Fair Use of music on the net.
Our favorite, RCS Discography, carefully follows the 4 bar sampling policy. While, as we all know, YouTube established new ground in the (temporary) use of listening tomusic, including songs I wrote and recorded. So how much use anyone can get out of anything that someone else originated gets to be a complicated question at times.
Wes : We're linking to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION here which has some good information and links about music copyright. You may want to contact them and see if they can guide you to the correct answer.
I think the question may be who owns the copyright to a quote and if they are policing the use of their words. Fair Use of a quote for this blog includes attributing it to the person who said (or wrote) those words. There are many ways to express the same thought though, and we notice that some quotes are repeated (and published in books and on the net) with slight changes, attributed to different people. This question also falls into the same category of "song sampling" by rap artists and Fair Use of music on the net.
Our favorite, RCS Discography, carefully follows the 4 bar sampling policy. While, as we all know, YouTube established new ground in the (temporary) use of listening tomusic, including songs I wrote and recorded. So how much use anyone can get out of anything that someone else originated gets to be a complicated question at times.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
(364) DONNIE BROOKS RECORDED UNDER SEVERAL NAMES BEFORE HE HIT IT BIG
I first met DONNIE BROOKS in the late 1950's - early 1960's in New York City. Then, since he also moved out to LA, I saw him on this coast.
He became a very good friend of mine, as well as Dorsey Burnett's and P.J. Probys.
We're linking to the DONNIE BROOKS ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME LINK ABOVE!
Donnie, like many others who moved between studio work - making demos - and entertainment, recorded under different names and on different record labels before he settled on Donnie Brooks and had that hit. In 1964 he moved on to Frank Sinatra's label, Reprise (where Jimmy Bowen had become a producer), and eventually Gene Autry's Challenge, continuing his career into the 1970's.
And sadly, an article from the United Kingdown, Independent newspaper, his obit...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/donnie-brooks-439032.html
He became a very good friend of mine, as well as Dorsey Burnett's and P.J. Probys.
We're linking to the DONNIE BROOKS ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME LINK ABOVE!
Donnie, like many others who moved between studio work - making demos - and entertainment, recorded under different names and on different record labels before he settled on Donnie Brooks and had that hit. In 1964 he moved on to Frank Sinatra's label, Reprise (where Jimmy Bowen had become a producer), and eventually Gene Autry's Challenge, continuing his career into the 1970's.
And sadly, an article from the United Kingdown, Independent newspaper, his obit...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/donnie-brooks-439032.html
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
(363) LEON RUSSEL ROCK AND ROLL OF FAME 2011 : ELTON JOHN COLLABORATORS
On David Letterman 2011 and his Induction in 2011 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by one of my favorites, Elton John, LEON RUSSEL was a session player when I worked a bit with him, and he always seemed to me to be shy or to himself.
Elton and Leon have collaborated lately and appeared recently on the David Letterman show.
Elton and Leon have collaborated lately and appeared recently on the David Letterman show.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
FREEZE by WES BRYAN
What a surprise! Every once in a while another Wes Bryan recording shows up on YouTube and it's my eagle eye writing partner Christine who usually discovers them!
I loved recording this song, the first I wrote that I recorded and had success with.
Ben Alexander played that hot sax. I was honored to record with him. Ben played with many of the Big Band and Jazz artists. I met up with him in Harlem and we practiced and practiced and practiced some more.
We congratulated each other on this hit at the Turf restaurant in New York...
THANK YOU TO THE YOUTUBER who posted this! Wes
Thursday, June 2, 2011
ARISTOTLE Quote on Friendship
"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit." - Aristotle
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
AMERICANS STILL INVADING EUROPE : GENE VINCENT 1963 in EUROPE THE AMERICANS STILL GOING TO EUROPE
Gene continued to do rock and roll his way, touring in Europe for some time.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
(362) CRUSADER RECORDS 1964 BBJ RECORDS BIG BAD JOHN FISHER and TERRY STAFFORD and THE BEATLES
So, it's 1964 and the Beatles are dominating the charts. Who challenges them? An American named Terry Stafford, who, like Bobby Vee, (and me), recorded on Big Bad John Fisher's Crusader Records. JOHN FISHER was an LA Promoter and music producer with his own "in house" label. "Suspicion" was the song that stood its ground with the Beatles. A keyboardist named Bob Summers played on this record and helped make it a hit. Bob had a recording studio where he overdubbed the keyboards.
LINKING ABOVE TO AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE BY PAT DINIZIO about TERRY STAFFORD!
Terry's version came after Elvis'.
We want to thank YouTubers. We've been posting Thankyou's and Invitations to visit us on the YouTuber's comments, but have been having a bad time getting into our account there over the last month or so.
LINKING ABOVE TO AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE BY PAT DINIZIO about TERRY STAFFORD!
Terry's version came after Elvis'.
We want to thank YouTubers. We've been posting Thankyou's and Invitations to visit us on the YouTuber's comments, but have been having a bad time getting into our account there over the last month or so.
Monday, May 23, 2011
(361) DAVID GATES SONGWRITER ARRANGER PRODUCER
"We drove from club to club, three a night, auditioned for everybody until we finally got a job and got rolling again. And then on Saturday nights, after hours, musicians from all over the city would meet at a place called the Crossbow, in the Valley. It was at the Crossbow that I met guys like Steve Douglas, Glen Campbell, James Burton, Leon Russell, Chuck Blackwell, Jerry Cole. Slowly they were getting into recordings, mostly demo sessions, some union jobs. By jamming with these people, I got more work. All of a sudden, I was being asked to play on demo sessions and then on recordings." - David Gates
Linking here to David Gates - In His Own
Linking here to David Gates - In His Own
(I liked Johnny Crawford's hit "Sandy" that David arranged.)
A session player who became a composer, singer-songwriter, arranger, and music producer, before he became an entertainer, DAVID GATES is certainly an underrated talent. His work appears on many record labels. We chose this YouTube video because he's credited in every role he played. GWENN STACY from 1964:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
