From the category archives:

music

Chexy’s Saturday Matinee

by Chexy on February 4, 2012

God bless Rosa Parks, born on this day in 1913. One person can change the world.

For the Sephardim.

Miller and Lyles.

Billie at Carnegie Hall…

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in 1930, birthdays, chexy's saturday matinee, fabulosity, music, righteousness, stuff I like

Turban Tuesday: Florence Vidor

by Chexy on January 31, 2012

Florence Arto of Houston Texas was born in 1895. Her husband was film director King Vidor, who put her to work in silent films in 1916 as Florence Vidor. They had a daughter, Suzanne. Flo divorced King in 1925 and married famed violinist Jascha Heifetz.

Her career ended with the advent of sound pictures. She died in 1977 at the age of 82.

Here’s a trailer for her lost film, Ernst Lubitsch’s “The Patriot,” the last silent film of the era to be nominated for an Oscar.

And here’s Jascha now with a little Tchaikovsky, ya slobs.

In memory of Ian Abercrombie

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in cinema, little known facts, music, stuff I like, turban tuesday

Chexy’s Saturday Matinee

by Chexy on January 21, 2012

Cream, with Max Raabe.

Coffee, with Frank.

Happy 71st Birthday to Richie Havens… sweet Tupelo Honey.

Tea with Lee… Liberace, that is. Gone 25 years Feb. 4th. The TV movie about him is scheduled to film this summer.

for J, B, C, and E.

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in birthdays, chexy's saturday matinee, food, gays, gone, music

Chexy’s Saturday Matinee

by Chexy on January 14, 2012

Careful, Shirley Bassey may short-circuit your computer.

I’ll always love her. Joni Mitchell from a 1986 concert. Hejira. Gorgeous poetry. Jaco Pastorius on bass.

I’m feeling this song, hard. Stevie Wonder. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.

A little more Stevie, because one isn’t enough, and this made me misty.

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in chexy's saturday matinee, gorgeousness, legends, music, stuff I like, ya gotta love it

Chexy’s Saturday Matinee

by Chexy on December 24, 2011

The original Lady Ga Ga, Garland, singing Cole Porter. Ga ga ah ah ah ah.

Since it’s Christmas Eve, more Cole Porter. Pure gorgeousness.

Christmas Eve commercial.

Mel Torme rocks it.

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in chexy's saturday matinee, holidays, legends, music, stuff I like

Friday Face: Erik Satie

by Chexy on December 16, 2011

Today’s Friday Face created the music of my rugged sentimentalism, French composer Erik Satie.

He published the Gymnopedies in 1888, when he was just 22 years old. It was like nothing ever heard… and for me, there’s still nothing like this.

This is the sound of the light rain at sunrise, the daydream of your Christmases past, your loves lost and found, and the exquisite peacefulness that we can sometimes find.

You can listen and go about your other internet business.

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in Friday Face, gorgeousness, music, stuff I like

Real Gone Places: The Hurricane

by Chexy on December 14, 2011

Here’s the place where it was all happening… The Hurricane, “New York’s Smart Tropical Restaurant,” on the 2nd floor of the Brill Building at 49th & Broadway in the early 1940s. Would you like a menu?

This is the place where Duke Ellington and his orchestra really turned the town upside down. Duke claimed he never made any money during his record 25-week stint at the club, but the live radio broadcasts raised his national appearance fees so high, that it made up for it. This was also the beginning of the end of segregated club audiences. Here’s a view from the orchestra.

And here’s Duke Ellington, surveying his domain.

The club, owned by theatrical attorney Dave Wolper (his nephew became the later TV producer), closed after a lot of financial disputes. The legendary Brill Building is still there.