Cicero's Song of the Day: Billie Holiday

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/milt-gabler/bio/

Milt Gabler emerged as one of the 20^th century’s most important music producers.
At 15, he began working in a radio shop. In 1933, he expanded to selling records. Two years later, he established a label.

Some of his recordings…

Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

Rum and Coca Cola by the Andrews Sisters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud_JZcC0tHI

I’m Sorry by Brenda Lee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBkGdbci-wM

He died in 2001.

In 2005, Billy Crystal produced the documentary The Milt Gabler Story.

Friday, January 20, 2012

1941 provided an Indian summer in the midst of the Great Depression and before World War II. Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams thrilled Americans throughout the baseball season and big band music dominated. The music continued to own the market until 1946 when dramatic changes occurred. Here are some of the top hits of 1941.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo (Glenn Miller)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k

A String of Pearls (Glenn Miller)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLTDo08giGk

Green Eyes (Jimmy Dorsey)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neyj54oSHC0

Amapola (Jimmy Dorsey)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx6I1dFnZnQ

God Bless This Child (Billie Holiday)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1LfT1MvzI

Blueberry Hill (Gene Autry)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQzt0263Kj0

Take the “A” Train (Duke Ellington)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guYlCLmX59c&ob=av2n

　

The Great Depression began its second decade while World War II broke out in Europe. The music of 1939 reflects the hopes for a better time as well as patriotism. Big band music evolved from swing and dominated the musical landscape beginning in 1935.

The following is a sample of what was popular in 1939:

The #1 song of 1939 was Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow."

Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HRa4X07jdE

and some other popular tunes.

Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHBvksGdhxA

Little Brown Jug by Glenn Miller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYo6G8RBjAE

God Bless America by Kate Smith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8QksTKRYS0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQDW-NMaRs

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdnD39GYVU

When the Saints Go Marching In by Louis Armstrong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA

The song is about racism and its perplexing nature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdnD39GYVU