Don't forget Percy Faith, "Bouquet." And I mean the whole album too!
FReegards!
Posted on 11/02/2014 2:21:42 PM PST by the scotsman
'Clarinettist Acker Bilk, who personified the trad jazz revival of the 1950s and 60s, has died after a lengthy illness, aged 85.
His most famous number Stranger on the Shore was the UK's biggest selling single of 1962 and made him an international star.
Born Bernard Stanley Bilk, he changed his name to Acker - Somerset slang for mate - after learning to play the clarinet in the Army.
His last concert was in August 2013.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
This death may not mean much to many here tonight or in America, but we in the UK have lost one of the greats and giants of British postwar music.
Stranger on the Shore and his later hit Aria are two of the most gorgeous pieces of popular music you will ever hear.
And Bilk was a brilliantly talented musician, an iconic giant of British jazz and pop music.
RIP ‘MR’ Bilk......
He was one of a kind.
(How many Aker Bilks do you know>)
“Stranger on the Shore” is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named “Jenny” after her. It was subsequently used as the theme tune of a BBC TV drama serial for young people, Stranger on the Shore. It was first released in 1961 in the UK, and then in the US, and reached number 1 in the US and number 2 in the UK.
In May 1969, the crew of Apollo 10 took “Stranger on the Shore” on their mission to the moon. Gene Cernan, a member of the crew, included the tune on a cassette tape used in the command module of the Apollo spacecraft.
—wikipedia
RIP.
That song and the “Theme from a Summer Place” remind me of the Halcyon Days of America and how far we have slipped, especially under lear deeder. RIP Mr. Bilk....
Also reached No.1 un the US.
I always loved “Stranger on the Shore.”
RIP
He would make appearances on variety shows, and you could never forget the bowler hat and goatee. RIP
Hi!.
A fellow Brit, I didn’t know you were one of us, lol.
Yes, he was great, and with Kenny Ball gone as well. Chris Barber is still around, I saw him just this year, terrific.
One of the memorable songs from the first time I started listening to popular music at age 11. RIP Mr. Bilk, and thanks.
That song and the “Theme from a Summer Place” remind me of the Halcyon Days of America and how far we have slipped,
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Couple of other ‘great triggers’ is hearing
“Moonglow and Theme from Picnic”, conjuring up Kim Novak slithering towards William Holden,
“Bolero” and Bo Derek walking out of the sea in “10”
and the theme from “Hill Street Blues” with a smiling Victoria Hamel.
The theme from “The Three Stooges” whenever I see a picture of BO and joebama together with ANYONE.(if nothing else, third one just guilt by association)
My condolences, definitely have heard some of his instrumentals.
Don't forget Percy Faith, "Bouquet." And I mean the whole album too!
FReegards!
God,Acker Bilk.
I haven’t heard that name in years.
May he R.I.P.
.
“Stranger on the Shore” was on the juke box in the Frontier Lounge in San Angelo, TX, in the late 60,s and early 70’s. I can’t tell you how many belt buckles got polished right off the belt dancing to that. Between that and “The Sweetheart Tree” I managed to fall in love three, maybe four times every week. My youth, my youth, where are you when I need you?
I used to get Bilk confused with American clarinetist Pete Fountain because they both wore goatees. Maybe that’s why Bilk wore the bowler (derby hat in the States) to lessen the confusion. Plus, Fountain (like many musicians) recorded “Stranger On The Shore” to cash in on its success.
For younger FReepers, an "album" is a "record album". A record was a vinyl disk with squiggly lines on it that could be played on the eponymous "record player". Sort of like a big CD.
For even younger FReeperd, a "CD" was... ;-)
LOL
And that strange thing you hear in old songs is called a ‘melody’.
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