[Fiji Hill]

Billy Stewart: “Summertime”

In August, 1966, my father, a music teacher, church choir director, vocalist and fan of the classics heard us listening to this song on Boss Radio 93 KHJ. He hit the ceiling and charged Billy Stewart with committing an out-and-out travesty for what he did to a Gershwin classic, and he warned us that we were developing poor tastes in music.

[Publius]

Your father had a point. Here's what it looks and sounds like in the opera.

Gershwin: "Porgy and Bess" ("Summertime")

[left that other site]

Since George and Ira were often accused of the very same thing, because they used “Black” inflections in their “Classical” music, (Popular songs, OK, but an OPERA?????), I think they would have liked Billy’s version.

Maybe they would have liked Janice’s too! :-)