Posted on 12/18/2014 2:10:08 PM PST by presidio9
Tributes to two of the most famous American entertainers of the 20th century serve as a reminder of how fame flees. The entertainers are Bing Crosby and Bob Hope; the reminders are the documentary American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered, which had its premiere last week (and will run again on Dec. 26 ) on PBS, and Hope: Entertainer of the Century, a new biography by Richard Zoglin. Neither Crosby nor Hope have much cachet with contemporary consumers of art and culture, but the accounts of their careers make convincing cases that their contributions still influence their respective fields, even if some in those fields may not know it.
Given Crosbys skill and stature as a vocalist, the PBS documentary raises the question of how future generations will think of the musicians of the 60s who advanced popular music in their time. Will the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder be as marginalized, if not forgotten, as their significant predecessors?
-SNIP-
Thus, it would have been inconceivable in the mid-20th century that one day either man would be underappreciated or misunderstood. Few current-day music fans think of Bing Crosby as the man who invented the concept of the pop singer and elevated it to high art, swung with Louis Armstrong, and influenced Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Presley, Frank Sinatra and countless other vocalists and instrumentalists. In his time, Crosby was the pinnacle of popular music, but today hes recalled primarily for his version of Irving Berlins White Christmas. As for Hope, -SNIP-
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
“White Christmas” is one of my favorites!!
You probably hang out with guys who call salsa marinara “gravy,” and go “downa shore” in the summer. LOL. Doo Wop is to aging coogines what Tyler Perry films are to middle aged southern blacks.
One of my carpool members is in his mid-60's. He plays rock on his radio. It just seems incongruous for a guy in his 60's to be listening to the screaming vocals of AC/DC. I find that sort of music grating now.
“A wife beater. “
Source?
To me, it does not wear well on a guy pushing 60. Now, I listen exclusively to Classical music and Sinatra (and other vocalists from that era - but mainly Frank).
One of my carpool members is in his mid-60’s. He plays rock on his radio. It just seems incongruous for a guy in his 60’s to be listening to the screaming vocals of AC/DC. I find that sort of music grating now.
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Same here. Rock is all about beat, and melody is more important as we mature
homeschoolers music curriculum
Heck - a lot of adults (ahem) might be interested!
On my project list
Not to mention that the guys in AC/DC are in their 60s and just released a new album and are touring.
Not to mention that the guys in AC/DC are in their 60s and just released a new album and are touring.
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I always think of them as Wrinkles-in-Motion tours.
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