BostonPete.com News Updates

What a beautiful time of the year - Autumn!  This week’s SONGBOOK AMERICA
features some of the legendary songs and artists who recorded for this Fall
season.  “Autumn In New York” of course, Sarah Vaughn sings her version with
strings and Carl Saunders’ flugelhorn with his big band do a nice instrumental
arrangement of Vernon Duke’s 1935 song.

Roger Williams’ piano and orchestra recording of “Autumn Leaves” in 1953 sold
over 2 million copies worldwide.  It was first a French popular song in 1947. 
On today’s show, hear Roger and a chorus do a sparkling rendition.  Kay Kyser’s
popular “sweet band” orchestra with vocalist Ginny Sims perform “Indian Summer”
by Victor Herbert and Al Dubin.  Victor composed a piano version in 1919, but
not until Al Dubin’s lyrics did the song become a hit - in fact, it was “the
number one music-machine recording for 12 weeks” on the Your Hit Parade / Lucky
Strike radio show in 1939! (Remember “Be happy, go Lucky” and LS/MFT? If you do,
send me an email and we'll talk radio show trivia!!)

Tex Beneke with The Glenn Miller Orchestra recorded “The Falling Leaves” in
1941, song by Mack David and Frankie Carle (the popular pianist and band leader
from Providence RI);  Sue Raney with legendary Los Angeles jazz musicians do
“’Tis Autumn” Alan Broadbent on piano; Kevin Mahogany sings the Barry
Manilow-Johnny Mercer “When October Goes” featuring James Weidman on piano;
Woody Herman’s “Herd” recorded “Early Autumn” Woodrow Wilson Herman on clarinet
and it’s a Fall classic.

Lorne Green recites lyrics and sings in his deep bass voice, “September Song”
and Frank Sinatra sings “Summer Winds” - swan songs to say goodbye to Summer. 
Henry Mancini composed “Blue Satin” and his instrumental is just marvelous, it
actually feels like blue satin. Listen.

Sultry voiced, Jeri Southern sings The Cole Porter Songbook with “Get Out Of
Town”;  Vic Damone’s “Speak Low” is a great interpretation; Diana Krall sings
Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” performed live in Paris and, if you’re off
to Brazil, listen to Oscar Castro-Nevis with “Ipanema Afternoon” and you’ll get
the feeling of being on that beach!

Thanks for listening at www.bostonpete.com/russ - select the “Play Latest Show”
link.  Send an email to russ@bostonpete.com and I’ll reply to everyone in my
personal Inbox.  =Russ Butler

posted by Russ  # 4:24 PM