The Girth Of Rock & Roll

Via the Jet magazine archives, 1959.

On The Banks Of The Old Pontchartrain

Rose Maddox  -  On The Banks Of The Old Pontchartrain

Rose Maddox dips into the Hank Williams songbook and emerges with a winner.

Louis Armstrong

Happy birthday to Louis Armstrong, born 112 years ago today (08/04/1901) in the world's most musical city, New Orleans.  In 1961, he worked with another musical genius, Duke Ellington, on the soundtrack for the film Paris Blues, which featured Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Diahann Carroll and Joanne Woodward.  In addition to his soundtrack contributions, Armstrong appeared in the movie, playing a character, a trumpet player naturally, called Wild Man Moore.  Here's the song by that name from the soundtrack.

Duke Ellington featuring Louis Armstrong  -  Wild Man Moore


Photo: the Jet magazine archives.

Star Revue!

There are way too many great Allen Toussaint songs to really pick a favorite, but if I were forced to narrow it down to one, Warren Lee's - Star Revue might be it. This is also one of the greatest name-check songs of all time!

Uncle Lionel Batiste

Photo by Mark Folse

A 2nd line to honor Uncle Lionel Batiste will be held in NYC on Thursday, July 26th at 6:30 PM.  The parade will be led by The Stooges Brass Band! Gather at Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center and bring white handkerchiefs, 2nd line umbrellas and large pictures of Uncle Lionel, if you have them.

Followed by a free show on the plaza by The Stooges Brass Band.

"Cajun" Radio Promos

Here are some old cajun themed radio spots for a New Orleans car dealership.
Trosclair Radio Spots

Esquerita Awareness Month: Little Richard - "Dew Drop Inn"

Little Richard - "Dew Drop Inn"

     Today's tune, released in Spring 1970 by Little Richard and co-written by "Esqrita," was the first single off of The Rill Thing, his first new album in three years and was the flip side of "Freedom Blues", also co-written by Mr. Reeder, . It was Richard's biggest hit in the post-Specialty era, charting in Billboard at #47, and in Cashbox at #62, which I suppose makes it the best-selling disk that Esquerita was ever involved in.

     While the song is a tribute to the famous New Orleans night spot (located at 2836 LaSalle Street), it also serves as something of a eulogy, since it was at about this same point that the club breathed it's last gasp.  Jeff Hannusch has a good article about it's history at the Iko Iko website that I recommend.

     Esquerita's own version of this tune was recorded in the '60s. but not released until 1991 by the good folks at Norton Records. It can be had either as a 7'' or as a bonus on the CD version of Vintage Voola. Maybe you should just get both, to be safe!

Little Richard - "Dew Drop Inn"

Danny White - Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye