Birthday felicitations to. . .

. . .the terrific Chicago singer, Dick Noel. His 80th!

And even though it's not your birthday (is it?), here's a present to you from Dick: a track from his truly great 1985 album, A Time for Love. Which I am happy to report, SSJ Records of Japan will be re-releasing later this year as part of its One Shot Wonders series. Hard to believe that despite Noel's extensive industry experience (thousands of commercials, numerous 45s, part ownership of Fraternity Records, Don McNeil's Breakfast Club, Tennessee Ernie, etc.), this is Dick's only album.

Mrs. Parker

A reading by the woman who---in the spirit of concision, symmetry and social consciousness---bequeathed her entire estate to the NAACP and the ASPCA. (windows media player required)

I couldn't agree more

"The Hate Song" (Dion McGregor-Michael Barr) from Julius Monk's Dressed to the Nines.

Kurt at myspace

SSJ Records

Chairman of the (Key)board

Page Cavanaugh and singer Pinky Winters (photo: David Ehrenstein)

by Bill Reed

One of show business's legendary talent managers was the late George "Bullets" Durgom, who, through the years, oversaw the careers of Jackie Gleason, Sammy Davis Jr., and Marilyn Monroe, to name but a few. “And,” says 85-year-old, seemingly unstoppable singer-pianist Page Cavanaugh, “I got Bullets at the front end. He took on my trio in ‘45 and did fine by us.”continued here
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