That Eric Alper!

That Eric Alper! - February 22, 2012

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 10:23

Happy Birthday to Trumpeter Joe Wilder, born on this day in 1922, a favourite with vocalists and played for Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Johnny Mathis, Harry Belafonte, Eileen Farrell, Tony Bennett, and many others. 2 facts about Joe: He was one of the first thousand African Americans to serve in the Marines during World War II, and he appeared on The Cosby Show 1986, episode "Play It Again, Russell", and played the trumpet in the Malcolm X Orchestra in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X". Here he is discussing marine training and avoiding peer pressure: http://bit.ly/xOa3WR

That Eric Alper! - February 17, 2012

Friday, 17 February 2012 10:30

Today in 1982, Thelonious Monk passed away at the age of 64. Monk is the second most recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington, which is particularly remarkable as Ellington composed over 1,000 songs while Monk wrote about 70. Monk's manner was idiosyncratic. Visually, he was renowned for his distinctive style in suits, hats and sunglasses. He was also noted for the fact that at times, while the other musicians in the band continued playing, he would stop, stand up from the keyboard and dance for a few moments before returning to the piano. He’s still missed: http://bit.ly/AhUsZj

That Eric Alper! - February 16, 2012

Thursday, 16 February 2012 10:53

Today in 1923, Bessie Smith makes her first recording, Downhearted Blues: http://bit.ly/w5RbBY

Here is the first minute of all the James Bond films at once. This is a section of a larger project (i.e. all the Bond films at once) designed to give a feeling for the entire experience. It is also quite odd. http://wp.me/p26Qb8-Ow

That Eric Alper! - February 15, 2012

Wednesday, 15 February 2012 10:53

Composer Harold Arlen was born on this day in 1905. Having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over, including Stormy Weather and Over The Rainbow. In fact, the Wizard of Oz classic was voted the twentieth century's No. 1 song by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Endowment for the Arts.