Friday Musical Feast Celebrating the 2024 Birthday of Maurice Chevalier, George Jones, Maria Muldaur, Barry White, Gerry Beckley, Neil Peart, and Jennifer Hudson
by Robert Wilkinson
For today’s show, we have a feast of musical styles, from country to crooning, soul to Rush and soft rock to a Dreamgirl! This dance celebrates the birthday of some remarkable musicians whose careers touch nearly every type of music known.
Because of the sheer numbers, these won’t be an extensive birthday celebration for each of these remarkable talents that spanned the 20th century. So I tried to find at least four songs and/or performances that exemplified their style and chops, and when I could, an entire album or concert.
Still, all of these major talents share a Sun sign, so in some way their Light was similar, no small thing! In order of oldest and first to break big to the youngest and newest one to make the big time, they are:
Maurice Chevalier (September 12, 1888 – January 1, 1972) was a French film star and crooner, one of the first to move from the silent picture era to the talkies!
“Thank Heaven For Little Girls”
Last year I had 40 minutes of Les Plus Belles Chansons Françaises but this year it disappeared. So instead, I found this short clip from the 1935 film gem Les Folies-Bergere where he delivers a short version of his 1920 hit Valentine
From the same movie, this time in a duel with Ann Sothern performing “Rhythm of the Rain.”
We’ll close with “an energetic and goofy finale” to the 1930 Paramount picture Paramount on Parade, made at the beginning of “talking pictures!” For your enjoyment, Maurice as a young man playing a chimney sweep with pre-code chorus girls in skimpy outfits dancing up and down rooftops and doing choreographed prototypical “wave” movements with Maurice belting out “Sweeping the Clouds Away”
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George Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an internationally famous country music singer, songwriter, and notorious hell raiser and drunk. As Waylon Jennings famously said, "If we all could sound like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George Jones."
From 1959, live on television, George delivering his first #1 hit! “White Lightning”
Live in 1965 on The Jimmy Dean Show, one of his smash hits which went to #3 in 1964. George’s lead player smokes on the lead section! “The Race Is On” From the same show, with Jimmy sharing vocals, “Things Have Gone To Pieces”
From 1970 on The Johnny Cash Show, two of his biggest performed live, the first with Johnny! The second tune spent 6 weeks at #1, so this is great! “White Lightning” and “She thinks I Still Care”
Live in 1982, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me”
Live in 1983, George is on tv performing his very first top 5 hit from 1955, “Why Baby Why”
Here’s 3 big ones from the 1985 Farm Aid Concert!
For the closer, 54 minutes of George Jones in concert – Knoxville 1993
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Maria Muldaur (September 12, 1943) came out of the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early ‘60s, performing with John Sebastian, David Grisman, Steve Katz, Stefan Grossman, and others. She’s an amazing multi-talented performer, so if you haven’t heard anything but “Midnight at the Oasis,” you’re in for a treat!
Of course we begin with her biggest! “Midnight At the Oasis”
I found this gem from early in her career in 1964 when she was part of a very eclectic band called The Even Dozen Jug Band which included John Sebastian, Stefan Grossman, David Grisman, Steve Katz, and yes, Maria! For your enjoyment, The Even Dozen Jug Band
As she was a member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, we’ll close this set with a live show from their 2013 reunion! For your enjoyment, Maria and the JKJB groovin’ on “Jug Band Music”
Our encore is from 2015, and features Maria and the JKJB with John Sebastian sitting in doing an excellent live performance of the classic “Fishin’ Blues” and something written by Mississippi John Hurt way back when which sounds like the 1905 classic, “Midnight Special,” “Richland Woman Blues”
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Barry White (September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was a singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and composer who had a truly amazing bass-baritone voice. He won two Grammys while creating soul, funk, and disco masterpieces, as well as achieved 112 gold albums (41 platinum), 20 gold and 10 platinum singles, and in the course of his career sold over 100 million records, making him one of the best selling music artists of all time.
Live on The Midnight Special, “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love”
With Pavarotti performing “You’re My First, Last, and Everything”
An entire 47 minute concert! Barry White Live in Belgium - 1990
Here’s all 43 minutes of Barry White Live in Germany - 1975
Courtesy of Steve Taylor, here’s an "Off the Record" interview with Barry done by the Library of Congress! Off the Record With Barry White - April 1987
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Gerry Beckley (September 12, 1952) is a singer-songwriter who founded the band America. He sang on many of their biggest hits, and wrote these!
From The Midnight Special, "Sister Golden Hair"
Live in Central Park in 1979, "I Need You"
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Neil Peart (September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020) was a songwriter, author, and both drummer and primary lyricist for the band Rush. He was inducted into Modern Drummer Readers Hall of Fame in 1983 for his technical proficiency and powerful live performances.
Neil Peart Drum Solo on Letterman June 2011
Here’s Rush – Live in Rio
We’ll close with a 2 hour 46 minute show! Rush Live at the Wells Fargo Center - 2012
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Jennifer Hudson (September 12, 1981) is an internationally respected singer, actress, and philanthropist. For her roles in Dreamgirls and The Color Purple Jennifer received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Waard, a SAG Award, and two Grammys. Awesome talent!
“And I Tell You I’m Not Going”
She went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for an interview, and spontaneously gave us a solo acapella of “Talk About A Child”
We’ll close with her recent performance celebrating the life and work of Aretha Franklin, where she takes us to church with an awesome delivery of ”Amazing Grace”
For our encore, her 2011 album which went gold! I Remember Me
So from a French crooner to a country boy, from a Dream Girl to Rush, from a voice as deep and sweet as rich chocolate to "Sister Golden Hair" all the way to "Midnight at the Oasis," we have had some great talents born on September 12. A big Happy and Merry Birthday to all of these first rate performers!
© Copyright 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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