This week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed Terry Bradshaw, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and winner of four Super Bowl rings (go here). Terry talked about growing up in Shreveport, La., and Comanche, Iowa. A very funny, kind guy who's full of life and one of the few football stars I've interviewed who doesn't have a shrine room in his home. In fact, he gave his Super Bowl rings to his alma mater, Louisiana Tech University.
Here's an NFL film on Terry...
Also in the WSJ this week, my Anatomy of a Song column for the Life & Arts pages on What a Fool Believes, a #1 hit for the Doobie Brothers co-written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins (go here). The song won three Grammys in 1979. I interviewed Michael and Kenny on writing the song together, recording it separately and why just one version went to the top of the Billboard pop chart.
Here are the Doobie Brothers in 1979 with Michael singing and playing keyboards...
SiriusXM. Next Thursday, February 7, I'll be on Feedback (Volume, Ch. 106) from 9 to 10 a.m. (EST) with co-hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski to talk about What a Fool Believes and the track back the history of the fool in pop songs. Tune in and Tweet!
Rome. For those of you looking for great television, I have another spectacular series for you: Eight Days That Made Rome. (Recently I told you about My Brilliant Friend on HBO.) The 2017 series on Rome is airing in the U.S. on cable's Smithsonian Chanel. British award-winning historian Bettany Hughes (above) has identified eight days that changed the fate of the Roman Empire. On the series, she's on location in Italy with narration coupled with acted drama illustrating the momentous days. Absolutely captivating and mind-blowing. There are a lot of parallels here between antiquity and events today. A reminder that history is littered with great nations and civilizations that disappeared over a few greedy mistakes. Keep in mind, Rome lasted 1,000 years (502 BC to 1,503 AD). For more information about this super-smart series, its schedule and how you can view episodes on your TV or online, go here.
French vocalese. Following my post on Friday about seven videos of French vocalese groups, Rémi Carémel sent along an email. Rémi hosts a blog, Dans l'ombre des studios, that's dedicated to French session vocalists. Rémi identified the soprano singer in Les Blue Stars singing Lullaby of Birdland as Claudine Meunier. She also sang in Les Double Six and Les Swingle Singers. Pierre Giroux reminds me the group was founded by Blossom Dearie, who moved to Paris in 1952 (and married Belgian woodwind player Bobby Jaspar).
Ahmad Jamal. Last week, Jimi Mentis sent along a video link to pianist Ahmad Jamal playing Marseille from his 2017 album...
Michel Legrand. Last week, Gap Mangione sent along a link of Esther Satterfield singing Michel Legrand's You Must Believe in Spring from The Young Girls of Rochefort...
Speaking of Les Blue Stars. The song C'est La Vie by Mack Wolfson and Eddie White was first recorded as a vocal in November 1954 by Les Blue Stars...
Then the song was recorded by Sunny Gale and released in October 1955. It went to #85 on the Billboard pop chart...
The DeJohn Sisters from Chester, Pa., were next and had a #97 Billboard pop chart hit with the song in late 1955. Their single was arranged by Ray Ellis...
Sarah Vaughan had a hit with the song in 1956...
And finally, the Wrens in 1956...
What the heck. Here's Al Wilson singing Show and Tell, which went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1974...
Oddball album cover of the week.
What are we missing here? Dark, as in "after the sun goes down," right? Unless they actually want us to believe this couple is emerging from a club literally "after dark," which would be day. Either way, it doesn't seem to be an ideal time for "moody listening music."
