Songs From The Rosemary Clooney Show Released on CD for 1st Time

2004-05-24

America's "Girl Singer" Rosemary Clooney had a career that spanned six decades. She was a tireless performer, known for her work on radio, stage and motion pictures. At her peak in the 1950s, she had her own television show, featuring renowned conductor Nelson Riddle and dozens of musical guest stars. Most importantly, it showcased Clooney's simple yet dynamic style, and allowed her the freedom to choose the songs she wanted to sing. The songs from The Rosemary Clooney Show have been released for the first time on CD.

They're not Rosemary Clooney's best-known songs, but tunes, nevertheless, that thrilled millions of viewers on the singer's hit television show in 1956 and 1957. My Blue Heaven was one. Dream was another.

Rosemary Clooney's love affair with the American popular songbook began in her native Kentucky, where she and her sister Betty began singing as a duo. The Clooney Sisters were a short-lived act, and Rosemary went on to New York alone to seek her fame and fortune. Work came quickly. In 1950, she recorded her first big hit, Beautiful Brown Eyes. More hits followed including Hey There, which sold more than three million copies. In 1953, she was on the cover of Time magazine, opening the door to three choice movie roles and The Rosemary Clooney Show.

The Rosemary Clooney Show only lasted two years, but in those two seasons, Rosemary sang from almost every great composer's songbook. Among these popular music masters were Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, and Hoagy Carmichael.

Guests stars on The Rosemary Clooney Show were numerous, and included Johnny Mercer, Bobby Troup, Mel Torme, the avant-garde vocal quartet The Hi-Lo's, actor Boris Karloff, and Clooney's husband, Oscar-winning actor Jose Ferrer. Rosemary

Clooney was still touring and recording in the years leading up to her death. She was 74 when she lost her battle with lung cancer on June 29, 2002. Earlier that year, she was presented a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

John Pizzarelli Trio Releases Double-CD for 10th Anniversary: Live At Birdland

By Doug Levine
Washington
22 July 2003

Forty-three-year-old jazz vocalist John Pizzarelli is one of today's top interpreters of the Great American Songbook. He's also a gifted composer and guitarist. This year John is celebrating two anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of his debut album, and the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed trio, featuring his brother Martin on bass and Ray Kennedy on piano. The John Pizzarelli Trio commemorates their first 10 years with a new live CD.

John Pizzarelli is a generous performer. Not only does he give 100 percent on stage, he credits his fellow musicians for a decade of overwhelming success both on the road and in the studio. John says, "Without the incredible talents of Ray Kennedy and Martin Pizzarelli, I would be hard-pressed to find musicians who can swing so hard, play so delicately on a ballad, and put up with me at a sound check."

John Pizzarelli was born the son of renowned jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. Bucky taught John to play guitar, and years later invited his young son to perform with him on-stage. John's earliest influences were guitarist Django Reinhardt, The Beatles, and singer Michael Franks. But, it wasn't until his father introduced him to the music of Nat "King" Cole that he decided to devote himself entirely to jazz.

"I think his introduction to me of the Nat Cole Trio's CDs, records actually, in 1980, was what laid the foundation of what I wanted to do," he explained. "That's when I discovered Route 66, Straighten Up And Fly Right, and most notably Paper Moon. It was a record that my father always talked about."

John released his first solo album, I'm Hip, Please Don't Tell My Father, in 1983. The eight selections featured his father, Bucky, on guitar. John continued to appear with his father in concert and on records until forming his "drummer-less" trio in 1992.

The trio's new double-CD was recorded at the legendary Birdland nightclub in New York City in September 2002. One disc is a so-called "greatest hits" collection, and the other contains all new material. John says he enjoys composing but will always owe a debt of gratitude to America's master songwriters.

"I love George Gershwin's writing," he said. "There's something extremely rhythmic about it. I love Johnny Mercer's lyrics. And I love Yip Harburg's lyrics. Everyone is like a little gift. I find them to be fascinating that way."

John will pay tribute to another one of his musical heroes, Frank Sinatra, when he stars in an upcoming show called His Voice, His Song. John will perform some of Sinatra's best-known songs with a 40-piece orchestra at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.The Songs Of Johnny Mercer: Too Marvelous For Words, Starring Johnny Mathis, Melissa Manchester, John Pizzarelli Trio, Margaret Whiting and Music Director Peter Nero