Subject: From BING CROSBY to SINATRA to ELVIS Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 19:02:17 -0400 To: Soul-Patrol From: Reynos Thank you, Bob, for James Marcus' Atlantic Monthly book review of "Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams" by Gary Giddins. I'm looking forward to reading it. It's good to see someone has taken time to recognize "Der Bingles'" accomplishments - and there are many. As you might recall, as the millennium approached many media outlets were putting together list of the "best" performers of the century. Unfortunately, Bing Crosby was often overlooked or undervalued. TV Guide named Elvis Presley "Entertainer of the Century" on its cover issue dated January 1 - 7, 2000. In my "Letter to the Editor" [http://www.reynos.com/letters-tvguide.htm] I responded to TV Guide that hands down, Frank Sinatra is, unequivocally, THE ENTERTAINER OF THE CENTURY! [He was placed number 5 on their list]. Note the following excerpt from my "Letter to the Editor of TV Guide": "True, Elvis was more than a mere flash in the pan, but how much more? Sadly, Elvis screwed-up and didn't complete his career arch. As hinted above, it's a terrible omission for TV Guide to overlook the career of Bing Crosby who, in his initial heyday from 1928 through 1934 was truly the very first major iconic multimedia star. For example, "Blue Hawaii" was originally a hit for Bing, then Sinatra and then, oh yeah, Elvis Presley! Crosby had an impact and, at the time, everyone wanted to sound like him, except a really skinny kid from Hoboken, New Jersey. So, TV Guide let's not put the cart before the horse. It's nearly impossible to ignore "Der Bingles'" impact each Christmas with the Irving Berlin penned masterpiece "White Christmas". Yet, where Crosby excelled Sinatra's career arch obliterated Crosby's achievements primarily through his individual artistry as a vocalist and the tenacity of his convictions to do it his way." It is NOT my desire to prompt a "who's better" (Crosby, Sinatra, Elvis, etc.) debate or discussion among Soul-Patrollers. Let's not go there, okay. Clearly, we ALL have our opinions. More importantly, I just wanted to recognize how the accomplishments of SO MANY PEOPLE are, sadly, overlooked - including Bing Crosby. I have quite a lot of Bing's music and realize, as Ken Burns said in his epic PBS Jazz documentary, Louis Armstrong (for originating what we now know as Jazz) is perhaps the single MOST overlooked, underrated, non-credited musician of all. Recently, I purchased Louis Armstrong's historic "Complete Hot 5'S & Hot 7'S". Wow! What an absolutely wonderful box set to add to my existing collection of CDs by Louis Armstrong. I must say, Louis Armstrong could jammmm. Seriously! Even late in his life he played with such a clear, clean sound. Oh, and the "Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald" recordings are priceless. Bing Crosby was right to give credit to Mr. Armstrong, particularly when it would have been so easy to rip him off (i.e., Little Richard and others). Again, I look forward to reading the book and learning more. Thanks, Bob! Take care! I welcome your feedback. Trip Reynolds trip.reynolds@yahoo.com Reynolds' Rap Fri, 4 May 2001 © 2001-2021 Tripoetry. All Rights Reserved. First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.