Some Wonderful Music by Jerome Kern

Clockwise: Helen Forrest, Audra McDonald, Barbra Streisand, and Billie Holiday.

Tonight, I thought I would offer you a few beautiful music written by the great composer, Jerome Kern. Whether partnered with Oscar Hammerstein II, or with other lyricists, Kern wrote some amazing songs that found their way into the Great American Songbook, and being performed by some of the great in the Jazz industry, from the great instrumentalists to some of the best voices recording. He was responsible for the music from great shows like the 'Ziegfeld Follies' of 1915, 1916, and 1917, 'Show Boat', 'Roberta', 'Swing Time', and 'Lady Be Good'. I was first introduced to the song by Barbra Streisand, from her 1967 album, 'Simply Streisand'. I was enchanted by it, for is has such a beautiful melody. But here I bring you the 1939 recording of "All The Things You Are", by Artie Shaw & his Orchestra, with featured vocals by Helen Forrest. The song was written for the 1939 musical 'Very Warm For May'. This version has qualities of Pop and Swing, and is really rather divine. This is Helen Forrest with Artie Shaw & his Orchestra singing "All The Things You Are".

I think it could be easily argued that the 1927 musical 'Show Boat' is the most well-known score Kern wrote. So many of the songs made it into Pop culture, performed by Big Bands, Pop singers, Jazz artists, and Opera singers. With music by Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and songs like "Old Man River", "Make Believe", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", and the next song, it is easy to see why. Next up, I will go with Audra McDonald singing the beautiful "Bill". It is easy to see why she is the winner of 5 Tony Awards, or should I say hear why. Her voice is amazing, and when she takes on the song from 'Showboat', with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. This is stunning.

Sometimes it seems impossible for me to not include Billie Holiday in my Saturday night posts. As this night features classic songs and performances, she always qualifies. And once again, I couldn't resist including her in this tribute to Jerome Kern with a recording of her singing "The Way You Look Tonight". The song was originally featured in the 1936 RKO Radio Pictures musical, 'Swing Time'. The lyrics were written by Dorothy Fields, and originally sung by Fred Astaire to costar Ginger Rogers. As expected, Lady Day delivers the goods, and more in this 1936 recording with Teddy Wilson & his Orchestra. This is "The Way You Look Tonight".

Well, I have decided to come full circle, and return to the source. I was first introduced to many classic songs with my preoccupation with the talented Barbra Streisand. As a young teeen, I was buying up her early releases, including 'My Name Is Barbra', the soundtrack to her first television special from 1965, 'My Name is Barbra'. "Make Believe", from the previously mentioned musical 'Showboat', is a gorgeous song of love and longing, and beautifully delivered by the young Streisand. This is a clip from the special, and also includes her singing the song "I'm Late".

Hope your weekend is making you sing!

Absolute Hollywood Torch

Clockwise: Alice Faye; Helen Forrest; Jane Russell; and Kaye Ballard.

It's another Saturday night, the perfect time to sit back and listen to some ladies sing from their heart with an old-fashioned love song,one I'm sure was wrote for you and me... Wow, I just quoted Three Dog Night. I guess I'll let that go and go to the first song. In a movie from 1934, 'She Learned About Sailors', Alice Faye delivered a great performance on a song by the great Richard Whiting. Enjoy as Alice sings "Here's The Key To My Heart".

While many might know Kay Ballard fro her work on television shows like 'The Mothers-In-Law', she also had a long career as a singer, working with big bands, and later on Broadway. This is a clip of Kaye singing "In Other Words", a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It later became known when sung by a man named Frank Sinatra, and the song went by another name, "Fly Me To The Moon".

Helen Fogel was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She had dreams of being a singing star, and soon was in New York City and Washington, DC, singing at clubs and on radio programs. It was in DC that she was 'discovered' by Artie Shaw, who was looking for a girl vocalist to replace the departing Billie Holiday. Only by that time, Helen had changed her name from Fogel to Forrest. Forrest went on to sing with some of the biggest names in the business, and also appear in some movies. Check out this clip, where Helen sings "I Had The Craziest Dream" from the 1942 movie, "Springtime in the Rockies", written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon.

When she first was cast by Howard Hughes in his film 'The Outlaws', the actress was a brunette bombshell, admired for her great beauty and glorious curves. But she was more than a pretty girl with a good rack, she was a wonderful entertainer. Russell went on to star in many films, dramas and comedies, as well as some great musicals. While she will long be remembered as Marilyn Monroe's partner-in-crime in the great 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', it was not her only foray into musicals. In this clip, Jane sings with Hoagy Carmichael on "My Resistance Is Low", with music by Hoagy and lyrics by Harold Adamson, from the 1952 movie, 'The Las Vegas Story'.

Enjoy your weekend!