Looking Back at the Year 2011

Clockwise: Tom Goss, Eric Himan, Jake Walden and Garrin Benfield.

They are just the beginning to the list of names of talented artists I shall be mentioning over the next few days. I shall be taking a look at the new music of 2011, much of which I have covered here on this blog. There was a number of amazing LGBT musicians who released new material, and I was lucky enough to see several of them live. But I shall start with what was a bit of a first for me, and that was appearing in a music video. I was able to do that with the gracious assistance of Tom Goss when he was filming the first single off his latest album, Turn It All Around. It's All Over is the joyous first single off a great album, one that really rocks!



You can purchase Turn It Around from iTunes, Amazon, and from Tom's online store.

Another favorite of mine released a new album this year. Eric Himan worked with the the talented Namoli Brennet on Supposed Unknown, a brilliant album that shows Himan's growth as a songwriter and as a performer. It also had a gritty and sexy video for the first single, Dust.



You can purchase Supposed Unknown on iTunes, Amazon, and at Eric's online store.

I managed to catch Garrin Benfield twice in the last 12 months or so, and am grateful for each opportunity. I swear Garrin's music enchants me, and brings me to a place I'd love to live full-time. I was beyond thrilled to make it to his New York City album release party for The Wave Organ Song. It is an outstanding album, one I am listening to once again today, and still can't get enough. Here is the video for the first single, Walkin' Time Blues.



You can purchase The Wave Organ Song on iTunes, Amazon, or on Garrin's online store.

I was introduced to Jake Walden by Tom Goss, and have been blessed to have gotten to know the talented and handsome man. So when he hit the road earlier this year to support the release of his latest album, Same Something Different, I couldn't wait to see him. And I was not disappointed. The new music was great, as you can see in the video for the first single, Even In Your Doubt.



You can purchase Same Something Different from iTunes, Amazon, or Jake's online store. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to see any or all of these talented artists performing live, I would say do it, without hesitation.

I Support Angel Adams

I luvs me some Angel Adams. I first came to know her when she hooked up with Eric Himan and her brother Jimmy Adams to form Eric & the Adams. I became so attached to Angel and Jimmy during that period, I was crushed when their partnership came to an end. I know I loved Hear You Breathe off the Eric & the Adams EP, and it was written by Angel.



I knew I needed to stay in touch. And I did. So I know Angel recently had a baby with her partner, Heather. So when I discovered you were starting a KickStarter account, I had to race over to check it out.



A full album? A music video? Damn, I'm in! You can be, too! Want some great music by Angel, check out the incentive to invest in your aural pleasure. You can invest $5, $10, $15, $20, $25? Or even more? Well, there are plenty of reasons to do just that. Click in the widget below, and find out for yourself!

Dark Monday • Let Them Entertain You

From Left: Ann Reinking, Donna McKechnie, and Chita Rivera.

Three great talents from the musical theatre, Ann Reinking, Donna McKechnie and Chita Rivera, perform Let Me Entertain You from the unforgettable musical Gypsy. This is a clip from the 1987 television special, Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne.

Christmas Morn with Mahalia Jackson

Merry Christmas, one and all. Is there a better way to celebrate Christmas on a Sunday morning that with the amazing voice of Mahalia Jackson? No, I didn't think so. So let's start with Mahalia singing Sweet Little Jesus Boy.



I love her version of Silent Night. I remember being a kid, and hearing it on one of my mother's Christmas compilations. Hearing her sing it just brings back so many wonderful memories.



Enjoy the day with you family!

Merry 1940s Christmas

Clockwise: Frankie Carle; Pearl Bailey; Hot Lips Page; Buddy Clark; Peggy Lee & Benny Goodman.

I just thought this would be fun to bring some different Christmas music to everyone this year. So I found a collection of songs from the 40s, appropriately named Merry 1940s Christmas. It is some great versions of true classics we all grew up singing. Well, mostly, anyway. This first song, I had never heard of, but really liked it once I did. Listen to Frankie Carle and his Orchestra featuring vocalist Marjorie Hughes on Little Jack Frost Get Lost.



Next we have singer Buddy Clark singing Winter Wonderland. Clark made his debut with Benny Goodman in 1934, lending his vocals to some great music. Among his hit songs are How Are Things in Glocca Morra?, from the musical Finian's Rainbow. But this is Winter Wonderland.



Frank Loesser wrote Baby, It's Cold Outside as a duet to sing with his wife, Lynn Garland, at parties. It was first performed in the movies by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams and the other by Red Skelton and Betty Garrett, in the movie Neptune's Daughter in 1949. Here, we have Pearl Bailey singing the song with jazz trumpeter Hop Lips Page, released in 1949.



Here is a a song that was a big hit for Benny Goodman in 1942. The song Winter Weather was performed by Benny Goodman & his Orchestra, with Peggy Lee and Art Lund.



You can find this album on Amazon here.

Christmas Garland • Judy at Home

In 1963, the legendary Judy Garland had her own television show. For show #15, they taped the Christmas episode, which featured many guests, including Judy's children, Liza Minnelli, Lorna and Joey Luft. In this first clip, we get a Christmas Medley with Liza Minnelli and Jack Jones, and, of course, Judy.



In a very special moment, Judy sings Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas in a sweet moment with with Lorna & Joey Luft.



The show also featured Judy singing The Christmas Song with Mel Tormé, who wrote it with Bob Wells. The song was perhaps best known for the version ob Nat King Cole.



While not a part of the special, this is Merry Christmas, with lyrics and music by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre, sung by Judy in the 1949 MGM film, In the Good Old Summertime. She sings it to a very handsome Van Johnson.



Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Christmas Spirit

A very long time ago, my mother gave the speech that Santa Claus lived in all our hearts, and it is the joy, love, and giving that keeps his spirit alive. I might have scoffed a bit at the time, but now have to think it is true. I think it is fairly evident that there is plenty of Christmas Spirit in Rosemary Clooney when she sings Let It Snow.



And there is such joy and beauty when The Carpenters sing a Christmas Medley, it is hard to think otherwise. After all, the gorgeous sound made by Karen Carpenter whenever she sang had to have some affect on your spirit and mood.



If having Bing Crosby sing White Christmas wasn't special enough, when he is joined by Frank Sinatra to sing it could make it something that certainly shifts your spirits into an accelerated Christmas spirit, right?



And if Maggie, Terre and Suzzy Roche can't bring you to a new level in your Christmas spirit, I would have to think you need a check up from your doctor immediately. The sisters are a big part of my holiday soundtrack, so check out their Christmas Medley.



Merry Christmas Eve!