---> BEHIND100 YEARS OF MUSIC! 6-11-22 SHOW <---
Thank you for being a part of our show and for honoring the amazing Gloria Vivo - and us - with your presence!
~THE PROCESS~
THE hardest part of creating "100 Years of Music" was choosing only a limited number of songs and artists out of a pool of literally tens of thousands of brilliant compositions, arrangements, and performances...
...But, by starting with the songs that were most meaningful to Gloria & her family FIRST, then with what we felt YOU would most likely enjoy, then looking at the musical common ground for the band and me, and then doing the best I could to fill in the gaps with the songs that felt the most representative of the sounds or artists unique to each time period, an initial song list was finally established! I then worked "from the end" to look at the total run time vs "core" songs to establish how many songs we could feasibly share in 3 hours or less, and from there, created specialized medleys and set lists for each period (for a total of 98 songs) that our brave, brilliant, ridiculously talented (and insanely patient!) team of musicians then learned and brought to life!
I won't lie - it was a HUGE undertaking for me and our entire team, but to get to see this "crazy idea" that actually began in 2019 with a show called "The Eternal Fire" that was to launch in March of 2020 (Yep, you know what happened then...) come to fruition in 2022 in honor of THE most amazing centenarian I have had the honor to meet; has filled me with a level of gratitude and joy that is beyond description.
Another reason for wanting to share 100 years of music was to honor (in our own small way) the many songwriters, composers, lyricists, and artists who have literally shaped the soundtrack of our lives, so with that, below is the list of songs we shared in the show that highlight the true creative forces (& a few intriguing details) behind many of the songs you know and love! ENJOY!
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~OUR TEAM & SPECIAL THANKS~
Special thanks to Walter Kittle (bass), Mark Barrios (guitar & vocals), Brad Trumbull (keys & vocals), Jerry Kenney, alto sax & pro sound, Teresa Reed (our fab helper), Marc Zivica (special guest musician & newest band member - drums/guitar/vocals!), our 2020 team who helped to ignite the spark (vocalist, Carol Ann Mitchell, drummer, Lonnie Joseph Nichols, live narrator, Mary Moore), and my amazing husband, John "Rockin' Sax" Hartmann (tenor sax, harmonica, vocals, recording engineer & behind-the-scenes wizard)...
...For contributing your time, love, and talent to bring this vision to life!
~TO BRING "100 YEARS OF MUSIC" TO YOUR SPECIAL EVENT, FESTIVAL, OR VENUE CLICK HERE~
100 YEARS OF MUSIC SET 1
~The Jazz Age: 1920s & 30s~
-- Narration Song: Second Hand Rose 1921/22 --
Written by Grant Clarke and James F. Hanley for vocalist, comedienne, and actress, Fanny Brice
Summertime 1934
Composition by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera, "Porgy & Bess" was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP
with early versions by: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
Let’s Do It 1928
Composition & lyrics by Cole Porter for the musical "Paris"
Early versions by: Irène Bordoni, Bing Crosby, Lee Marsh, Ertha Kitt, Louis Amstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra
The Man I Love 1924
Composition by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the musical, "Lady, Be Good" & "Strike Up the Band"
Early versions by: Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald
It Had to Be You 1924
Composed by Isham Jones, lyrics by Gus Kahn
Early versions by: Ruth Etting, Betty Hutton, Frank Sinatra
On the Sunny Side of the Street 1930
Composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, some authors say that Fats Waller was the composer, but he sold the rights to the song. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence
Early versions by: Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole Trio
When You’re Smiling 1928
Written by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher, and Joe Goodwin, with a resemblance to the Spanish Canción "Amapola" by José María Lacalle García
Early versions by: Seger Ellis, Louis Armstrong, and Ted Wallace & His Campus Boys
Blue Skies 1926
By Irving Belin, composed for the musical, "Betsy"
Early versions by: Belle Baker, The Knickerbockers with vocals by Charles Kaley, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald
Minnie the Moocher 1931
By Cab Calloway, Irving Mills, Clarence Gaskill
Made famous by: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra
Stardust 1927
Composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Recorded over 1,500 times with early versions by: Don Redman, Isham Jones, Tommy Dorsey (with additional versions featuring Frank Sinatra & Artie Shaw), Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller
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~The Big Band Sound! Mid 1930s – early 1950s~
-- Narration Song: In The Mood 1939 --
Based on "Tar Paper Stomp" composed by Wingy Manone, lyrics by Andy Razaf, arrangement by Joe Garland
Early versions by: Edgar Hayes and His Orchestra, best known by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra
Chattanooga Choo-Choo 1941
Written by Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren
Notable versions by: Glen Miller and His Orchestra, the Andrew Sisters
Swinging on a Star 1944
Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics by Johnny Burke
Introduced by: Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra
Beyond the Sea 1946
The English-language version of the French song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet, English lyrics by Jack Lawrence
Introduced by: Bobby Darin
Young at Heart 1953
Composed by Johnny Richards, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh
Introduced by: Frank Sinatra
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) 1932
By Duke Ellington, lyrics by Irving Mills
Introduced by: Duke Ellington with Ivie Anderson (vocals), Joe Nanton (trombonist), and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Ellington credited the saying as a credo of trumpeter Bubber Miley.
The Ellington band recorded it numerous times, most often with trumpeter Ray Nance as vocalist
Sway aka ¿Quién será? 1954
Written by Mexican composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán Ruiz, with new English lyrics written by Norman Gimbel
Introduced by: Pedro Infante, then Dean Martin with the Dick Stabile Orchestra
The Trolley Song 1944
Composed by Hugh Martin, lyrics by Ralph Blane for the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis"
Introduced & made famous by: Judy Garland
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~The Fab 1950s~
--- Narration Song: The Twist 1958 ---
Written by Hank Ballard
First released by: Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
Became a #1 song by: Chubby Checker
Tequila! 1957 - 58
By Chuck Rio
Became a #1 song by: The Champs
Johnny B. Goode 1958
Written and made famous by: Chuck Berry
Fever 1956
By Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym "John Davenport"
Originally recorded by: Little Willie John
Made famous by: Peggy Lee
Great Balls of Fire 1957
Written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer
Made famous by: Jerry Lee Lewis
Save The Last Dance For Me 1958 - 60
By Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
First recorded version by: The Drifters with Ben E. King on lead vocals
Rock Around the Clock 1952
By Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight")
Became a #1 song for: Bill Haley & His Comets
Rockin’ Robin 1958
By Leon René under the pseudonym "Jimmie Thomas"
Made famous by: Bobby Day
Blue Suede Shoes 1955 - 56
By Carl Perkins, song concept introduced by Johnny Cash!
First released by: Carl Perkins
Most known version by: Elvis Presley
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~The Motown Sound & Beatlemania 1960s~
--- Narration Song - Get Ready 1966 ---
Written by Smokey Robinson
Introduced by: The Temptations
Mustang Sally 1965 - 66
Written and first recorded by Mack Rice
Best known version by: Wilson Pickett
Dancing in the Street 1964
Written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter
First performed by: Martha & The Vandellas
My Girl 1964
Written and produced by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White
First #1 song for: The Temptations
You Can’t Hurry Love 1966
Written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland, inspired by and partially based upon "You Can't Hurry God, He's Right on Time", a 1950s gospel song written by Dorothy Love Coates of The Original Gospel Harmonettes
First performed by: The Supremes
Heard it Through The Grapevine 1966 - 68
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Gladys Knight & The Pips
The biggest selling Motown single to date for: Gladys Knight & the Pips in1967
First recorded by: The Miracles in 1966, but not released until 1968
Also released by Marvin Gaye, the 2nd to be recorded in the beginning of 1967, but 3rd to be released
R-E-S-P-E-C-T 1965 - 67
First released by: Otis Redding
Rearranged by & became the signature song for: Aretha Franklin
I Got You (I Feel Good) 1965
Written and performed by: James Brown
All You Need Is Love 1967
Written by John Lennon/Lennon-McCartney
Performed by: The Beatles
When I Saw Her Standing There 1963
Written by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney
Performed by: The Beatles
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Here Comes the Sun 1969
Written by George Harrison
Performed by: The Beatles
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Get Back 1969
Written by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney
Performed by: The Beatles
Hey Jude 1968
Written by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney
Performed by: The Beatles
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~Woodstock, Peace Rock & Island Vibes (1967 - 1977)~
--- Narration Song: Age of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In 1968 ---
A Medley of two songs written for the 1967 musical, “Hair” by James Rado, Gerome Ragni, and Galt MacDermot, released as a single by: The 5th Dimension
With a Little Help From My Friends 1967 - 69
Written and first released by Lennon-McCartney for The Beatles with vocals featuring Ringo Starr
The debut album for: Joe Cocker, which he performed live at Woodstock in 1969
Inducted into both the Grammy Award Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Cocker's version was the theme song to the television series "The Wonder Years" during the 1980s and 1990s
Me & Bobby Mc Gee 1969 - 71
Written by Chris Christopherson and Fred Foster
First performed by: Roger Miller
Versions released in 1969 - 1970 by: Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Gordon Lightfoot, and Kris Kristopherson
A posthumously released version by Janis Joplin topped the U.S. singles chart in 1971
Joy to the World 1970 - 71
Written by Hoyt Axton
Made famous by: Three Dog Night
Three Little Birds 1977
Written by Bob Marley
Performed by: Bob Marley & the Wailers
I Can See Clearly Now 1971 - 72
Written & introduced by Johnny Nash
Notable later versions by: Lee Towers & Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff's version featured in the soundtrack of the film "Cool Runnings"
Margaritaville 1977
Written and introduced by Jimmy Buffett
Buffet's highest charting solo single
Peaceful, Easy Feeling 1972
Written by Jack Tempchin
Recorded by: The Eagles
Take Me Home, Country Roads 1971
Written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver
Released by: John Denver
Became one of the four official state anthems of West Virginia in 2014
Brown Eyed Girl 1967
Written and recorded by Van Morrison
Known as Morrison's signature song, it was originally titled "Brown-Skinned Girl"
Drift Away 1970 - 73
Written by Mentor Williams
Originally recorded by: John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion
Later recorded by Dobie Gray, for whom it became his biggest hit
Black Magic Woman 1968 - 70
Written by Peter Green for his band, Fleetwood Mac
Best known version by: Santana
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Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes credentials & facts about:
SET 2
Disco & Funk (1970s - Early 1980s)
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The 80s Party!
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90s Vibes
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Y2K to TODAY
Coming Soon!
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May your days be filled with harmony
And may you groove and roll with rhythm & flow
Thank You for Believing in the Power of MUSIC & Here's to living Life on FIRE!
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