Benny Goodman - Memories of You (1956)

Benjamin “Benny” Goodman was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 30th, 1909. He was a jazz musician, a swing musician, a clarinetist, and a bandleader. He led a popular, integrated jazz group during the height of segregation. He performed throughout his entire life- which ended in 1986 at the age of seventy seven- despite the ailing health of his later years. His overwhelming success in the music industry earned him the nickname “The King of Swing.”

The song heard below is a 1956 recording by Benny Goodman on his clarinet, and featuring his backing band. When originally written in 1930 by Eubie Blake, the song had accompanying lyrics which were written by Andy Razaf. The song had been made for use in the 1930 Broadway play Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1930. It was in this play that the song was first introduced by singer Minto Cato. Although the version below is instrumental, there is a version which was released by Goodman featuring the lyrics being sung by Rosemary Clooney.



Benny Goodman - Memories of You (1956)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Sil Austin - Slow Walk (1956)

Born in Dunnellon, FL in 1929, this saxophonist taught himself to play at the age of twelve. He got his big break when he won a talent contest in Harlem’s Apollo Theater. His talents and credentials evolved when he joined the big bands of Roy Eldridge and Cootie Williams for brief periods of time. He recorded over thirty albums and had hits with the song below, “My Mother’s Eyes,” and his signature song, “Danny Boy”. Sadly, in 2001, prostate cancer ended his life.

This song was a hit for him, reaching the Top 20 in 1956.



Sil Austin - Slow Walk (1956)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill (1956)

Born Antoine Domino, Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, this artist’s first language was Creole. He first gained nation-wide attention when his single, “The Fat Man,” sold over a million copies in 1949 (and is widely accepted as the first rock and roll record to do so). His success continued through the ‘50s, where rock and roll was king, and he slowly rolled into retirement by the 1980s. As he once stated, retirement to his home in Louisiana came easy, since he “couldn’t get any food” that he liked anywhere else in the country.

Originally released in 1940 by six different artists, including Glenn Miller, Gene Autry, and Jimmy Dorsey, this song had its lyrics written by Al Lewis and its music written by Vincent Rose. Its most successful rendition was released by this artist in 1956, spending eight weeks at number one on the R&B charts, and becoming his staple song.



Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill (1956)

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Lyrics:

I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill, when I found you

The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And lingered until my dream came true

The wind in the willow played love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made were never to be

Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill

The wind in the willow played love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made were only to be

Though we're apart, you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill