Clockwise: Julie London, Nina Simone, Martha Tilton, and Rosemary Clooney.
This week, the weather turn a turn for the warmer, and suddenly the trees are starting to bloom. Since Spring is a time of rebirth, it seems only natural that this would include the birth of new love. With all this in mind, once again I was inspired by the season. And with the first clip, we have the always gorgeous Julie London singing "I'll Remember April", with music by Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Patricia Johnston and Don Raye.
The 1945 film 'State Fair' is the only time the legendary duo of Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II wrote directly for a film, instead of the Broadway stage. In fact, it took more than 50 years before it made it to Broadway in 1996. The score, like most written by Rodgers & Hammerstein, was gorgeous, and included the song "It Might As Well Be Spring". In fact, the song earned the writing partners the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 1959, the song was recorded by the great Nina Simone, who injected it with a haunting feel.
Once again I feature the music of Richard Rodgers, on this time with a different lyricist. Rodgers wrote the music for the 1938 film 'I Married An Angel' with the great Lorenz Hart. The score included the song "Spring Is Here", which quickly became a standard many of the greatest singers in music gave voice to. Here is a stunning recording by the late, great Rosemary Clooney.
Finally, I have a a beautiful song featuring the vocals of Martha Tilton, She worked with Benny Goodman in the late 1930s, and it is said he started calling her "The Liltin' Miss Tilton". She did have a stunning voice, and appeared in several 'Soundies', which were short films that often played in movie theaters. They were, in many ways, the earliest forms of music videos. In this Soundie, Martha sings "Love Turns Winter To Spring", Written by Matt Dennis. Tilton is joined in the short by with Vince Barnett, and backed by Bobby Sherwood & His Orchestra. The Soundie was released in 1941.
Have a great weekend!
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