2016 Celebrity Bucket Kickers

[RadioJonD]

Pete Fountain: July 3, 1930 – August 6, 2016




I thought sure he would already be listed here. Aside from the above tune from a Christmas album that has never been released in the digital age (or has it?), Fountain has another Christmas connection.

Fountain was a clarinetist in the late Fifties in Lawrence Welk's Orchestra. In his autobiography, He says that he was fired by Welk after jazzing up the song "Silver Bells" on the clarinet on a 1958 television Christmas special.

There is some discrepancy to the firing claim and another story goes that Fountain wanted to jazz up the Orchestra to which Welk said no. So, Fountain simply quit.

Either way, Fountain, who was born and raised in New Orleans, is quoted as saying "Bourbon and champagne don't mix." (Some of you will get the references.)

 

[George Broderick Jr.]

His "A Closer Walk With Thee" is one of my favorites!

 

[MerryCarey]

Pete Fountain: July 3, 1930 – August 6, 2016




I thought sure he would already be listed here. Aside from the above tune from a Christmas album that has never been released in the digital age (or has it?), Fountain has another Christmas connection.

Fountain was a clarinetist in the late Fifties in Lawrence Welk's Orchestra. In his autobiography, He says that he was fired by Welk after jazzing up the song "Silver Bells" on the clarinet on a 1958 television Christmas special.

There is some discrepancy to the firing claim and another story goes that Fountain wanted to jazz up the Orchestra to which Welk said no. So, Fountain simply quit.

Either way, Fountain, who was born and raised in New Orleans, is quoted as saying "Bourbon and champagne don't mix." (Some of you will get the references.)

Oddly, though, Welk was really fond of Dixieland jazz ... we've seen kinescopes of his show from the 1950s where the orchestra plays a Dixieland tune, and Welk vigorously bops around while conducting, with a huge smile on his face! But I guess anything "jazzy" had to be on his own terms. He seems to have been quite the musical autocrat.

(Pls excuse the hijack)

 

[e_xander]

Kenny Baker, aka R2-D2

 

[RadioJonD]

Kenny Baker, aka R2-D2

 

[RadioJonD]

Folk singer Glenn Yarbrough : January 12, 1930 – August 11, 2016

Good three (four?) song tribute on today's 'Mornings At The Buddies Lounge' including Yarbrough's big solo hit "Baby The Rain Must Fall."

 

[dvdelf]

Gene Wilder today

 

[George Broderick Jr.]

Actor Hugh O'Brian

 

[MerryCarey]

Charmian Carr, who played eldest daughter Liesl in the film "The Sound of Music"; age 73.

 

[George Broderick Jr.]

Golf Legend Arnold Palmer, age 87.

 

[RadioJonD]

Stanley Dural, Jr. better known as Buckwheat Zydeco
November 14, 1947 – September 24, 2016

Can't think of any Christmas tunes that Buckwheat recorded.

 

[XmasDreams]

Godfather of Gore’ Herschell Gordon Lewis

Most horror fans may or may not know him but most likely seen some of his movies.

 

[NcGunny]

Jean Shepard
Grand Ole Opry star

 

[RadioJonD]

Jean Shepard
Grand Ole Opry star

I thought Shepard recorded a Christmas tune or two but I can't find any.

 

[RadioJonD]

Bobby Vee, April 30, 1943 – October 24, 2016

 

[George Broderick Jr.]

Jack Chick of the fire and brimstone Chick Tracts religious cartoons, age 92

 

[RadioJonD]

Jack Chick of the fire and brimstone Chick Tracts religious cartoons, age 92

 

[RadioJonD]

Leon Russell - April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016

 

[RadioJonD]

Al Caiola - September 7, 1920 – November 9, 2016



"The Sound of Christmas"

 

[George Broderick Jr.]

Posted this in the wrong thread, but Robert (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) Vaughn, last week.