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It's so easy to forget or overlook the contributions made to the growth of popular music. The oldies stations play the same ole songs repeatedly and lead people to believe that was it! Well, that wasn't it .... |
Teresa Brewer ~ Artist |
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| Teresa Brewer was one of those rare talents that could connect with her audience, through any medium. Whether watching her on that b/w television, hearing her through the static on the radio, or playing her latest 45rpm from Coral Records, she could touch your emotions. Her laments of "lost love" left you with hope, her excitable presentation of "found love" raised your spirit, put a smile on your face and made your heart beat to the rhythm. At the age of five, she sang in a talent competition at Toledo's Paramount Theater (Ohio).Soon after, her rendition of "Ol' Man Mose" helped her win a contract to perform on national radio and the opportunity to tour with Major Bowes. For the next seven years, she sang and tap danced as a regular on "Major Bowes Amateur Hour" (one of the country’s most popular radio shows) and continued touring with the Bowes touring company. The spunky singer scored her first big hit as a teenager in1950 with the diabolically catchy "Music! Music! Music!" That ditty found its way onto almost every jukebox in the land and launched a series of hit singles on Coral stretching all the way to 1961.Her high energy musical delivery was captured again in 1953 with "Ricochet" and in 1956 with "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl". "Sweet Old Fashioned Girl", interestingly was a clear song of transition. Not only was it a "story" of transition, but it did in fact introduce that process within the song. From the sweet melodic opening verse; "Doesn't anybody want a little sweet old fashioned girl? .... " to a change in tempo and attitude in the chorus; "Who can bop around the corner to the soda shop ....". This song may be the perfect example of what was going on musically in the USA in 1955/56. Listening to her is still a thrill for me! | |
Recommended Listening Recommended Reading |
