February 26 - Johnny Cash (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 26th are here: Frank Bridge (2020), Fats Domino; Betty Hutton (2021), Franz Strauss; Johnny Cash (2022), Anton Reicha (2023), Jackie Gleason (2024), and Stefano Landi (2025)

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Johnny Cash (26 February 1932 – 12 September 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Cachet

The wise would say it's rather rash

To pen a poem on Johnny Cash,

    Especially a light one,

For if you try to write a smash,

Invoke the ghost of Ogden Nash,

And smoke a cigarette to ash, 

And still you end up writing trash,

   It could come back to bite one.

But comic verse is just a dash

Of humor, nothing bold or brash,

A thing that's over in a flash, —

   And so I think I'll write one.

 

 

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January 10 - Jim Croce (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 10th are here: Johann Zumsteeg (2020), Ray Bolger (2021), Frank Sinatra Jr. (2022), Jim Croce; Sherrill Milnes (2023), Arthur Johnston (2024), and Johann Zumsteeg (2025)

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Jim Croce (10 January 1943/42 – 20 September 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Cautionary Tale (with One Rhyme Sound)

On September 20, 1973, at the height of his popularity and the day before the lead single to his fifth album was released, Croce died in a plane crash.  – adapted from Wikipedia

Jim Croce must have had some fun

When "Leroy Brown," hit number one.

Success, it seemed, had now begun.

He reveled in the fame he'd won,

But Fate by whom our web is spun,

Declared his time on earth was done.

And he was mourned by everyone.

 

 

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April 28 - Blossom Dearie; John Jacob Niles (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 28th may be found here: John Jacob Niles (2019), Michael Daugherty (2020), Blossom Dearie (2021), Ludvig Schytte (2022), John Jacob Niles (2023), and Ann-Margaret; Blossom Dearie (2024)

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Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer, pianist, and cabaret artist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chanteuserie

Her skill as both a pianist and vocalist meant she knew "how to complement the singing"; in her opinion, many accompanists played "entirely too much piano for the vocalist". — Wikipedia

Here's the answer to those who would query

The secret of Miss Blossom Dearie:

"The voice and each word

Should be easily heard." –

In short, a most practical theory.

 

 

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪  

 

John Jacob Niles (28 April 1892 –1 March 1980) collected, arranged, or composed (the boundaries are fluid) some of the most beloved American folk melodies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sing Out!

In the days of the Folksong Revival

They avoided the merely archival;

But no one would quarrel

If sources were oral, 

And here, J. J. Niles had no rival.

 

 

 

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August 6 - Ella Jenkins (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 6th are here: Barbara Strozzi (2019), Ernesto Lecuona (2020), Leland Smith (2021). Jean-Baptiste Lully fils (2022), and Mortimer Wilson (2023)

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Ella Jenkins (b. 6 August 1924) is an American singer-songwriter who has been a leading performer of folk and children's music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call and Response

Jenkins' favorite people are children. – Wikipedia

Children are her favorite folks,

And music is a way to coax

The youngsters, whether shy or loud,

To get together as a crowd.

And use their voices, make some noise

As happy, healthy girls and boys.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

July 21 - Sara Carter (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 21st are here: Isaac Stern (2019), Cat Stevens (2020), Plas Johnson (2021), Isaac Stern (2022), and Franz Schoberlechner (2023)

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Sara Carter (21 July 1898 – 8 January 1979) was an American country music musician, singer, and songwriter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in the Family

In eighteen hundred ninety-six

A girl was born out in the sticks,

Who later, with her married name,

Was part of Carter Family fame.

And with her family country act

She did damn well!… and that’s a fact.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]