December 5 - Bhumibol Adulyadej, titled Rama IX [ (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 5rd are here: Little Richard; Grace Moore (2019), Osvaldo Golijov (2020), Francesco Scarlatti (2021), José Carreras; Francesco Geminiani (2022), Henry Lawes (2023), and Francesco Scarlatti (2024)

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Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 1927 – 13 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 9 June 1946 until his death in 2016.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King of Swing

Bhumibol was an accomplished jazz saxophone player and composer, playing Dixieland and New Orleans jazz. He wrote a total of 49 compositions, much of it is jazz swing but he also composed marches, waltzes, and Thai patriotic songs. – adapted from Wikipedia

Said King Rama the Ninth when ruled over Thailand,

"I can do as I please, because this land is my land!"

So he learned to play jazz, quite a feat when you're royalty,

And his courtiers would listen with compulsory loyalty.

And the King played his sax in a style of his own,

As a way to relax after days on the throne.

 

 

 

 

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September 23 - John Coltrane (The Musical Birthday Seires, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 23rd are here: John Coltrane; Ray Charles; Bruce Springsteen (2019), John Lomax; Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-Meiningen (2020), Jean-Marie Leclair the Elder (2021), and John Lomax (2022)

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John Coltrane (23 September 1926 – 17 July 1967) was a revered jazz saxophonist and composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traning Wheels

Coltrane’s sound was made up of musical and mechanical elements that he had the genius to blend into one of the most recognizable “signatures’ in Jazz history. – Steven Cerra, “How John Coltrane Got His Sound,” at jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/

Though it’s been decades since he died,

The cult of Coltrane spread so wide,

That no one plays the saxophone

Without awareness of his tone.

So blow your horn, and face the facts,

That Trane forever changed the sax. 

 

 

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

 

 

November 25 - Paul Desmond (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 25th are here: Ethelbert Nevin; Franz Xaver Gruber (2019), Virgil Thomson (2020), and Arthur Schwartz; Johann Friedrich Reichardt (2021)

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Paul Desmond (25 November 1924 – 30 May 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer, best known for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Desmond’s Legacy

To ensure that his name would survive

It was clever of him to contrive

A jazz waltz with a hiccup

That was easy to pick up,

Which by now you have guesses was ”Take Five”.

 

 

 

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

 

July 16 - Carmen Lombardo (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 16th are found here: Bella Davidovich (2019), Ginger Rogers (2020), and Ginger Rogers; Eugène Ysaÿe (2021)

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Carmen Lombardo (16 July 1903 –17 April19 71) was the younger brother of bandleader Guy Lombardo and was lead saxophonist and featured vocalist for his brother's orchestra. He was also a successful composer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's In a Name?

Guy Lombardo’s younger brother

Always wondered why his mother

Called him Carmen, though it’s true,

The name is unisex, he knew.

But even though, of course, there are men,

Even famous ones, named Carmen,

He wondered what it would be like

To have a name like Ralph or Mike.

 

 

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