November 8 - Patti Page; Bonnie Raitt (The Musical Birthday Series)

Patti Page (8 November 1927 – 1 January 2013) was an American pop and country singer who often provided her own back-up vocals.

Sentimental Reasons

This is a verse for Patti Page

A singer from a simpler age,

When songs about a pet shop pup

Could light the local jukebox up,

A gentle waltz from Tennessee

Could be a hit for such as she.

The mockingbird up on the hill,

Like Patti Page, would sing until,

One hundred million records sold,

She died at eight-five years old.

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

Bonnie Raitt (b. 8 November 1949) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and activist.

Different Strokes

When dad’s a Broadway star,

But you’d rather play guitar,

  You might at first be hesitant to play it,

But to thyself be true,

And success will come to you,

  At least that’s how it worked for Bonnie Raitt.

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November 7 - Joan Sutherland; Joni Mitchell (The Musical Birthday Series)

Joan Sutherland (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was a supremely great Australian coloratura soprano.

On the Stage

A trusted advisor said, “Joan,

With your coloratura and tone,

Not being an actor

Just won’t be a factor.

‘La Stupenda’ is how you’ll be known.”

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


Joni Mitchell (b. 7 November 1943) is one of the great singer/songwriters of our time.

One Side Now

Joni Mitchell, a famous recluse,

No longer makes any excuse

For leaving behind

The musical grind

Which she sees as a kind of abuse.

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November 6 - Adolphe Sax; John Philip Sousa (The Musical Birthday Series)

Adolphe Sax (6 November 1814 – 7 February 1894) was a prolific inventor and modifier of musical instruments.

Ahead of Its Time

When Berlioz heard the strange tone

Of the newly contrived saxophone,

He said,”Though it has

Some potential for jazz,

For the present I’d leave it alone.”

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

John Philip Sousa (6 November 1854 – 6 March 1932) was an extremely successful band 
leader, who remains a byword for band excellence to this day.

Obbligato Obligation

John Sousa’s eponymous band

Was bent on protecting its brand.

They knew there’d be gripes

If they played “Stars and Stripes”

With no piccolo player on hand.

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November 5 - Hans Sachs (The Musical Birthday Series)

Hans Sachs (5 November 1494 – 19 January 1576) was a German Meistersinger,  poet, and shoemaker, now mostly remembered from Wagner's opera of which he is the title character. 

Die heil'ge deutsche Kunst

Die heil’ge deutsche Kunst

Die heil’ge deutsche Kunst

Die heil’ge deutsche Kunst

Die heil’ge deutsche Kunst

The shop that Hans Sachs cobbled in

  Was in a German square,

And anyone that hobbled in

  Would hear him singing there.

A kindly, wise and loving soul,

  Much sought for his advice.

He advocated self-control.

  And always thinking twice.

And thus, there wasn’t gossip, though

   He always seemed to save a

Chair besides the fire’s glow

  For Pogner’s daughter Eva.

Hans Sans, he ran a singing club

   Which youngsters could enroll in,

And gain instruction not to flub

   At Abgesang and Stollen.

He judged their songs with Lutheran zeal,

  And hammered out the measure.

He taught them that they should appeal

  To higher goals than pleasure.

Their songs re-echoed, strength on strength,

  Off Nuremberg’s church towers,

And sensibly they shunned the length

  Of Wagner’s weary hours.


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