For nearly a week after Blossom Dearie died, I didn't know about it. Either I'm dangerously out of touch, or her passing didn't attract the attention it should have. It's only through DJ Trouble* at WFMU that I heard of it last night.
The quaintly-named singer and pianist greatly enriched our culture. She took an intelligent and individual approach to those ol' standards. And that voice! Gentle and childlike, and a little sexy as well. Which sounds wrong when you put it all together, but it's not.
Here she is Hammersteining it on the Jack Paar show.
*Trouble is originally from these parts and played "Rhode Island is Famour For You" on her show. I looked for Blossom singing that song on YouTube. No cigar, but she seems to have popularized it with a lot of younger singers.
3 comments:
Sweet. Makes you wonder if Ricky Lee Jones spent any time listening to her, hmm?
She is great. I had never heard of her 'til your post. Thanks.
Susan, Ricky Lee is a special kind of singer. And she seems to have studied the greats, so I wouldn't be too surprised.
Matthew, glad to make the introduction. She used to pop up on my Friday Random Tens a lot, and probably will again.
Nellie McKay is another singer who I think bears some marks from her.
Post a Comment