Category Archives: Music

How ‘Oz’ made Judy Garland a legend

Posted on June 10, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Judy Garland was born 100 years ago today and died more than half a century ago but her legend lives on. Mostly, that is thanks to the enduring popularity of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Music | Tagged 'Over the Rainbow', 'The Wizard of Oz', Bert Lahr, Fred Astaire, Jack Haley, James Mason, Judy Garland, Louis B. Mayer, Mervyn LeRoy, Mickey Rooney, Ray Bolger, Shirley Temple | Comments Off

Why Elmer Bernstein smiled about Richard Strauss

Posted on April 4, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American composer Elmer Bernstein, who would have turned 100 today, wrote wonderful film music and he was terrific company with a fine wit. He was an early favourite of mine with scores for pictures such … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged 'Johnny Staccato', 'The Great Escape', Elmer Bernstein, Richard Strauss | Comments Off

Recalling Tommy Hunter, a star who knew his limits

Posted on March 17, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Country music singer Tommy Hunter, who turns 85 today, was one of the most popular entertainers in Canada for decades but he was never tempted to become a star in America.

Posted in Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged 'The Tommy Hunter Show', CBC TV, Tommy Hunter | Comments Off

When Ry Cooder discovered the blues

Posted on March 15, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Ry Cooder, who turns 75 today, told me that he knew that he would be a musician when he discovered the blues as a kid. When I first heard his slide guitar, I imagined he … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged 'Buena Vista Social Club', 'Chavez Ravine', 'The Long Riders', Ry Cooder, Walter Hill | Comments Off

Why ‘Nashville’ star Cristina Raines hated to sing

Posted on February 28, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Like many a young man who saw Robert Altman’s classic ‘Nashville’ in 1975, I was a little bit in love with Cristina Raines, who turns 70 today, She played a singer in a folk trio … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged 'Flamingo Road', 'Nashville', 'Sunshine', Ava Gardner, Cristina Raines, Howard Duff, Keith Carradine, Mark Harmon, Michael Filerman, Robert Altman | Comments Off

When John Williams asked for me …

Posted on February 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In 2000, John Williams, who turns 90 today, was named ‘Maestro of the Year’ at ShoWest in Las Vegas. He agreed to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter tied to that with one proviso. He wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Music | Tagged John Williams, Jon Burlingame, ShoWest, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety | Comments Off

On music and human suffering …

Posted on February 2, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett After I posted on Facebook the image above, which I took on a visit to Auschwitz, Argentinian composer Daniel Tarrab, a friend of mine, sent me a note that read, ‘I’ve seen your post today. It really … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 'Broken Silence', 'Some Who Lived (Algunos Que Vivieron)', Andres Goldstein, Chandos Records, Daniel Tarrab, Holocaust Memorial, Luis Puenzo, Shoah Visual History Foundation, Steven Spielberg | Comments Off

‘Windmills’ and ‘Fields’ in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’

Posted on January 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lyricists Marilyn Bergman, who died today aged 93, and her husband Alan Bergman won the best-song Oscar in 1969 with Michel Legrand for ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ from ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ but they owed … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged 'Strawberry Fields', 'The Thomas Crown Affair', 'Windmills of Your Mind', Alan Bergman, Beatles, Faye Dunawaye, Gent, Marian Ponnet, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, Norman Jewison, Steve McQueen, World Soundtrack Awards | Comments Off

Stephen Sondheim was grateful for ‘a fresh eye’

Posted on November 29, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett It wasn’t only Broadway that Stephen Sondheim loved. In London in 2011 to mark his 80th birthday, the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist who has died aged 91, accepted a Special Laurence Olivier Award for his outstanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ..., Theatre | Tagged 'Sunday in the Park with George', Angela Lansbury, Cameron Macintosh, Olivier Awards, Sondheim Theatre, Stephen Sondheim | Comments Off

Memory Lane: The time before everything was streamed

Posted on October 19, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Living, as I do, in turn-of-the-century London, it’s easy to become nostalgic for the long-ago 1900s. I know we’re just a few weeks into 2000 but it seems like forever. I recall the first single … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Memory Lane, Music | Tagged 'Long Tall Sally', 'Love Me or Leave Me', cyberspace, Doris Day, Internet, Little Richard | Comments Off