Category Archives: Music

Recalling Tommy Hunter, a star who knew his limits

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 , , | Comments Off on Recalling Tommy Hunter, a star who knew his limits

When Ry Cooder discovered the blues

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 , , , , | Comments Off on When Ry Cooder discovered the blues

Why ‘Nashville’ star Cristina Raines hated to sing

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 , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why ‘Nashville’ star Cristina Raines hated to sing

When John Williams asked for me …

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 , , , , | Comments Off on When John Williams asked for me …

On music and human suffering …

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 , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On music and human suffering …

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Windmills’ and ‘Fields’ in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’

Stephen Sondheim was grateful for ‘a fresh eye’

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 , , , , , | Comments Off on Stephen Sondheim was grateful for ‘a fresh eye’

Memory Lane: The time before everything was streamed

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 , , , , , | Comments Off on Memory Lane: The time before everything was streamed

My chaotic encounter with composer Ennio Morricone

By Ray Bennett  LONDON – The late Ennio Morricone was a giant in film music but the Italian composer could be a difficult man as I found out when I went to interview him in London. He was in town … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on My chaotic encounter with composer Ennio Morricone

When Kenny Rogers welcomed me to Los Angeles

By Ray Bennett We flew into LAX from Toronto, checked into the Sportsmen’s Lodge in the Valley, went directly to the then open-air Universal Amphitheater and were led to seats in the front row just as the biggest entertainer in … Continue reading

Posted in Memory Lane, Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on When Kenny Rogers welcomed me to Los Angeles