Sunday, February 08, 2009

Blossom Dearie, 1926-2009


Blossom Dearie, cabaret singer, dies at 82.

I'm awfully sorry to hear it. She only stopped performing live a couple of years ago; she was pretty impressive. I can't be the only one who hoped she'd do one or two more shows so that I could have even a tiny chance to go.

Here are some of my favorites of her songs. "Unpack Your Adjectives" and "Figure Eight" are the songs she did for Schoolhouse Rock.

Always True To You In My Fashion

Down With Love

Figure Eight

Unpack Your Adjectives

Tout Doucement

I Won't Dance

A Fine Spring Morning

Rhode Island Is Famous For You

Someone To Watch Over Me

And you can go see Davy for another.



12 comments:

Pierre Fournier said...

I too am terribly sorry to hear this. I was a huge fan.

Thank you for the music, Dane. There's a couple of pieces here I didn't have. Much appreciated.

Dane said...

You're welcome. I'd had no idea you were a fan too! I guess your blog theme doesn't really lend itself to mentioning her. :D

davyh said...

Heard this sad news first from you Dane. We love Blossom in our house - especially 'Rhode Island' which my girls know all the words to...

Mr. Karswell said...

Awwwwww! She was awesome. Her voice was one that defined my generation. Maybe as we speak, her and Lux are somewhere performing some crazy music hybrid somewhere...

Dane said...

Davy, I'm sorry to be the first to break it to you. Your girls know all the words to "Rhode Island?" That's adorable! And preferable to them knowing all the words to "Always True to You in My Fashion." :D

Thanks for the link and mention on your blog. I shall amend mine.

Steve: For a moment I could not make sense of "Her voice was one that defined my generation" and then I remembered the Schoolhouse Rock connection. I didn't have very much coffee today, what can I say?

Walt said...

What?!? I hadn't heard she died. This sucks ass. I love Blossom. My friend Jay had the pleasure of seeing her a couple of years ago in NYC and get a picture with her. I forever hate him for that.

Dane said...

I think I hate him too! Seriously, so jealous.

Sparkleneely said...

So sad. She must have been amazing to see.

you know, it wasn't until I saw this that I connected "Figure 8" with Blossom Dearie -- I only really knew "Always True To You..." But listening again -- OF COURSE!!!

Thank you for enlightening me once again, Dane Dearie!!! xoxo

Dane said...

So happy to! :)

Sonic Reducer said...

Very sad new. Miles Davis and Norman Granz, of course, were really big admirers of Blossom. Rest in Peace, Dear Blossom. Thanks for the stylish "meaaaooowww".

Dane said...

Thanks for coming by and commenting. I did not know that about Davis (or Granz, who I admit I'd never heard of).

Sonic Reducer said...

Thanks to you, Dane. Granz was the founder of many great jazz labels, like Norgran, Verve and Pablo. He take out of the clubs many jazz musicians and he did put them in great theaters for big audiences. People like him and John Hammond made great things for jazz.
Greetings from Mexico City.

p.s. I linked my recent post with your blog.

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Music is posted for a short time, and while I use it in part to (hopefully, though not always) go along with the theme of the photo, I also post it in hopes someone will give it a try and fall in love with it as I have. Perhaps they will then seek out more by the artist and buy more cds. That's how it works with me, anyway. If you like it, pick it up at the store; support the artists you love.

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