Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
As you prepare for a day of watching commercials occasionally interrupted by a football game played by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, Chimesfreedom considers songs inspired by the states in the big game. An upcoming post will address the state of the Packers, but this post considers the hometown of the Steelers: … Continue reading “Super Bowl Songs: Pete Seeger & “Pittsburgh Town””
Chilean singer-songwriter and activist Victor Jara left a fascinating legacy beyond his heroic death, inspiring many around the world, including Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.
Bobbie Gentry begins her song “Ode to Billie Joe” by establishing the setting as June 3 in the American South.
Singer-actor Trini Lopez was born in Dallas on May 15, 1937. At the age of 26, he had his first hit recording with “If I Had a Hammer.” Lopez’s released a live album as his first record, Trini Lopez at PJ’s, in 1963. That album featured his live version of “If I Had a Hammer” … Continue reading “Trini Lopez: Hammerin’ Out Danger”
Folksinger, actor, and famous snowman Burl Ives was born in Illinois on June 14, 1909. Ives had one of the most recognizable voices of American singers, although I suspect that most people today know him for one TV role more than anything else. But many of us, like Johnny Cash, learned some of our first … Continue reading “Burl Ives & Johnny Cash”