Just when one would think it could not get any worse as a start to the New Year- leaving us already were Natalie Cole, David Bowie, Alan Rickman,Dallas Taylor(CS&N drummer)……I had planned on doing this weeks show celebrating the life and achievements of Johnny Mathis-a great singer and interpreter of songs and someone who is still with us -an artist that has had 73 charting albums on Billboard, according to The Guinness Book Of Records has sold in excess of 350 million albums worldwide making him the 3rd biggest selling artist of the 20th Century.
And I am still going to celebrate Johnny Mathis.That has not changed….however …..
On January 18,Glenn Frey, one of the most successful singer-songwriters, actor and producer of my (the Baby Boomer era) passed away in New York.
I had the pleasure of working with Glenn during his solo career and he was totally charming ,urbane and fun.
As a member of The Eagles, he won Six Grammy Awards and Five American Music awards.
Across his solo recordings and with The Eagles, he achieved 24 Top 40 singles on The Billboard Hot 100, not to take anything away from the global successes of these works.
“The Heat Is On”,”Lyin’ Eyes”,”Take It Easy”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Take It To The Limit” and so many more.
He solo toured on an album of The Great American Songbook songs entitle “After Hours” which showcased the breadth of his talent and some of these tracks feature in this program.
As Neil Diamond wrote in a song about people who had influenced him and had passed on before their time – “Done Too Soon” and in this case that resonates clearly with me and a world of fans who experienced the talent of Glenn Frey solo and as a key member of The Eagles.
RIP Glenn Frey.