Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 1:32 pm Post subject: Harry James and Robert Goulet
Harry doesn't solo but you can hear him on the lead part and a fantastic performance by one of my favorite singers. My Dad who was a singer always said if he could choose to sound like anyone it would be Robert Goulet.
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2024 8:32 am Post subject: Harry and Goulet
As I was there playing first trumpet for Harry, I can offer what exactly happened on that Sullivan TV show.
We got to CBS at noon for a rehearsal and the chart we were to play was passed out. The show was "A Tribute To Irving Berlin" and the chart we were given was Tommy Dorsey's big hit "Marie" featuring the famous Bunny Berigan solo voiced out for the trumpet section with Harry to play the solo lead. After he got the part he was to play Harry turned to me and said, "catch my part Babes". I had been on the Dorsey band so the solo part was in my brain but I never had played the solo Bunny Berigan part. After the rehearsal we had until 6pm when the show went live. Before that I asked Harry which part he wanted me to play and once again he said, "catch my part Babes". What you hear on this clip is me playing both lead and Bunny's solo lead with Harry "ghosting" out front. Why would this be? Certainly Harry had recorded a Berlin tune or two in the past so why would they have Harry's band play a big Tommy Dorsey hit? Believe me Harry could've played Bunny's solo upside down and blind folded but obviously he felt disrespected. Harry never said a word to me but did shoot a smile back at me.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 6:29 am Post subject: Harry and Gouet
When I said Harry could have played that upside down and backward, it was no exaggeration.
We were in Reno at Harrah's Club and after the first set Harry and I were standing off to the side of the bandstand talking, probably about baseball or cars. A fellow came up and somewhat less than polite said to Harry, "Harry, why don't you play Carnival Of Venice anymore". Harry, who was carrying his trumpet vertically by the bell crook looked at him while bringing his horn up to playing position and turned it upside down and played Carnival Of Venice with the valves facing down. It was flawless and he then said to the guy, "you mean like that *^#hole". Oh yeah, don't mess with Harry.
Yes awesome story but also awesome playing Gosh what a swinging performance, band and singer; Robert Gs phrasing is right on the spot.
As is the trumpet solo....
Wow. Thanks a lot for having been there telling us, and for playing like that! _________________ Cornets: mp 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
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Trumpets:
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Funny little story involving Robert Goulet. I went to school with twin brothers from Kdg to 3rd grade and later on high school. They were good guys but very, very different. One was a happy go lucky type and the other was like an old fart, even in Kdg. We were in 2nd grade when The Beatles first appeared on the scene. A bunch of us were talking at recess about The Beatles. The one who was like an old fart said he didn't like The Beatles. Someone asked who he liked to listen to. He said he listened to Robert Goulet!!!!!!! We were 7-8 years old! He probably liked Lawrence Welk as well.
In high school nothing had changed. We all grew our hair long and tried to dress hip. Mr. Conservative wore his hair short and dressed like Carlton from The Fresh Prince. He even carried a briefcase.
We just had our 50th reunion last weekend. The guy who was very conservative had passed away about 12-13 years ago. His fun loving brother was a no show.
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 8:38 am Post subject: Goulet story about Wayne Newton
Goulet worked the Frontier Hotel a lot while I was there in the house band as did Wayne Newton, self proclaimed "Mr. Las Vegas". One night during his show Goulet started talking about Newton saying, "I remember when Wayne Newton sounded like a little girl and today, he sounds like a WOMAN".
The irony of this involving Goulet was he was a regular at the Howard Hughes hotels as was Newton. Goulet had a tendency to drink a bit which made him get nasty with the audience on occasion and Walter Kane, the entertainment impresario for Hughes called Goulet into his office one day and insisted he have Newton direct his show as Newton was the big draw with Hughes at the time. Goulet sensed he had to do this or lose his contract with Hughes so we went into rehearsal at the Frontier with Newton stage directing the entire show including using Newton's back up singers. It was entirely Newton's show with Goulet out front and the only thing different was "Danke Shoen" wasn't on the program. The band watched the tension rising, most visibly from Goulet and that night on the first show Goulet obviously had enough and did his own thing. Of course he lost his gig with Hughes but certainly maintained his dignity. Newton continued for years as the main attraction with the Hughes hotels until he got the idea he was bigger than NBC confronting Johnny Carson one night about the wise cracks Carson had been making about him and made the decision to leave the Hughes hotels for Caesars Palace. Hughes had given him everything he wanted for many years and now at Caesars Palace Newton was paying the bills for these "extras". From a full string section he reduced it to one violin playing through a multi-vider backstage unseen at Caesars. Funny how things changed when it was costing him money. Newton's career went from this to Branson to the Flamingo hotel to the Luxor to bankruptcy. Now he's "starring" in a lounge with a trio talking to the audience playing videos of the old days trying to eke out a few notes from his voice which is shot. In Las Vegas these days the saying is Newton will show up for a garage door opening.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9911 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:21 am Post subject:
I appreciated Robert Goulet's craft. Impressed at the Sinatra phrasing that comes through in some of his songs.
NEVER listened to, or liked, Wayne Newton.
We always had music playing in the background when we ate dinner. As often as not, we went between the 101 Strings and John Gary. _________________ Paxman French Horn
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Goulet story about Wayne Newton
Tony Scodwell wrote:
...The band watched the tension rising, most visibly from Goulet and that night on the first show Goulet obviously had enough and did his own thing. Of course he lost his gig with Hughes but certainly maintained his dignity. Newton continued for years as the main attraction with the Hughes hotels until he got the idea he was bigger than NBC confronting Johnny Carson one night about the wise cracks Carson had been making about him and made the decision to leave the Hughes hotels for Caesars Palace.
In the early 80's, I recall an interview Wayne gave, describing what took place at Burbank studios one afternoon, where Fred Cordova met him first, then ushered him in to see Johnny, where things got tense after he shut the door.. "I don't know what brother of your's I've killed or anything else but I'm here to hear about it. Whatever your problem is, this stuff is gonna stop -- now, or I'm gonna knock you on your ass.." Johnny maintained that there was no animosity, but he cut him off, "Don't give me that...that line of crap." From there the jokes subsided, and not long after he became a huge attraction in Las Vegas.
Goulet and others had more vocal chops than Newton, but when it came to winning over, charming audiences, of all walks of life, had something in that regard.
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: Goulet story about Wayne Newton
rothman wrote:
From there the jokes subsided, and not long after he became a huge attraction in Las Vegas.
I guess Newton maintained his dignity too.
Veering into 'Newton territory' brought to mind Little Jimmy Scott, who built a long and respected career using a voice affected by the genetic disorder known as Kallmann syndrome. Here's a sample of his work (I'm a fan):
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Goulet story about Wayne Newton
rothman wrote:
Tony Scodwell wrote:
...The band watched the tension rising, most visibly from Goulet and that night on the first show Goulet obviously had enough and did his own thing. Of course he lost his gig with Hughes but certainly maintained his dignity. Newton continued for years as the main attraction with the Hughes hotels until he got the idea he was bigger than NBC confronting Johnny Carson one night about the wise cracks Carson had been making about him and made the decision to leave the Hughes hotels for Caesars Palace.
In the early 80's, I recall an interview Wayne gave, describing what took place at Burbank studios one afternoon, where Fred Cordova met him first, then ushered him in to see Johnny, where things got tense after he shut the door.. "I don't know what brother of your's I've killed or anything else but I'm here to hear about it. Whatever your problem is, this stuff is gonna stop -- now, or I'm gonna knock you on your ass.." Johnny maintained that there was no animosity, but he cut him off, "Don't give me that...that line of crap." From there the jokes subsided, and not long after he became a huge attraction in Las Vegas.
Goulet and others had more vocal chops than Newton, but when it came to winning over, charming audiences, of all walks of life, had something in that regard.
Goulet was a singer, Newton is an entertainer. There's a big difference.
I posted an old video on Facebook of Harry Chapin some time back. Harry was the best live act I've ever seen. He was the opening act for Seals and Crofts and he blew them out of the water. They were fine musically, but you could have put cardboard cutouts of them onstage and no one would have known the difference. Absolutely no stage presence. I A musician friend took exception when I said Harry was the best live performer I had ever seen. He went on how Seals & Crofts were better musicians etc. than Harry. They probably were, but they were boring live performers. Harry knew how to work an audience. I saw him once again about a year before he died, and it was an even better show. It was his show with no opening act. He always looked like he was having fun when he performed.
Wayne knew how to work an audience as well. I've never seen him live. I know several people who have. They all say it was an amazing show. I've known a few who saw Goulet. They enjoyed the show, but none ever raved about it.
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Gosh what a swinging performance, band and singer; Robert Gs phrasing is right on the spot.
