Tag Archives: Anthony Newley

Episode 313. Get to Know Gilbert Price

December 7, 2024African American Singers, Black History Month, Broadway, Crossover, Great Baritones, In Memoriam, Listeners' Favorites, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Operetta, Protest Songs, Queer Pride, Singers of Color, Spirituals, Twentieth Century MusicAdolphe Adam, Al Carmines, Alan Bernstein, Alan Jay Lerner, Alex North, Alexander Borodin, Anthony Newley, Arnold Goland, Avon Long, Brock Willia, Bruce Hubbard, C. Bernard Jackson, Carl MaultsBy, Charles H. Coleman, Chele Abel, Christine Andreas, Doug Parker, Elsa Rael, Emily Yancey, Fly Blackbird, Frederick Loewe, Gail Ziferstein, George Forrest, Gershon Kingsley, Gilbert Price, Hy Zaret, I’ve Gotta Be Me, Jack Crowder, James Hatch, Jerico-Jim Crow, Jerome Kern, Jim Bailey, John Russel, John Sullivan Dwight, Langston Hughes, Leonard Bernstein, Leslie Bricusse, María Irene Fornés, Marion Franklin, Marquette Miller, Martin Jewell, Mary Louise, Melba Moore, Merv Griffin, Metrogene Myles, Michael Tschudin, Michael Valenti, Micki Grant, Mike Preston, Mosley Brown, Oscar Hammerstein II, Paul Reid Roman, Professor Porter, Reuben Greer, Robert Guillaume, Robert Wright, Ronald Gagnon, Rosalie King, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, Thelma Oliver, Timbuktu!, Ty McConnell, Unchained Melody, Victor Millrose, Vivian Moore, Warren Smith, William Cain, William Coleman, William Sugiharacountermelody

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If you have never heard of Gilbert Price, this episode will remedy that situation. With a voice that was easily produced, full-ranged, tonally refulgent, and technically poised, the three-time Tony nominee, who lived from 1942 to 1991, deserves to be more fully remembered for his deeply expressive portrayals, including the lead role role in Leonard Bernstein’s failed Bicentennial musical, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He also starred in Timbuktu!, Promenade, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, and Langston Hughes’s 1964 musical pageant Jerico-Jim Crow, which also featured Micki Grant in one of her first featured roles. (This episode was originally produced the day after Ms. Grant died, so it is particularly appropriate that she is prominently featured.) Gilbert Price is also heard in numerous live stage performances (including an early live performance of the original version of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), a number of live television performances, and four obscure singles that he recorded for Columbia Records in the late 1960s. And just for the holidays, there is a stunning performance of the young Gilbert Price performing “O Holy Night” on The Merv Griffin Show.

Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody’s Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly or yearly support at whatever level you can afford.

Episode 207. Henry Wright and Pals

July 28, 2023African American Singers, Broadway, Great Baritones, Happy Birthday, In Memoriam, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Opera in Translation, Operetta, Pop Icons, Singers in Old Age, Singers of Color, Twentieth Century MusicAcey Prince, Alexander Borodin, Alfredo Bracchi, Anthony Newley, Arthur Rebner, Augusto Martelli, Bataille-Henri, Bill Evans, Biri, Bruno Martelli, Buddy Johnson, Cole Porter, Das Land des Lächelns, Dorsey Burnett, Duke Ellington, Eddie Cooley, Ennio Neri, Erich Korngold, Erich Werner, Francesco Specchia, Franco Calabrese, Franz Lehár, Frasquita, George Forrest, Gianfranco Intra, Gianni Ravera, Giovanni D’Anzi, Giulio Libano, Henry Defreyn, Henry Glover, Henry Wright, Irving Mills, Jimmy Kennedy, Joe Osborn, John Davenport, Johnny Mercer, José María Lacalle García, Joseph Kosma, Juan Tizol, Kismet, Lady Gaga, Leslie Bricusse, Little Willie John, Louis Lemarchand, Mario Buzà, Mario Cenci, Miguel Fleta, Mina, Nathaniel Shilkret, Nolan Lewis, Peggy Lee, Percy Faith, Peter Alexander, Peter Knight, Petula Clark, Ray French, Richard Tauber, Richy Nelson, Robert Stolz, Robert Wright, Romano Mussolini, Sinéad O’Connor, Titus Tee Turner, Tony Bennett, Tony Dallara, Tullio Romano, Vittorio de Sica, Vittorio Mascheronicountermelody

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Today’s episode is first and foremost a tribute to a forgotten African American trailblazer, the pop singer Henry Wright, born in 1933, who, in the late fifties, claimed Italy as his adoptive country after touring there as a vocal soloist with Lionel Hampton. With a voice as suave and seductive as any of the great crooners of the 1950s and 1960s, Henry Wright first came to international prominence as the voice on the record to which Sophia Loren performed her legendary striptease in the 1962 film Ieri, oggi, domani [Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow]. He went on to make a great impact on Italian pop music throughout the 1960s. Your fearless podcaster discovered this fascinating singer almost by accident sometime in the past year and he (that is, I) have been collecting his rare and valuable recordings which I am thrilled to share with my listening public. Many of these songs exist in earlier versions, either from the Great American Songbook, from Italian films, from early American singers of R&B, from Italian pop stars of the 1950s, even from Viennese operetta! So I had the idea of playing those original versions alongside Henry Wright’s recordings. Thus you will encounter singers like Ricky Nelson, Peggy Lee, Tony Dallara, Peter Alexander, Mina, Petula Clark, Vittorio de Sica (who in his acting days was an Italian matinee idol!) and even opera legends Miguel Fleta and Richard Tauber. It’s a fascinating episode (if I do say so myself!) and I am thrilled beyond words to introduce the seductive, charming, compelling Henry Wright to my listeners. The episode begins with memorial tributes to recently departed pop music greats Tony Bennett and Sinéad O’Connor.

Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody’s Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly support at whatever level you can afford. Bonus episodes available exclusively to Patreon supporters are currently available and further bonus content including interviews and livestreams is planned for the upcoming season.

Episode 103. Gilbert Price

August 22, 2021African American Singers, BHM2023WK2, Black History Month, Broadway, Great Baritones, Happy Birthday, In Memoriam, Mezzo Madness, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Pop Icons, Protest Songs, Queer Pride, Twentieth Century MusicAl Carmines, Alan Jay Lerner, Andrew Davis, Anthony Newley, Bruce Hubbard, Edward Elgar, Emily Yancey, Frederick Loewe, George Forrest, Gilbert Price, I’ve Gotta Be Me, Janet Baker, Jerico-Jim Crow, Jerome Kern, Langston Hughes, Leonard Bernstein, Leslie Bricusse, María Irene Fornés, Merv Griffin, Micki Grant, Oscar Hammerstein II, Robert Wright, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, Theater des Westens Berlin, Timbuktu!, Ty McConnell, Unchained Melodycountermelody

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Never heard of Gilbert Price? This episode will remedy that situation. With a voice that was easily produced, full-ranged, tonally refulgent, technically poised, the three-time Tony nominee Gilbert Price (1942-1991) deserves to be more fully remembered today for his deeply expressive portrayals, including a starring role in Leonard Bernstein’s failed Bicentennial musical, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He also starred in Timbuktu!, Promenade, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, and Langston Hughes’s 1964 musical pageant Jerico-Jim Crow, which also featured the recently deceased Micki Grant in one of her first featured roles. I feature Gilbert Price in numerous live performances, both on stage and on television, as well as four obscure singles he made for Columbia Records, in addition to considering his tragic demise. The episode also features an 88th birthday tribute to Janet Baker as well as commemorations of Grant and other recently departed musicians.

Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” Occasional guests from the “business” (singers, conductors, composers, coaches, and teachers) lend their distinctive insights. At Countermelody’s core is the interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. At Countermelody’s core is the interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. Please visit the Countermelody website (www.countermelodypodcast.com) for additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. And please head to my Patreon page at www.patreon.com/countermelody to pledge your monthly support at whatever level you can afford. Bonus episodes available only to Patreon supporters are currently available.

Episode 81. Happy Songs (straight up)

March 21, 2021African American Singers, Art Song, Bel canto, Broadway, Giuseppe Verdi, Happy Birthday, In Memoriam, Lieder, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Operetta, Pop Icons, Queer Pride, Richard Strauss, Voiceless WondersAaron Copland, Alberta Hunter, Andy Kim, Anthony Newley, Arlene Saunders, Arpad Sandor, Barbara [Monique Serf], Barbra Streisand, Christa Ludwig, Claramae Turner, Conchita Supervia, Dorothy Maynor, Frances Wayne, Franz Allers, Franz Lehár, George Frideric Handel, Gerald Moore, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, Harold Arlen, Horace Everett, James Levine, Janet Williams, Jeff Barry, Jo Bouillon, Johannes Brahms, Johnny Nash, Joséphine Baker, Joy Clements, Kathleen Battle, Leopold Stokowski, Leslie Bricusse, Lisa Della Casa, Mahalia Jackson, Margaret Bonds, Maria Callas, Max Hansen, Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone, Norman Treigle, Oleta Adams, Peter Matz, Pointer Sisters, Ralph Benatzky, Richard Cassilly, Richard Fredricks, Richard Strauss, Robert Gilbert, Ted Koehler, The Archies, The Tender Land (Copland & Everett), Tullio Serafin, Woody Herman, Yip Harburgcountermelody

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This week I offset the gloom of last week’s music with straight-up joy. No gimmicks, no goofiness, no weird accents. Whether the composer is Giuseppe Verdi, Ralph Benatzky, Aaron Copland, Oleta Adams, or Harold Arlen, and whether sung by Nancy Wilson, Dorothy Maynor, Tina Turner, Maria Callas, Max Hansen, Conchita Supervia, Barbra Streisand, Mahalia Jackson, Lisa Della Casa, or the Pointer Sisters, all today’s selections are guaranteed to make you feel a little lighter, a little more joyous. And in today’s continuing climate of pandemic uncertainty, who doesn’t need a little more of that?

Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” Occasional guests from the “business” (singers, conductors, composers, coaches, and teachers) lend their distinctive insights. At Countermelody’s core is the interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. At Countermelody’s core is the interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. Please visit the Countermelody website (www.countermelodypodcast.com) for additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. And please head to my Patreon page at www.patreon.com/countermelody to pledge your monthly support at whatever level you can afford. Bonus episodes available only to Patreon supporters are currently available.