loonis

From director Dick Phipps' Columbia, South Carolina lakeside living room it's Alec Wilder and Loonis McGlohon with another complete one hour episode of their great American Popular Song radio show!

This episode, number 21, originally aired on February 20, 1977 and features guest vocalist Carrie Smith

The Lady Sings the Blues written in 1956, Words by William Engvick, Music by Alec Wilder (see wilderworld 70)

Please note that although Loonis suggests - and Alec assents - that The Lady Sings the Blues was written "in honor of" Billie Holiday, Mr. Engvick has told wilderworld that the song "was completely made up and did not refer to her at all." Clearly the title was lifted from the famous biography of Ms. Holiday (as confirmed by Alec) but according to Engvick: "I didn't know that singer [Holiday] was called 'Lady,' and it was not about her because I never listened to her!"

wilderworld extends the Happiest of Birthday greetings to Bill Engvick, master of the "singing line," who today is 95 years young

All words and music by Alec Wilder except as indicated

Tacet for Neurotics from LP New Music of Alec Wilder (Riverside RLP 12-219 1956) [for complete track see wilderworld 36]

Air for Clarinet from LP The New York Woodwind Quintet Plays Alec Wilder (Golden Crest CR 3019 1957)

Animals of Farmer Jones (Golden 13A 1948) Words by Jane Werner

Air for English Horn from LP Frank Sinatra Conducts the Music of Alec Wilder (Columbia ML 4271 1950)

1 Dans Quixotic, 2 Slow and Sweet, 3 Song movements of Suite for Horn and Piano from LP John Barrows and his French Horn (Golden Crest RE 7002 1960) [see wilderworld 47]

Christmas & Sugaring Off from 10" LP The Grandma Moses Suite (Columbia ML 2185 1951) Developed and orchestrated by Alec Wilder from the musical score by Hugh Martin

Did You Ever Cross Over to Sneden's from LP Shannon Bolin Songs for Patricia (Riverside RLP 12-805 1957)

Lonely Seascape, Incantation & Finale from LP Music from The Sand Castle (Columbia CL 1455 1961)

Love Among the Young from LP Jennie Young Love Among the Young (Columbia CL 1242 1959) Words by Norman Gimbel

A Personality Portrait of Alec Wilder was written and produced by Loonis McGlohon for WBT Radio in Charlotte, North Carolina

The first of many collaborations between Wilder and McGlohon, who was Musical Director at WBT for several years.

All words and music by Alec Wilder except as noted

I’ll Be Around from LP Percy Faith and Mitch Miller It’s So Peaceful in the Country (Columbia CL 779 1956) [see wilderworld 73]

Seldom the Sun by the Alec Wilder Octet (Columbia 35648 1940) Recorded July 1940 [same personnel as wilderworld 09]

Tuba Showpiece aka Movement III of Suite No. 1 for Brass Quintet from LP New York Brass Quintet Presents Two Contemporary Composers (Golden Crest 4017 1959)

The Happy Man and His Dump Truck (Golden Records R54 1950) Words by Marshall Barer

Air for Oboe from LP Frank Sinatra Conducts the Music of Alec Wilder (Columbia ML 4271 1950) Recorded December 5, 1945 [see wilderworld 39]

Mama Never Dug This Scene from LP Mundell Lowe and his Orchestra New Music of Alec Wilder (Riverside RLP 12-219 1956)

While We’re Young by Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour (Capitol 1683 1949) Words by William Engvick, Music by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz [see wilderworld 50]

Trouble is a Man by Sarah Vaughan with the Ted Dale Orchestra (Musicraft 533 1947) [see wilderworld 60]

Definition from LP Shannon Bolin Songs for Patricia (Riverside RLP 12-805 1957) Words by William Engvick

Where Is the One? from LP Frank Sinatra Where Are You? (Capitol W 855 1957) Words by Alec Wilder, Music by Eddie Finckel; Recorded April 10, 1957 [see wilderworld 126]

Photo is of Alec and Loonis at Freedom Park in Charlotte in the early 1960s during filming of a television program with the Newcomers student singing group