Last night I watched one of the music videotapes I've made, #29, the next to last, recorded post 9/11. Most of the tracks are from PBS pledge broadcasts. The first 40 minutes features duets of Frank Sinatra with many of his contemporaries: Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Shirley Jones, Dino, Bing, Satchmo, Sammy Davis and Dinah Shore, who really brought out the charm Ol' Blue eyes was capable of. I did not appreciate Shore back in the day, but I sure do now. She seemed like a helluva lot of fun. The tape also includes duets she did with Pearl Bailey, Groucho and her idol, Ella Fitzgerald. Here is the clip with Sinatra, which is even longer than the one on my tape. Sinatra's ad-libs are marvelous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA-PtV76zI8
One aspect of those clips that is sad is the restriction of any show of physical affection between white and black artists. It's just the way it was at the time.
The second half of the tape featured several performances by Judy Garland. The last is the only live video of her doing Over the Rainbow. It followed a number in which she was dressed like a tramp, her face smeared with soot. As she sat at the foot of the stage, melancholy seemed to sweep over her. She chokes up several times during the rendition, fighting tears, and seems as if she will not finish. It is not her best work but perhaps her most poignant. It makes one want to embrace her and say everything will be all right. But it wasn't all right. Her isolation was obvious as she left the stage, head down. The contrast between her artistic brilliance and sad personal life is startling. She was as great as any singer will ever be. Here is the clip. View it and weep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss49euDqwHA
My most loyal customer has reviewed Killing at Amazon, short and sweet, just how I prefer them. Here it is:
"I bought this book on the street, where the author, Vic Fortezza, sells a variety of books. I did not know what to expect, but what I got was above and beyond what I could imagine. It is a writing style that is clear and to the point, with characters and emotions that come alive. The human condition at its best and at its worst. Passionate, sensitive, and profound! Bravo,Vic Fortezza! Highly recommend, Marie."
I was able to thank Marie personally today, as she stopped by the floating book shop. My thanks also to Kinesha, aka Mrs. Eclectic, who bought five novels, and to Alan, who paid back a small loan I made to his mom last week.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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