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Re: Never heard a voice quite like this....

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:09 am
by gramophone-georg
CharliePhono wrote:
gramophone-georg wrote:
CharliePhono wrote:I very much wish I could recall the name of a number the late Rich Conaty played by Kate Smith on his "Big Broadcast" program a couple of years back. It was a little-known recording (I presume) from the late 1920s. At first, I couldn't identify the vocalist, but was really taken with her singing style. It turned out it was Kate Smith, and -- trust me -- she had jazz chops when she was young. I was so taken by her style that I emailed Rich about it. I don't know when the "Songbird of the South" persona took shape, but she could totally "red hot mamma" a tune if she put her mind to it.
Ummm... Rich is gone? When did THAT happen? Wondered why I hadn't seen any of his auctions in awhile. :shock: Damn.

Was it Kate with the Charleston Chasers... "One Sweet Letter From You", by chance?
Yes, George, Rich passed in December of last year. Hit me like a ton of bricks (and many others who were fans of his show). I'd been a fairly regular listener to the "Big Broadcast" since the very early 90s, but his show had been on since *1973*. Quite a run.

It could possibly have been "One Sweet Letter." Just don't remember. I do remember commenting to him about it and that I had no idea she could sing jazz like that.
Wow. The news about Rich makes tonight kinda suck. Lymphoma. Lost my mother in law to that on July 31 last year. It was a bad demise. I think the chemo just put the agony on steroids and prolonged it.

Re: Never heard a voice quite like this....

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:28 am
by edisonplayer
I remember Jerry Donnell telling that when he was sick in the hospital back in 1944 that Kate Smith called him.Jerry said,That woman was a saint!"edisonplayer PS;I got "Maybe-Who Knows"by her on Velvetone.I found it in one of Arthur Pare's storage units.A nice record! :D