31 agosto 2013
30 agosto 2013
29 agosto 2013
26 agosto 2013
25 agosto 2013
New find: photos of Elvis Presley taken in a 6th Floor guest room at The Peabody Memphis in July 1956. These pictures were part of a series of photos taken in Memphis for a story in “Parade” magazine. According to journalist Lloyd Shearer, Elvis referred to them as “my first glamour pinups” and asked not to be photographed while smiling
22 agosto 2013
21 agosto 2013
20 agosto 2013
19 agosto 2013
Remember Then: The Earls
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John Wray es un miembro original de The Earls. The Earls, conocidos por sus temas míticos y sus armoniosas melodías, representan el último florecimiento del sonido Doo Wop. The Earls eran un famoso grupo vocal formado en el Bronx, Nueva York. Su single "Remember Then" fue un éxito, y "Life Is But a Dream," "Never" y "I Believe" también llegaron a las listas del Chart.
Larry Chance & The Earls fueron homenajeados al ser inducidos al Bronx Walk of Fame el 21 de Junio de 2008 y también fueron inducidos al Wildwood, New Jersey Walk of Fame en el mismo año.
Gracias John, por hacer esta entrevista, es genial saber más sobre tí y The Earls. ¿Podrías contarnos algo sobre The Hi-Hatters?
John Wray: Había dos Larrys en el vecindario con los que yo me relacionaba. Y el tío de Larry nos llevó a un club llamado Hi-Hat, en donde trabajamos una temporada. Cuando Larry P. falleció rompimos la relación con su tío.
¿Cómo conociste a The Earls? ¿Y a Larry Chance?
John Wray: Yo estaba con The Earls desde que se creó el grupo. Larry y yo solíamos quedar antes de que el grupo se formase. Éramos muy buenos amigos. Nos conocimos porque vivíamos en el mismo vecindario.
¿Qué recuerdos tienes en el Show de Dick Clark “American Bandstand”?
John Wray:Estuvimos en American Bandstand de Dick Clark dos veces. La primera vez llegamos tarde. Nos apresuraron a bajar las escaleras y pusieron en una línea en el suelo. Pensamos que íbamos a ensayar pero dijeron: “¡Estais en el aire!”. No nos salió muy bien porque ocurrió todo muy rápido. La segunda vez hicimos un show con Dick en una fiesta televisada en una piscina.
¿Quién escribió Remember Then?
John Wray: Tony Powers escribió "Remember Then”. Él tenía una empresa llamada Rome Records.
¿Cuándo te empezó a gustar el Doo Wop, y qué tegusta de este estilo de música?
John Wray: No se llamaba Doo Wop de aquella. Se llamaba Rock and Roll. El sonido del Rock and Roll surgió en los 50 y principios de los 60.
¿Es cierto que Larry Chance eligió el nombre The Earls arbitrariamente del diccionario?
John Wray: Si, es cierto que lo eligió arbitrariamente del diccionario. Yo estaba ese día que lo hizo en su casa. Dijo: - En el diccionario aparece como “Noble de alto rango”.
¿Nos puedes decir tu anécdota favorita que viviste en aquella época?
John Wray: Un día fuimos a que nos hicieran fotografías, nos informaron de que la persona que nos las iba a hacer iba a llegar tarde, por lo que tendríamos que esperar un rato porque estaban haciendo fotografías a otro artista. Preguntamos de quién se trataba y nos dijeron que de Ray Charles. Y les preguntamos si podríamos conocerle. Nos llevaron adentro y nos dejaron ver cómo le hacían fotografías. Después de la sesión de fotos le conocimos. ¡Fue increíble!. Trabajamos con él más adelante, en varios shows diferentes.
¿Qué les ocurrió a The Earls después de la British Invasion?
John Wray: Después de la British Invasion, continuamos trabajando en diferentes clubs. Trabajamos en un club llamado Peppermint Lounge, que era muy famoso en aquella época. El grupo que hizo “Peppermint Twist”, Joey Dee & The Starliters tenían que hacer giras. Nos preguntaron si podíamos sustituirles por una temporada mientras viajaban. Estuvimos allí bastante tiempo. Era punto de parada para muchos músicos famosos, de hecho allí conocí a Ringo Starr
¿Continúas actuando?
John Wray: No, no continuo actuando. Solamente canto en la ducha. Pero me encantaría hacerlo de nuevo
¿Cómo te sientes cuando escuchas tus canciones que aparecen en películas o anuncios?
John Wray: Me sorprende cuando escucho nuestras canciones. Me maravilla el hecho de que nuestras canciones sigan siendo famosas hoy en día.
Muchas gracias John, te deseo mucha suerte y que vuelvas a cantar pronto.
John Wray is an original member of The Earls. The Earls known by their great songs and their fine harmonies represent the last flowering of the Doo Wop sound. The Earls were a popular Vocal Group formed in The Bronx, New York. Their single "Remember Then" was a hit, and "Life Is But a Dream,""Never" and "I Believe" also charted.
Larry Chance & The Earls were very honored to be inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame on June 21, 2008 and they were also very honored to be inducted into the Wildwood, New Jersey Walk of Fame in 2008.
Thank you John for doing this interview, it was great to learn more about you. Can you tell us about the Hi-Hatters?
John Wray: There were 2 Larrys in the neighborhood that I hung around with. And Larry P's uncle took us to a club called the Hi-Hat. and we worked there for a while. When Larry P. died we broke up with his Uncle.
Where did you join The Earls? When and where did you meet Larry Chance?
John Wray: I was in the Earls from the start. Larry and I used to hang out together before the group was formed. We were best friends. We met in the neighborhood.
What do you remember about the Dick Clark's American Bandstand show?
John Wray: We were on Dick Clarks American Bandstand 2 times. The first time we were late getting there, They rushed us downstairs, and put us on a line on the floor. We thought we were going to rehearse but they said "Your on!" It didn't go over too well, because it happened so fast. The second time we did a show with him it was a televised pool side party.
Who did write Remember Then?
John Wray: Tony Powers wrote "Remember Then" He had a company called Rome Records.
When did you start liking Doo Wop, and what was it about this music that you liked?
John Wray: It was not called Doo Wop back then, it was called Rock and Roll. The Rock and Roll sound exploded in the late 50's and early 60's.
Is it true that Chance picked the name the Earls at random out of a dictionary?
John Wray: It is true that Larry Chance picked the name "Earls" at random from the dictionary. I was there the day he did it at his house. He said the dictionary said "A Nobleman of high rank".
Can you tell us your favorite memory in those days?
John Wray: We went to have pictures taken, and they informed us that the person in there was running over time, so we would have to wait a little bit. We asked who it was, it turned out it was Ray Charles. We asked ifwe could meet him, and they took us in and let us watch them take pictures. After the picture session we were able to meet him. It was great! We worked with him later in several different shows.
What did happen to The Earls after the British Invasion?
John Wray: After the British Invasion we continued working different clubs. We worked in a club called the Peppermint lounge, which was very famous at the time. The group that made the Peppermint Twist, Joey Dee & The Starliters had to go on the road. They asked us to fill in for them while they were on the road. We were there for quite a while, It was a hang out for a lot of famous singers. It was there I met Ringo Starr.
Are you still performing?
John Wray: No I am not still preforming. The only singing I do is in the shower. But, would love to do it again.
What do you think when you listen to your songs when you watch a movie or an ad? Isn´t it surprising to you?
John Wray: It is very surprising to me when I hear our songs it is amazing to me that the songs are still so popular.
Thank you so much. I wish you good luck and you go back singing soon.
John Wray nowadays
Remember Then
Never
Life Is But A Dream
Lookin´ For My Baby
Cry Cry Cry
Dreams Come True
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