Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald would have been 96 today, and in honor of her and National Coffee Week here's a little Black Coffee.

Happy Earth Day!

Here's to a little frolicking in the fresh air, happy Earth Day from Blue Suede Souls!

Chuy Reyes - Oink, Oink!

As barbecue season gets nearer I always think of this Chuy Reyes classic.

La Opinion said that Chuy Reyes was “prolific and passionate, he has a command of arranging Afro-Cuban music in the modern jazz style”. Hailing from the Huastec region of Mexico, Reyes was brought to Mexico City in 1925 where he was enrolled at the Conservatorio de Mexico and subsequently received a five year musical study scholarship that took him to Germany. In 1933 Reyes made his American debut, appearing at the Chicago World’s Fair. In 1940 he began work in the Hollywood Theatre, later appearing at the Mocambo Club and El Copacabana in Chicago.

Here’s Reyes with the Rumba Boogie, look at those moves!

 

 

Back Off Zit Face

1926 ad for low self esteem, okay actually it’s for a period skin cleanser called Pompeian Massage Cream but still. I love the claim that it gives you a “clear, ruddy complexion…”. I didn’t know those two things went together. I also didn’t know that many boys are inclined toward grime. So, if you want her to save a dance for you,
de-grime before going to the ball!

Tango

Still loving learning the tango. :-)

We've gotten to the point now that we want to start making it our own, and who better to start our usual experimentation process with than Valentino?

Check out the famous vid below. Yeah, it's a little dorky (especially the old guy with the fishbowl), but the dance itself is drop dead sexy. I love how close they are, and how at times he almost drags her across the floor. Whew. Hot hot HOT.

The Yam

I went digging through Google library today, searching for interesting imagery and ideas from the past. By accident I came across the 193x cover of Life and Fred and Ginger doing something called The Yam. A little research (trust me, very little) brought me to the 1938 Carefree, an Irving Berlin, Fred and Ginger collaboration of the usual sort.
IMDb gives the following plot summary:

Dr. Tony Flagg's friend, Steven, has problems in the relationship with his fiancee, Amanda, so he persuades her to visit Dr. Flagg. After some minor misunderstandings, she falls in love with Dr. Flagg. When he tries to use hypnosis to strengthen her feelings for Steven, things get complicated.

Yeah, complicated by the usual musical comedy fluff. Boy meets girl, boy has problems with girl, and boy and girl work their differences out through a series of improbably song and dance sequences. Something strikes me, though. I’ve seen another Astaire movie, Daddy Longlegs and there’s a common thread – older guy stalking young girl. As a friend once said to me regarding a severely Spring-Autumn relationship, it kinda’ makes you go ewww.

Anyway, here's your dose of dance-related film for the day. Happy Friday!

 

 

Happy April Fool's Day!