“Grazing In The Grass” was one of my favorites, but after his U.S. hit in 1968, Hugh Maskela dropped off the charts despite having a long successful career overseas. I always thought he was just a one-hit wonder.

According to Wiki, in 1953, Maskela saw the movie “Young Man With A Horn” featuring Kirk Douglas as famed trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke. Maskela switched from piano to trumpet.

Self-taught on cornet, trumpeter Beiderbecke was an early jazz improvisational prodigy of sorts. He was also difficult to work with, a raging alcoholic  (despite Prohibition) tried to quit, suffered the DTs, and (after declaring that Mexicans with long knives were hiding under his bed) died at the age of 22, likely from a combination of alcohol poisoning and a form of pneumonia. In other words, people who knew Beiderbecke said he was a self-destructive asshole, while praising his talent.

What I find interesting is that Beiderbecke didn’t find fame until after he died. His improvised riff on “Singin’ The Blues” was coopted by Hoagy Carmichael, who wrote the most re-recorded jazz song in history: “Stardust.” Here’s my favorite version by Artie Shaw, featuring Billy Butterfield on trumpet.

With that, we’re off to the sweet melodies known in these parts as
The Overnight Open Thread.