The Google Doodle on Google's homepage on Saturday will contain a commissioned work of an artist's representation of Route 66. Allison Hacker of M Booth Communications alerted us to the forthcoming Google Doodle in an email about two weeks ago: While every Doodle has a story behind it, this specific one has a 2,448-mile-long journey. … Continue reading Google Doodle contains an artist’s tribute to Route 66
Tag: Bobby Troup
30th-anniversary editions of Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable … with Love” coming in 2022
Several 30th-anniversary editions of Natalie Cole’s megahit "Unforgettable … With Love" album are coming early next year. That record remains best-known for its smash duet single, "Unforgettable," with her deceased father, Nat King Cole. "Unforgettable .... with Love" also contains Natalie's own version of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," a Bobby Troup-written song made … Continue reading 30th-anniversary editions of Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable … with Love” coming in 2022
Asleep At the Wheel releases new version of “Route 66” for 50th-anniversary album
Western swing band Asleep At the Wheel last week released an album that marks its 50th anniversary, "Half of a Hundred Years," that includes a new version of "Route 66." The new cut of "Route 66" includes guest vocalists Leroy Preston and Johnny Nicholas to accompany the band's longtime lead singer, Ray Benson. Preston was … Continue reading Asleep At the Wheel releases new version of “Route 66” for 50th-anniversary album
Artificial intelligence program brings deceased Route 66 figures seemingly to life
A few weeks ago, the MyHeritage genealogy website released an artificial intelligence program called Deep Nostalgia. It takes still photographs of people, analyzes them and animates their faces in a lifelike way by making them seemingly blink their eyes, move their heads and make subtle movements with their lips. The effect often proves amazing, unsettling … Continue reading Artificial intelligence program brings deceased Route 66 figures seemingly to life
An alternate version of “Route 66” by Bing Crosby
Here's a version of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" that I haven't heard before now. It's Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra and Chorus during "Philco Radio Time" on Oct. 30, 1946. https://youtu.be/dMiHd_y1uf8 Crosby earlier that year recorded a version of Bobby Troup's song with the Andrew Sisters, which reached No. … Continue reading An alternate version of “Route 66” by Bing Crosby
Wildfire forces evacuation of Winona
A fast-moving brush fire Sunday near the Route 66 village of Winona, Arizona, forced a six-hour evacuation and prompted the arrest of one resident. The Arizona Daily Sun newspaper, based in nearby Flagstaff, reported Steve A. Carter, 54, was booked into the county jail on suspicion of felony endangerment, felony criminal damage and misdemeanor reckless burning. … Continue reading Wildfire forces evacuation of Winona
Former AC/DC singer gets his kicks
The rock-music world was abuzz last week when this video surfaced of former AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson showing up at Mick Fleetwood's restaurant in Maui, Hawaii, to sing "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" during a jam session. The song begins about the 1:40 mark after some chitchat: https://youtu.be/dCM4EspPBp4 The reason Johnson's performance caused … Continue reading Former AC/DC singer gets his kicks
Cynthia Troup’s role in “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”
The story behind the now-iconic song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" is Bobby Troup and his wife, Cynthia Troup, were traveling west on that highway to California in 1946 when she came up with the line "Get your kicks on Route 66." Bobby Troup finished the rest of the song, pitched it to Nat … Continue reading Cynthia Troup’s role in “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”
Tom Petty, R.I.P.
Word came down late Monday that rock 'n' roll legend Tom Petty died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Southern California home. He was 66. I'll let others wax poetic about his marvelous career, including one of my favorite music writers at the Chicago Tribune. But it's almost a given Tom Petty and his … Continue reading Tom Petty, R.I.P.
Japanese pop group Exile the Second produces “Route 66” video
Exile the Second, a pop-music band based in Japan, recently released a teaser music video for the group's upcoming single, "Route 66." In case you're wondering, the song bears no resemblance to the Bobby Troup-written classic of the same title. This video uploaded to YouTube isn't the full video, either, but a teaser of about … Continue reading Japanese pop group Exile the Second produces “Route 66” video