Category: Music

Nat King Cole CD and DVD coming out in May

"(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" was written by Bobby Troup, but it was Nat King Cole's performance that made that song -- and the road -- famous. It went to No. 11 on the pop charts and No. 3 on the R&B charts in 1946. That sounds somewhat modest. But it helped cement Cole's … Continue reading Nat King Cole CD and DVD coming out in May

Route 66 festival holding a talent show

It's happening during the annual event in Edwardsville, Ill., according to the Edwardsville Intelligencer. Auditions for the talent show will be in late March and early April and the talent show will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 9 and group talent will take place on Saturday. Individuals may preform … Continue reading Route 66 festival holding a talent show

Frederick’s Music Lounge closes

I heard some news tonight that saddened me. Frederick's Music Lounge, a great old dive bar at 4454 Chippewa (Route 66) in St. Louis, closed last Saturday. Frederick's was a family-owned bar for many years. One report in December from the Riverfront Times said the place had been put up for sale. Fred Boettcher Jr., … Continue reading Frederick’s Music Lounge closes

He’s gone to look for America

Andrew Gilstrap of Pop Matters is traveling to the Southwest with what he hopes is a bunch of appropriate music (Calexico, Giant Sand, Frank Sinatra). In an age when America seems to be becoming increasingly homogenized, he's looking for "genuineness." In Arizona and New Mexico, he's optimistic he'll find it: I've selected my music based … Continue reading He’s gone to look for America

Enough road music to fill an iPod

I'd heard about this Web site some months ago, but Sean Gleeson's blog reminded me of it: The Federal Highway Administration maintains a site that catalogues road songs. It's frequently updated, and you can e-mail to suggest tunes that aren't on the list. Giving the site a once-over, it appears Neil Young, James Taylor, Bruce … Continue reading Enough road music to fill an iPod

For you classical-music roadies

Sony Classical recently released a series of Drive Time CDs, including one for Route 66. Here's a description of the album: ROUTE 66. It's the all-American drive -- America's Main Street, the "mother road" of Easy Rider. Route 66 stretches some 2,400 miles across the vastness of the American West, from Chicago to California. For … Continue reading For you classical-music roadies

Rapper will roll down Route 66

Here's the gist of a complicated story: Roller Rapper, aka Robby Love, has a hot music video, and he's also going to roller-skate down Route 66 this spring. According to a news release, "The Roller Rapper" video hit No. 1 in the rock/pop category on MTV's iFilms, beating out Green Day, Jessica Simpson, Linkin Park … Continue reading Rapper will roll down Route 66

“My buns are for you”

I hadn't checked for a while on the wacky Swedish noise-rock band Hurra Torpedo during their tour of Route 66 in a Ford Fusion. Well, it turns out the crew had a weinie roast and other festive activity at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz. Check out their adventures on this video site here.

Best place to two-step on Route 66?

If you ask folks in the high, high desert town of Flagstaff (7,000 feet elevation) that question, chances are good they will say the Museum Club on Route 66. Arizona Daily Sun readers recently voted it the best for dancing in the Best of Flagstaff. I've been in the Museum Club but, regrettably, never during … Continue reading Best place to two-step on Route 66?