A television and radio crew from the Belgium-based VRT radio and television network will be traveling Route 66 later this summer. Producer Guy De Pre and singer Gunther Neefs will arrive in Chicago on July 30 and finish their journey Aug. 20 in Santa Monica, California, as part of “Roots 66. Music from Chicago to … Continue reading Belgium TV, radio crew traveling Route 66 this summer
Category: Music
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
Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
The Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff, Arizona, best known for its role in key lines of The Eagles' signature hit "Take It Easy," recently swapped owners, but little else is changing. According to Flagstaff Business News, longtime owner Gary McElfresh sold the restaurant at 1302 Historic Route 66 to longtime Flagstaff resident Bill Unkovich. The new owner … Continue reading Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
New Emma-Lee music video features a lot of Route 66
Emma-Lee, a Canadian singer-songwriter, this week released a new video for her song, "Drivin'," that features a slew of Route 66 sites in the Southwest. https://youtu.be/lKoo0pKGZPc I saw locations in Tulsa; Tucumcari, New Mexico; Winslow, Arizona; Oatman, Arizona; Santa Monica, California; Adrian, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; along with Meteor Crater and Grand Canyon National Park, both … Continue reading New Emma-Lee music video features a lot of Route 66
“Santa and My Semi”
Regrettably, I never have found any songs that mix the Christmas season with Route 66. Maybe someday it'll happen ... In the meantime, here's a truck-driving song about the Yuletide season by Texas country artist Dale Watson. It's a cut from Watson's enjoyable 2001 album, "Christmas Time in Texas." https://youtu.be/AdA46d_w6lo
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”
The Museum Club of Flagstaff to reopen Dec. 29
The Museum Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, officially will reopen at 5 p.m. Dec. 29 for the New Year's weekend after the Route 66 landmark acquired new owners. The Facebook page for the historic nightclub made the announcement with a series of posts Monday, including this Facebook Live video on a local radio station. Ty Mount … Continue reading The Museum Club of Flagstaff to reopen Dec. 29
Roger Miller Museum soon will close its doors for good
The Roger Miller Museum, dedicated to the country-music star of the 1960s and '70s who hailed from Erick, Oklahoma, will close its doors for good later this week because of financial difficulties. The Beckham County Record, citing museum trustee Retta Snowden, reported the imminent closing last week. The museum sits on the corner of Sheb Wooley … Continue reading Roger Miller Museum soon will close its doors for good
Plenty of Route 66 in Big & Rich video
The country-rock duo Big & Rich released this music video for "California" more than six months ago, and it contains a few Route 66 landmarks in the footage. In it, you'll find the rest stop near Alanreed, Texas; Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo; old Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico (including the interior of the Kix … Continue reading Plenty of Route 66 in Big & Rich video
Johnny Hallyday, ‘the Elvis of France’ and a Route 66 fan, dies
Johnny Hallyday, long known as "the Elvis of France," died Wednesday at age 74, according to many news outlets. A cause of death wasn't reported, but he'd been diagnosed with lung cancer in March. Hallyday also was a big Route 66 fan. More on that in a moment. Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Leo Smet in Paris, sold … Continue reading Johnny Hallyday, ‘the Elvis of France’ and a Route 66 fan, dies