Category: Music

Hello from Germany

Here's a jazzier take of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by the Germany-based Stevie Woods & The Voyagers. Woods scored a Top 30 hit in the early 1980s with "Steal the Night" as an R&B singer. He later relocated to Germany. Here's his big hit:

“Black Top”

Bob Hood, a singer and songwriter based in England, wrote this tune. I'll let Bob explain the story behind the song: I wrote this one early on in 2010. I intended to write a song about Neil Young driving down from Chicago to LA, but ended up writing about the people who live and love … Continue reading “Black Top”

Music duo embarking on partial Route 66 tour

The Nashville-based duo Jeff and Vida are going on a partial Route 66 tour this month to promote their new album, "Selma Chalk." Jeff Burke and Vida Wakeman, who are husband and wife, play all-acoustic music that's described as bluegrass, old country and Americana. Four supporting musicians are part of the band. According to their … Continue reading Music duo embarking on partial Route 66 tour

Swing time

Here's a fresh arrangement of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by the Beantown Swing Orchestra. UPDATE: The video has been removed. However, one of the band's members directed me to another of its performances of this tune: https://youtu.be/jvi5z-LO7Vs

Frets and fingers

Classical guitarist Jane Rosenbohm shows some mighty impressive skills with her fingering and fretwork on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66."

A blast from the past from England

Here's a 1975 version of Bobby Troup's cruising classic by the Count Bishops, a highly regarded R&B band from the U.K. I approve.

Scenes from the Okie Twist-Off

We decided to go to Oklahoma City on Saturday to see the fourth annual Okie Twist-Off car and music festival. The event, which brings in rat-rod and rockabilly fans, also served as a fond farewell to its host, 66 Bowl, which has been sold and soon will be converted into an India grocery store. Organizers … Continue reading Scenes from the Okie Twist-Off

Filmmakers plan documentary on Benld’s Coliseum

Former schoolteachers Jim Marcacci and Bruce Logsdon have started planning a documentary about the history of the colorful Coliseum music venue in Benld, Ill., according to the Springfield State Journal-Register. The Coliseum, which sits on an early alignment of Route 66 and predates the road, now exists as a sprawling antiques mall. But vestiges of … Continue reading Filmmakers plan documentary on Benld’s Coliseum