Category: Music

Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued

David King Dunaway, a professor at the University of New Mexico, has done a lot of historic research about Route 66 and helped others do the same with his oral history workshops. He also produced the excellent the "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" for radio. We've met Dave at just about every significant … Continue reading Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued

Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66

Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill performed an intimate concert in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, partly as a fundraiser to renovate the auditorium for the city's public schools and partly to receive the 2007 Oklahoman of the Year Award from Oklahoma Today magazine. Here's the interesting item about the show, straight from Gill's … Continue reading Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66

Grooving with the King

Here's a slightly different version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Nat King Cole, a decade after he hit the charts with it. This is off King's all-jazz "After Midnight" album in 1956. This take on "Route 66" also features excellent playing by Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet John Collins on guitar. In this sound … Continue reading Grooving with the King

Two guitar heroes

Here on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," you get not one, but two talented guitar-slingers in Popa Chubby (the bald, portly one) and Arthur Neilson. Great stuff.

Big Friendly Jazz Orchestra

BFJO is based in Japan, and does a version of "Route 66." Apparently a guest pianist sat in during this session (you'll see him later in the video), but the regular pianist is pretty good, too.

Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour

The "cowboy jazz" band Cow Bop is doing another Route 66 Challenge tour, from Chicago to Los Angeles starting May 12. Cow Bop has done two other Route 66 tours for charity. It says on the band's Web site: Not willing to rest on the laurels of their past trips, they are once again proving … Continue reading Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour

Notes from the road

A few things that should be of interest to most roadies: Roadside America has revamped its Web site. Not only did the purveyors of roadside oddities give it a spiffier design, but there's a new blog, more animation, new tools and more videos. Route 66 roadie Mark Potter reports that the Hot Dogs and Hot … Continue reading Notes from the road

Clearer Cheetahs

Most of you have already seen this music video. But this high-quality clip of the Cheetah Girls' version of "Route 66" came over on YouTube today. The sound is clearer, and you can see the details in the film -- including a bunch of "Cars" movie highlights -- a lot better, too.

Flying fingers

This performance by Hironobu Naganuma of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" is extraordinary. It's technically difficult, but it seems like he's having fun. Also, it grooves like mad.