Artist: Earl GrantLP: Earl After Dark
Here's some more great organ music for early on a Monday morning—though according to my radio alarm clock it's somehow already Tuesday. Earl Grant would be 78 if he was alive today, but, sadly, he died in a car crash in New Mexico when he was only 39 years old. More info on the talented Earl Grant can be found here and here, and notes from the back of his 1961 "Earl After Dark" LP are included here:
A remarkably versatile musician and a dynamic showman,
Earl Grant can with equitable ease and facility perform at
the piano, at the organ, or as a vocalist.
This album showcases the instrumental side of Mr. Grant's
talents. We hear him, at the organ, performing a collection
of show tunes, movie themes, evergreens and new melodies...
a variety designed to suit many tastes and moods and to
give full rein to Earl's imaginative artistry.
Introducing each melody by playing it "straight," Earl
then goes into the colorfully inventive improvisation for
which he is so well known. you will hear a wistful interpretation
of Moonlight In Vermont, with a tonal effect suggestive of
strings and reeds; All the Way, the hit tune from "The Joker
Is Wild"; the bluesy Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You; Raymond
Scott's musically witty Mountain High, Valley Low; Duke
Ellington's classic Mood Indigo; Old Devil Moon, from "Finian's
Rainbow," played in a delightful beguine tempo; the "South
Pacific" show stopper, Bali Ha'i; Cole Porter's sophisticated Get
Out of Town; Then I'll Be Tired of You, played at a bright and
breezy pace; Victor Young's bouncy A Hundred Years From
Today; the "My Fair Lady" favorite, On the Street Where
You Live; and Illinois Jacquet's Robbin's Nest.
EARL AFTER DARK is a musical thriller. Soundwise it is a
presentation of startling depth and clarity.
Earl Grant can with equitable ease and facility perform at
the piano, at the organ, or as a vocalist.
This album showcases the instrumental side of Mr. Grant's
talents. We hear him, at the organ, performing a collection
of show tunes, movie themes, evergreens and new melodies...
a variety designed to suit many tastes and moods and to
give full rein to Earl's imaginative artistry.
Introducing each melody by playing it "straight," Earl
then goes into the colorfully inventive improvisation for
which he is so well known. you will hear a wistful interpretation
of Moonlight In Vermont, with a tonal effect suggestive of
strings and reeds; All the Way, the hit tune from "The Joker
Is Wild"; the bluesy Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You; Raymond
Scott's musically witty Mountain High, Valley Low; Duke
Ellington's classic Mood Indigo; Old Devil Moon, from "Finian's
Rainbow," played in a delightful beguine tempo; the "South
Pacific" show stopper, Bali Ha'i; Cole Porter's sophisticated Get
Out of Town; Then I'll Be Tired of You, played at a bright and
breezy pace; Victor Young's bouncy A Hundred Years From
Today; the "My Fair Lady" favorite, On the Street Where
You Live; and Illinois Jacquet's Robbin's Nest.
EARL AFTER DARK is a musical thriller. Soundwise it is a
presentation of startling depth and clarity.
[ Earl Grant: January 20, 1931 — June 11, 1970 ]
What was never published was that Earl Grant and his twink boyfriend both died in the car crash. Earl drove a beautiful new Cadillac but was broke at the time of his death.
ReplyDeleteFascinating. Grant's family probably hurriedly buried the twink boyfriend beside the road before authorities arrived.
ReplyDeleteHow did you find out?
I interviewed Earl's former long time manager. He also said that Earl was always splurging on clothes, cars and traveling in style - so much so that he was always broke and had no savings. He was fabulous though, wasn't he?
ReplyDeleteHe was—and now I like him even more! I'll have to post some of his other records, I've got a bunch and they're all terrific.
ReplyDeletethanks again for the inside scoop.