Re: Artie Shaw

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

Answers for our Little Blackbird:

1) Nope, Artie Shaw did--that is, the instrumental piece of that name, which 
made him a mint.  Cole Porter did write words and music to a song of the 
same title (remember, titles can't be copyrighted); I assume that the music 
has nothing to do with Shaw's (?).  In the segment, I believe Shaw refers to 
having asked Cole Porter, when the latter complimented him on his 
(instrumental) piece, whether that meant he could share Porter's royalties.  
This got a predictable response.

2) So far as I recall, Shaw's perfectionism is mentioned as a factor 
propelling him out of a career in music, but not elaborated on much.  Maybe 
more in the web version; don't know.

--Robert Cohen, who did (dream of ..., etc.)--but on account of her starring 
role in a light, frilly movie called "One Touch of Venus" (based on a stage 
play; music by Kurt Weill, so this again has *some* intersection [sort of] 
with Jewish music)--of which I was just utterly enamored as a boy.  When I 
watched it as a (putative) adult, I understood why Sinatra was so entranced.


>Thanks for the post, Robert. I heard the segment but haven't yet checked 
>out
>the expanded version of the interview on the NPR site.
>
>Just one thing: Artie Shaw recorded "Begin the Beguine" but Cole Porter
>wrote it, no?
>
>Does he talk more about the perfectionism proclivity in the interview? Now,
>that's one thing I can maybe understand...
>
>Sandra
>who never even *dreamed* of being picked up by Ava Gardner
>;-)


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