This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Goodnight everyone, and have a terrific summer weekend!
It's Friday night. Time to unwind with our regular Friday night feature on This Just In.
The weekend has finally arrived.
The sun has set.
The evening sky has erupted.
Let's put controversy and provocative blogs aside for the rest of this work week and smooth our way into Saturday and Sunday.
Tonight, our theme….
We long for it.
We agonizingly wait for it.
It arrives.
But only for a short time.
I swear it feels like two, maybe three weeks.
Tonight, our theme is summer.
If you’re expecting Beach Boys, I’m sorry. None her, though I love them dearly.
No Mungo Jerry or Lovin’ Spoonful either.
But I was tempted.
Think smooth, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Smooth.
We begin with an artist I really admire. Not since Chuck Mangione has a musician so embraced the wonderful flugelhorn.
Here is the talented Rick Braun with a number not to be confused with a 70’s movie.
Next.
Remember the 70’s, the decade that brought us the disco craze?
Everybody did some disco back then. Everybody. Even Sinatra. The exception was probably Elvis.
Despite its detractors, disco was undoubtedly huge. Many artists took an old popular melody, jazzed it up with an up-tempo sound featuring percussion and strings, and suddenly, kids who never heard of Beethoven’s Fifth by the millions were going……wow, cool.
Who’d have thought that one of the greatest composers of all-time would turn away from his standard principles and dip his toes into the river of disco for one of his albums.
Who’d have thought Henry Mancini could be hip and trendy.
In the mid 70’s, Mancini recorded an album that on a disco scale of 1-10 was about a 3 or 4. An original piece, "African Symphony" was released as a single and did fairly well. Every track was a quality composition, embellished with Mancini’s take.
One of them was a great instrumental by the legendary Ramsey Lewis, also made famous by Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Pay close attention to the final few bars where Mancini allows many parts of the orchestra to have a solo.
Ramsey Lewis
No, that's not Henry!
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THAT'S Henry!
Next.
Oh, this movie delved into subject material previosuly thought taboo. But oh, what wonderful lyrics and what a wonderful theme.
It's perfomed quite nicely by guitar talent George Benson.
That’s it for this Friday evening.
Goodnight.
Sleep well.
Have a great weekend.
We close with a 1965 composition by Henry Mayer who did the music and the legendary Johnny Mercer who wrote the words.
Here’s great trivia. Wayne Newton did this famous song first.
A year later, Frank Sinatra included it on one of his albums.
Enjoy the golden age of Sinatra and the warm breezes of the season before they turn to fall.
The album contains, "Summer Wind."
So does this one...
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