The Soundtracks of Our Lives

I suppose it's true that music 'soundtracks' are significant when Americans recall historical events, which impacted society and ultimately our lives. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Dr. Martin Luther King's name became entwined in the 'Civil Rights' movement. On December 22, 1964, Sam Cooke released his song heralding 'A Change Gonna Come.' The prohibition-bootlegging history of the 1920's is underpinned by 'soundtracks' of songs that encouraged the 'Flappers' to 'Charleston.' I can personally recall the voices of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore Rosemary Clooney and Vaughn Monroe who burst onto the pop culture scene catapulted from The Big Band era. The World War II generation danced to the Dorsey bands and The Glenn Miller Band while 'bobbysocksers' did jitter-bug dancing to the Andrew Sisters' 'Bugle Boy of Company 'B.'

During my own 1950's, teen years, we slow danced to music from artist such as Sonny James, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Debbie Reynolds, Kay Starr and Patti Paige. We embraced groups such as The Platters, The Everly Brothers, and the Four Lads. We even 'Cried in The Chapel' with The Orioles. We kicked it up a notch with Elvis and went to The Hop with Danny and the Juniors. We went to Blueberry Hill with Fats and checked out Mabelline with Chuck. We got crazy doing The Hokey Pokey, The Bunny Hop and Mexican Hat Dance. We did The Twist with Chubby and The Stroll with The Diamonds. The Hit Parade, American Bandstand and Soul Train were weekly staples.

CNN has embarked on an American historical musical review series. I'm sure that many people will particularly enjoy those 'Oldies' to which THEY relate.

If you tune in please note one constant thread through the decades of music. There was always fashionable young women intent on enjoying themselves and flouting conventional standards of behavior and the 'cool' spats wearing, pegged pants or Zoot Suited studs standing nearby was 'gawking' at the gals.

      (Touch)
Let The Little Girl Dance