Sunday Morning Post (V.1, #19) - Shine On, Mr. Redbone
The world
lost a truly innovative talent this past week with the passing of Leon
Redbone. I think I discovered him like
most Americans: hunched over his guitar,
legs crossed, eyes concealed behind sunglasses, head topped with a panama hat
and singing low and soft tunes that only our grandmothers would know on an
appearance of the (then) truly unique Saturday Night Live. The show’s producers seemed to want to break
all the rules of late-night television with its cutting-edge satire
interspersed with acts that wouldn’t get an even break anywhere else.* Leon Redbone fit the bill to a tee!
The hair
placement on his face – mustache and goatee – reminded one of Frank Zappa. The resemblance ended when you compared the
energy level of the two performers:
manic for Zappa, low, low, low key for Redbone.
Audiences loved it and we wouldn’t have him
any other way.
Warrior
Queen and I were privileged to see him perform at the (old) Birchmere in
Alexandria, VA sometime in the 90s.
The old Birchmere was a storefront music venue with a small stage and
agreeably intimate setting. This was
perfect for Redbone. My middle-aged
memory has failed to remember anything in particular about his performance that
night. On the other hand, I don’t
remember anything bad happening, so we must have had a good time.
I thought it
would be appropriate to display two sides of his talent, live and in the
studio. The live performance, Shine on
Harvest Moon, gives you a feel for the genre he revived and made his own. His live performances enabled him to vary the
tones and pitches in his voice which could not be heard in a studio recording.
I also
selected a studio version of Ain’t Misbehavin' because, as I recently realized,
my blog audience are suckers for a show tune.
Ideally, I would’ve liked to have found a live performance of Ain’t
Misbehavin', but the best I could find was his appearance on SNL. I would’ve had to post the entire episode
just to see Mr. Redbone’s wonderful performance.
Sorry, but I ain’t in the mood to sit
through Chevy Chase today.
Please
enjoy!
*I recall
another act on a season one episode with a woman reciting poetry! On live television! I kid you not!
(Thank you
for reading and thank you, Mr. Redbone!)
posted by todd gunther | 8:54 AM
5 Comments:
Oh dear, I hadn't heard this sad news. RIP. I had a girlfriend once who was a huge fan of his and introduced me to his music.
Never heard of this chappie. Prob'ly one of those (too many) whose reputation didn't travel beyond his native shores. But boy, he sure has a voice that's easy to listen to - varying the melodic line, and inserting beats (probably improvisatory) - without mangling it. Quite hypnotic. I'm impressed. Our loss.
Never heard of him either, but I love that hat!
And I agree with Raymondo...I could listen to him again
I too have never heard of him/his works.
I usually discover these things after they die.
I thank you for your pointing out; you did a fine job in homily
Thank you Debra. He had retired a few years ago for health reasons and lived in the county next to ours.
Hi Raybeard. Warrior Queen hinted that he had he didn't travel outside the US. I think it is the same reason why Britain's Kate Bush is not well known over here.
Thank you, John. His fashion was very much a part of his act.
Thank you, Spo. There are many of his performances waiting to be discovered on Youtube.
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