This is a lifelong journey that began during my teenage years, back when this past was still only three decades distant and the 20th century was still on.

As of late, I find much joy in discovering what the singers and musicians looked like. I'm very familiar with the songs, but I had no idea that some of the singers were this young!

This is Paul Anka at age 17, giving a live concert to teenagers...

In one of my 1960 Congo stories (Miles Of Bad Road To Léopoldville), there's a teen girl listening to that song along with her twin sister in the first chapter. Later on, they argue over him being Canadian or American. He's from Ottawa.

Betty Clooney (1931-1976)

This is exactly what I wanted my future wife to be like when I was 15. Her voice was nothing short of amazing!

I casted her as "Betty" in "Monks In Heaven" --- a plane hijacking that occurs in a flight from San Francisco in 1957.

Here are two versions of one of my all-time favorite songs--- Sentimental Journey, by the Ames Brothers, and by Ruth Brown. There's no doubt I'm going to feature this song in a future film-noir themed story! I love these vocal harmonies combined with such jazzy musical arrangements.

[vile8r]

Love your taste in the classics, HistBuff!

Love your taste in the classics, HistBuff!

Thanks vile8r!

This song takes me to a special place, somewhere deep under the bustling surface of car trafic, somewhere quiet where I'm listening to their voices in a cafe, located on a street where the buildings are made out of red bricks and a Studebaker is parked near a De Soto.