In the 1960s, many jazz musicians found club gigs harder to find. Many top players joined TV studio orchestras or went to work for Muzak. Others took teaching jobs. And a good number performed at weddings.
Back then, kids often were dragged along to the fussy marriages of uncles, older cousins and friends of parents. The big joy for us wasn't the open bar, since we couldn't drink. Instead, it was ditching imposing parents and running around the reception hall.
For three big hours, usually in the summer, pre-teens were able to operate on their own as parents relaxed, drank and danced the cha-cha-cha (quite expertly, I might add).
Here are 12 sticky songs that I remember best from '60s summer weddings that typically featured a jazz saxophonist and rock-sounding guitar. Of course, if you recall ones I've neglected to mention, please add 'em to the Comments field:
Back then, kids often were dragged along to the fussy marriages of uncles, older cousins and friends of parents. The big joy for us wasn't the open bar, since we couldn't drink. Instead, it was ditching imposing parents and running around the reception hall.
For three big hours, usually in the summer, pre-teens were able to operate on their own as parents relaxed, drank and danced the cha-cha-cha (quite expertly, I might add).
Here are 12 sticky songs that I remember best from '60s summer weddings that typically featured a jazz saxophonist and rock-sounding guitar. Of course, if you recall ones I've neglected to mention, please add 'em to the Comments field:
- Watch What Happens
- Girl from Ipanema
- Call Me
- Summer Samba
- Proud Mary
- The Twist
- I Got You Babe
- More Today Than Yesterday
- The Look of Love
- The Spanish Flea
- Alley Cat
- Hokey Pokey
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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