I've Got a Guy in Kalamazoo cover, 12 y.o. Canen
I recorded this song (Kalamazoo) that Barry Wood sang in 1942 (you can see him on YouTube, with other recordings of his), and it is my tribute to him – that’s why I named this really really really small EP of two songs (this and “Ain’t Misbehavin’”,) “Tribute”. If you want to listen to Barry’s version, copy and paste this url:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2bRFgHlHo8
When I was 10 ½ I started to sing some old jazz songs that I found and liked (no one else in my house listened to music much.) When my dad told his sister that I liked to sing and was singing these kind of songs, she told him about his great uncles who sang and played these songs professionally in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. He had always heard about these uncles, but hadn’t really paid attention to the details, so he called his Aunt Inez in Louisville, Kentucky to find out more and she told him about my great-great uncle Barry Wood and his brother, Barney Rapp.
Here is some history I found on Wikipedia about Barry and Barney:
Barry Wood was the lead male vocalist on the NBC radio show, Your Hit Parade, in the early 1940s, and the immediate predecessor to Frank Sinatra. In 1941 he introduced and recorded Irving Berlin's "Any Bonds Today?" (I actually have a photograph of him with Irving Berlin!) and "Arms for the Love of America”. In 1942 he recorded "We Did It Before (And We Can Do It Again)”, which became a hit wartime anthem, and was later used in Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoons. After Your Hit Parade, he had his own show on NBC from 1943 to 1945, with Patsy Kelly as co-star. He went on to produce the Kate Smith Show.
His older brother, Barney Rapp, had a jazz band called "Barney Rapp and his New Englanders".
He launched some leading artists, such as The Clooney Sisters (Rosemary and Betty), and Doris Kappelhoff, who he suggested take the name Doris Day (you can find Uncle Barney on YouTube with Doris Day) after hearing her sing "Day After Day”, recording on RCA Victor and Bluebird.
Written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
1942, RCA Bluebird, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, Tex Beneke lead vocals
This song spent 19 weeks on the Billboard charts, including 8 weeks in 1st place.
I am so lucky to have been able to sing with these amazing people:
Anna Coogan (my mentor, voice teacher, and producer)
Michael Stark (piano)
Brian Wilson (percussion)
Brian Dozoretz (upright bass)
All at Electric Wilburland, with Grammy-winning engineer, Will Russell
And videos by Rachel Ferro.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
I got a gal in Kalamazoo
Dont want to boast but I know shes the toast of Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
Years have gone by, my my how she grew
I liked her looks when I carried her books in Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
Im gonna send away, hoppin? on a plane, leavin? today
Am I dreamin? I can hear her screaminR (Zoo, zoo, zoo, Kalamazoo)
K (K)
A (A)
L-A-M-A-Z-O
(Oh, oh, oh, oh what a gal, a real pipperoo)R(Were goin? to Michigan to see the sweetest l in Kalamazoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
(Kalamazoo!)
Songwriters
WARREN, HARRY / GORDON, MACK
Published by
Lyrics Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
