Sound Beat

The mythical Sirens have long been depicted as tantalizing, seductive, banes to the existence of accursed sailors, enchanted by their fatal song.  The Greeks had them as winged maidens, but somewhere along the way, the meaning shifted: in most European languages, the word Siren translates as “mermaid”. You’re listening to the Green Brothers Novelty band with “Siren of the South Sea”. If the smell of fresh-brewed coffee renders you helpless, you may have run into Melusina today. Starbucks has used the half-woman, half water-serpent’s likeness since 1971, based on a Norse woodcut. Why the nautical theme? Starbuck was the name of Captain Ahab’s first mate in Moby Dick.

The squeaky landing gear gets the grease

There's "hungry" and then there's "Diamond Jim Brady hungry".

You’re listening to the Palestrina Choir on a Victor 78 from 1927 And, you’re on the Sound Beat! The choir is singing the Hymn to Apollo, one of the Homeric hymns: a collection of thirty-three anonymous ancient Greek hymns celebrating individual gods. It’s thought to have been written in 522 BC. Apollo is the son of Zeus, God of the Sun and light. His name was selected for NASA’s third spaceflight program by then manager Abe Silverstein because "Apollo riding his chariot across the Sun was appropriate to the grand scale of the proposed program." Grand scale indeed, incorporating President John Kennedy’s stated goal of “"landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth". And though he would never see it, six Apollo missions would land astronauts on the Moon, with twelve men walking on the lunar surface. And every one of them returning home safely.

The song you hear ”Let Me Call You Sweetheart” by Bing Crosby with Georgie Stoll and His Orchestra was recorded in 1934 on the Decca label. You’re on the Sound Beat. “Let Me Call You Sweetheart“ was originally written by Leo Freidman and Beth Slater Whinston in 1910. The song was a big hit for Author Clough in May 1911 and a #1 hit for Henry Burr and the Peerless Quartet in November 1911 And this version is still popular today. In fact “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” by Bing Crosby was #3 on Apple Music’s top 200 jazz songs in Bolivia on January 27 2019. This episode was written by Ian Coe. Artwork by Omari Odom. Watch a video of their work at Let Me Call You Sweetheart — Sound Beat - Syracuse University Videos

William James Basie got his start in Harlem, but he wasn’t “Count Basie” ‘til he got to Kansas City.

Il Travatore remains one of Guiseppe Verdi’s most popular operas, but it almost had a different name. Two, actually.

Up and Atom! It’s the Music of the Atomic Age, and…

The best thing to happen to campfires since split wood.

The Carter Family’s rendition of "Honey in the Rock", a Coral Record from 1949.

Two keys to any good marriage: understanding and coffee.

  On today’s episode we’re talking electronic music…and the importance of a thorough resume.   You’re on the Sound Beat.   Miklos Rosza had long considered using electronic music in a film. He got his chance when director Alfred Hitchcock and producer David O. Selznick approached him about scoring 1945’s Spellbound. Wanting to add an atmospheric, contemplative air to the piece, he settled on the theremin.   Here’s a quote from Dr. Samuel Hoffmann.   I put down theremin on my card…without thinking much about it. When Miklos Rozsa thought of using a theremin in his score for Spellbound he called the union to see if any players were available. I was the only one listed at that time who could read music.   Before Rozsa’s call, Hoffmann was a practicing podiatrist in the Hollywood area. After the score won an Oscar, Hoffman and the theremin would feature in films like “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “It Came from Outer Space” and more…see the whole list right now at soundbeat.org.   Sound Beat is pr

Why did Governor Dewitt Clinton build a giant ditch across New York state? To get to the other side.

You’re listening to Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians with Coast Guard Forever.

The American B-24 Bomber departed a Libyan Air Base on a bombing raid in April 1943.

One of the most distinctive signature sounds in all of recorded music.

Robert Burns was also known as “the Ploughman Poet” and, in Scotland, simply, “The Bard”.

Billie Holiday was known to record with ease, often needing only one take for her best studio recordings. This tune, however, was a whole different story.

As a musician, Art Tatum was a true original – if a recording sounds like Tatum’s…it almost certainly IS Tatum’s.

Paganini's talents made him a celebrity, but also inspired "devilish" rumors.