Sherry’s Cherries: Stranger in Paradise

When I was ten years old, I was asked to write a paper on the most influential person of the 20th Century. I chose George Gershwin. I was in love with Rhapsody in Blue and played it all the time. I am still in love. 

George Gershwin was a genius. When he left this world in 1937, at age 38, his family, friends and fans were devastated. Although his creations of Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess, Cuban Rhapsody, An American in Paris and numerous other songs would always be with us, but . . . one can only imagine what he would have done if he had more time. 

His brother Ira, his lyricist, went on to write music with Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, and others, but George died too soon, and nothing could change that. One of George’s best friends, Oscar Levant, was an uber talented pianist. Indeed, Oscar’s rendition of Rhapsody in Blue is as good as George’s. As was his love for George. But Oscar had a love hate emotion. To quote him, when he first heard Gershwin’s music as a child, he felt jealously and revenge. He wanted to be the composer that George was. He was in awe. He ultimately became a friend of the Gershwins.

In truth, Oscar did a lot of composing in his career and his song, Blame it on My Youth, became a standard. In the mid-1940s he was the highest paid pianist. Oscar’s wit and witticisms were well known. When Elizabeth Taylor married for either the 5th or 6th time, Oscar was quoted as saying Elizabeth was “always a bride and never a bridesmaid”. Oscar’s acerbic, humorous, and self-deprecating charm was so infectious, he appeared on many talk shows, and he always entertained the public. My daughter, so much younger, to this day loves Oscar Levant. He also left his mark on this world.

On our next Sherry’s Cherries, we pay tribute to George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, and Oscar Levant. I imagine them all together now making music. When my time comes, I am headed there.

With this music, I am, indeed, a stranger in paradise. To all composers, lyricists, singers, and musicians, I salute you. I have never played an instrument, but I have sung your music and from the bottom of my heart, I love you all.

You will hear from singers like Johnny Mathis, Carmen McRae, Josh Groban, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme and others. The show begins with Tony Bennett and Andrea Bocelli singing Stranger in Paradise and closes with George and Ira’s Our Love is Here to Stay. sung by another wonderful duo, Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence.

These are some of my all-time favorites. Enjoy!

With a Song in a Heart.

Sherry

Show Times

Sunday, January 15th 4 pm Eastern Time 1 pm Pacific Time	Saturday, January 21st 8 pm Eastern Time 5 pm Pacific Time
Tuesday, January 17th 2 pm Eastern Time 11 am Pacific Time	Wednesday, January 25th 11 pm Eastern Time 8 pm Pacific Time
Thursday, January 19th 10 am Eastern Time 7 am Pacific Time	Friday, January 27th 5 pm Eastern Time 2 pm Pacific Time