OK, So ... Now that I know you're out there ...

So ... I was thinking today about Keely Smith. I accidentally discovered her music when I met my friend Harry from Texas. As we got to know each other, he told me his favorite style of music was an offshoot of Big Band Era music that call "The Rat Pack" style (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and their contemporaries who performed similar types of music). At the time I subscribed to Yahoo music and I found a few "stations" that played that style of music. I found that I really enjoyed it myself!

One of the female vocalists that I frequently heard, sometimes solo and sometimes with Louis Prima, was Keely Smith. She has a very clear voice, an easy style and just a great sound. She came into the limelight when she worked with Louis Prima, and eventually married him. According to what I've read online (I'll find it and cite it soon), he was abusive and the marriage didn't last - but she remained in the music industry, although she did take some time out to raise a family. While she never achieved the fame of Ella Fitzgerald or other contemporaries, she performed for years - and, last I read online, still does. Keely will be 78 on March 9, 2010, according to this Wikipedia article, and still sounds as good as ever.

You can find a few Keely Smith songs in my playlist above - take a little listen!

Here's the latest...

I had a lovely dinner with my sister Brenda, her husband and the kids yesterday for Valetine's Day.  The food was great, the company was fun (including the humans ... the six indoor kitties are always entertaining), and I enjoyed the movie (National Treasure 2).  We played a little bit of Wii bowling - where I was the champ until I faced off with my brother-in-law - but he just BARELY triumphed over my natural talent. ;-)  And, of course, the brownies for dessert - just WONDERFUL... (I love brownies).

Now, there's an odd name for a food, thinking about it... "brownies" - where do you suppose that started?  There must have been other brownish foods by the time they were invented... and wouldn't they be better named "chocolaties" or "fudge cakes" or something like that? Hmm ... bears looking into.

Here we go ... according to several sources, the true origins delightful fudgy cake confection, which those of us with discerning palates consider to be one of the most delicious snacks or desserts known to human kind, are shrouded in mystery.  Nobody really knows who invented them, and the assumption is that the name came from the color of the food, which is classified as a "bar cookie". Check out this article for the whole story...

That's all for now - catch you later!

-- T