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SIMON JEFFES
(PENGUIN CAFE
ORCHESTRA)
Modern-classical composer, producer,
and arranger Simon Jeffes was born in
Sussex, England, in 1949. At the age of
12, Simon discovered guitar at boarding school, later moving on to piano and
music theory. In the early ’70s, Jeffes
conjured up The Penguin Café Orchestra.
Collaborations include Brian Eno, Rupert
Hine, Yvonne Elliman, Malcolm McLaren
and Sid Vicious, whose version of “My
Way” includes Jeffes’ string arrangements. Jeffes, who passed away from
a brain tumor in 1997, leaves behind a
handful-plus of releases in his garden
of sound. Revisit Jeffes’ “Zopf: Surface
Tension,” from the epic and tender 1976
Music From the Penguin Café.
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Modern Classical
ARTIST: Simon Jeffes
(Penguin Cafe Orchestra)
SONG: Zopf: Surface Tension
ALBUM: Music From
the Penguin Café
MUSIC
HUFFINGTON
02.09.14
DAVE APOLLON
FLOYD DIXON
Master mandolinist Dave Apollon
(a.k.a. the World’s Greatest Mandolin
Virtuoso), born in the Ukraine in 1897,
was a gifted child who taught himself
the instrument. By the age of 14, the
charismatic lad led his own ensemble.
Amid the massive slaughter of World
War I and the Russian Revolution, he
served with the mandolin by his side.
In 1919, after traveling the world, he
ended up in New York City and began a
20-year run in vaudeville and then hit
the nightclub circuit. In 1937, Apollon
married show dancer Danzi Goodell.
Throughout the ’30s, he made private recordings and appeared in films,
eventually signing with Decca Records
in 1941. During the ’40s, Apollon
worked on Broadway and in Hollywood.
His collaborations included legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt and
soundtrack arranger Jimmie Haskell. In
1956, he released his first album, and
performed in Vegas until his retirement
in 1963. The marvel passed away in
1972. Rediscover Dave Apollon’s “2nd
Hungarian Rhapsody,” from The Man
With the Mandolin: Complete Recordings, 1930-1956. A nostalgic journey
to somewhere old and new.
Jump blues originator Floyd Dixon was
born Jay Riggins Jr. in Marshall, Texas,
on February 8, 1929. As a boy, Jay
taught himself piano. By 1942, the Dixon
family moved to Los Angeles, where
he worked as golf caddie, studied hotel
management, and seriously considered
a career in football. But with music so
entrenched in his spirit, he took the artist’s road. In 1948, thanks to bandleader
Johnny Otis, Dixon recorded his first side,
“Houston Jump.” By 1949, he enjoyed a
regional hit with “Dallas Blues.” This hotshot’s handshake was a gospel-bluesbayou-swing fest on the eve of rock ’n’
roll. Dixon was also a deep influence on
the great Ray Charles. Collaborations include Leiber & Stoller, Robert Cray, Ruth
Brown and Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers. Accolades include the Rhythm and
Blues Foundation’s 1993 Pioneer Career
Achievement Award. Dixon passed away
in 2006. Remember him with the 1950s
recording “Please Don’t Go,” from the
Chess Blues (Box Set) collection.
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Folk/Classical
ARTIST: Dave Apollon
SONG: 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody
ALBUM: The Man With the
Mandolin: Complete Recordings,
1930-1956
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Blues
ARTIST: Floyd Dixon
SONG: Please Don’t Go
ALBUM: Chess Blues (Box Set)