Bruce Adler---Sad News

For those of you who might follow the playlists on Sunday Simcha I am sorry to say that I was informed last evening of the demise of Bruce Adler. Too late for me to commemorate the sad event on this week's program since it was already recorded. Next week I do plan to devote the last half of the program to Bruce Adler. I do hope you tune in at 10 AM Eastern time.

Mr. Adler was a brilliant star of both the Yiddish Theater as well as Broadway (i.e. American musicals). The son of prestigious Yiddish performers and related to many legendary artists in the genre he performed since his earliest childhood years with some of the legends---Molly Picon, Irving Jacobson, etc; He was also the recipient of Drama Desk Awards for some of his work in the Broadway arena.I was delighted to have met him a number of times and amazed at his versatility. The last time I saw him perform was doing a Cole Porter Musical in New Jersey where he resided until a few years ago. He was also a guest on WFDU a number of times before I hosted the current program.

He will be sorely missed by those who appreciated his great talent and, mostly, by his family, since he recently was blessed with the birth of a child.

The clip you will see below is just what one might call the tip of the talent iceberg. It is from the Cole Porter Musical "Anything Goes" which I had the delight of seeing him in a number of years back at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. That is Chita Rivera with him.

Seeing him backstage afterwards I was enthralled by the warmth and sincerity of this man. Unfortunately I do not have a video to place here showing his Yiddish talents---tune in to the program on August 3 and you will hear some of that.

Bruce Adler was 64.

CALYPSO--Not the Boat

TRADITIONS is, as you know, a "folk" music show. Folk encompasses so many genres and is not relegated to just our nation---or our singer/songwriters.

Reggae is an off-spring of Calypso, as you may well know. You may also know that Calypso had a large political content---Harry Belafonte not withstanding. Each year in Trinidad (the home of Calypso) there is a wonderful contest of Calypso music performers during Carnival. There are performers with amazing talent and names---some long gone now---Lord Invader, Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow, and so many more.

If you check the videos on the right and also on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER you can see more samples of their work.

Now---your input is needed. On TRADITIONS --do you think a segment of Calypso to add to the other features---you know, The Dave Miller segment (Thrills of The Hills, Tops in Pops, etc;), Novellas in song in about 5 minutes, this would be something you would like to hear---some great rare recordings that preceded our current political songs?

Please e mail me at wfdutraditions@yahoo.com if you have a thought on this. You can also leave a comment here.

Check out some of the videos and enjoy some of the music and also do not forget to join me this coming Sunday when Roy Zimmerman joins me--Roy Zimmerman---a great satirist and raconteur.