May 8, 2023 is the 78th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the long war in Europe (WWII fighting would continue in the Pacific).  My friend Jimmy McDowell, longtime Indianapolis broadcaster, was a medic stationed in Europe During the War.  He happened to be in London's Piccadilly Circus when news of VE Day broke, so he and his friends joined in the celebration...and it included a very unexpected sight.  My favorite part of a conversation we had in 2015.  Mr. McDowell died in October 2021 at the age of 99.

Happy VE Day! Jimmy Mack Looks Back

It is not overstatement to say that Shirley Jones is one of the greatest entertainers ever in show business.  She was so much fun to talk to, whether it was about how Sinatra walked off the set of Carousel to the Partridge Family to her candid autobiography.  Shirley will be inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame June 20-21 in Indianapolis and Carmel.

Shirley Jones

THE LAST IV - DEBUT ALBUM SOON.

Authentic rock n roll for the people. 

Facebook - The Last IV

Manic Depression

The most famous band of all time plays at Conner Prairie tonight and tomorrow, and a man who met then Major Glenn Miller while stationed in England during the war can't wait to see the band again.

Glenn Miller Orchestra - Then And Now - With Jimmy 'Mack' McDowell

I have been friends with Time For Three for a decade now.  Love these guys like brothers, and am thrilled to get to call them Grammy winners.  Here is our full WFYI interview on them winning a Grammy, and coming back home to play with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - they were artists in residence with the ISO from 2009-2019. Enjoy!

Time For Three: Grammy winners, and coming home to Indy

ROH | "Something for You" by David Rolfe (Adam Cole 3rd Theme Song)

Before Laurens and Lafayette came along, my first draft of My Shot was just Hamilton and an extended 2nd verse from Hercules Mulligan. Here is that demo.

My Shot First Draft

The Indy Diva talks about a phenomenal album of which she a part, "Ask Your Mama", based on the Langston Hughes poem. It is up for 3 Grammys on Monday. Also, you can see Angela perform with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra on March 12 at The Palladium!

Angela Brown: The Indy Diva is nominated for a Grammy, & sings with Carmel Symphony next month

The two men who were among many instrumental in the peaceful march and rally last weekend in Indianapolis talk about the movement, what Black Lives Matter means and doesn't mean, the relationship with police in Indianapolis and how to move forward.

Nigel Long & Rev. Devanta Scruggs; Black Lives Matter in Indy

Fleischmann Yeast Hour, November 9, 1933
Rudy Vallée, Host
Jimmy Wallington, announcer
Guests (in order of appearance)
• Rudy Vallée performs “Dancing Lady” from the MGM picture of the same name.
• Richy Craig, Jr. (1902-1933) singer, dancer, and comedian. He wrote jokes for Bob Hope. Craig died two weeks after this performance of tuberculosis.
• “Orchids in the Moonlight” from the RKO film Flying Down to Rio (low volume)
• George Gershwin performs “Concerto in F”
• Alice Faye performs “Sittin’ Up Waiting For You”
• Richy  Craig, Jr. and Mildred Tully perform a scene from Say It Isn’t So
• Rudy Vallée performs “Flying Down to Rio”
• Kitty Carlisle (1910-2007) American singer, actress. With George Gershwin on piano she sings, “The Man I Love” (1924)
• Rudy Vallée performs Gershwin’s “This Love of Mine”
• George Gershwin medley; he performs “I Got Rhythm” From “Porgy and Bess”. Kitty Carlisle and Vallée duet on “Of Thee I Sing”
• Rudy Vallée performs “Everything I Have Is Yours” from MGM’s Dancing Lady
• Ring Lardner’s short story “The Love Nest” performed by Jean Dixon, Homer Barton, and Harold Vermilyea. Dixon (1896-1981) was an American stage and film actress. She appeared in June Moon (1929) by George S. Kaufman and Lardner. Barton was on Broadway from 1921-1934. Vermilyea (1899-1958) made his Broadway debut in 1917.

Fleischmann Yeast Hour November 9, 1933

Fleischmann Yeast Hour 9 Nov 1933 Rudy Vallée George Gershwin

Longtime media pro in Indianapolis. Currently the executive producer of Daybreak, the morning news program on WISH-TV. Hometown is Trenton, Georgia - and though I now live in the IndyCar capital city, pro wrestling, old jazz, science and baseball are my things.

Time For Three: Grammy winners, and coming home to Indy

Ray Steele