Podcast
The Bad Piano Player
Hosted by John Wing Jr. · EN
A weekly musical podcast diving into popular music of the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Big Band Leaders
Aug 5, 202500:38:14Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the Bad Piano Player features Big Band Leaders of the 1940s in a special episode we call "Big Band Leaders". Some famous, some not so famous, songs galore, a tale or two and the usual bad piano playing and oversinging. It's what we do! Tune in and be transported.
Transcribe →Allie Wrubel
Jul 22, 202500:35:44Tap to summarizeSend us a textThe podcast features Allie Wrubel this week. Sax player in big bands, Broadway composer, movie composer, Oscar winner, and all around musical fellow. Tune in for tunes! Stay for the bad piano playing! A virtual tour of the Nepotism Studio awaits the winner of next week's sponsorship contest! See you there, kids.
Transcribe →Benny Davis
Jul 8, 202500:34:40Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the Bad Piano Player goes way back to an obscure lyricist/occasional composer named Benny Davis. Was that his real name? Did he write any famous lyrics? Is he a member of the Songwriters' Hall Of Fame? To answer these and other pertinent (Where is Elroy??) queries, please tune in, music fans!
Transcribe →Grab Bag III
Jun 24, 202500:38:45Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the bad piano player does his third grab bag episode, finding six songs that defy category and are pleasing to the ear and heart, Tune in and be pleased, my darlings.
Transcribe →Baby Songs
Jun 10, 202500:32:52Tap to summarizeSend us a textFor episode 164, the Bad Piano Player celebrates songs with the word "Baby" in the title, or as we quaintly call it..."Baby Songs". Grab your pacifiers, kids, and settle in! Ah one, ah two, ah one, two, three...
Transcribe →Most Obscure Songs
May 27, 202500:41:43Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the bad piano player brings back his favorite theme from last season, with a second go-round of Most Obscure Songs. A little Bowie, perhaps? Some Edward Bear? A dollop of J. Tull, my darlings? Tune in and be dazzled by the unknown.
Transcribe →Peggy Lee
May 13, 202500:39:28Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the Bad Piano Player brings together a superb singer and a master lyricist. The singer is Peggy Lee, and so is the lyricist. And baby, is she gonna give you some fever. In the morning and all through the night. Tune in for the cure.
Transcribe →Dick Powell
Apr 29, 202500:36:18Tap to summarizeSend us a textThis week, the bad piano player features old friend composers and lyricists for songs that Dick Powell, boy singer, sang in the movies early in his career. Later he was the first man ever to play Philip Marlowe onscreen, but in the 30's he was sweet-faced heart-throb tenor Dick, who charmed the ladies with music. We hope you'll tune in and be charmed as well.
Transcribe →Billy Hill
Apr 15, 202500:35:39Tap to summarizeSend us a textThe Bad Piano player celebrates Tax Day with the third of the "Songwriters You've Never Heard Of" episode, featuring composer/lyricist Billy Hill, who wrote more western-style songs than Gene Autry and you won't believe what his most famous song was. Tune in to hear it done by a bad piano player!
Transcribe →Joe Burke
Apr 1, 202500:30:36Tap to summarizeSend us a textApril Fools Fortnight Tuesday begins with our second "Songwriters You've Never Heard Of" episodes with the tuneful Joe Burke. A Tin Pan Alley veteran, Philadelphia born Joe had a bevy of Billboard hits in the 1930s. And an inaugural class inductee to the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Tune in to enjoy the bevy!
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