Welcome to the Nostalgic Ramber





Hans Jeff Borger is heard on WRGE 97.9 FM in Ocala, FL featuring Christian programming.

"The Nostalgic Rambler" radio show can be heard on Youtube. Just search for Hans Jeff Borger Nostalgic Rambler.





Why a blog? I wrote a book "The Little Grownup: a nostalgic Michigan boyhood" which should appeal to most baby boomers. A mass market book? Well, not yet...but the potential is there! (Be sure to buy it at "finer on line bookstores" everywhere!)

The comments presented in "The Nostalgic Rambler" probably won't be of interest to the masses...anymore. If grandma and grandpa and their friends were still alive, then it would be a different story.

I live in the past. My time warp is a comfortable cocoon even if it sometimes drives my wife crazy. The music of the 1940s and 50s, the stars of those days were big stuff in their day, but are now almost forgotten. Oddly enough, I was born in '64 so those iconic years were for the most part over by that time.

Through "The Nostalgic Rambler" I maybe can help share my love and knowledge for those times and things...all at one time important pieces of Americana but now a bit faded in memory.

The woman who did the blog about cooking all of Julia Childs' French Cuisine Cookbook in a year got a sweet movie deal out of her blog experience. I wouldn't mind that but would be happy to know that you are reading this....and maybe enjoying my time warp, too.



Hans Jeff Borger



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A Visit To Perry Como's Grave













I read somewhere on line that Perry Como's Florida home was purchased by someone who had it torn down to build a new house. Preserving the Como home like Elvis' Graceland apparently never entered anyone's mind....Although Perry is still heard on the radio at Christmas time, his impact on television and his huge recording output is largely forgotten.


On a recent business trip to South Florida I visited the cemetery where Perry and his wife are buried. It's very unimpressive in an average run of the mill graveyard. Perry was supposedly as easy going and as down to earth as he was on TV. Fans leave pennies on top of the grave...supposedly for good luck. I don't think Perry is sending anyone luck from beyond the tomb, but his voice still has that great sound thanks to all of those recordings he made.

If I would be living in the area and had the money, I would have bought the house and preserved it. But then, maybe not. Perry Como never wanted to be in the public eye while he was alive and it's probably better that his house not be on display now either...

Perry's PR man apparently didn't design the grave as it has some cheap looking plastic flowers on it. I would have opted for the single rose which was displayed with class during his weekly TV solos...

Click here for Perry singing "The Way We Were." Perry's upbeat novelty songs of the 1950s are my favorites, but for good tear jerkers my melancholy personality loves songs like this, too. Especially after visiting his final resting place. Sleep well Mr. C.

10 comments:

  1. I agree with you to some degree. I think the message Perry and Roselle leave us with is they were never better than most people. I sat at Perry's grave last week. As I approached the head stone I initially thought how sad that it's so average but this is what Perry wanted since Perry moved Roselle to this location. I was more dissapointed to find fake flowers, I can't imagine his estate can afford to have someone keep real flowers at the site.

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  2. The greatest singer that ever lived such a sad loss, and I really do miss his Christmas specials, the Lord wanted him more than the Earth,GOD bless

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    1. Hi Martyn, apparently there is a cable tv station that has been running Perry's old Christmas specials this year. I have a lot of them on dvd or VHS so it is always nice to watch every year.

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  3. I am 63 and loved Perry Como and all of the singers in that era but I also loved Elvis and the music he help reshape in the 1950s. One thing we can agree on is that the music of today is really bad. We can use Perry and Elvis today in this old world

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  4. I am 63 and loved Perry Como and all of the singers in that era but I also loved Elvis and the music he help reshape in the 1950s. One thing we can agree on is that the music of today is really bad. We can use Perry and Elvis today in this old world

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  5. I am 63 and loved Perry Como and all of the singers in that era but I also loved Elvis and the music he help reshape in the 1950s. One thing we can agree on is that the music of today is really bad. We can use Perry and Elvis today in this old world

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  6. Hi..Always loved Perry Como. As a kid I bought everything he recorded.I tried to sound like him..That was impossible..No one could imitate him. I have the traveling case he used on all of his trips And his wife's jewelry box..My daughters bought them at an auction in Morristown New Jersey many years ago. I would like to sell them as I know someone else would enjoy Them.

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  7. I always liked Perry Como but really appreciated his style as I got into my 30's. I was lucky enough to see the filming of part of his Christmas special done in San Antonio Texas and then my husband took me to see him in person at the Valley Forge Music Theater in PA. He stood right next to my seat and his voice was soooo smooth.

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  8. I like their grave very much. Fresh flowers should be there. I loved his voice was unlike any other. I envy their 65 years of a blissful marriage. Perry you were a one off, I play your songs even now. God bless both of you. Maree

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  9. Hi to concern i worked many years ago at Beverly Hills Hotel in1970s i use to served Perry Como in Room Service alot He was nice Liked to talked alot l liked him

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