Nostalgic Rambler: October 2012

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

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Dreams Come True In Blue Hawaii

Aloha! The Nostalgic Rambler has been on vacation lately, therefore the lack of a new entry here. We are back from the Hawaiian Islands and were very enthralled by them. Musically speaking people have been fascinated with the islands for years. Since I couldn't take you all with me, here is a bit of Hawaiian flavor tainted a bit from the mainland influences.

Back in 1959 Billy Vaughn recorded an album of Hawaiian songs called "Blue Hawaii" which has always been one of my favorites. Besides the exotic gal on the cover, he presented snappy saxophone laced renditions of such songs as "Aloha oe" and "My Little Grass Shack." The album sold 500,000 copies and stayed on the charts for almost a year.

Perhaps the most famous Hawaiian artist of the Nostalgic Rambler era was Don Ho, who released his famed "Tiny Bubbles" in 1966. This one hit wonder lead to his own tv show and a years long audience love affair with his Hawaiian shows to which tourists streamed.

Elvis is still strongly remembered for his "Blue Hawaii" which apparently was filmed in part at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu. While we were there his presence was felt in the gift shop where you can even buy a replica of his Hawaiian shirt used in the movie.

The ukelele has been a beloved sound of Hawaiian music for quite a while. It seems to be enjoying a resurgence lately. On our cruise ship trip I took several lessons and at our final performance the stage was packed with ukelele-ists!

Aloha everyone!