Published: May 10, 2008 05:16 pm            

VASICEK: Wowed by Kokomo

I have long marveled at all the great events or personages that come to Kokomo. Exploding courthouses, earthquakes, tornadoes, entertainers, American Idol competitors, Chinese acrobats – on and on it goes. In the political realm, Kokomo recently created national attention because Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton visited the City of Firsts.

Although I think such visits from high-ranking politicians are wonderful (and speak highly of our community), a recent surprise made me realize just how good we have it in our fair city. Or, maybe I should say, “How good I have it.”

My friends know that Ed Vasicek is crazy (and I mean crazy) about musical groups that perform the sweet or hot jazz from the 1920s and early ’30s. My friend Bill Tandy has the disease even worse than I do – but he doesn’t have to just listen – he can play it all from memory!

In 2008, music from around 1928 is a specialized market indeed. Not many people sing, “We’re in the Money” or dance the Charleston these days. Younger generations would not recognize names of the era’s great composers, like Irving Berlin, Harry Warren, Cole Porter, Walter Donaldson or George Gershwin. Singers? Would they know Rudy Vallee, Al Jolson, Helen Kane, Ruth Etting, Paul Whiteman or The Rhythm Boys (a trio which included Bing Crosby)? Probably not. Maybe Fannie Brice. Maybe.

Nonetheless, between the many CDs I own, Kokomo Community Concerts, Bill Tandy, The Kokomo Park Band, and The Men of Note, I get my music “fix” in significant doses.

Although I do not savor Swing music as much as I do the popular jazz of the earlier era, I do enjoy it, especially when a live band is involved. So when the Harry James Orchestra strolled in town, Ed and Marylu Vasicek trucked down to the high school auditorium. I was the guy shimmying in the foyer (just kidding).

The bandleader made an announcement that made me feel like Fred Sanford: fending off “the big one.” He said, “My wife normally sings for our band and travels with us; however, on this tour we recently played in Hong Kong, Russia, and will be going to San Francisco next. It was a bit too much for my wife, so we found an exceptional singer from New York City, Miss Barbara Rosene.”

My wife and I stared at one another. I was in shock and unbelief. Barbara Rosene is arguably America’s leading vocalist of 1920s and early ’30s music! She wowed the crowd crooning those Swing songs (even though they originate from a later era than her specialty).

I have all five of Rosene’s CDs, and have played them significantly more than any other in my music collection. She is by far my favorite living singer and my favorite female singer of all time. Better than Annette Hanshaw, better than Ruth Etting – just the best.

Back in the early part of this decade, when Rosene first surfaced, I e-mailed her and suggested she promote her music through a Web site. She asked me for any marketing ideas, and I offered a few insignificant ideas; additionally, I have reviewed her CDs for a number of Web sites. In the last couple of years, Rosene has made a name for herself, and PBS radio even did a series of interviews with her (to hear them, log on to www.barbararosene.com).

To my surprise, when Marylu and I chatted with her during intermission, she remembered me and gave Marylu a big hug, thanking me for the help I had offered. We will cherish the autographed program brochure!

Here is the point: I never thought I would see Barbara Rosene in my entire lifetime; she is headquartered in New York. But, if you live in Kokomo, it seems that everyone comes to you! Not only Barrack and Hillary, but even Barbara!

Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.

        

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