Jim Stryker Speaks

Not a music entry this time, but sort of a "spoken word" one, by one of the most popular "models" of physique magazines of the mid-1950's and early 1960's, Jim Stryker. The very amateur "dialogue" (and delivery) was fairly suggestive, considering the times, and I think it was certainly intended for the listener to "read things into" what he says. Stryker was mostly known for photos of him in "Young Physique," "Demi-God," and Champion publications. One interview I've read with one of his photographers said Stryker was bisexual, and that he lost track of him in the 1970's, when Stryker had a wife and family. So, this was a six-minute talking "ad" for his modelling work, probably from the late 1950's...I've not pinned down the "date" for it yet.

Click to Listen

 

Above, January 1962, Demi-Gods

Magazines below from 1960-1962

Wade Murphy - "(All I Want Is a ) DILF for Christmas"

Here's an unusual gay Christmas video I found on YouTube, by Memphis resident Wade Murphy. He has Twitter and Tumbler followers and puts out amusing videos on his YouTube channel. I think this one is quite good, he has a nice singing voice, and....well, the subject matter is quite different. The title is "(All I Want Is a) DILF for Christmas." Okay, I had to google to find out what a D.I.L.F. is...and it's a noble gift idea....:)

Video Channel                  Twitter                  Tumbler

Billy Banks - Oh, Peter, You're So Nice

Billy Banks (1908 - 1967) was an American jazz singer popular from the 1930's through the 1950's, though he is perhaps best known for the folks who at different times happened to be in his bands, like Red Allen, Tommy Dorsey, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, and more. It's also been reported that he dabbled in female impersonation. But the song that Really caught my attention was the one with man-on-man lyrics, "Oh Peter, You're So Nice," from 1932. Who could resist a guy singing to his, or someone else's peter..:)

Click to Hear "Oh Peter"

Click for Much More on Billy Banks

 Above, sheet music for the song, below CD compilation

Richard Hefner - Girls & Boys

Hey, Y'all....you know, there just are Not enough lyrically gay country songs, so I've got to spread the word about this one. Richard Hefner wrote and sings it, and it's called "Girls and Boys," and not only do I think the song is terrific, and the video, but the reason behind it is as well, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to organizations benefiting youth at risk. They even did a video behind the video.

Facebook Page 

Amazon Link to MP3 

Rod McKuen Sings about 1960's French Drag Queen Hustlers

The title sums it up as succinctly as I can, though I perhaps took some liberties saying "drag queen hustler." Hustlers who used to wear dresses describe it better. In the 1960's Rod McKuen was one of America's best selling poets, and his LPs of poetry and songs sold millions. A 7-CD very deluxe box set was released in 2006 called "If You Go Away: The RCA Years 1965 - 1968," and if you have around $200 it can be yours.

But I'm not hawking CDs, I'm writing about one very unusual previously unreleased demo track the box set contained. It was called "The Money Boys of Cannes" and  was written by McKuen, and he and Glen Yarborough recorded it, in 1966. It's been quite unusual for McKuen to address in song the subject of being gay at all, not to mention those gay hustler boys.

Click to hear "The Money Boys of Cannes"

A friend sent me this track today, and by a bit of serendipity I had just this week received a magazine I had purchased with an article about that very same thing: "Les Boys of Paris" with the subtitle "The Sodom of the Seine is the New Playland of the Gay, Gay Set."

The article is quite biased, implying that the female impersonators of Madame Arthur's and Le Carrousel were hustlers instead of the professional entertainers they were, but that didn't make good copy in 1957.

 

Article found in "She," a pocket magazine (4"x6") from December 1957

 

 

The article mentions the famous Paris clubs, Madame Arthur's and 

Le Carrousel, and I have extensive sections on them on my website.

Madame Arthur's                        Le Carrousel

Neat...the French site YAGG picked up this entry

OutPostChoir - Be Out, Sing Out

Now, here's an inspiring & innovative project, OutPostChoir. It's an online LGBTQ choir where folks from all over, even where there are no choruses near them, can add their voices, taking a pride through unity approach and really doing it, globally. Imagine the good feeling participating in this could give an LGBTQ person "stranded" far away from an actual community.

Above is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir performing the song "You Make Me Proud," and below see how the vision has evolved to include more and more choruses and individuals, a growing work of art. Click to View the Video.

 
 http://www.outpostchoir.com

Facebook Page

 
You Make Me Proud.org

 The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus has recorded a charity single of the song

 

Haberdashery, A Synthpop Delight

"Haberdashery is electropop that incorporates multi-layered cinematic sounds with pop sensibilities." Well, that's what the website says and I think that sums it up perfectly. What is not immediately obvious is that it's not a band, it's the work of one person, Chicago artist and musician Stephen Pearlman. He writes, arranges and records all of his music, and he's been quite prolific. 

Since his debut release in 2004, he's released five full albums, and over twenty singles...with the singles having multiple mixes each. And I love the designs of his album covers, which have a very distinctive style.

 

 Here's the cover of his latest CD, "Tonight the Angels," and then a few videos:

 

 

http://haberdasheryinfo.com/

 Would you like some free downloads from his Christmas EP? 

He keeps adding tracks to it, and now there are six.

http://music.haberdasheryinfo.com/album/christmas