Johnny Hartman! Geez, Adlabs, pretty classy. The man with the velvet voice. I was in NYC one night many years ago, guest of Warner Brothers Records for a show at "Lush Life", a decent jazz club from that era. Vocal trio called "Rare Silk" was playing -
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-...-life-rare-silk - They were reminiscent of Manhattan Transfer. A&R guys at Warner were interested, as Polydor Records had just released the group's debut album, "New Weave."
So we're broadcast and record company execs, sitting at a nice table in a fine club with a hot new group in the Big Apple. Shoulda been feeling mighty fine but instead, very very down. We had just learned that Johnny Hartman had died that very day. That silky smooth rich baritone voice, stilled.
Rare Silk announced the sad news, and then launched into the great Billy Strayhorn song, "Lush Life", dedicating it to Hartman. It was one of his signature songs, a classic he made his own. Then Rare Silk added a few lines near the end of the song, expressing how great Johnny Hartman was, what joy his singing had brought them, and how much he would be missed. They were beautiful! Super gorgeous harmonies, great voices...Tore the hearts out of everyone in the room.
Man oh man. Sitting in a club named "Lush Life", hearing them sing "Lush Life" not many hours after the most famous interpreter of the song "Lush Life" had died...Unforgettable, moving experience that could only happen by accident and coincidence.
R.I.P Johnny Hartman.
Eugene
