In The Mood For Music

ECHOES OF THE BIG BANDS WITH MERV GRIFFIN CONJURES UP memories of an era when swing was king and the magic of big band music irresistibly brought people to their feet dancing. Merv Griffin, who once performed as a singer with the Freddy Martin Band, hosts this lively two-hour special that remembers some of the great moments and talents of this celebrated time with film clips of performances by the big bands and their famous singers. Echoes features Johnny Desmond, vocaList with Miller’s Great Air Force Band, in a medley that includes such sentimental standards as “Moonlight Serenade,” “At Last” and “St. Louis Blues.” Other performers showcased include the legendary Cab Calloway, who presents his own unique renditions of “Get Happy” and “Blues in the Night”; Herb Jeffries, who sings “Jump for Joy” and “Flamingo” in a tribute to Duke Ellington; and Helen O’Connell, vocalist for the Jimmy Dorsey Band, who brings her sensual swing to “All of Me” and “Tangerine.”

Also basking in the glow of that sweet swinging sound is Glenn Miller: America’s Musical Hero-the first-ever documentary biography to profile the renowned band leader and his “golden” sounds. This inspiring show traces Miller’s struggle for success an chronicles the extraordinary legacy of music he left behind when his plane was lost at sea in 1944. Interviews with band members, arrangers, friends and other compatriots-including Jimmy Stewart and composer Henry Mancini-add a personal touch to extensive performance footage celebrating the popular creator of a distinctive big band sound. The Unforgettable Nat King Cole recounts Cole’s life and career from its beginning as the son of a preacher in Alabama through his international success as a performer. The special features home movies and film clips of his biggest hits as well as candid interviews with family and friends. By the end of his short life, Nat King Cole achieved something that no other black performer had in that era. His sound was so universal, Cole surmounted the invisible boundaries that restricted most black performers and became a household name across America, and in many homes abroad, by the time of his death in 1965.

Cole’s unique style-his “soft, caressing quality,” as Frank Sinatra once described it-sold millions of records and spawned a rush of imitators. Cole, himself, was very modest about his voice, reportedly once saying, “I can’t sing. I just have style and put it across.” And that sensational style is showcased in The Incomparable Nat King Cole-a “greatest hits” collection of memorable moments taken from Cole’s acclaimed NBC series.

A “greatest hits” collection is also an appropriate description of Victor Borge: Then and Now-a brand-new special that features the contemporary and classic comedy of one of America’s most beloved performers. From the “then” of early television performances, to the “now” of new shows taped last year, Borge’s one-of-a-kind laughter and music illustrate the path his career has taken. Fifty years ago, the classically trained pianist fled the Nazi invasion to arrive in the United States penniless and unable to speak more than a few words of English. In those early days, Borge struggled to learn English by watching movies and memorized his first routine phonetically, performing his act without really understanding English. In this new special, the energetic, irrepressible 83-year-old plays the piano and performs routines from the Golden Age of television. His performances are interwoven with television clips and photographs that chronicle Borge’s life and career.

Relive the music and magic of these legendary entertainers in August-only on Channel 13.

WATCH THESE SPECIALS

ON CHANNEL 13



Echoes of the Big Bands

With Merv Griffin

Friday, August 21, at 8:10 p.m.



Victor Borge: Then and Now

Sunday, August 23, at 7:40 p.m.



The Unforgettable Nat King Cole

Monday, August 24, at 7 p.m.



The Incomparable Nat King Cole

Monday, August 24, at 8:30 p.m



Glenn Miller:

America’s Musical Hero

Friday, August 28, at 8:10 p.m.



(Please check listings tor repeat times.)

Next Month

On Channel 13



The Impossible Dream Come True



Bringing the world’s three greatest living tenors together on one stage was once described as “an impossible dream.” Despite numerous staging obstacles, the now legendary performances of Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti at Rome became a musical event that astonished and delighted the world. Actor Derek Jacobi narrates an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse at the celebrated and triumphant concert that made musical history. Then, stay tuned and experience the electrifying talents of Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti in Concert in an encore presentation of their internationally acclaimed evening of arias and song.

Three Tenors-The Impossible Dream Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti in Concert Wednesday, September 2, on 13



All In The Family



In the ’60s, CBS produced a series of variety shows in which the great Judy Garland attempted a comeback after many years of problems with her personal life. Judy was radiant and never better than when she performed such classics as “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Strike Up the Band” and many others. In this celebrated solo concert, part of that historic series, Judy Garland Sings and each note becomes a personal tribute to the nostalgic, popular songs of show business which she did so well. The musical memories continue when Judy and her then 18-year-old daughter, Liza, team and sing together in the American premiere broadcast of their 1964 concert at the London Palladium.



Judy Garland Sings

Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli at the Palladium

Tuesday, September 1, on 13



(Please check the September Dial for times.)