Continuing my “break song” theme this another tune I played many times in night club lounge lizard bands. It was written by Ben Tucker as an instrumental. Bob Dorough wrote the lyrics and it became a Top 40 hit for jazz singer Mel Torme in 1962.
Tucker was an entrepreneur with 2 radio stations in Savannah, Georgia.
In the 90s, I was in Savannah (on AFM business-that’s another story) and I discovered his music bar, called Hard Hearted Hannah’s. It was daytime, I wish I could have heard him there. I remember seeing some music memorabilia on the walls. I recognized his name from seeing it on the “Real Book” transcription (Comin Home Baby) that use to get played on gigs and academic jazz improv classes.
My guess is Mr. Tucker earned some publishing royalties from his tune. It was also recorded by Herbie Mann.
I miss those Smelly, Smokey gigs from the past. They were really the best music school lessons in my life. I could really go off on how they brought soul and emotion into the music. But I’ll button it up. Enjoy