Glen Glenn RIP

Glen Glenn, one of the last of the original fifties rockabilly artists, has passed on at the age of 87. Originally from Missouri, Glen moved to California where he performed as a duo with guitarist Gary Lambert and toured with the Maddox Brothers and Porter Wagoner. His breakthroughh came in early 1958 with 'Everybody's Movin', a song which has become something of a rockabilly classic and covered by the Stray Cats and Hank C Burnette, among others. Other recordings for the Era label included 'One Cup of Coffee', 'Would You' and 'Laurie Ann', with 'Goofin' Around' being released on the new Dore label shortly afterwards. Glen's career was interrupted by army service and a final recording, 'I'll Never Stop Loving You' under the name of Glenn Trout, proved to be his last. Following the rockabilly revival Glen appeared at many festivals, including Hemsby, but I never got to see him perform live. The first ever Ace LP 'Hollywood Rock 'n' Roll' included six Glen Glenn tracks and there was a later Ace album dedicated to his work which featured 13 tracks.

Other recent music deaths include that of songwriter Bobby Weinstein, aged 82, who wrote or co-wrote (with Teddy Randazzo) such hits as 'Pretty Blue Eyes' for Steve Lawrence, 'Goin' Out Of My Head' and 'I'm On the Outside Looking In' for Little Anthony and the Imperials and 'It's Gonna Take A Miracle' for the Royalettes. Bobby sang with Teddy Randazzo's revue band and later became president of the National Academy of Popular Music. Other recent deaths include Los Angeles jazz and blues singer Barbara Morrison. Also Chicago disc jockey Purvis Spann, whose was hired for radio station WVON by Leonard Chess and whose career stretched over 60 years. The Vinyl Word raises a glass to them all.