Tribute to Willis Conover VOA Jazz Hour

[slajda4012]

Proč nejsou k disposici jazzové resp.swingové nahrávky vč.komentáře Willise Canovera?

[777ALS]

This clip header is subtitled "The man who helped end the Cold War with jazz, the ultimate American musical expression...” I was a teenager in the 1950s in Leningrad, USSR. They tried to jam the VOA. My older brother and I knew no English and in spite of all that we enjoyed jazz. Fast forward 55 years in USA. I was driving my car with the radio on and suddenly I heard that catchy tune so familiar from my childhood. It was a joy to meet that tune again and to learn its name "Take the A train".

[999ONLYJAEGER]

ty ..this is nostalgia...after 25yrs..it is[was] tough to get jazz music in INDIA , in smaller cities...my life saver used to be jazz hr...but it used to be aired for 30 mins out here...kids surely are very lucky now !!!

[allensteinerr]

In April 1965 (yes! sixty five!) I queued up for five or six hours to buy tickets for Ella Fitzgerald concert in Warsaw, Poland. About the end of concert Oscar Peterson began with well known Duke's chords. Great storm of applause... Than Ella passed through at least a dozen of most popular jazz themes and finished with "Take the A-train". It was great.......

[Ephistrophy]

In England, as a kid in the late 1950s and early 1960s, I listened to Willis Conover every night, Monday through Friday. I couldn't afford to buy jazz records and jazz wasn't well represented on the BBC, but Jazz Hour on the Voice of America! And that wonderful enunciation of Conover's! It's still magic to hear his voice and the Duke's recording.

[vova47]

Thank you! I used to listen to him faithfully as often as I could. It was a different era- so many great musicians, so much great music

[Musicseeker100]

Thanks for the memories. I grew up in Zambia in the 1970's and listened to the Voice of America frequently, the VOA Jazz Hour was my favorite show and I remember Willis Conover's voice to this day and listening to the "Take the "A" train" signature tune. There was many a night I spent in bed under the African skies listening to Jazz music and dreaming of this place called America. And now I am here in the U.S.!

[aksa8c]

The voice that has echoed around in my head since the 70s when I discovered the Conover magic on VOA.

[sweetviolet79]

if anyone is interested, willis conover has a fan page on facebook now & it's starting to get noticed within the jazz community.

[napobo3]

Unforgettable Willis Conover...

[Arikisei]

god bless mr.conover,god bless voa,god bless the u.s.a.

[swaddywell]

I have fond memories of Willis Conover. I'm English and I remenber vividly listening to his VOA broadcasts at the end of the second World War. The music I heard on his programmes inspired my lifelong love of jazz and swing. It makes me feel old to think that he was your great grandpa, sweetviolet!

[sweetviolet79]

thats my great grandpa. I wish I had known him... instead of known of him.

[crooner2007]

Thanks for your comment and it's a pleasure to meet you!

[sweetviolet79]

thank you and your welcome :) I think my grandpa was pretty darn inspiring. I was he wasn't such an obscure figure. I really think he deserves to be known more for what he achieved.

[shkolyar65]

Please, tell me if you can, where is your grandpa buried. I'd love to visit his grave and pay my tribute to him.

[sweetviolet79]

he's buried in arlington national cemetery in virginia. I would have to as where exactly the plot is.... would you be able to find that out yourself or would you like me to ask and find that information for you?

[kickass5]

Thank you so much. I hope I'd be able to find your grandpa's grave myself next time I visit DC. It would interest you that last year in my former hometown Tbilisi, Georgia local jazz musicians and fans celebrated a Mass dedicated to Willis Conover in one of the churches there. Also, check out a wonderful article by Lester James about your grandpa. God bless you.

[kickass5]

@sweetviolet79 Radio Free Europe aired an episode dedicated to the memory of Willis Conover onMarch 20, 2010. They played clips of his broadcasts and recalled that i was the closest anybody could imitate your grandpa. His memory lives on!!!

[charmingguy78]

Really someone special at the right place...

[shkolyar65]

Your grandpa has done more than all the world diplomats and governments in making the world a better place. I first heard Willis Conover in 1957 and he's been my idol since then. Apart from giving us the best music of the 20th century, he also inspired me to dedicate my life to learning English.

[Baylines]

It must have been in 1972 or so when I played with the radio and heard Willis Conover on VOA shortwave for the first time. His voice struck me. I can safely say that it was his "Jazz Hour" that started my life-long love for Jazz music. And for America.

[j222ess1]

@sweetviolet79 Interested in your comment. Willis is my Great Uncle, pleased to meet you!

[charmingguy78]

I remember it very well,his broadcact was on short waves.He is trully icon.

[crooner2007]

Oh yeah, definitely, the finest baritone radio announcer ever. And a walking jazz encyclopedia to boot!

We were fortunate the VOA aired him for so many years!