EP 523: Loudon Wainwright III and Vince Giordano Celebrate the Great American Songbook

Loudon Wainwright III is best known as a folk singer and songwriter, but now he is lending his unique interpretation to the music of the great American songbook on a new album that he recorded with big band bandleader Vince Giordano and his Nighthawk Orchestra. They talk about their deep affection for the music of composers like Irving Berlin and Rodgers & Hart and some of their favorite tracks from their album I’d Rather Lead a Band. Loudon recalls fond memories of his father playing these songs on the family record player when he was boy, and Vince remembers the legendary jazz arranger who inspired his lifelong passion for keeping this this music alive. They reveal what they are doing to keep busy now that the pandemic has prevented them from touring and performing and how they find solace and a few laughs during these troubled times in the hopeful music of the Great Depression and the bawdy lyrics of a rather tragic ukulele player who became the voice of Walt Disney’s Jiminy Cricket.

Download or order Loudon Wainwright III and Vince Giordano's wonderful album I'd Rather Lead a Band on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Keep up with Loudon at lw3.com and follow Vince at vincegiordano.com