Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Gene Marshall: Twilight Rumba, Pt. 1



It took awhile for me to warm up to this circa 1948 ensemble designed by Doug James; but once I saw her in person, I was very glad that I snagged her! For photo number two, I put Gene into a shot with Harry Belafonte at the Cocoanut Grove Club located in the now demolished Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles (insert sigh). From the story card:

As she arranged the flowered comb in her flaming red hair, she thought back to that night five years ago when her life changed forever…

She’d just finished her final set of songs for the cocktail hour and the rays of the setting sun had painted the tropical sky. In the twilight, the orchestra had swung into a rumba. She sighed and turned to go. But she’d found her way blocked by a handsome stranger. “You have the voice of an angel,” he said. She laughed and replied, “I only wish that were true. I took this job becuase they promised me a big executive with GCR records was going to be here, but I guess I’m not going to be discovered after all.” “Ah, but I have discovered you,” he smiled, “and I have no intention of letting you go.” And he hadn’t for not only had they fallen in love, but the handsome stranger turned out to be the recording executive—and soon she was one of the biggest stars in the industry.




See more Gene Marshall & Friends photos at my regular website.

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