5.0 out of 5 stars
HEARTSTRINGS....., February 12, 2012
This review is from: Singer & Songwriter (Audio CD)
GENE AUSTIN. Poignant..melancholy..heartwrenching strains underneath this casual, relaxed singer. He was one-of-a-kind.
No wonder couples in love married early listening to "My Blue Heaven" coming from a 27 year old who seemed to long
for the "Molly and me..and baby makes three" kind of love the song spoke of. The song, was a throwaway at the end of a recording session when Austin fished it out of a wastebasket, grabbed a janitor, an agent and a leftover cello player and recorded it after hours. 83 million copies later, Austin remains as one of the first honorees in the N.A.R.A.S. Hall of Fame (the Grammys) and was referred to by Tony Bennet as the "Grandaddy of all crooners". His fans and friends included Elvis, Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Kaye Star, Mae West..a list too long to mention and every singer from Sinatra to Stevie Wonder has recorded his "Lonesome Road". No one since has captured the same kind of underplayed longing that women in particular hear in his voice. In love and married five times, all ex-wives attending his Memorial spoke lovingly of him. His life portrayed on TV was just a shadow of the real life of a man in search of love, battling his own sadness. When friends asked "How are you Gene" the answer was always "fair to middlin'"..or "It's all down hill and shady". A beautiful, warm and wonderful voice tinged with the blues he learned as a struggling young boy in Minden, La. A film of his life was planned and his choice for himself was Bobby Darren. His star remains in the Hollywood walk of fame. His voice is timeless.
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