Birthday Shout-Out to Marty Robbins
"A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a great American singer-songwriter, entertainer, and NASCAR racing driver Marty Robbins. As one of the pioneers of “outlaw country music,” he released 500 recordings and 60 hit singles from the late 1940s into the 1980s.
He’s best known for the western ballad “El Paso,” and I’m a fan of his interpretation of “Red River Valley.” I play both of those songs in assisted living homes, along with Marty’s “A White Sport Coat & A Pink Carnation”—
...The lyrics portray a shattered young man who was stood up at the prom but, without saying, you know he’s going to bounce back. Marty got the visual for this song after passing a group of teenagers decked out for their high school prom. He zipped off this song in 20 minutes. His original 1957 track is premium country-pop trimmed with doo-wop and rockabilly. His creamy smooth voice owns the story, and his goal was to out-chart his earlier single “Singing the Blues,” which was eclipsed by a competing version by crooner Guy Mitchell. Ray Conniff arranged Mitchell’s international hit, and Marty insisted Ray run the session for his new song. Marty’s instincts were correct—it became his 3rd #1 hit, and it’s still on playlists and soundtracks (it’s also name-checked in Don McLean’s “American Pie”). It’s a fun vocal work-out. If you have prom photos you’d like to share (white sport coat optional), please post. Meanwhile, HB MR and thank you for your great singing and giving us so many songs
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