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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGRANT, Earl(b 2 Jan. '31, Ideabelle OK; d 10 June '70, Lordsburg NM) Pop singer, organist, other instruments. Organ at age four, played in father's Baptist church, studied at K.C. Conservatory, New Rochelle NY, DePaul U. Chicago, etc. Taught music, joined army, became pop entertainer while serving at Fort Bliss TX; returned to U. of Southern CA as grad student, played local clubs; began recording for Decca '57, top 10 hit "The End' '58. Other minor hits: "Evening Rain' '59, "House Of Bamboo' '60, "Swingin' Gently', "Sweet Sixteen Bars' '62, "Stand By Me' '65. Voice similar to that of Nat Cole, with more husky strength, but the rumour that he was Cole's brother was untrue. "Ol' Man River' big on juke boxes c'60, its easy treatment spoiled somewhat by stiff pop drumming. Consistent LP seller; made more than 50, incl. Nothing But The Blues '59, Ebb Tide '61 (LP said to have sold 500,000; title single said to have sold a million), At Basin Street East '62, Fly Me To The Moon '64, Just One More Time '65. Regular in clubs; appeared in films Imitation Of Life '59, Tender Is The Night '62. Died in crash of Rolls-Royce returning from gig in Juarez, Mexico. |