Music and Lyrics

Spread The Love

 

 

Hi Friends,

 

I was blessed with a good education. When I was a child, I was fortunate to have parents who read to me and encouraged me to read. As a musician, I have been an advocate for using the arts to enrich a student’s educational experience and in particular to teach language arts.

 

In the process, I have followed and supported the development and growth of a stellar Chicago non-profit organization called Reading In Motion. Founded in 1983 by a couple of Chicago musicians who identified a need, they used their creative energies to focus on finding a more effective way to teach at-risk primary grade level children how to read. Their organization has created an innovative curriculum, which uses the arts to teach reading, that has moved it to the forefront of literacy education.

 

I am proud to support this organization and $5 from the sale of every digital album download and physical CD, beginning with the recent release of my new album last September, will be donated to Reading In Motion.

 

We can all make a difference, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Let’s join together and support every child’s need to read!

 

Spread some love, light, and good cheer for the holidays and keep some for yourself!

 

When you order a physical CD, you also will receive an immediate digital download of the album.

 

Click on the link below to order your music!

 

http://www.lindatate.bandcamp.com

 

Click on the link below to learn more about the organization!

 

http://www.readinginmotion.org

 

Best wishes,
Linda

 

 

 

Tulip or Turnip

 

Comparing things that don’t usually go together can create an interesting concept for a lyric.

 

Here’s a song Duke Ellington wrote with Don George as a vocal feature for one of his band members, Ray Nance, who was originally hired to replace trumpet player, Cootie Williams.

 

As an aside, in addition to being a singer, dancer, and trumpet player, Nance was also an accomplished violinist whose jazz violin playing made a unique contribution to the Ellington sound. Ray Nance was a consummate performer and his antics on stage earned him the nickname “floor show.”

 

Follow this link to learn more about Ray Nance:

 

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=9741

 

Follow this link to learn more about Tulip or Turnip:

 

http://www.allmusic.com/song/tulip-or-turnip-t2696476

 

I recorded Tulip or Turnip on my third CD, We Speak Duke. Check it out here.

 

Tulip or Turnip by Linda Tate

 

Tulip or Turnip

Music by Duke Ellington, Lyric by Don George

 

Tulip or turnip

Rosebud or rhubarb

Filet or plain beef stew

Tell me, tell me, tell me, Dream Face

What am I to you?

 

Diamond or doorknob

Sapphire or sawdust

Champagne or just home brew

Tell me, tell me, tell me, Dream Face

What am I to you?

 

Do I get the booby prize

Or will I be the hero?

Am I seein’ blue skies

Or, Daddy, is my ceiling zero?

 

Tulip or turnip

Moonbeam or mud pie

Bankroll or I.O.U.

Tell me, tell me, tell me Dream Face

What am I to you?

 

© Leeds Music Corporation, New York, NY, 1946

 

Follow this link for more copyright and song information:

http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=full=3100001~!170657!0

 

I’d love to hear about a song you like that’s funny and/or compares dissimilar things.

 

 

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