Jack Benny - Rock & Roll Pioneer

[Roman]

Forget Ed Sullivan, forget Alan Freed, forget Bill Graham, Murray the K, and Dick Clark. The original rock & roll promoter was none other than Jack Benny. Yes, our own Jack Benny.

I was listening to an early 1940s broadcast and, to my surprise, I heard Dennis sing Blueberry Hill. Then on a 1950 show, Vivian Blaine and the Sportsmen sang I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine, one of Elvis's first hits. Now, to be sure, the musical arrangements on Jack's show for Blueberry Hill and I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine don't quite rock like Fats Domino's and Elvis's, but then they were recorded several years before their more famous cousins.

Who'd have thunk it that all those years Jack was making fun of Phil's corniness, he was actually helping to create rock & roll. That Jackson was a sly one!

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

I really enjoy the arrangement for "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" by Vivian Blaine and The Sportsmen. When the Sportsmen take over their part of the song, they are simply CRUISING. Makes me proud to be a fan

[Jhammes]

Well, I hear that MTV is having an anniversary, they hit the airwaves in 1981 (Boy did they ever!).
Jack always did keep up to date with his show, and specials. Had Jack (like Bob Hope and George Burns) made it to 90 years, which would have been 1984, why not a Jack Benny special centered around his making a music video?
The song? "When you say 'I beg your pardon' then I'll come back to you"!
Like the Gregory Peck "New Look" special, the setup would be Jack visiting the home (or homes) of whoever was popular back in the early 1980's. As Jack makes his pitch, there would be the usual constant interruptions.
So, who would Jack visit?
How would the music video be set up?

[LLeff]

So, who would Jack visit?
How would the music video be set up?

Devo would say, "Jack, 'Whip It' was inspired by our reaction to your song."

[Yhtapmys]

So, who would Jack visit?
How would the music video be set up?

Devo would say, "Jack, 'Whip It' was inspired by our reaction to your song."

Mary (to Devo): You needed to whip it some more.
Jack: Now CUT THAT OUT!

Yhtapmys
"Drive your blues away!"

[shimp scrampi]

I think it would be really funny to have Jack walking around being tormented (a la the "Switzerland echo") with the infamous MTV premiere song of "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.

NOW CUT THAT OUT!

Don't worry, Jack, you had 15 years of great TV to the contrary!

[Clyde]

Based on the 'early stars' of MTV, here's my two-cents worth:

(1) Jack in a cameo in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Want to Have Fun"

(2) "Who's Going to Drive You Home" by the Cars could of had a funny tie-in with Jack.

[Maxwell]

What was that video that Janet Jackson did several years ago with Cab Calloway and Cyd Charisse? I can see Jack in that one complete with violin, glasses, and deadpan expression as he plays.

[Jhammes]

The Janet Jackson video was titled "Alright" (1989). Along with Cab Calloway and Cyd Charisse, the video also featured The Nicholas Brothers! Awesome video: Jack would have been great!
How many remember that Milton Berle appeared in the 1984 "Ratt" video,
"Round and Round"? (Uncle Miltie's nephew was the band's manager at the time) Berle appeared briefly in a dual role: as "himself" and naturally, as his female counterpart!!!
Imagine, a time when you could watch music videos, and not have to chase the kids out of the room. Ah, them were the days!

[Jhammes]

(Jack Benny visits the home of the Wilson Sisters)

Jack: Thank you for having me over. You know, I really have a lot of respect for your work.

Ann and Nancy Wilson: Thank you, Mr.Benny.

Jack: Your music is so beautiful, and so intelligent, too.

Ann: Why, Thank You!!

Jack: Yes, it's so important for the young people to understand banking, and money matters.

Nancy: Banking, Mr. Benny?

Jack: Why, yes, your song speaks to the Heart (silly laugh)...sorry... the heart of financial planning...

Ann: Oh, Mr. Benny, there's a misunderstanding...our song is about love...about a relationship...

Jack: Relationship?

Nancy: Yes, Mr. Benny...the lyrics are, "how do I get you alone..."

Ann: Not, "how do I get you A LOAN..."

Jack:...oh...

[Maxwell]

Semi-related to this thread because it involves Jack's actual promotion of early pop-rock: Tonight (8/13) WWME-TV (Channel 23 in Chicago) will be re-running Jack's show with Bobby Rydell. If you happen to be in Chicago or one of 'burbs that has WWME (Me-TV) on cable or satellite, the show is on at 10:00 p.m. CDT.

[Jhammes]

(The home of Debbie Harry: Jack Benny and Debbie Harry walk inside)

Jack: Thank you for such a pleasant lunch. And it was so nice of you to pick up the check!

Debbie: Your welcome, Mr. Benny. Actually, the waiter arrived, you went through your pockets for ten minutes, I really had no choice.

Jack: Hmm...

Debbie: Actually, I would be delighted to record your song! It would give me "Rapture"...

Jack: Oh, good, good...I've been looking for just the right person, someone with, maybe, just a little edge, but still honest and sentimental, don't you know.

(Band members walk in; a guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist)

Debbie: Well, Mr. Benny, you know show business. There is always some showmanship, some exaggeration, but I have always found it is really best to just be yourself!

Jack: I agree, and you certainly are a very thoughtful, gentle person
...who are these people...?

Debbie: Oh, that's part of our group...we're rehearsing later on.

Jack: So, you WILL do "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon, Then I'll come Back To You"? You won't forget, now will you?

Debbie: I promise that "One Way Or Another, I'm gonna find you,
I'm gonna getcha!"

(Jack smirks at camera)

Band member guitarist: Debbie, are you sure we have to? "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon" makes me want to...

Debbie (sharply): AHH, SHADDUP!! I'M THE LEADER, WHAT I SAY, GOES!!

Jack: My goodness...

Debbie: (sweetly smiling): Now Mr. Benny, don't mind him...we're planning an overseas tour...nervous tension, you know..

Jack: Oh, I know all about nerves... people say I have the biggest nerve
(weak laugh).

Band member bassist: Debbie, I don't see how "Yakety Sax" fits our image...

Debbie (sharply):THAT'S ANOTHER BENNY! THIS BENNY IS CLASSY, FAMILY MATERIAL!! GET A LIFE, THEN GET SOME BRAINS ALREADY!!

Jack: Oh, dear...

Debbie (smiling sweetly): What can I do with them, Mr. Benny? HE became interested in music through a distant relative...

Jack: Really?

Debbie:Yes...I think his name was... Remley...

Jack:Oh,...oh,...well, since you all here, why not just record my song now? I have my violin with me...

Debbie: Mr. Benny, we can't do that today... that would have to be later...

Jack (disappointed):I know, I know..."don't call us, we'll call you..."

Band member keyboardist: Oh, it's not that... you see, we still have to rehearse our songs for the tour...

Band member guitarist: And we have to record telephone and satellite interviews, with TV hosts and radio disc jockeys, for each city on the
tour...

Debbie: That could take all day, maybe all night...but Mr. Benny, I am DETERMINED to record your song...it WILL happen when we get back
to the states!

Jack: So, what you are saying, is ...

Debbie: "CALL ME"!

(Jack turns, smiles at camera)