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Thread: RIP Word Jazz creator Ken Nordine at age 98

  1. #1
    Outraged bystander markwoll's Avatar
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    RIP Word Jazz creator Ken Nordine at age 98

    word-jazz-creator-and-host-ken-nordine-dies

    Ken Nordine had The Voice. He spun these crazy stories to a jazz music background.
    Many of the stories were psychedelic word paintings.
    Sometimes just meditations on everyday things.
    He was also the voice of many famous ad campaigns.
    I spent many nights in the '80's listening to his Word Jazz show on public radio.
    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
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  2. #2


    My grandparents had this record. It creeped me the Hell out, in part because of Ken Nordine’s hypnotic voice. The syrupy nature of Billy Vaughn’s super-square orchestra and chorus kind of exacerbates the effect. Believe it or not, this was a top 10 hit, all six minutes of it!
    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

  3. #3
    Let’s not forget the Levi’s ads he voiced:

    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

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    Parrots Ripped My Flesh Dave (in MA)'s Avatar
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    I remember this damned ad from almost 50 years ago and never knew who the voice was before until I happened across this post.

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    Member FrippWire's Avatar
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    Back in the 80's a friend played me Word Jazz and I instantly recognized the guy's voice as the one from the Levi's commercial. I loved Word Jazz and have been a Ken Nordine fan since. May he Rest In Power.
    Last edited by FrippWire; 02-20-2019 at 05:33 PM.

  6. #6
    All Things Must Pass spellbound's Avatar
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    I have some of his albums. A true artist. Rest in peace.

  7. #7
    little by little, a little later, flibberty jib bum, ba-bibbety bop, flibberty jib bum, ba-bibbety bop

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxukf0IPsME

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by FrippWire View Post
    Back in the 80's a friend played me Word Jazz and I instantly recognized the guy's voice as the one from the Levi's commercial.
    There were a lot of voice artists like that, probably still are today, where the names are not known to the public, but the voices are. People don't recognize the names Paul Frees or Dan LaFontaine, either, but you sure knew their voices when you heard them.
    Last edited by GuitarGeek; 02-18-2019 at 12:36 AM.

  9. #9
    Member Lopez's Avatar
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    I always like his melodic voice and the way it curved around with the music. I have some of his stuff on the old Omni magazine cassette issues. 98? Wow, I thought he had disappeared years ago.
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    Progga mogrooves's Avatar
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    Member Gizmotron's Avatar
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    Oh so sad! He was a legend.

    Word Jazz. What a great concept. They were great shows.

    He lived a long time...rest in peace.

  12. #12
    Member Garyhead's Avatar
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    He was on a lot of the Jim Nayder Annoying Music Show cd's too.
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    Member No Pride's Avatar
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    I did a gig with him once. It was a long time ago and I don't remember much about it except that I was smiling a lot. He was too cool! R.I.P. Ken.

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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    So I've been revisiting Ken Nordine this week, I can't read to his recitations but his voice certainly was a staple of the airwaves when I was growing up.

    I was particularly struck with the instrumental backing on this album, by Fred Katz & his Orchestra. Fred it turns out is that rarity, a jazz cellist. He has a number of albums out that are probably best described as "third stream music," halfway between classical and jazz. Without Nordine's voice, Katz alone is the cat's meow. Just thought I'd share.

  15. #15
    Member Munster's Avatar
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    Sad news. Nordine pushed out quite a few albums. One of his most recent (relatively, as it was released in 1992) was Devout Catalyst, with help from Jerry Garcia and Tom Waits, among others. It can be very funny. Here is Zodiac Uprising.



    Another good one.



    Quote Originally Posted by Progbear View Post
    My grandparents had this record. It creeped me the Hell out, in part because of Ken Nordine’s hypnotic voice. The syrupy nature of Billy Vaughn’s super-square orchestra and chorus kind of exacerbates the effect. Believe it or not, this was a top 10 hit, all six minutes of it!
    This video is unavailable. What is the name of the song your refer to? It sounds interesting.
    Last edited by Munster; 12-19-2022 at 05:55 AM.
    We walked arm in arm with madness, and every little breeze whispered of the secret love we had for our disease

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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Fred it turns out is that rarity, a jazz cellist.
    I wonder if he played on Red. Ooops. Sorry, wrong thread. Wrong date
    We walked arm in arm with madness, and every little breeze whispered of the secret love we had for our disease

  17. #17
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Didn't he do the voiceover for a Levi's television ad in the '70s? I enjoyed Word Jazz on NPR.

  18. #18
    Jazzbo manqué Mister Triscuits's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Munster View Post
    This video is unavailable. What is the name of the song your refer to? It sounds interesting.
    That would be "The Shifting, Whispering Sands."

    Hurtleturtled Out of Heaven - an electronic music composition, on CD and vinyl
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    http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...MCD-spc-7.aspx

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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JKL2000 View Post
    Didn't he do the voiceover for a Levi's television ad in the '70s? I enjoyed Word Jazz on NPR.
    See post #3

  20. #20
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mister Triscuits View Post
    That would be "The Shifting, Whispering Sands."
    Whoa. That *IS* creepy. You say it was a hit? Unbelievable.

  21. #21
    Member Munster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mister Triscuits View Post
    That would be "The Shifting, Whispering Sands."
    Totally bonkers. And a hit to boot. I was expecting Lee Marvin to come in any minute with Wand'rin Star.
    We walked arm in arm with madness, and every little breeze whispered of the secret love we had for our disease

  22. #22
    Jazzbo manqué Mister Triscuits's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Whoa. That *IS* creepy. You say it was a hit? Unbelievable.
    #5 in 1955.
    Hurtleturtled Out of Heaven - an electronic music composition, on CD and vinyl
    https://michaelpdawson.bandcamp.com
    http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...MCD-spc-7.aspx

  23. #23
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    I discovered him years ago and enjoyed his work. One of a kind. Glad he is being remembered.

  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Whoa. That *IS* creepy. You say it was a hit? Unbelievable.
    It blows my mind that in the strait-laced 50s, six minutes of Ken Nordine rambling about skulls bleaching in the desert sun actually got airplay on the radio. One of the weirdest Billboard top 10 hits, file alongside Tom Clay's "Abraham, Martin and John."
    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

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