New Year's Eve

The Orioles were very popular when I was a kid. They have had a long but tumultuous career, disbanding and reorganizing several times. The original members were Sonny Til, Alexander Sharp, George Nelson, Johnny Reed and Tommy Gaither. They were one of a very large number of black singing groups, including the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers who managed to gain tremendous popularity among whites. Black singers have always been an important part of America's popular music scene. Only since the counter-culture of the 60's (and especially since the 1980's) has the image of black popular music been degraded, as singers and songs became oriented towards hatred, misogyny, anti-white violence, and the arrogant sense of entitlement.

Here's a "golden oldie" from better times. Both Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson have good versions on YouTube as well.