[Tidbits] Legend's Scarecrow

Let’s do the scarecrow first. It’s a brooch. It’s French. It’s 18
karat gold. It’s enameled in multi-colors. It’s gorgeous. It’s worth
around $800.00. And if you want to know more about scarecrows … go
to Tidbits Archives and find article #380 quaintly entitled “The
Scarecrow”… and you will learn more than you ever thought you
wanted to know about this little fellow.

That said… let us speak of The Legend… the owner of the above
mentioned golden scarecrow. Is she a she or is he a he… that is the
question. Don’t want to give it all away just yet. So we will call
this person Legend… a rather quaint and apt moniker… dontcha
think? Shall we proceed? Shall we play “Who is this person?” You can
send me your guesses… I’ll give you the usual yup or nope … and
I’ll post the answer next week.

Legend was born in Virginia… the year was 1917. Alas… Legend was
orphaned while still quite young and moved to New York and was raised
by an aunt.

The year is 1934. Someone dares Legend to enter an amateur talent
contest at the Apollo theater. Legend is going to do a dance. But
when Legend gets on stage… disaster hits… and Legend is frozen in
place. The skies could fall… the earth could split… the very
devil himself could reach up and grab Legend’s ankle… no way was
that dance going to be performed. But the M.C. insists. Do
something. Anything. And so Legend opens a mouth wide and begins to
sing Connee Boswell’s song: The Object Of My Affection.

Legend is a hit. Legend carries the day at the Apollo. Legend wins
first prize. And the legend of Legend begins. Legend soon comes to
the attention of swing bandleader Chick Webb who… after some
reluctance hires Legend. During the first performance… Legend wins
over the audience. Three years pass by and Legend suddenly gives
Chick Webb his first hit… born of a nursery rhyme created to cheer
the bandleader up during his stay in a hospital. The song: “A Tisket,
A Tasket.” When Chick dies… Legend becomes leader of the band.

And so it continues. Legend records the Songbook Albums… each album
devoted to a major American songwriter the likes of which include
Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and Ira Gershwin who at
one point said he truly didn’t know how good his songs were till he
heard Legend sing them.

By now… Legend is a legend and is considered one of the most
talented artists of the 20th century. Legend’s awards are too
numerous to mention… except for the Society of Singers Lifetime
Achievement Award which was subsequently named --as an honor–after
Legend. Legend died in 1996 at 78 years of age… and there is no one
out there who breathes our carbon based atmosphere who has not heard
of this singer. As to the golden scarecrow… a part of Legend’s
jewelry collection… it is a definite worth-a-look to see. Who
woulda thunk it. From a scarecrow to some jewelry to a Legend. Life
is marvelous… is it not? Anyone out there care to take a guess as
to Legend’s identity?

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits…may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
Current Tidbits… and then click on it in order to view Legend’s
French Brooch Scarecrow in 18 karat enameled gold.

And there ya have it.
That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark