Bill Radke
Bill is co-host of Seattle's Morning news, 5-9, on 97.3 KIRO FM. Bill is well known in the Northwest as a journalist, author, comedian, and talk show host. Radke started his career at KIRO as an intern in 1983. He recently returned home from Los Angeles.Conversation starters
Most popular
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.Baby it was cold outside in Seattle
April 23, 2012 @ 10:58 am (Updated: 7:38 am - 4/26/12 )
On Seattle's Morning News, we played you some Seattle jazz history -- a recently-discovered 1950s concert recorded live on Jackson Street. That's where Ray Charles, Ernestine Anderson, Quincy Jones and other stars used to perform late into the night. Well, that story reminded me of the old duet "Baby, It's Cold Outside." The version I grew up with was this:
Three and a half minutes in, Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton start bantering about "Jackson Street." When I moved here and heard the Seattle jazz stories, I wondered: is that ...?
Yes, it is. At least, according to this site:
"... enjoy this fantastic 1957 live version of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' from the Orpheum Theater in Seattle, Washington. I think this is a terrific version; you can't help but laugh at Velma and Louis's antics and the audience sounds like they're having a ball, especially when Velma drops the line about "Jackson Street." As soon as the band would arrive at a gig, someone would ask a local for the name of the most dangerous part of town. Velma would drop it into 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' and it always would get a huge laugh from the local fans. As Pops says, 'Been in town two hours and done found out where Jackson street is!' Hilarious."
So it's not like they were REALLY talking about Seattle. It was a fill-in-the-blank road gag. Still, it gives me a little extra kick when I hear this classic.
By BILL RADKE
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.