Stories behind the GRAMMY-winning soundtrack of HBO’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’
Web Exclusives! Read interviews with Kathy Brier and Stephen Derosa and Vince Giordano.
RELATED: VINTAGE SONGS ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY
RELATED: THE SOUNDS OF BOARDWALK EMPIRE
CLICK HERE TO VISIT AC WEEKLY'S 'BOARDWALK EMPIRE NOTES' PAGE FOR INTERVIEWS, UPDATES, AND MORE
It’s no surprise that Diana Krall — whose sultry voice, good looks and evocative piano playing made her an instant star in the jazz world beginning in the 1990s — has always had one foot in the past and one foot in the present.
Among the genres of music A Night at the Speakeasy embodies are country (catapulted into popularity in the mid-1920s by the Grand Ole Opry radio broadcast, which originates from Tinnon’s home town of Nashville, Tennessee) and gospel, also made widely popular by radio in the 1920s.
The fifth annual AC Cinefest, presented by the Downbeach Film Festival, will feature Robert Downey Sr. in addition to Terry Winter, award-winning creator of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, and actor Peter Dobson.
"The game has changed quite a bit. Things have gotten a lot more violent, a lot more competitive, and Nucky has sort of had to up his game as well in order to survive. "
"It’s almost foreshadowed in the pilot when Jimmy tells Nucky: 'You can’t be half a gangster anymore,' and I knew that at one point Nucky would cross that line and fully become a gangster."
From Nelson Johnson and the original book to the Grammy-winning soundtrack, interviews with the cast and executives of the HBO show set in Atlantic City and the real stories behind the drama series.
The Atlantic City Ballet’s two newest productions, 'Caught Up in the Swing' and '7 Sins.' will be featured as double-header productions at three southern New Jersey locations — Rowan University’s Wilson Hall’s Pfleeger Theater (Saturday, March 17, starting 7pm); the Ocean First Theater in Manahawkin (Saturday, March 31, 7pm); and at Richard Stockton College’s Performing Arts Center (Thursday, April 19, 7pm). Both productions are family friendly and appropriate for all ages.
"The ending caught me by surprise even though I know the history to which it's adhering. I thought it was such a bold and dramatic move. You sort of figured the series was going to be about these two characters and then one of them dies suddenly at the end of season two."
Plus Atlantic City Restaurant Week preview, Drew Toonz and bandleader Vince Giordano on 'Boardwalk Empire' soundtrack winning a Grammy.
Justified and True Blood actor Stephen Root will appear on Boardwalk Empire starting in season three as "recurring lawman," according to Hollywood Reporter. Root will play "Gaston Means, a former swindler and murder suspect who now works for the Department of Justice."
'The whole world now will start listening and really finding out how great the music of the 1920s is. It brings it up to the forefront.'
New York big-band leader Vince Giordano talks to Atlantic City Weekly about working on HBO's Boardwalk Empire and its GRAMMY-nominated soundtrack.
"Eddie lived in a kind of musically optimistic 1920s place even though he had a shitty childhood. His parents died when he was young but his grandmother raised him and he was little and scrawny so he got beaten up a lot. He learned to make jokes so he could avoid getting beaten up, so from then on he realized this singing and dancing thing could work."
"When I recorded the first two songs I got to record with the band, which I prefer — in the same room, we did it live. Coming from a musical theater background, I prefer to sing live because there's just this synergy when you have a band playing behind you."
Plus DrewToonz, the Album of the Week (The Roots), and music history exhibit at WheatonArts in Millville.
Rothstein’s precise role in the matter has been argued for decades, as the related legal proceedings (plus actions taken by Major League Baseball) served more to obfuscate than clarify.
"I wasn’t the only critic that wrote that there is nothing new on broadcast TV that’s as good as Boardwalk Empire. It used to be that cable wouldn’t counter-program against broadcast TV, but in the last few years they’ve gotten stronger and tougher and more arrogant."
In real life, Nucky Johnson, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk emperor during the 1920s, did eventually marry a former showgirl and actress, a local woman named Flossie Osbeck. But that didn’t happen until one day before Johnson began serving a four-year prison term for tax fraud in 1941. There’s little historical evidence to support the fact that Lucy is patterned after Osbeck.
The famed seaside resort that is portrayed in HBO's hit drama series Boardwalk Empire celebrated the show's second season premiere on Sunday, Sept. 25, in a number of ways over the weekend.
“[Empire’s] helped remind people of what a colorful history we’ve had as a city, and helped bring these things back into focus for some people. And I think the fact that the series is very well regarded only helps.”
Plus Atlantic City Ballet set to celebrate 30 years; DrewToonz on 'Livin' de Life' and the Album of the Week.
After retiring as a professional opera singer, Anthony Laciura figured he’d channel his energies into helping budding operatic stars hone their craft ... Then came a call from the office of the director of the planned HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire'
Boardwalk Empire picked up a couple more awards last night from the Screen Actors Guild. The SAGs are the most prestigious awards next to the Oscars, since the SAGs are voted on by a performer’s peers.
In a “news” box on the upper right side of the Archeophone Records home page, there’s a list of the songs played thus far in the first two episodes of HBO’s 'Boardwalk Empire,' set in 1920s Atlantic City.
Early in the premiere episode of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, a crowd of dapper Atlantic City movers and shakers, partying well into the night in a spiffy supper club, make a familiar countdown, cocktail glasses held high...
“So she sings it the way Sophie Tucker would have sang it? That’s good. It was the most unusual style [of singing] that she had. She had a staggered style of singing."
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1. Al Motorola said... on Feb 9, 2012 at 09:00AM
“Love the show theme song to Boardwalk Empire! Although initially dubious because it seemed incongruous with the show and era, the theme song grew on me - almost like the theme from the Sopranos! I now find the match of the visuals from the opening credits and the theme song fantastic together. Congratulations to the show on the nomination and hope they win the Grammy.”
2. Carol Hughes said... on Feb 9, 2012 at 10:13AM
“The theme song of Boardwalk Empire has NOTHING to do with the Grammy nomination. It is not on the CD and luckily Vince and the Nighthawks were not apart of that sound. The music that has been nominated is a compilation of beautiful renditions of popular songs from the 1910s and 1920s. Many of the songs were accompanied by contemporary singers to make a truly delightful CD. Best wishes to Vince Giordano and the team!”
3. Jim H. said... on Feb 9, 2012 at 05:25PM
“what a fabulous story behind the scenes of the music of Boardwalk Empire - so true, it's what really makes the show the great thing that it is. Love the interviews...can't wait till season 3!!!”
4. Russ Mason said... on Feb 9, 2012 at 10:43PM
“I have known Vince for twenty years, and I remember how he struggled to keep the Nighthawks going during the 90s and later. At last he and his band have finally gotten the spotlight via Boardwalk Empire. Bout time.”
5. jeff toler said... on Feb 13, 2012 at 10:21AM
“Way to go Vince........I hope you are finally getting the recognition you deserve.........we miss ya @ the Atlanta Jazz Party.......tell your pretty lady I said hello......hope to see ya soon.......Jeff & Gail”
6. Anonymous said... on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:24PM
“Congrats to all involved!! Stellar soundtrack..love every second of it. Can't wait for Volume 2 !!”
7. John W said... on Apr 13, 2012 at 08:55PM
“Listen to Some o' These Days and you will hear where Sting got his Police song, So Lonely.”