Subscribe to theDick and Kiz Harp: Down at the 90th Floor
Original Airdate: November 19th, 2007
Dick and Kiz Harp were a husband-and-wife, piano-and-vocals duo who ran their own nightclub (converted from a warehouse and called “The 90th Floor,” after a lesser-known Cole Porter song they performed) in Dallas, Texas at the end of the 1950s. They’ve developed a cult following among jazz-vocal aficionados on the basis of two obscure LPs. The Harps, influenced by artists such as Sylvia Sims, Anita O’Day, and Dick Marx’s Chicago trio, came up with their own sound—a blend of cabaret, torch song, and Midwestern camp—riding strongly on Kiz Harp’s magnetic stage presence and slightly hoarse, soulful voice (a listener described her as “Jeri Southern smoking two packs a day”). Their career ended suddenly and tragically in 1960. We’ll hear music from both of their albums (available again at 90th Floor Records) and we’ll talk with Bruce Collier, the founder and owner of 90th Floor Records, who recorded both Harp LPs.
Air date: November 24, 2007
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Katie Says:
I’m interested in purchasing a Dick and Kiz Harp cd, but can’t seem to find one. Any recommendations? (Amazon has one, but it’s from a secondary source and I’m a bit nervous about that.)
Posted on: December 2nd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
David Says:
Katie,
You can purchase both CDs by the following the link for 90th Floor Records in the post above–it’s the website for Bruce Collier, the original label owner and interviewee in the program. Both CDs are great, although you might want to try the first one (simply titled DICK AND KIZ HARP AT THE 90TH FLOOR) if you want to get only one right now (Bruce knocks the price for each down several bucks if you buy them both at once). If you heard a particular recording in the show that you wanted to get, you can check the playlist–it lists which CD each song came from.
Hope that helps!
David
Posted on: December 2nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Candace Says:
When I first started dating my husband, he had the album of “Dick and Kiz at the 90th Floor”. It was winter, we had roaring fires and he would play this record for me. We were in our early 20s and it sealed the deal.
Posted on: May 26th, 2008 at 2:28 am