INSPIRED BY THE SHADY DELL, YORK, PA, AND DEDICATED TO ITS OWNERS JOHN & HELEN ETTLINE
AND TO MARGARET ELIZABETH BROWN SCHNEIDER, NICKNAMED "THE OLDEST LIVING DELL RAT"


Sunday, April 18, 2021

Honoring Margaret on Her 109th Birthday









"A rose by
any other
name..."


This is an
important
date on the
Shady Dell
calendar.







Our dear friend
Margaret Schneider


...who for years inspired us as
"The Oldest Living Dell Rat"
...was born April 18, 1912,
109 years ago today.






Margaret's father built the
Shady Dell and the family
became its first occupants
when Margaret (right)
was one year old.







To celebrate Margaret's
birthday this year,
I posted five songs
I think she'd enjoy.
Perhaps she listened
to a few of them in
her early years.




 AVALON JAZZ BAND 
 ft. Tatiana Eva-Marie 

Tatiana
is a Swiss-born singer
raised in France and
currently living and
working in Brooklyn.
Over the last 7 years,
Tatiana has made a
name for herself as
founder and vocalist
of Avalon Jazz Band.
She and her band
specialize in 1930s
style swing and gypsy
jazz aka gypsy swing
aka hot club-style jazz,
a genre born in Paris
and a major part of the
French jazz scene that
 decade. The band also resurrects great songs
of the 40s and 50s.
 Let's begin with one
of their 50s covers,
"I Love Paris," a song
written by Cole Porter,
published in 1953 and
introduced in the musical
Can-Can. A line from the
song inspired the title of
the 1964 film Paris
When It Sizzles


 "I Love Paris (Cole Porter)" 
 Avalon Jazz Band feat. Tatiana Eva-Marie 
 (October 2014)  



Composed and first recorded in 1922, the song "Runnin' Wild" is best known
for the version performed by Marilyn Monroe in the 1959 comedy movie
Some Like It Hot. Here with their more than capable cover are
Tatiana Eva-Marie and the Avalon Jazz Band. 

 "Runnin' Wild (Some Like it Hot)" 
 Avalon Jazz Band feat. Tatiana Eva-Marie 
 (July 2015)  




Penned and published in 1932, "Fit as a Fiddle" was a hit for Fred Waring's
Pennsylvanians. Recorded many times since by artists that include
Doris Day, the song became most famous when it was featured
in the 1952 movie musical Singin' in the Rain

 "Fit As A Fiddle (Singin' In the Rain)" 
 Avalon Jazz Band feat. Tatiana Eva-Marie 
 (July 2016) 



Now here's an original song composed by Tatiana Eva-Marie as a way
of declaring her love for The Big Easy-- "Moon Over New Orleans." 

 "Moon Over New Orleans" 
 Avalon Jazz Band feat. Tatiana Eva-Marie 
 (March 2020) 



Written by Irving Berlin, the song 'Sunshine" was waxed by Bing Crosby
backed by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. Their single brushed
the top 5 on Billboard in 1928. Here's Avalon Jazz Band
with their sunny interpretation. 

 "Sunshine" 
 Avalon Jazz Band feat. Tatiana Eva-Marie 
 (July 2020)  



Happy 109th birthday, dear Margaret.


We love you and miss you!

26 comments:

  1. First Dell Rat! Happy birthday Margaret.
    Tatiana is a pretty lady.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, Alex!

    Thanks for being the Early Bird, good buddy! I'm happy you dropped by for Margaret Schneider's 109th birthday celebration. I am also pleased that you enjoyed the musical entertainment by Tatiana and her Avalon Jazz Band.

    Thanks again for coming and have a great week, good buddy Alex!

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  3. Hello Shady! What a great Birthday tribute to Margaret! The Avalon Jazz Band certainly gave a great show. The musicians are stand up talented! Just when I thought I like the fiddle player, here comes the guitarist and other musicians showing their great talents! I like that each musician is featured in this group. Tatiana is a fun vocalist! I enjoyed "Fit and Fiddle" from "Singin in The Rain" and "Moon Over New Orleans". I wonder if Margaret would have a favorite among this great lineup!

    Shady, this is a fine gift for a friend who has left you holding the wonderful memories of the Shady Dell. "I Love Paris" is my favorite, which I haven't heard in ages.

    Happy Birthday, Margaret! Take care, dear Shady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Suzanne!

      Thanks for being the co-Early Bird for this year's birthday tribute to Margaret, dear friend! It was on this date 109 years ago that a special child was born, a child that became the first and youngest resident of the Shady Dell, a child destined to enjoy a very long life, 105 years, earning her the nickname The Oldest Living Dell Rat.

      As a musician, you are highly qualified to weigh in on Avalon Jazz Band, and I'm so glad you did. I'm delighted that you recognize their talent like I do. Yessum, each musician takes a turn at a solo and every nostalgic vintage song they cover turns into a new classic. Tatiana has a velvet voice and sings with zest and flair. I love her cheery, enthusiastic performing style.

      I can't help thinking that Margaret would remember a few of these oldies from her younger years. She was only age 10 when "Runnin' Wild" first became popular. I wish she were here to announce her Pick to Click. I trust that she would approve of these modern remakes by Tatiana and her A.J.B.

      Thanks for letting me know you favor "I Love Paris," and thank you again for being here to help me honor our dear friend Margaret Schneider. I hope you and Scootie are well and in good spirits and having a fine weekend. That rascal Toto Moto will be here next Saturday to host Top Tunes Time Tunnel, so stick around. Until I see you again, take care and have a splendid week, dear friend Suzanne!

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  4. First off She is a stunner and her voice is perfect for these songs which I all love. I know almost all these songs from the films you mentioned and how I love to see the accordion! I always like this instrument even though it is not looked at favourably these days and he is young!! How I would love to go to a dinner theatre with her and her musical companions all there singing just like in the films of old. I also love...love that dress she is wearing at the top of your blog. Full of sparkle, colour and bling. Margaret is smiling down from above enjoying every piece you showcase here in her honour. A beautiful birthday gift to an angel.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Birgit!

      Thank you so much for coming over on your Sunday, dear friend! I'm delighted that you arrived early to help me pay tribute to another dear old friend, Shady Dell V.I.P. Margaret Elizabeth Brown Schneider, as we observe the 109th anniversary of her birth.

      I'm thrilled that you appreciate the musical entertainment I selected for this year's b-day post. I agree that Tatiana is a beauty with a voice to match. It's refreshing to see a young female singer and a group of young male musicians performing a style of music we seldom hear, hot swing/gypsy jazz that harks back to Paris in the 1930s. I suspected you would recognize these old songs along with the films in which they became first became famous. Shady doesn't often post accordion music. Therefore I'm happy you enjoyed hearing the instrument played in Tatiana's Avalon Jazz Band. I'm also pleased that you like the clothing styles worn by Tatiana in the pic and in her videos. I'd be willing to bet that Margaret's taste matches yours and that she is smiling and toe-tapping to these oldies from her youth.

      Thank you again for coming by and expressing such sweet sentiments about the featured music act and about the guest of honor, Margaret Schneider, on this special occasion. Take care and have a wonderful week ahead, dear friend BB!

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  5. Well, this has to be the first time I've seen a jazz band with an accordion, an instrument I associate with polkas (I'm from Cleveland, you'll recall.) But it works well here, The Avalon Jazz Band proving that any instrument can play any genre of music as long as the musician knows what they're doing. But by far the best instrument on these songs is Tatiana's voice. She's terrific. Happy birthday, Margaret.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Kirk!

      Welcome to Margaret Schneider's 109th birthday celebration, good buddy. Thanks for attending!

      I'm pleased that you appreciate the use of an accordion in the Avalon Jazz Band. Those guys and a girl put on a lively and thoroughly entertaining show. As you might have noted, the band has been performing together since 2014. They have developed quite a following on YouTube. For this special birthday tribute to Margaret, I picked what I think are the best English language songs on Tatiana's channel. I'm glad you recognize and like her velvet voiced pizzazz.

      Thank you again for dropping in and for offering birthday greetings in memory of Margaret who left us in 2017 Have a marvelous week, good buddy Kirk!

      Delete
  6. The First Dell Rat! What an honour! Happy birthday, Margaret!

    Shady, these songs are beautiful. I know Margaret would have enjoyed these pieces.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Jessica Marie!

      Thank you for coming by on the weekend to attend Margaret Schneider's birthday party, dear friend! Imagine Margaret and your Nan together at this very moment enjoying the old school sounds in this special post, and imagine a song so old that Margaret was only ten when it was introduced! That's "Runnin' Wild," famously sung by Marilyn Monroe decades later in the zany comedy film Some Like It Hot.

      Thanks again for being here on this special occasion as you have other years, dear friend JM. Have a wonderful week!

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    2. Hi Shady,

      I bet Nan baked Margaret her World's Famous Strawberry Shortcake. Then as they were enjoying the cake with their husbands, they are dancing to "Runnin' Wild."

      Nan would be turning 98 on 4 May 2021. It's hard to believe that we celebrated her last birthday on 4 May 2012... the inverse of this year. It hurts my heart.

      I was looking at your old blog last night and I was reading over Margaret's 105th birthday and how everyone came together to celebrate her. It's hard to believe that was 4 years ago. Then, I read the post Kathleen wrote about her funeral. I had the tissues present. I didn't know her personally, but it felt like I did through your blogs.

      Have a great week ahead too, dear friend!

      Delete
    3. Hi, Jessica Marie!

      That's a sweet fantasy describing Nan and Margaret enjoying strawberry shortcake, reunited with their husbands and dancing to these old old oldies. Thanks for sharing that the anniversary of Nan's birth is coming up soon. My mother would have turned 103 last month and my brother turned 82 the other day, facts that are very hard for me to grasp.

      Well I am pleasantly surprised that you searched the archives of Shady Dell Music & Memories for Margaret's 105th birthday tribute and the memorial post Kathleen put together following her mother's death the following month. If I had done the same I'd have been verklempt same as you. Thanks again for taking an interest in what I was doing on that blog and what I am now doing on this one.

      I hope your week is off to a great start. Take care and I'll see you soon, dear friend JM!

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    4. I like reminiscing and I remember how joyful her 105th birthday made me feel, so I wanted to relive it.

      Have a great Thankful Thursday!

      Delete
    5. Hi, Jessica Marie!

      Sadly, shortly after Margaret celebrated her 105th, joy turned to worry and then sorrow. Her health began to slip and she died one month and one week after her birthday. Please stick around for my next tribute to Margaret to be posted on the anniversary of her death,

      Delete
  7. Happy Birthay to Margaret! I did recognize the first song and the last song but I thought it was "My Blue Heaven" not "Sunshine." My older sister used to play the accordion. It amazed me how she could hold that thing. Catchy tunes all and I bet Margaret is dancing. Have a great week dear friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Janet!

      How are you and Benny, dear friend? Thanks for coming over to help me remember Margaret Schneider on the 109 year anniversary of her birth.

      Now that you mention it, "Sunshine" does sound like "My Blue Heaven," a song that was first used in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 and was a hit record for crooner Gene Austin in 1928, the same year that "Sunshine" was introduced.

      Really? Your sister played the accordion? Yessum, those large squeeze boxes look hard to handle. I am in awe of people who master the instrument. Thanks for planting the image in our minds of Margaret, forever young, dancing to these catchy tunes performed by Tatiana and the Avalon Jazz Band.

      Thanks again for joining me on this special occasion, dear friend Janet. Have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  8. When Tatiana Eva-Marie sings in French, I turn into Gomez Addams. I'm kind of surprised you didn't include any of those songs. I know Vinny Raniolo from the work he's done with Tommy Emmanuel and Frank Vignola. The current violinist, Gabe Terracciano, not only plays beautifully, he looks the part.

    I'm a big fan of Gypsy jazz, and I found them one morning while I was listening to Django Reinhardt. They do some real classics and, like I said, tatiana is just stunning with the voice of an angel...

    Thanks for featuring them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, John!

      You're welcome, good buddy, and thanks for being on hand for the 2021 celebration of Margaret Schneider's birth 109 years ago.

      Yes, good buddy, I can picture Gomez A. smooching his way up Morticia's hand and arm on his way to her shoulder, neck and lips. I'm happy to know Tatiana has that effect on you when she sings in French. It was already a stretch for me to post Gypsy jazz for the first time in nearly 13 years, I wasn't brave enough to post songs performed in a foreign language. :) It's cool that you are familiar with the musicians in Avalon Jazz Band. I agree that Tatiana is a stunner with the voice of an angel, offering a refreshing change from pop, rock and hip hop.

      Thanks again for coming over to join this celebration of Margaret's life, good buddy John!

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  9. Tom,

    Ahhh, another anniversary to mark the incredible birth of the first Shady Dell Rat!! I know Margaret is smiling down while listens to these festive fun remakes from yesterday. You might recall I featured Avalon on my blog last year after making their discovery on John's blog. I really like that these young musicians enjoy the sound from the era of their great-great-grandparents. Thanks putting a little sunshine in my morning. It's been a wet,dreary Monday. Sending up a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Margaret!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Cathy!

      Thanks for coming, dear friend! I am grateful that you dropped in to join this year's celebration of a life well lived as once again we honor Margaret Schneider, the first and oldest living Dell rat, on her birthday.

      Yessum, I was fairly sure I first heard of the Avalon Jazz Band through one of your posts, and I thank you for confirming it. I had forgotten that you heard of them through our good buddy John. As you can see, I went to Tatiana's channel and picked four more sizzling songs from the early to mid 20th century and added as a 5th song Tatiana's original composition dedicated to New Orleans. I would like to think Margaret is pleased with this year's party play list.

      Yessum, your region and mine are both having a few rain days, We had lots of it overnight and it has been drizzling off and on throughout the morning with more expected. Our lawns and gardens need the moisture and the clouds and rain help hold the temp down, so we're happy.

      I'm pleased that this Gypsy jazz mewsic put some sunshine in your day. Thanks again for coming to help me pay tribute to Margaret again this year. Have a wonderful week, dear friend Cathy!

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  10. I did a double take when I saw the accordion. It isn't an instrument that you see anymore. However, it has a fun sound and this music by the Avalon Jazz band was great. It is a little different music than I am used to on your blog but it was so enjoyable.

    Looking at Margaret's face, I see a little smile like she knows something that nobody else knows. Happy Birthday, Margaret. Your friend, Shady, has made you known throughout the world.

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    1. Hi, Arleen!

      What a wonderful comment from you, dear friend! Thank you very much for joining us as we remember Margaret Brown Schneider, celebrate her 109th birthday and continue her legacy.

      Yessum, I doubt there are many musically inclined young people these days who are keenly interested in learning to play the accordion. Of course I might be wrong about that. I am proud of my eclectic taste, but there's a good chance you will never again hear the accordion being played at Shady's Place. :) By the way, do you remember "Squeeze Box" by The Who, a single that brushed the top 10 on the U.S. chart in February 1976?

      I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the sound produced by Avalon Jazz Band and the sight of zesty lead zinger Tatiana Eva-Marie fronting the band as they performed songs from the early and mid 20th century in their trademark swing jazz style.

      Yessum, Margaret's face often revealed the hint of a smile. Blessed with 105 year longevity, wisdom, stoicism and a dry sense of humor, Margaret routinely delivered classic one-liners during her reign as The Oldest Living Dell Rat.

      Thank you again for your great comment and kind words about Margaret, dear friend Arleen. I hope you are well and in good spirits up there in Eastern PA. Have a safe and happy week and I hope to see you again soon!

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  11. I can't believe I missed this post! Happy Heavenly birthday dear Margaret! Big hugs to her daughter, Kathleen who I'm sure misses her every day. I have enjoyed the stories of her life and feel like I know her. You have done a wonderful job of honoring her on this special day. The music is perfect and I bet she did know these in her day. The young lady singing is really good. She was born in the wrong time! These tunes fit her! Again a big Happy Birthday To our friend! Take care Shady!

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    1. Hi, YaYa!

      I'm very happy to see you, dear friend! Thanks for being in attendance again this year (for the 7th or 8th year in a row) as we celebrate the birthday of Margaret Schneider.

      Yessum, over the years you and other long time readers of my blogs learned a lot about Margaret's life and how it figured so prominently in the long and colorful history of the Shady Dell. Moreover you came to feel as though you knew Margaret personally as a friend. Margaret's eyes lit up every time she looked at these tribute posts on her iPad and daughter Kathleen read aloud to her the kind comments left by you and others.

      I'm glad you enjoyed the musical change of pace, old standards from the 1920s, 30s and 50s brought to swingin' life in the modern era by Avalon Jazz Band featuring the vocals of charming songstress Tatiana Eva-Marie. She does indeed seem like an anachronism.

      Thank you again for coming to pay respects to Margaret on her birthday, dear friend YaYa. Enjoy the rest of your week!

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Tell me what's on your mind