Helen & John Week: I Only Have Eyes For You

 

Two important dates on

the Shady Dell calendar
are only one week apart:

Helen Ettline's birthday

(January 9) and the date

of John Ettline's death

(January 16).

Again this year I am combining
the two events into a single post
that honors both of the Ettlines.

Just think of this period in mid
January as "Helen & John Week."

 HELEN TROSTLE ETTLINE 

was born 111 years ago
on January 9, 1911.

 JOHN ETTLINE 

died January 16, 1993... 
29 years ago...

John spent the last nine years of his life
without Helen. Imagine the strength and
courage it took for John, a man in his 80s,
to go it alone, enduring the hardships of
winter and keeping the Dell in operation
even as the teenage patrons became
increasingly rough, rowdy and dis-
respectful. How many of us could
have stood up to that challenge?

As we celebrate Helen's birthday and remember John, I will play songs

I think they both would have enjoyed. This year's tribute to The Ettlines

is a medley of boomer era songs performed by a gifted young vocalist.

Meet sweet rising star

Ellie Maxwell. 

Ellie was born on Valentines's Day, 2008, in South Africa. Her middle name,

translated from her native Zulu language, means "Love." Ellie currently

lives on Manitoulin Island off the coast of Ontario, Canada. She has

made numerous appearances on Canadian TV and delights a

growing legion of fans on her YouTube channel performing

original songs as well as covers. Surely, Helen and John

 knew the songs Ellie is about to sing in today's set,

and I think they would smile and nod their

approval as they listened to the vocal

styling of this talented young artist.

Ellie's first number is an Academy Award winning song composed by

Henry Mancini and lyricist Johnny Mercer and originally performed by

Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. Over the years,

it has been recorded by many artists including Mancini & his Orchestra,

Jerry Butler and UK singer Danny Williams. Here's Ellie Maxwell with

her version of-- "Moon River." 

"Moon River" - Audrey Hepburn cover by Ellie Maxwell (August 2021) 

In the summer of 1965, the Burt Bacharach - Hal David song

"What The World Needs Now Is Love," sung by Jackie DeShannon,

vaulted to the top of the chart in Canada. Dionne Warwick released

a version of the song on her 1966 album Here Where There Is Love.

Here's Canadian miss Ellie Maxwell with her heartfelt rendition.

"What The World Needs Now" - Dionne Warwick cover by Ellie Maxwell (July 2021) 

From the 1961 Elvis Presley album and movie Blue Hawaii

comes this next tender ballad. Here again is Ellie Maxwell

singing-- "Can't Help Falling In Love." 

"Can't Help Falling In Love" - Elvis Presley cover by Ellie Maxwell (Mar. 2021) 

In the fall of 1959, Canadian-American singer/songwriter Paul Anka

hit big with a love ballad that became one of his signature songs.

Watch and listen as Canada's rising star Ellie Maxwell does

her 2020s cover of-- "Put Your Head On My Shoulder." 

"Put Your Head On My Shoulder" - Paul Anka cover by Ellie Maxwell (May 2021) 

SHADY'S PICK TO CLICK #1

I saved for last the two performances I think are Ellie's best. The "prop"

Ellie uses in Pick to Click #1 would work well on a cover of Paul Anka's

"Puppy Love," and her voice is like butter as she sings The Penguins'

chart-topping 1955 signature song-- "Earth Angel."

"Earth Angel" - The Penguins cover by Ellie Maxwell (Oct. 2021) 

SHADY'S PICK TO CLICK #2

Finally, I present Ellie's wonderful cover of a dreamy romantic ballad

written for the 1934 movie Dames and popularized in 1959 by

another doo-wop "bird group" - The Flamingos. The song,

as sung by The Flamingos, ranks high on Rolling Stone

magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Here now is my second Pick to Click - a singing

performance and video that are pure magic

from start to finish. For Helen and John

and all the young men and women who

fell in love on the Dell dance floor-

"I Only Have Eyes For You." 

"I Only Have Eyes For You" - The Flamingos cover by Ellie Maxwell (June 2021) 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 

 HELEN! 

 WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, too!