Two of the valley’s legendary entertainers were more than a little surprised by their Grammy nominations this week.
Jack Jones, a valley resident who recently moved from Rancho Mirage to La Quinta, didn’t realize he had contributed to a Grammy-nominated album until he read about it in The Desert Sun on Saturday. On Sunday, he said he was thrilled to learn that the music of “The America Hustle,” featuring his recording of “I Got Your Number,” had been nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
The soundtrack is most memorable for its inclusion of Duke Ellington’s “Jeep Blues” recorded at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival. The song deeply moves Christian Bales’ lead character, which not only attracts him to his partner, it makes him more sympathetic to viewers.
But “I Got Your Number” is the only new recording performed live in the film. Director David O. Russell was seeking a traditional pop singer for a jazzy lounge show and he was a big Jack Jones fan. So he asked Jones to sing it in the movie and then he asked him to participate in last January’s Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala to share the film’s Ensemble Performance Award.
Jones, who turns 77 next month, has long admired “I Got Your Number,” written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh for the 1962 Broadway musical, “Little Me.” He used to joke around by singing, “I got your number… off of the men’s room wall.” But he hasn’t sung it in concert for years.
Now he will.
Jones threw the switch to light up the giant Christmas tree atop the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Sunday evening. In fact, he had to flip it several times before it lit up, causing publicist Greg Purdy to have a near heart attack in his first Tram Christmas event after a long career promoting “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.” Visitors also got to hear Jones’ beautiful recorded Christmas carols in the tram cars going up and down the mountain.
He said after the ceremony he’ll call Russell to offer to help bring more attention to the “American Hustle” soundtrack, including attending the Grammy Awards.
It’s Jones’ fifth Grammy nomination in a career that has included two wins for “Lollipops and Roses” and “Wives and Lovers” in 1962 and 1964, respectively. In fact, the 53-year span between this Grammy and his first one breaks the record of 51 years set at the 2014 ceremony by Tony Bennett.
Bennett, 88, was nominated Friday for Best Traditional Pop Album for his duets with Lady Gaga, “Cheek to Cheek.” But his first nomination was in 1963 for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”…
