Episode 51: Joan Ellison & George Blake

In our final episode of season 7, Lisa interviews Joan Ellison, songstress and revivalist of the Great American Songbook. Joan is known internationally for her restoration and revival of Judy Garland’s repertoire from her golden Hollywood years, live concerts, studio recordings, and television shows. Joan shares how she became a part of the “Judy Garland Family” and reflects on the importance of musical places in her own musical journey, from Judy Garland’s childhood home to Severance Hall. Co-host George Blake picks up the themes of musical place in Joan’s conversation within the fabric of the concepts of “home” and “away” in “There's No Place Like Home” and “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz.Thank you to our audio engineer Davey Berris, Lead Digital Video Specialist at MediaVision at CWRU for his work as audio engineer on this podcast. We’re grateful to CWRU PhD student Lauren Hodgson for her work behind the scenes with editing transcripts. Thanks to CWRU Music Dept. chair Nate Kruse for his departmental support. Gratitude to CWRU for supporting this season of Parenting Musically.

Joan’s Website

Joan’s Facebook and Instagram

Joan’s Touring Schedule

Joan Ellison sings “Over the Rainbow”

Joan Ellison Sings "Chicago" in the National Concert Hall in Dublin

James Rhodes Parenting Musically podcast episode (discussed in Episode 51)