Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees was released 50 years ago in February 1976. Seven months later, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. It produced four singles, one that peaked at #2 and another which was a Top 20 hit. This was Scaggs’ seventh solo album and proved to be his breakthrough record.

The blues/R&B/rock singer-born William Royce Scaggs on June 8, 1944 in Canton, Ohio-started his singing career in 1959 as the lead singer for The Marksmen, which was guitarist’s Steve Miller’s first band. Scaggs was a member of The Steve Miller Band as well from 1967-1968, then pursued a solo career. Eight years later, the two former bandmates would meet on the music charts when Miller’s Fly Like An Eagle album was released in May 1976, three months after Silk Degrees.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Boz Scaggs circa 1972. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Scaggs on stage during an October 2021 show in Florida. (Image courtesy of his official Facebook page. Original source unknown.)

One of the funniest films ever made just turned 30 years old. “The Birdcage”-based on the 1978 French-Italian film, “La Cage aux Folles”, which was based on the 1973 play by Jean Poiret-was released March 8, 1996. The stellar cast was led spectacularly by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple trying to hide their relationship from their son’s ultra conservative future in-laws, played to perfection by Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest. Dan Futterman & Calista Flockhart play the young couple trying to merge the two polar opposite worlds.

Lane-who turned 70 last month-was on “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” last year & discussed how Mike Nichols cast him in the role of Albert opposite Williams as Armand. Lane tells a great story, full of laughs, insight & interesting information such as Williams was originally slated to play Albert opposite Steve Martin as Armand. As much as I adore Martin, I cannot picture anyone in the roles better than Lane & Williams. The movie is still one of my go-to’s whenever I need an intense laugh.

The official movie poster. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A still from the dinner scene (L-R): Calista Flockhart, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dan Futterman and Dianne Wiest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Lane and Hackman in mid-song, with Williams in the background at the piano. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Boz Scaggs: “Lowdown” (1976, written by David Paich and Boz Scaggs).

Boz Scaggs: “Lido Shuffle” (1976, written by David Paich and Boz Scaggs).

Boz Scaggs: “We’re All Alone” (1976, written by Boz Scaggs).

The Cast Of “The Birdcage”: “I Could Have Danced All Night” (1996, written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Cast in order of appearance: Dianne Wiest, Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Calista Flockhart, Dan Futterman and Hank Azaria).

Stay safe & well.