Century Songs

Rediscovering a Jazz Classic: "Look for the Silver Lining" with Candice Tugby

Introduction

Century Songs has reached its eighth episode, diving deep into the tapestry of American standards in the public domain. In this episode, we explore the resilient journey of Jerome Kern's masterpiece, "Look for the Silver Lining." With a profound history spanning over a century, this song connects generations through its timeless message and universal appeal. Our guest this week is the talented educator and musician, Candice Tugby, offering her insights and anecdotes about the song and her contributions to the local jazz scene.

The Story Behind "Look for the Silver Lining

Jerome Kern's "Look for the Silver Lining" began as a quiet melody for an out-of-town Broadway show in 1919. Despite its initial potential, the show flopped. However, the song found new life a year later, becoming a nationwide symbol of resilience through challenging times, including wars and economic hardships. Its transformation was further cemented in 1954, when Chet Baker reimagined it as a cool jazz staple.

In Conversation with Candice Tugby

We had the pleasure of hosting Candice Tugby, an educator and musician, at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. Candice shared her journey from Winnipeg, Canada, to the heart of the jazz world in Indianapolis. She opened up about her work with the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation and their educational initiative, Jazz Futures. This program aims to provide high school (and occasionally middle school) students with opportunities to delve deeper into jazz performance—an invaluable experience for budding musicians.

Candice highlighted the importance of the program being accessible to all interested students, regardless of their financial background. Thanks to generous donations, all participants received full-ride scholarships, ensuring that price points are never a barrier to musical education.

The Role of Jazz Futures in Community Building

The Jazz Futures program is not just about music; it's about fostering a sense of community. By focusing on improvisation, arranging, and collaboration, students learn to listen to each other, a skill crucial for any musician. The program offers performance opportunities at various events, including TV appearances and the Jazz Kitchen's Legacy concerts.

Candice also emphasized the importance of providing snacks during sessions, especially for students from underprivileged areas, ensuring they are well-fed and motivated.

Candice's Personal Journey and Artistic Exploration

Candice's personal story is as compelling as her professional endeavors. She shares her musical journey, from her bachelor’s degree in jazz trumpet at the University of Manitoba to her master’s at Northwestern University. She also reflects on life with her musician husband, recent parenthood, and the chaos and joy of having a new puppy.

Her favorite standards, such as Chet Baker's version of "Look for the Silver Lining," serve as both personal touchstones and teaching tools, illustrating the importance of understanding jazz's historical landscape to appreciate its future.

Supporting the Cause

Candice urged listeners to support the Jazz Futures program by donating to the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation. Contributions help sustain this vital platform, providing young musicians with exposure to jazz and performance opportunities they might not otherwise have.

Conclusion

Our episode concluded with a fascinating quiz about "Look for the Silver Lining," dispelling common myths and highlighting its historical context. Eric Baker and I shared insights into upcoming local jazz shows, encouraging listeners to dive into the vibrant jazz scene.

In this episode of Century Songs, we explore the story behind "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" — the 1897 ballad by Paul Dresser that sold half a million copies of sheet music in its first year and became Indiana's state song. We're joined by jazz vocalists Emma Hedrick, Amy Azzara, and Gabe Schonman, who were commissioned by Century Songs to create and perform a custom arrangement of the song, which debuts in this episode! Amy, Emma and Gabe discuss their Summer 2026 residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, their Lambert, Hendricks & Ross-inspired vocal group, and the Indiana imagery that rippled through American songwriting for decades. Then Eric and David face off in the three-question quiz covering Paul Dresser's colorful life, his famous novelist brother Theodore Dreiser, and the song's surprising appearances in early film — including The Al Jolson Story. Plus, upcoming shows at the Jazz Kitchen and a preview of next week's episode.

In Episode 6, we trace the remarkable transformation of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" — from a 1928 Broadway operetta tango into a cornerstone of modern jazz. Saxophonist Rich Cohen joins us to share gig stories and musical influences, then Eric Baker faces our three-question quiz covering the song's origins in Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II's The New Moon, its surprisingly dark original lyrics, Artie Shaw's swing-era reinvention, and John Coltrane's 1961 soprano sax masterpiece that made it a bebop rite of passage. Plus, a rarely-heard Bing Crosby tango recording.

Century Songs is a podcast about American standards in the public domain. Hosted by David Poncé and Eric Baker. New episodes are available each week at centurysongs.com.

Century Songs — Episode 5: What You Don't Know About Back Home Again in Indiana

In this episode of Century Songs, hosts Eric Baker and David Poncé explore the surprising history behind "Back Home Again in Indiana" — a song with "borrowed" melodies and lyrics, a bebop rebirth, and a legendary home at the Indy 500. Special guest Dr. Shawn O'Connor joins the show to share gig stories, discuss her journey from aspiring doctor to jazz educator, and introduce Boss Pitches, one of Indiana's first-ever all-women big bands. Then, Eric faces a three-question quiz covering the song's original title, its Hoosier-born composer James F. Hanley, and the Charlie Parker contrafact "Donna Lee" that brought the tune into the bebop era. The episode closes with the song's deep ties to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — from James Melton's 1946 reopening performance to Jim Nabors' decades-long tradition — plus upcoming show highlights from Feinstein's and The Jazz Kitchen. Recorded at The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, Indiana.

On a cold December night in 1926, a Broadway producer and leading lady secretly inserted a rival composer's song into Rodgers and Hart's new musical — and the audience went so wild they stopped the show with 24 encores. That song was "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin, and the backstage betrayal behind it is just the beginning of the story.

This week on Century Songs, co-host and musician Eric Baker joins the show to talk about his musical journey — from singing in church at age four, to discovering Nat King Cole and Harry Connick Jr. on vinyl, to building School of Rock franchises in Indiana and performing regularly at Feinstein's. Plus, Eric faces the "What You Don't Know About Blue Skies" quiz: Was the song really a lullaby? How did it end up in the first talking film? And who actually stood up to sing that final encore when Belle Baker forgot the words?

Featuring a live performance of "Blue Skies" by the Century Songs house band with Eric Baker and Shawn O'Connor.

This week on Century Songs, we explore the 1918 standard "After You've Gone" — written by the pioneering Black songwriting duo Turner Layton and Henry Creamer, and immortalized by Vaudeville superstar Sophie Tucker. We sit down with educator and musician Oliver Nelson Jr. to discuss his father's remarkable legacy as a composer and arranger (from Blues and the Abstract Truth to The Six Million Dollar Man), the realities of making a living as a musician today, and the magic of the Indianapolis Monday jam scene. Then, Eric faces the three-question quiz on the song's hidden history, we dig into Ella Fitzgerald's second lyric, and we preview the upcoming 2026 Indy Jazz Fest. Next week: "Blue Skies." Show notes & more: centurysongs.com.

Chapters
0:00 - Introduction
6:22 - Interview: Oliver Nelson Jr.
21:03 - Three-Question Quiz: "After You've Gone"
23:07 - Q1: Tin Pan Alley Pioneers
24:29 - Q2: Sophie Tucker
25:53 - Q3: The 20-Bar Chorus
29:25 - Ella Fitzgerald's Hidden Second Lyric
30:48 - Indy Jazz Fest Preview
33:25 - Next Episode: Blue Skies
33:54 - Credits

Century Songs — Episode 2: What You Don’t Know About Love for Sale

In 1930, Broadway critics were scandalized by a white actress portraying a streetwalker in Cole Porter’s The New Yorkers. When producers moved the scene to Harlem and recast it with a Black singer, those same critics applauded. This week, we dig into the double standards, radio bans, and genius behind one of Cole Porter’s most controversial songs.

Indianapolis jazz vocalist Sandy Lomax performs “Love for Sale” and shares stories from her career — a Wayne Newton phone mix-up, her six-year residency in the Cole Porter Room, and advice for young singers brave enough to step up to a jam. Then Eric faces the three-question quiz.

Featuring:

Sandy Lomax with Kevin Anker, Fred Withrow, and Mike Kessler

Hosts:

David Poncé and Eric Baker

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro

1:01 — Sandy Lomax performs “Love for Sale”

7:21 — Interview with Sandy Lomax

20:12 — The “What You Don’t Know” Quiz

25:24 — Cole Porter’s least favorite song

28:40 — Indy Jazz Fest + upcoming shows

31:38 — Outro

Links:

Show notes & Sandy Lomax info: centurysongs.com

Indie Jazz Fest tickets: indyjazzfest.net

Rob Dixon — Naptown Soul: robdixon.bandcamp.com/album/naptown-soul

Next week:

Oliver Nelson plays “After You’ve Gone”

Century Songs podcast. Copyright 2026 Someday Songs Music LLC. All rights reserved.

Explore the origins, legacy, and enduring magic of "Stardust," written by Indiana native Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. Plus, Jazz Kitchen owner David Allee joins us to discuss the 2026 Indy Jazz Fest and the 30+ year history of Indy's famous Monday Night Jam Sessions.

Chapters:

00:00 - Stardust Origins Tease

00:34 - Stardust Theme Intro

00:56 - Stardust Performance Clip

05:35 - Meet Jazz Kitchen Owner

06:15 - Indy Jazz Fest Plans

07:50 - Monday Jam Session Mission

09:37 - Building a Jazz Community

12:57 - David Allee Backstory

14:46 - A Monday Jam Anecdote

17:38 - Indy Jazz Fest Highlights

19:05 - Three Question Stardust Quiz

20:12 - Myths Behind Stardust

24:45 - Hoagy Pop Culture Fame

27:46 - Eric Baker Slow Burn

29:40 - Wrap Up and Credits

Creators & Guests