One of my favourite places to perform at is BUPA Bellarine.

It's always a hoot – I did a singalong concert there today – the theme was the war years hits – you know Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major, Bye Bye Blackbird, The Red Red Robin, Wish Me Luck, Along the Road to Gundagai…

They knew the songs better than me and they sang up a storm.  The staff are always friendly and welcoming to me and there is an openness and natural good feeling about the place…lots of visitors and relatives.

BUPA is a global company but clearly that doesn't mean impersonal.  In fact, I like BUPA Bellarine so much that I have put my name down for a respite stay, only kidding, but it is school holidays and my kids are wearing me out.

And where is BUPA Bellarine?  On the Bellarine Peninsular of course…a stretch of land between the Southern Ocean and Port Phillip Bay (that's where the city of Melbourne is) Australia.

All my dvds, cds and songbooks are produced in response to what is wanted by lifestyle coordinators, diversional therapists and activities officers.

At concerts, I get a lot of suggestions (most of them kind!) about what songs to do.

And lately, I am getting asked a lot to make a 1950s collection.

You know - juke box hits by Elvis, Bill Haley, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lee Lewis… 

So here's my tentative song list for a 1950s collection  - and I am inviting your comments and feedback – go on, tell me what songs you think are the best songs of the rocking 1950s…and then I'll learn them, perform them and record them on a new DVD with large print sing along words.

Here's my list…

1. Rock Around the Clock

2. Shake Rattle & Roll

3. Blueberry Hill

4. Blue Suede Shoes

5. Teddy Bear

6. Love Me Tender

7. Return to Sender

8. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On

9. Singin' the Blues

10. Twist & Shout/ Let’s Twist Again

11. Save the Last Dance for Me

12. See You Later Alligator

What are your favourite songs from the Rocking 1950s?

List of Songs on DVDs

The number one question – what songs are on your dvds?

All my DVDs, CDs and songbooks only contain favourite singalongs – specially for residential care and day centre clients – in other words, songs that older people know and love.

How do I know that?

1. My 'day job' is a full time singer, guitarist and entertainer for residential care and day centres in Melbourne (and Geelong), Australia, that is.

2. Lifestyle coordinators, diversional therapists and activities officers have approved and suggested (actually, more like persuaded) that I make them DVDs, CDs and Songbooks as music resources and stand-alone activities.

Here's those song lists:

1. Party Time – song list

Roll Out the Barrel

Happy Days are Here Again

You are My Sunshine

Blue Skies

Oh When the Saints

Little Brown Jug

When You’re Smiling

Ain’t She Sweet

Side by Side

My Blue Heaven

Bye Bye Blackbird

Show Me the Way to Go Home

2. Greatest Hits – song list

Along the Road to Gundagai

Hey Good Lookin’

Pennies from Heaven

Blue Suede Shoes

Love Me Tender

South of the Border

My Bonnie/ When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Waltzing Matilda

You Are My Sunshine

When You’re Smiling

3. Christmas Spirit – song list

Deck the Halls

Jingle Bells

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

O Come All Ye Faithful

The Little Drummer Boy

Jingle Bell Rock

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Silent Night

For all questions, you can always email me alexhearst@bigpond.com.au

or ring me (Australia only): 0409 139 156

Regards, Alex Hearst

Hi and thanks,

It's wet and rainy here in Ocean Grove and I've been flat out doing St. Patrick's Day concerts in Geelong and Melbourne, Australia.

Here's a kind comment I received yesterday about my DVDS.  It's from thousands of kms away, in Rockhamptom QLD (Australia).

To: Alex Hearst

From:
Donna Smalley
lifestyle@benevolent.com.au

Message:
Just had a fantatstic concert with the residents, your work really brought them alive, there was marching and dancing and smiles everywhere. Loved the big words and pictures .Keep them coming, we want more!
Lifestyle Activities Officer, Rockhampton. QLD.

Thanks Donna – I am working on a 50s rock DVD – juke box hits from Elvis, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis etc.  I'll keep you posted. See You Later Alligators!

Alex 21 Mar 12