A to Z Blog Challenge -- A -- 5 on Friday - Set 311

Welcome to Day 1 of this year's April blog event -- the A to Z Blog Challenge!

This is my sixth year participating. I've finished the challenge every year except for last year -- ironically enough, I was home from work on medical leave and was shocked to find that my wide-open time schedule could not make up for the fact that I was not feeling well enough to keep up the pace.

However, as this year's challenge dawns, I am back to work and feeling up to taking on twenty-six blog posts in thirty days.

Let's begin!

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Time for my once-a-month project for 2016.

This year I'll be focusing on Songwriters. Check back on the first Friday of each month as I take a look at the work of artists whose creative voices are most often brought to us through the performances of others.

April belongs to Andy Razaf.

The Jazz Age and Depression-era songwriter was born as Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo, the grand-nephew of the last queen of Madagascar. His father died during the French invasion of Madagascar, forcing his pregnant mother to seek refuge in New York City.

Raised in Harlem, Andy worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry and lyrics. When he met up with Fats Waller, a songwriting duo was born that turned out classics such as Ain't Misbehavin' and Honeysuckle Rose.    

1 - A Porter's Love Song to a Chamber Maid - John Dyer  

2 - Honeysuckle Rose - Mildred Bailey

3 - Stompin' at the Savoy - Judy Garland 

4 - Ain't Misbehavin' - Leon Redbone 

5 - The Joint is Jumpin' - Fats Waller 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.