On July 3, 1981, Ervin Rouse, composer of “Orange Blossom Special,” the “unofficial anthem of bluegrass,” died. Plagued by alcoholism and mental illness, he was living on the edge of the Everglades ...

From 1925 through 1953, the luxury passenger train Orange Blossom Special traveled from New York City to Miami and back. Other Florida stops included Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, and Hollywood before ...

“Just be sure you spell my uncle’s name right,” my wife Linda admonished me.”It’s ‘Ervin’ with a ‘V’, not ‘Erwin.’ ” Of course I would. After all, Uncle Ervin — with a V —was the composer of “The ...

In Hear This, A.V. Club writers sing the praises of songs they know well. This week: Songs with prominent harmonica usage. In junior high, I took torturous piano lessons, but I wasn’t a natural and ...

Anyone wanting to swap the bitter cold of a New York winter for the sun-kissed pleasures of the beaches and citrus groves of Florida in 1925 – 100 years ago – was suddenly presented with a golden ...

Most men wore hats under a bright Naples afternoon sun that winter day nearly 90 years ago. A sign with the words 'Welcome To Naples' hung near patriotic ceremonial bunting. Many along the front row ...

One of the greatest celebrations in railroad history happened Jan. 7, 1927, when the long-awaited Orange Blossom Special first arrived in Fort Myers, headed to Naples. Historian Gregg Turner describes ...

In terms of sheer dramatic power George Jones is arguably the greatest singer in the history of country music Hes never been countrys most versatile singer but when he meets a lyric worthy of him he ...