Another day of contrasts, this February 27th in 1960. News of the day reported President Eisenhower arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina on his tour of South America. Crowds were enthusiastic on the whole in Argentina, save for earlier incidents of riots and flag burning protests the night before. All was swept neatly under the carpet by parade time.

The big news from Buckingham Palace was Princess Margaret and photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones were engaged to be married. Since Britain loves a good wedding, the whole country got excited when word got out.

Not such exciting upbeat news from the border of Lebanon and Israel where UAR troops were massed on the border and grumblings from Syria and Egypt that trouble was just hours away.

Meanwhile, back home. The Senate was heading into its 11th day of debate over the Civil Rights Bill with observations that the debate would go on continuously for weeks, only taking time out for Sundays.

Speaking of Civil Rights, Lunchcounter demonstrations were back in the news again in the South with promises of more on the way.

From the Red Scare/Cold War Department - Pentagon think tanks were reporting the possibility of a new more deadly missile system being developed by Moscow. The GRBM (Global Range Ballistic Missile) system was capable of a 10-15,000 mile range hitting just about anywhere in the world and that our defense system just wasn't up to the task of warning us in time. More nerves. Charges were also being leveled in some circles that Communism was rampant in U.S. Churches, particularly the Protestants. That one raise a few eyebrows.

And if all that weren't enough, Government buildings in Washington were the target of a veritable cloud of Pigeons and Starlings, bent on screeching and crapping on every ledge around Capitol Hill. The problem was so bad it prompted legislators to appropriate funds to install electric ledges to ward off the Aviary miscreants. All living things are capable of editorial opinions, it seems.

And so went this slice of life for February 27th 1960 as reported on the NBC World News Roundup

The 6:00 Evening news with Don Hollenbeck from WEAF for this February 9th in 1945. News almost entirely focused on the war and how it was progressing.

News that seven Allied Armies were advancing into Germany and a 350 mile front extending from The Alps to Holland was the scene of much action.

The Canadian 1st Army had advanced 5 miles and took some 14 towns in the process. Gen Patton's 3rd Army was now 8 miles inside of Germany. Resistance had been reported as light. Continued air bombardment of German positions in Northern Italy. News that Germans were escaping in droves to neutral countries with reports that many were fleeing to South America.

During Allied air raids over Germany, the first use of Jet Fighters by the Luftwaffe was reported, flying at an estimated speed of 10 miles a minute and breaking through Allied fighter escorts.

On the Eastern Front - the Russian Army opened a new offensive against Breslau and were continuing their advance towards Berlin.

The Chinese army launched successful counterattacks against the Japanese in three provinces, re-capturing several towns and cutting off Japanese supply lines.

In the Pacific, the continued push through the Philippines was continuing with an advance on Luzon. Meanwhile, fighting was still going on in Manila with Japanese taking a scorched-earth policy.

And reports that the Japanese had moved some 177 American prisoners of War, including General Wainright to Manchuria as a precaution for an anticipated invasion of Formosa.

That, and a lot more of the goings on this February 9th in history.

Finishing up our week in Brazil with one of the legendary Big Band leaders to come out of Sao Paulo, Zaccarias. Aristides Zaccarias is one of those rags-to-riches stories you often head about great musicians coming out of the most humble beginnings. He began his professional career at 18, playing Clarinet in a small dance band around the Sao Paulo area. His fortunes began to pick up when he returned to Sao Paulo after a period of time playing the Cruise ship circuit with various small groups. He relocated to Rio de Janiero in the mid-1930's and eventually wound up playing at the Brazil Pavillion at the New York World's Fair in 1939. In the early 1940's he formed his own orchestra and caught the eye of the RCA Victor office in Rio de Janiero where he landed his first contract and series of sessions in 1943. From that point on, Zaccarias became a household name in Brazil and was well on his way to establishing an international reputation once the War was over.

Zaccarias has enjoyed great success from the early 1940's until his retirement in the early 1970's. He left behind an impressive catalog of albums and singles, most of which are not available, or if they are, only in Brazil.

Tonight's track is from a series of sessions he did in 1946 which netted this cut, De Guarda son Aberto. It was issued in 1947 by RCA-Victor as a 78 rpm single.

There is a lot more where that came from, so maybe in the coming months we'll pay another Brazilian visit. In the meantime check it out and do some exploring. Lot's of great stuff out there.