Big Band Remote

Big Band vocalist RAY EBERLE

2012-01-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

Raymond "Ray" Eberle (born January 19, 1919, Hoosick Falls, New York — died August 25, 1979, Douglasville, Georgia) was a vocalist during the Big Band Era. Eberle sang with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

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Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973) American jazz and big band drummer and composer

2012-01-15T03:29:00.000-08:00

Eugene Bertram Krupa was born in Chicago, the youngest of Anna (Osłowski) and Bartlomiej Krupa's nine children. Bartlomiej was an immigrant from Poland, and Anna was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
He studied with Sanford A. Moeller and began playing professionally in the mid 1920s with bands in Wisconsin. He broke into the Chicago scene in 1927, when he was picked by MCA to become a member of "Thelma Terry and Her Playboys," the first notable American Jazz band (outside of all-girl bands) to be led by a female musician. The Playboys were the house band at The Golden Pumpkin nightclub in Chicago and also toured extensively throughout the eastern and central United States. Krupa made his first recordings in 1927, with a band under the leadership of banjoist Eddie Condon and Red McKenzie: along with other recordings beginning in 1924 by musicians known in the "Chicago" scene such as Bix Beiderbecke, these sides are examples of "Chicago Style" jazz. The numbers recorded at that session were: "China Boy", "Sugar", "Nobody's Sweetheart" and "Liza". The McKenzie - Condon sides are also notable for being some of the early examples of the use of a full drum kit on recordings. Eddie Condon describes what happened in the Okeh Records studio on that day (in 'We Called It Music' - pub: Peter Davis, 1948...
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Xavier Cugat (1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990)

2012-01-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

Xavier Cugat (Catalan pronunciation: [ʃəβiˈe kuˈɣat]) (1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman[citation needed]. In New York, his was the resident orchestra at the Waldorf-Astoria before and after World War II. Cugat was born as Francisco d'Asís Xavier Cugat Mingall de Bru i Deulofeu in Girona, Catalonia (Spain).[1] His family emigrated to Cuba when Xavier was five. He was trained as a classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana. On 6 July 1915, Cugat and his family arrived in New York as immigrant passengers on board the S.S. Havana.

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Melvin "Sy" Oliver (December 17, 1910 in Battle Creek, Michigan – May 28, 1988 in New York City) was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader.

2011-12-17T02:15:00.000-08:00

Oliver left home at 17 to play with Zack Whyte and his Chocolate Beau Brummels and later with Alphonse Trent. He sang and played trumpet with these bands, becoming known for his "growling" horn playing. Sy arranged and conducted many songs for Ella Fitzgerald from her Decca years.
As a composer, one of his most famous songs was T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) which he co-wrote with Trummy Young. He joined Jimmie Lunceford's band in 1933 and contributed many hit arrangements to the band, including "My Blue Heaven" and "Ain't She Sweet". In 1939 he joined Tommy Dorsey as an arranger, though he ceased playing trumpet at that time. (Fletcher Henderson joined the Benny Goodman orchestra as the arranger in the same year.) He led the transition of the Dorsey band from Dixieland to modern big band.

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Glenn Miller death / crash...

2011-12-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

On December 15th in 1944, as World War II raged, news spread of the loss of an airplane somewhere over the English Channel between England and Paris. On board the ill-fated aircraft was Major Glenn Miller, who had been on his way to lead his Air Force Band in a Christmas concert. Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – missing in action December 15, 1944) was an American jazz musician (trombone), arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands". Miller's notable recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo", "American Patrol", "Tuxedo Junction", and "Little Brown Jug". While he was traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Glenn Miller disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel. The Glenn Miller Orchestra was reformed after the war and continues to record and perform to this day. Details of death/crash | Wikipedia | SHOP: Glenn Miller

Stan Kenton birthday anniversary

2011-12-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

Stan Kenton was born on December 15, 1911 in Wichita Kansas. Starting his own band in 1941, many of his orchestras were huge, two dozen or more. His readily-identifiable Capitol recordings were often characterized by dissonance as he refused to compromise his ideas to please critics or public, under the umbrella of Artistry in Rhythm. His version of Laura is perhaps his best remembered standard. Kenton died from a stroke Aug 25, 1979 at age 67, while still touring.

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FREDDY MARTIN

2011-12-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Born 9 DECEMBER 1906 - Frederick Alfred (Freddy) Martin (Death: September 30, 1983) was an American bandleader and tenor saxophonist. Martin's band played in many prestigious hotels, including the Roosevelt Grill in New York City and the Ambassador in Los Angeles. A fixture on radio, his sponsored shows included NBC's Maybelline Penthouse Serenade of 1937. But Martin’s real success came in 1941 with an arrangement from the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s B-flat piano concerto. Martin recorded the piece instrumentally, but soon lyrics were added. The success of "Tonight We Love" prompted Martin to adopt other classical themes as well. In 1948, Freddy Martin hired Merv Griffin to join his band at Los Angeles’ Coconut Grove. With Griffin doing the singing, the band had a smash hit with I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Cocoanuts, a 1949 novelty song sung in a cockney accent.

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Edward Ernest Sauter (December 2, 1914 in Brooklyn – April 21, 1981 in New York City) was a composer and jazz arranger.

2011-12-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

From 1952 to 1958 Sauter was co-leader of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. Between 1957 and 1959 he was Kurt Edelhagen's successor as leader of the SWF orchestra in Baden-Baden, Germany. In 1961, he worked with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz on Focus, a unique collaboration for which Sauter---at Getz's commission---wrote a suite of string compositions (Roy Haynes, the jazz drummer, appeared on "I'm Late, I'm Late," the only selection to feature a non-string instrument other than Getz) without primary melodies, the idea being for Getz to improvise them in his customary lyric style.

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Tommy Dorsey birthday November 19

2011-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

1905 - Tommy Dorsey, Mahanoy Plane Pa, orch leader

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Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular band from the late '30s into the 1950s. Dorsey had a reputation for being a perfectionist. He was volatile and also known to hire and fire (and sometimes rehire) musicians based on his mood.

William E. "Billy" May (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter.

2011-11-10T01:02:00.000-08:00

William E. "Billy" May (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet (1966), Batman (with Batgirl theme, 1967),and Naked City (1960) and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven (1981), and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among others.
May also wrote arrangements for many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mercer, Ella Fitzgerald, Jack Jones, Bing Crosby, Sandler and Young, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Mae Morse.
As a trumpet player, during the 1940s big-band era, May recorded such songs as "Measure for Measure", "Long Tall Mama", and "Boom Shot", with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra,and "The Wrong Idea", "Lumby", and "Wings Over Manhattan" with Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra.With his own band, he had a hit single, "Charmaine" and released an album, Sorta-May.

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Benny Goodman Earle Theater Philadelphia PA

2011-11-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Benny Goodman Camel Caravan radio show from Earle Theatre Philadelphia 02/14/1939. With Johnny Mercer and Martha Tilton.
Link:
to site

Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown PA

2011-11-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Sunnybrook Ballroom has been host to some of the greatest bands in the world for the past 60 plus years. Designed before microphones and PA systems the hall is an acoustic marvel. You can REALLY hear a pin drop on the stage from any spot on it's gigantic wooden dance floor. Louis Armstrong to Maynard Ferguson and every band you can think of has played this magnificent ballroom.

Radio Remote (OTR) Broadcast | Ballroom Web Site
Camel caravan Script of a Vaughn Monore Broadcast from Sunnybrook

Phil Spitalny and his all girl orchestra

2011-11-07T04:47:00.000-08:00

Phil Spitalny (November 7, 1890, Tetiev, Ukraine (territory of Russian Empire) – October 11, 1970, Miami Beach, Florida) was a musician, music critic, composer and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose to fame after he brought together an orchestra with only female musicians, a novelty at the time.

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Jan Garber, November 5, 1894 – October 5, 1977 American bandleader

2011-11-05T04:04:00.000-07:00

Garber was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He had his own band by the time he was 21 (around 1917). He became known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman and Guy Lombardo. Garber played violin with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra after World War I and formed the Garber-Davis Orchestra with pianist Milton Davis from 1921–1924. After parting with Davis, he formed his own orchestra, playing both "sweet" and "hot" 1920s dance music. He was hit hard by the Great Depression, and in the 1930s, he refashioned his ensemble into a big band and recorded a string of successful records for Victor. During World War II, Garber began playing swing jazz, a rather unexpected turn; his arranger during this time was Gray Rains and his vocalist was Liz Tilton. The recording restrictions in America during the war eventually made his ensemble unfeasible, and he returned to "sweet" music after the war, continuing to lead ensembles nearly up until the time of his death in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1977.

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Albert Boyd Raeburn (October 27, 1913 – August 2, 1966) was an American jazz bandleader and bass saxophonist.

2011-10-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Raeburn’s bands kept failing and rebuilding throughout the 1940s. Between October 1945 and November 1946 he recorded his best discs (in terms of both performance and sound quality) for drummer Ben Pollack’s tiny Jewel label. These records, too, had little or no distribution. After one of his several bankruptcies the band was infused with cash thanks to a very generous donation from famed bandleader Duke Ellington, himself an avid fan of Raeburn. The Raeburn band made their last records, four sides featuring vocalist Ginny Powell (who had become Mrs. Raeburn in 1945), for Nesuhi Ertegun’s fledgling Atlantic label in August, 1947. Despite several attempts at trying to score pop hits for a mass market (“Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet,” “Rip Van Winkle,” and “How High the Moon” with Powell among them), the Raeburn band consistently failed to find any mass marketing niche. It finally folded for good in the fall of 1949.

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Charlie Barnet American bandleader.

2011-10-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle". Charlie Barnet was born in New York City. His parents divorced when he was two, and he was raised by his mother and her grandparents. His grandfather was Charles Frederick Daly, a vice-president for the New York Central Railroad, banker, and businessman. Barnet attended various boarding schools, both in the New York and Chicago areas. He learned to play piano and saxophone as a child. He often left school to listen to music and to try to gain work as a musician.

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Latin bandleader Edmundo Ros dies at age 100

2011-10-22T08:29:00.001-07:00

Band leader Edmundo Ros, the man credited with popularising Latin American music in the UK, has died at the age of 100. His death was confirmed by showbusiness charity the Grand Order of Water Rats. Secretary John Adrian said: "He died last night peacefully at his home in Spain, two months short of his 101st birthday". Ros received an OBE for services to entertainment in the New Year Honours of 2000. Edmundo William Ros OBE (7 December 1910 – 21 October 2011) was a Trinidadian musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain.

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Roger Wolfe Kahn (October 19, 1907 – July 12, 1962)

2011-10-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

Roger Wolfe Kahn was an American jazz and popular musician, composer, and bandleader ("Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra"). Kahn (Wolff was his middle name's original spelling) was born in Morristown, New Jersey into a wealthy German Jewish banking family. His father was Otto Hermann Kahn, a famous banker and patron of the arts. Otto and Roger Kahn were the first father and son to appear separately on the cover of Time magazine: Otto in November 1925 and Roger in September 1927, aged 19. Kahn is said to have learned to play 18 musical instruments before starting to lead his own orchestra in 1923, aged only 16. In 1925, Kahn appeared in a short film made in Lee De Forest's Phonofilm sound-on-film process. Kahn hired famous jazz musicians of the day to play in his band, especially during recording sessions, for example Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden, Red Nichols, and Gene Krupa.

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October 10, 1918 Birthday of band leader Bobby Byrne

2011-10-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

Bobby Byrne joined the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra at 16, then became trombone soloist in Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra following their split in 1935. Byrne formed his own band in 1940, hiring Don Redman as arranger in 1941. He organized another band after he completed military service in 1946, then became a freelance musician in New York.

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Vaughn Monroe birthday October 7

2011-10-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

Vaughn Monroe por gpollen

Vaughn Wilton Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.

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Buddy Rich birthday September 30

2011-09-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.

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Buddy Rich & Frank Sinatra por Hanvak

Ted Weems birthday September 26

2011-09-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

Wilfred Theodore (Ted) Weems (originally Wemyes) (26 September 1901 - 6 May 1963) was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Del Courtney birthday September 21, 1910

2011-09-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

His entertainment career spanned seven decades from the 1930s to the turn of the century, embracing recordings, radio, television, films, music and football. He was widely known in Oakland, Calif., and San Francisco, and he performed at all the top clubs in America in his heyday. Courtney was born in Oakland on Sept. 24, 1910. Died 11 February 2006.

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Jack McCormick birthday September 16

2011-09-16T02:29:00.000-07:00

John Alfred (Jack) McCormick was born in Bootle, Liverpool, England on September 16, 1906. He was the first child born to John Joseph McCormick and Jane Elizabeth (Hodgeson) McCormick and was one of four children. He had two brothers, George and Cyril and a sister Amy. He had a few jobs as a young man, but finally chose his love of music as his career. He was very versatile, and could play quite a few instruments as well as leading the band; the violin, tenor and soprano saxophones as well as the clarinet. He eventually formed his own band in the early 1930's called "Jack McCormick and his Ambassadors" and they would play all over the area for various functions, especially at the Rialto Ballroom in Liverpool, where they played for " Dances". His signature tune was "Tea For Two". It was at these dances that he met his wife, Ethelwin Harrison, she would come there with her sister Kathleen.

Dance Band Encyclopdia

Bert Ambrose birthday 15 September 1896

2011-09-15T02:06:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Baruch Ambrose (15 September 1896 – 11 June 1971), known professionally as Ambrose or Bert Ambrose, was an English bandleader and violinist. Ambrose become the leader of a highly acclaimed English dance band, the Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra, in the 1930s.

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Shep Fields birthday September 12

2011-09-12T01:51:00.000-07:00

Shep Fields (September 12, 1910 – February 23, 1981) was the band leader for the "Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm" orchestra during the Big Band era of the 1930s.

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Raymond Scott born September 10

2011-09-10T00:58:00.000-07:00

Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow, 10 September 1908 – 8 February 1994), was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor.
Although Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by Carl Stalling in over 120 classic Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and other Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated shorts. Scott's melodies have also been heard in twelve Ren & Stimpy episodes (that used the original Scott recordings), while making cameos in The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, and Batfink. (The only music Scott actually composed to accompany animation were three 20-second electronic commercial jingles for County Fair Bread in 1962.)

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Jan Savitt Orchestra at KYW

2011-09-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Trivia question:
What transcription recording is located in the cornerstone of the KYW building 1619 Walnut St. Philadelphia?
Ans:

39714. Jan Savitt and The Top Hatters. September 14, 1937. KYW, Philadelphia. Sustaining. The first broadcast from the new and still incomplete studios of KYW at 1619 Walnut Street. The announcer says that a recording of this broadcast will be placed in the cornerstone of the building. The first tune is "Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?" Bon Bon, Carlotta Dale, Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters. 24:13. Audio condition: Very good to excellent. Complete.

Gus Arnheim birthday September 4, 1897

2011-09-04T02:08:00.000-07:00

Gus Arnheim (September 4, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – January 19, 1955 in Los Angeles, California) was an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. He also had a few small acting roles. In 1930-31, Arnheim had an extended engagement at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles. When Paul Whiteman finished filming The King of Jazz for Universal, The Rhythm Boys vocal trio, consisting of Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker decided to stay in California and they signed up with Arnheim's band. While the Rhythm Boys only recorded one song with Arnheim, "Them There Eyes", which also happened to be The Rhythm Boys final recording, Arnheim's Orchestra backed Crosby on a number of songs released by Victor Records in 1931. These popular records, coupled with Arnheim's radio broadcasts featuring Crosby's solo vocals, were a key element to the beginning of Crosby's popularity as a crooner.

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Lester Lanin birthday August 26, 1907

2011-08-26T02:10:00.000-07:00

Nathaniel Lester Lanin born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. he died Oct. 27, 2004, New York City. Lanin was an American jazz and pop music bandleader.

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Bob Crosby birthday August 23, 1913

2011-08-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

George Robert "Bob" Crosby (August 23, 1913, Spokane, Washington – March 9, 1993, La Jolla, California) was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.

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Bob Crosby - Big Noise From Winnetka - 1943 por redhotjazz\\

Count Basie birthday August 21, 1904

2011-08-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years. Many notable musicians came to prominence under his direction, including tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison and singers Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams. Basie's theme songs were "One O'Clock Jump" and "April In Paris".

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Jack Teagarden birthday August 20, 1905

2011-08-20T01:45:00.000-07:00

Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905–January 15, 1964), known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".

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Larry Clinton (August 17, 1909 – May 2, 1985) American bandleader

2011-08-17T01:18:00.000-07:00

Larry Clinton was born in Brooklyn, New York. He became a versatile musician, capable of playing trumpet, trombone, and clarinet. While in his twenties, he became a prolific arranger for dance orchestras; bandleaders Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Glen Gray, Louis Armstrong, and Bunny Berigan all used Larry Clinton charts.
His first stint as a bandleader was from 1937 to 1941, and he recorded a string of hits for Victor Records. The Clinton band's repertoire was split between pop tunes of the day ("I Double Dare You," "Summer Souvenirs," etc.), ambitious instrumentals penned by Clinton (the most popular, "A Study in Brown," begat four sequels in different "colors"). and swing adaptations of classical compositions.

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Skinnay Ennis birthday August 13

2011-08-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

Edgar Clyde "Skinnay" Ennis, Jr. (August 13, 1907 - June 3, 1963) was an American jazz and pop music bandleader and singer.
Ennis was born in Salisbury, North Carolina and met Hal Kemp while attending the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. He joined Kemp's orchestra as a drummer and vocalist in the late 1920s, playing with him through 1937 including one tour of Europe in 1930. Following this Ennis put together his own band, which became a popular ensemble in Hollywood films. "Got a Date With an Angel" was his theme song. During this time Gil Evans was one of his arrangers. He also did comedy routines, and landed a job on Bob Hope's radio program from 1938 through 1946. He conducted his own service band during World War II and returned to Hollywood bandleading at the war's end.
Toward the end of the 1950s Ennis's career had faded, and he worked mostly in hotels in the Los Angeles area. He choked to death on a bone while eating dinner at a restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1963.

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Claude Thornhill birthday August 10

2011-08-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

Claude Thornhill (10 August 1908 at Terre Haute, Indiana – 1 July 1965, New Jersey) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards "Snowfall" and "I Wish I Had You", which was recorded by Billie Holiday.

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LES ELGART Birthday August 3

2011-08-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

Les Elgart (August 3, 1917, New Haven, Connecticut-July 29, 1995, Dallas, Texas) was an American swing jazz bandleader and trumpeter.
Les Elgart began playing trumpet as a teenager, and by age 20 had landed professional gigs. In the 1940s he played in bands led by Raymond Scott, Charlie Spivak, and Harry James, and occasionally found himself in bands alongside brother Larry. Together they put together their own Les & Larry Elgart Ensemble in 1945, hiring Nelson Riddle, Ralph Flanagan, and Bill Finegan to do arrangements. The union was short-lived, however, due to the Musician's Union recording strike and the waning of swing jazz's popularity; they split in 1946.
In 1952, the pair reunited and released a substantial number of albums on Columbia Records, many to considerable sales success. Among their better-known tunes is "Bandstand Boogie", which was used by Dick Clark as the theme song for American Bandstand. Later in the 1950s Les moved away from performing to handling the band's business end, and had essentially stopped performing by the end of the decade.
In 1963, the pair reunited, hiring arrangers like Charles Albertine and Bobby Scott for material that tended more toward the contemporary easy listening sound. Les continued to work until his death from heart failure in Dallas, Texas in 1995.
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Don Redman birthday July 29

2011-07-29T03:24:00.000-07:00

Donald Matthew Redman (July 29, 1900 – November 30, 1964) was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader and composer.
Redman was announced as a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame on May 6, 2009.
Redman was born in Piedmont, West Virginia. His father was a music teacher, his mother was a singer. Don began playing the trumpet at the age of 3, joined his first band at 6 and by age 12 he was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano. He studied at Storer's College in Harper's Ferry and at the Boston Conservatory, then joined Billy Page's Broadway Syncopaters in New York City. (He was the uncle of saxophonist Dewey Redman, and thus great-uncle of saxophonist Joshua Redman and trumpeter Carlos Redman.)

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Peter Duchin birthday July 28

2011-07-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Peter Duchin was born in New York City, 1937, the son of pianist and band leader Eddy Duchin. His mother was Marjorie Oelrichs, a Newport, Rhode Island and New York City socialite who died unexpectedly when he was just five days old. He was raised by close family friends, statesman W. Averell Harriman and his wife, Marie Norton Whitney Harriman. Duchin was educated at Eaglebrook and Hotchkiss prep schools in New England. He spent time in Paris, France and studied at the Sorbonne before returning home and graduating from Yale University. Duchin's music was much-heard on MOR radio in the late 1960s and early 70s from albums and singles released on the Decca, Bell and Capitol labels.

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BOB EBERLY birthday 24 JULY

2011-07-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

Bob Eberly (July 24, 1916, Mechanicville, New York — November 17, 1981, Glen Burnie, Maryland) was a big band vocalist, best-known for his association with Jimmy Dorsey and his duets with Helen O'Connell. Eberly was born Robert Eberle, but changed the spelling of his surname slightly to Eberly. His younger brother Ray was also a big-band singer, most notably with Glenn Miller's orchestra. Their father, John A. Eberle, was a policeman, sign-painter, and publican (tavern-keeper). Another brother, Al, was a Hoosick Falls, New York village trustee. He recorded the original version of "I'm Glad There Is You" in 1942 with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra on Decca Records, 4197B. The song subsequently became a jazz and pop standard.

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BUDDY BREGMAN

2011-07-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Buddy Bregman (born 9 July 1930) is an American musical arranger, record producer and composer.
He has worked with many of the greatest musical artists of 20th Century popular music including; Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Matt Monro, and Frank Sinatra.
Born in Chicago, he studied at UCLA and during his sophomore year, wrote 'I Need Your Lovin' with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller which subsequently became his first hit record.
As an arranger, conductor and the A&R head of Norman Granz's newly established Verve Records, he also scored and orchestrated many major motion pictures including; 'The Pajama Game, Crime in the Streets, Secret of the Purple Reef and several others.
1956 saw Bregman orchestrate and arrange three albums which subsequently went platinum, and which still remain today one of his greatest achievements.
Two of the albums represented the commencement of Ella Fitzgerald's epic 'Songbooks' project.
Bregman's intelligent and sensitive arrangements for Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook, and Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook would establish Fitzgerald as an international star, and secure her legacy as one of the supreme interpreters of the Great American Songbook. Bregman also arranged several of Fitzgerald's early Verve singles.
Bing Crosby's 1956 album Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings which Bregman also arranged and conducted also later went platinum.

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book about Philadelphia Radio

2011-07-07T14:50:00.001-07:00

Just Released: New paperback book about start and growth of radio broadcasting industry in PHILADELPHIA, PA...
Philadelphia radio broadcasting began in 1922, when the city's first officially licensed stations went on the air. Within a few years, what had begun as a small, experimental medium became a full-fledged craze as families listened to live news, sports, and entertainment for the first time. In 1932, the first building designed for radio broadcasting opened on Chestnut Street, coinciding with the golden age of radio that featured live orchestras, soap operas, and imaginative dramas. In the 1950s, a few stations began playing rock and roll, and Philadelphia became known as a city that not only produced hit music but also consistently broke new acts. By the 1970s, FM radio began to grab the majority of listeners, and once again Philadelphia stations were responsible for breaking new artists, such as Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.
About the Author
Alan Boris is a local radio historian and the founder/director of the Philadelphia Radio Archives. In Philadelphia Radio, he has compiled a collection of rarely seen images from a variety of sources, including Philadelphia radio personalities, listeners, stations, and historical societies.

order here: Philadelphia Radio (Images of America)available at Amazon.com

"Doc" Severinsen

2011-07-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927) is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Starting in 1952 during Steve Allen's tenure as host of NBC-TV's Tonight, Doc Severinsen played first trumpet in the band directed by Skitch Henderson. Severinsen took over as bandleader in 1967 and soon became noted for his flashy fashions. Under the direction of Severinsen, the The Tonight Show NBC Orchestra became the most visible big band in America. In addition to playing incidental music for sketch comedy, guest introductions, and intermission music during station breaks, Severinsen took the opportunity to update many well known swing and jazz standards for it, often introducing new listeners to classics by Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. Adept at comic interplay, Severinsen occasionally substituted for Ed McMahon as Allen successor Johnny Carson's announcer and sidekick. Still, he took his role as band leader on seriously.

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JACK HYLTON

2011-07-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jack Hylton (2 July 1892, Great Lever, Bolton, Lancashire – 29 January 1965, London) was a British band leader and impresario. He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage. Jack later sang to the customers when his father bought a pub in nearby Little Lever, becoming known as the "Singing Mill-Boy". He also performed as a relief pianist for various bands. His early career involved moving to London as a pianist in the 400 club and playing with the Stroud Haxton Band. During the first world war he moved to be a musical director of the band of the 20th Hussars and the Director of the Army Entertainment Division. After the war he went on to play with the Queen's Dance Orchestra where he wrote arrangements of popular songs and had them recorded under the label 'Directed by Jack Hylton'. He went on from here to form his own band, recording the new style of jazz derived American dance music under the Jack Hylton name from 1923. Hylton became a respected band leader with a busy schedule; his band had developed into an orchestra and toured America and Europe into the 1940s until it disbanded due to the war. He became a director and major shareholder of the new Decca record label.

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Alvino Rey

2011-06-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

Alvin McBurney (July 1, 1908 — February 2, 2004), known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and pioneer, often credited as the father of the pedal steel guitar. He was mainly associated with orchestral, big band and swing music, and towards the end of his career, jazz and exotica.

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Richard Maltby, Sr

2011-06-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Richard Eldridge Maltby, Sr. (June 26, 1914 – August 19, 1991) was an American musician, conductor, arranger and bandleader, most notable for his 1956 recording (Themes From) "The Man With the Golden Arm". He was also the father of the Broadway lyricist and director Richard Maltby, Jr.
After studying briefly at Northwestern University's music school, he left college to become a full time musician. He played trumpet with several big bands, including those of Little Jack Little, Roger Pryor, Bob Strong and Henry Busse, as well as also doing some arranging. In 1940, he took a job as an arranger for the orchestra of the Chicago-based radio station, WBBM, before moving to New York in 1945 to become an arranger-conductor on network radio, where he worked with Paul Whiteman. In 1942, Benny Goodman recorded his composition "Six Flats Unfurnished."

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Ben Pollack

2011-06-22T01:01:00.000-07:00

(June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971) was a drummer and bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to either discover or employ, at one time or another, musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland and Harry James. This ability earned him the nickname "Father of Swing".
Born in Chicago, Illinois to a well-to-do family, Pollack was largely self taught as a drummer, and was afforded the opportunity to become the drummer for the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, a top jazz outfit, in the early '20s. In 1924 he played for several outfits, including some on the west coast, which ultimately led to his forming a band there in 1925. One of the earliest members of his band was Gil Rodin, a saxophonist whose sharp business acumen served him well later as an executive for the Music Corporation of America (MCA). Rodin also served as the "straw boss' for Pollack along with the young arranger-trombonist Glenn Miller. Already recognized as immensely talented on the clarinet, sixteen-year-old Benny Goodman began working with Pollack in 1925 as well.

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GUY LOMBARDO

2011-06-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist. Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven." The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million phonograph records during their lifetimes.

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Kay Kaiser | Ray McKinley

2011-06-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ray McKinley (June 18, 1910 –May 7, 1995) was an American jazz drummer, singer, and bandleader.
McKinley got his start working with local bands in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, before joining Smith Ballew in 1929, when he met Glenn Miller. The two formed a friendship which lasted from 1929 until Miller's death in 1944. McKinley and Miller joined the Dorsey Brothers in 1934. Miller left for Ray Noble in December 1934, while McKinley remained. The Dorsey Brothers band became Jimmy's after Tommy left and formed his own band in 1935.
McKinley remained with Jimmy until 1939, when he joined Will Bradley, becoming co-leader. His biggest hit with Bradley, as a singer, was "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," which he recorded early in the year 1940, (and for which McKinley got partial songwriting credit under his wife's maiden name Eleanore Sheehy). He is referred to as "Eight Beat Mack" in the lyrics to the song "Down the Road a Piece," which he recorded as a trio with Will Bradley and Freddie Slack in 1940. This was the earliest recording of the song, which was written specifically for Bradley's band by Don Raye. McKinley and Bradley split in 1942 and McKinley formed his own band, which recorded for Capitol Records. The McKinley band was short-lived. When McKinley broke up the band, he joined Glenn Miller's Army Air Force band, which he co-led with arranger Jerry Gray after Miller's disappearance in December 1944. Upon being discharged at the end of the following year, McKinley formed an excellent, remarkably modern big band that featured a book of original material by legendary arranger Eddie Sauter (along with a helping of novelty vocals by the leader). Sam Butera, later of the back up band for Louis Prima was also a member. But with the business in decline, by 1950 that band was history and McKinley began evolving into a part-time leader and sometime radio and TV personality. In 1956, capitalizing on the popularity of The Glenn Miller Story movie with James Stewart, McKinley was chosen to be the leader of the revived Glenn Miller band, which he led until 1966. He co-hosted (with former Air Force band vocalist Johnny Desmond) a 13-week CBS-TV summer series with the band on CBS-TV in 1961. Ray McKinley's last recording session was in 1977 for Chirascuro records.

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James Kern (“Kay”) Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985) was a popular bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster (Howell) Kyser, and a cousin of editor Vermont C. Royster. Kyser graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was senior class president, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Because of his popularity and enthusiasm as a cheerleader, he was invited by Hal Kemp to take over as bandleader when Kemp ventured north to further his career. He began taking clarinet lessons but was better as an entertaining announcer than a musician. He adopted the initial of his middle name as part of his stage name, for its alliterative effect.

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Jimmie Lunceford

2011-06-06T02:28:00.000-07:00

James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford (June 6, 1902 – July 12, 1947) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era. Lunceford was born in Fulton, Mississippi. Little is known about his parents, though his father was a choirmaster in Warren, Ohio, before the family moved to Denver. He went to high school in Denver and studied music under Wilberforce J. Whiteman, father of Paul Whiteman, whose band was soon to acquire a national reputation. After high school he continued his studies at Fisk University. During 1922, Lunceford played alto saxophone in a local band led by George Morrison which included Andy Kirk, another musician destined for fame as a bandleader.

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Kurt Edelhagen

2011-06-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Born 5 June 1920 in Herne, died 8 February 1982 in Köln, Edelhagen was a major European big band leader throughout the 1950s. After having studied clarinet and piano in Essen, he set up his multicultural big band, which over the years would include many big names in jazz in Europe, including Francy Boland (who would later set up his own, famed multicultural big band), Ron Simmonds Charly Antolini, Jiggs Whigham, Claus Ogerman, Jimmy Deuchar, Duško Gojković, Rick Kiefer, Ronnie Stephenson, Gerd Dudek, Wilton Gaynair, Derek Humble, Shake Keane and Tubby Hayes.
Closely associated with the radio station Südwestfunk (SWF), in 1953 Edelhagen took on Caterina Valente as a singer for his big band, and together they recorded her first album that same year. In 1957 Popular singer Tony Sandler recorded several songs (s.a.'Ik weet wat je vraagt') with his orchestra for the POLYDOR label. . In 1957 Kurt Edelhagen moved to Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne where he led the station's big band until his contract ran out in 1972.
His Radio Orchestra played at the opening ceremony of the 1972 Munich Olympics. ---Wikipedia

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Benny Goodman

2011-05-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".
In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. His January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."
Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major names in jazz, and during an era of segregation, he also led one of the first racially-integrated musical groups. Goodman continued to perform to nearly the end of his life, including exploring his interest in classical music.
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ARTIE SHAW

2011-05-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

Arthur Jacob Arshawsky (May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004), better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings. Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists," Shaw led one of America's most popular big bands of the late 1930s and early '40s. Their signature song, a 1938 version of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine," was a wildly successful single and one of the era's defining recordings. Musically restless, Shaw was also an early proponent of Third Stream, which blended classical and jazz, and recorded some small-group sessions that flirted with be-bop before retiring from music in 1954.

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Tommy Tucker

2011-05-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

Born Gerlald L. Duppler, May 18, 1903, in Souris, ND, he changed to his stage name, Tommy Tucker, in 1918. He later received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of North Dakota in 1924, majored in Music and was recognized as Phi Betta Kappa. Shortly after college, Tucker organized a small band and played at a fairground pavilion in Minot, ND. They played at the Breen Hotel in St. Cloud, MN that winter, and then in the summer of 1926 they played at a popular resort in Detriot, MN—The Pettibone Lodge. The group began to travel and landed in California. His first recordings were with Crown Records in 1933, and recorded under the name Tommy Tucker and His Californians. He used the name Tommy Tucker and His Orchestra for his next recordings for Brunswick in 1935. With Columbia records dominant, Tucker recorded over one thousand sides for over 10 record companies. When the band first toured the country, Tucker devised his own marketing approach. When he planned a route, Tucker would send telegraph messages to various towns announcing that he was traveling through the area, and asked if the proprietor of a venue would like to book him. Later in the early thirties, Joe Galkin became the orchestra's official manager who planned all bookings and arrangements for travel.

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Woody Herman

2011-05-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987), known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders. His bands often played music that was experimental for their time.

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OZZIE NELSON

2011-04-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

Oswald George "Ozzie" Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975) was an American entertainer and band leader who originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet radio and television series with his wife and two sons. Ozzie started his entertainment career as a band leader. He formed and led the Ozzie Nelson Band, and had some initial limited success. He made his own "big break" in 1930. The New York Daily Mirror ran a poll of its readers to determine their favorite band. He knew that news vendors got credit from the newspaper for unsold copies by returning the front page and discarding the rest of the issue. Gathering hundreds of discarded newspapers, the band filled out ballots in their favor. They edged out Paul Whiteman and were pronounced the winners. From 1930 through the 1940s, Nelson's band recorded prolifically—first on Brunswick (1930–1933), then Vocalion (1933–1934), then back to Brunswick (1934–1936), Bluebird (1937–1941), Victor (1941) and finally back to Bluebird (1941-through the 1940s). Nelson's records were consistently popular and in 1934 Nelson enjoyed success with his hit song, "Over Somebody Else's Shoulder" which he introduced. Nelson was their primary vocalist and (from August 1932) featured in duets with his other star vocalist, Harriet Hilliard. Nelson's calm, easy vocal style was popular on records and radio and quite similar to son Rick's voice and Harriet's perky vocals added to the band's popularity.

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Orrin Tucker dies at 100 years of age

2011-04-19T12:34:00.001-07:00

Orrin Tucker (February 17, 1911 - April 9, 2011) was an American former bandleader, born in St. Louis, Missouri, whose theme song was Drifting and Dreaming. Tucker's biggest hit was 1939's Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!, sung by vocalist "Wee" Bonnie Baker. Tucker and his orchestra remained active until the 1990s, when health problems forced him to retire. Tucker died at 100 in California. His orchestra had the 1939 hit "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" and he later owned the Stardust Ballroom in Los Angeles. Daughter Nora Compere tells the Los Angeles Times that Tucker died on April 9 in the San Gabriel Valley. He formed a band in 1933 and recorded his version of the 1917 song with vocalist Evelyn Nelson. Tucker made more than 70 records in all, including several million-selling hits.

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SAMMY KAYE

2011-04-13T04:04:00.000-07:00

Sammy Kaye (March 13, 1910–June 2, 1987), born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.

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Helen Forrest

2011-04-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

(April 12, 1917 – July 11, 1999) was one of the most popular female jazz vocalists during America's Big Band era. Helen Forrest was born Helen Fogel to a Jewish family in Atlantic City, New Jersey on April 12, 1917. She first sang with her brother's band at the age of 10, and later began her career singing on CBS radio under the name Bonnie Blue.
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Red Norvo

2011-03-31T04:55:00.000-07:00

Red Norvo (March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments. His major recordings included "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse", "Knockin' on Wood", "Congo Blues", and "Hole in the Wall".

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TED HEATH

2011-03-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Ted Heath, musician and big band leader, led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums and selling over 20 million records. Considered the most famous and successful band in Britain it remained active for 55 years until 2000.

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PAUL WHITEMAN

2011-03-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader and orchestral director.
Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz." Using a large ensemble and exploring many styles of music, Whiteman is perhaps best known for his blending of symphonic music and jazz, as typified by his 1924 commissioning and debut of George Gershwin's jazz-influenced "Rhapsody In Blue". Whiteman recorded many jazz and pop standards during his career, including "Wang Wang Blues", "Mississippi Mud", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Wonderful One", "Hot Lips", "Mississippi Suite", and "Grand Canyon Suite". His popularity faded in the swing music era of the 1930s, and by the 1940s Whiteman was semi-retired from music.

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HAL KEMP

2011-03-27T03:05:00.001-07:00

Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 – December 21, 1940) was a jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. He was born in Marion, Alabama and died in Madera, California following an auto accident. Art Jarrett took on leadership of Kemp's orchestra in 1941. His major recordings were "There's a Small Hotel", "Where or When", "This Year's Kisses", "When I'm With You", "Got a Date With an Angel" and "Three Little Fishies".

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LARRY ELGART

2011-03-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

Larry Elgart (born March 20, 1922) is an American jazz bandleader, who with his brother, Les, recorded the original rendition of "Bandstand Boogie", theme to the long-running teen dance show, American Bandstand. Both brothers began playing in jazz ensembles in their teens, and while young Larry played with jazz musicians such as Charlie Spivak, Woody Herman, Red Norvo, Freddie Slack, and Tommy Dorsey. In the mid-1940's, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan, and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.

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Harry James

2011-03-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

Henry Haag “Harry” James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician and bandleader. James was an instrumentalist of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that made his trumpet work identifiable. He was one of the most popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later.

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Dancin' with Anson Weeks

2011-03-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

1896 Anson Weeks (1896–1969) was leader of a popular West Coast dance band in the late 1920s through the 1960s, primarily in San Francisco.

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LES BROWN

2011-03-14T02:52:00.001-07:00

Les Brown, Sr. (March 14, 1912 – January 4, 2001) and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. The band now performs under the direction of his son Les Brown, Jr.

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TEX BENEKE

2011-03-12T04:40:00.000-08:00

1914 Gordon Lee Beneke (February 12, 1914 - May 30, 2000, professionally known as Tex Beneke, was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. He also solos on the recording the Glenn Miller Orchestra made of their popular song, "In The Mood" and sings on another popular Glenn Miller recording, "Chattanooga Choo Choo". Jazz critic Will Friedwald considers Beneke to be one of the major blues singers that sang with the big bands of the early 1940s.

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Orrin Tucker 100 years old

2011-02-17T03:47:00.000-08:00

Orrin Tucker (born February 17, 1911) was an American former bandleader, born in St. Louis, Missouri, whose theme song was Drifting and Dreaming. Tucker's biggest hit was 1939's Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!, sung by vocalist "Wee" Bonnie Baker. Tucker and his orchestra remained active until the 1990s, when health problems forced him to retire. Tucker died at 100 in California. His orchestra had the 1939 hit "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" and he later owned the Stardust Ballroom in Los Angeles. Daughter Nora Compere tells the Los Angeles Times that Tucker died on April 9 in the San Gabriel Valley. He formed a band in 1933 and recorded his version of the 1917 song with vocalist Evelyn Nelson. Tucker made more than 70 records in all, including several million-selling hits.

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Charlie Spivak

2011-02-17T03:37:00.000-08:00

Charlie Spivak (17 February 1905 or 1907–1 March 1982) was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s. with the encouragement and financial backing of Glenn Miller, he formed his own band in November 1939. Though it failed within a year, he tried again shortly afterwords, this time taking over Bill Downer's band. Spivak's band was one of the most successful in the 1940s, and survived until 1959.

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ELLIOT LAWRENCE

2011-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Elliot Lawrence (born Elliott Lawrence Broza, February 14, 1925) is an American jazz pianist and bandleader. Son of the broadcaster Stan Lee Broza, Lawrence led his first dance band at age 20, but he played swing at the time its heyday was coming to a close. He recorded copiously as a bandleader for Columbia, Decca, King, Fantasy, Vik, and Sesac between 1946 and 1960. He was a host of the DuMont Television Network program Melody Street (1953-1954). After 1960, Lawrence gave up jazz and began composing and arranging for television, film, and stage. He won two Tony Awards in 1961 and 1962.

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Blanche Calloway

2011-02-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

Blanche Calloway (February 9, 1904 - December 16, 1978) was a Jazz singer, bandleader, and composer from Baltimore, Maryland. She is not as well known as her younger brother Cab Calloway, but she may have been the first woman to lead an all male orchestra. Cab Calloway often credited her with being the reason he got into show business. She made her first recordings in 1925, with Louis Armstrong as a sideman on the session.
She recorded with a number of groups from the late 1920s through 1935, recording with Ruben Reeves and his River Boys in 1929 and fronting the Andy Kirk band briefly before forming Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys (with several members of that organization). In 1938 she disbanded the orchestra and worked as a solo act. In 1939 she converted to the Church of Christ, Scientist
From the 1950s through the 1970s, she worked as a disc jockey and later program director at WMBM in Florida.

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Ray Anthony

2011-01-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Ray Anthony

(born Raymond Antonini, January 20, 1922, Bentleyville, Pennsylvania) is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.

Wikipedia

XAVIER CUGAT

2011-01-03T01:54:00.000-08:00

Xavier Cugat (1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Catalan-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman. In New York, his was the resident orchestra at the Waldorf-Astoria before and after World War II.

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VINCENT LOPEZ

2011-01-03T00:52:00.000-08:00

VINCENT LOPEZ While historians appear unsure of Vincent Lopez's birth year, probably 1895, it is certain that he was born on the 30th of December, in Brooklyn, NY, USA

Vincent Lopez died 20 September 1975 in Miami, Florida. He was an American bandleader and pianist. Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York and was leading his own dance band in New York City by 1917. On November 27, 1921 his band began broadcasting on the new medium of entertainment radio; the band's weekly 90-minute show on Newark, NJ station WJZ boosted the popularity of both himself and of radio. He became one of America's most popular bandleaders, and would retain that status through the 1940s. He began his radio programs by announcing "Lopez speaking!".His theme song was "Nola," Felix Arndt's novelty ragtime piece of 1915, and Lopez became so identified with it that he occasionally satirized it. (His 1939 movie short for Vitaphone, Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra, features the entire band singing "Down with Nola.") Lopez worked occasionally in feature films, notably The Big Broadcast (1932). He was also one of the very first bandleaders to work in Soundies movie musicals, in 1940. He made additional Soundies in 1944. Noted musicians who played in his band included Artie Shaw, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Mike Mosiello and Glenn Miller.
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CLYDE McCOY

2010-12-30T00:14:00.000-08:00

Clyde McCoy was born in Ashland, Kentucky, December 29, 1903 and he died June 11, 1990 in Memphis, Tennessee, a famous jazz trumpet player, is best remembered for his theme song, Sugar Blues, and popularity spanning seven decades. The song hit in 1931 and 1935, in Columbia and Decca versions, and returned to Billboard Magazine's Country (Hillbilly) chart in 1941. Johnny Mercer had a vocal hit in 1947.

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Ralph Marterie

2010-12-24T02:07:00.000-08:00

(Born: 24 December 1914 - Death: 10 October 1978) was a big-band leader born in Acerra, Italy.
In the 1940s, he played trumpet for various bands. His highest success in the U.S. charts was a cover of "Skokiaan" in 1954. In 1953 he recorded a version of Bill Haley's "Crazy, Man, Crazy", which is generally regarded as the first rock and roll song. His version of "Crazy, Man, Crazy" reached #13 on the Billboard jockey chart and #11 on Cashbox in June, 1953. His recordings of "Pretend" and "Caravan" also made the Top 10. "Caravan" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

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Sy Oliver

2010-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

Melvin "Sy" Oliver (Born 17 December 1910 in Battle Creek, Michigan – Death, May 28, 1988 in New York City) was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader. His mother was a piano teacher and his father was a multi-instrumentalist who made a name for himself demonstrating saxophones at a time that instrument was little used outside of marching bands.

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KURT HENKELS

2010-12-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

1910 - Kurt Henkels (Born in Solingen, Germany- Death: July 12th 1986 in Hamburg ) was a German musician and bandleader, his biggest success with the Leipzig Radio Orchestra Dance with Swing titles had.

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Ray Noble

2010-12-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

BORN: 17 December 1903 - Ray Noble (17 Death: 3 April 1978) was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day. The most popular vocalist with Noble's studio band was Al Bowlly.

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STAN KENTON

2010-12-15T00:56:00.000-08:00

Artistry In Rhythm

STAN KENTON
Stanley Newcomb "Stan" Kenton (Born December 15, 1911 Death: August 25, 1979) was a pianist, composer, and arranger who led a highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz orchestra. In later years he was widely active as an educator.
Wikipedia Bio | Search Amazon.com for Stan Kenton

DON SEBESKY

2010-12-11T03:43:00.000-08:00

December 10, 1937, DON SEBESKY was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He is an American jazz trombonist and arranger. He is the winner of three Grammy Awards, and he also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for Parade (1999) and Kiss Me, Kate (2000). He played with Kai Winding, Claude Thornhill, Tommy Dorsey, Warren Covington, Maynard Ferguson, and Stan Kenton. In 1960 he began devoting himself primarily to arranging and conducting; one of his best-known arrangements was for Wes Montgomery's 1965 album Bumpin'. Other credits include George Benson's The Shape of Things to Come, Paul Desmond's From the Hot Afternoon, and Freddie Hubbard's First Light. His 1973 release, Giant Box, hit #16 on the U.S. Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

Wikipedia Bio | Official Site

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PEREZ PRADIO

2010-12-11T02:59:00.000-08:00

Born 11 DECEMBER 1916 PEREZ PRADO

Pérez Prado (Death: September 14, 1989, Mexico City, Mexico) was a Cuban bandleader, musician (singer, organist and pianist), and composer. He is commonly referred to as the "King of the Mambo". In Mambo his orchestra was the most popular, his son, Pérez Prado, Jr., continues to direct the Pérez Prado Orchestra in Mexico City to this day.

Wikipedia Bio | Search Amazon.com for PEREZ PRADO

Buddy Morrow

2010-11-18T21:32:00.000-08:00

Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff, aka Moe Zudekoff; February 8, 1919, New Haven, Connecticut – September 27, 2010) was an American trombonist and bandleader. He is known for his mastery of the upper range which is evident in records such as "The Golden Trombone," as well as his ballad playing. Morrow was once a member of The Tonight Show Band. His early 1950s records such as "Rose, Rose, I Love You" and "Night Train" appeared in the US Billboard charts. "Night Train" reached #23 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1953. He was most recently the leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, through September 24, 2010. Morrow died in the morning on September 27, 2010.

Wikipedia Bio | Search Amazon.com for Buddy Morrow

Avalon Ballroom Catalina Island California

2010-01-06T15:00:00.001-08:00

The Wrigley family's purchase ushered in a golden era for Catalina in the 1920s and 30s, when the Island came to be a sought-after tourist destination. The Wrigleys promoted the island through events such as the 1927 Wrigley Ocean Marathon swim, golf tournaments and hosting The Chicago Cubs for spring training. The casino was open nightly for dancing and many films of the era were filmed on the island, introducing the rich and famous to the island. In the 1930's and 40's, Big Band music was broadcast live from the Avalon Ballroom in the Casino to a nationwide audience. A long list of notable Big Bands entertained visitors in the Casino Ballroom over the years. Maurice Menge and his El Patio Orchestra had the honor of officially opening the building on May 29, 1929 and since that day Big Band sounds have echoed through the building. Many of the bands would play four to six week engagements at the Casino, filling the ballroom every night during the summer season. Visitors had the opportunity to dance to the impressive sounds of Jan Garber, Kay Kyser, Bob Crosby, Dick Jurgens, and Jimmy Grier, just to name a few.
Catalina has hosted such Hollywood luminaries as Charlie Chaplin, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Errol Flynn, Orson Wells and John Wayne. In 1924, a film company brought 14 bison to the Island to make a movie and left them behind. Today this famous herd remains and is maintained by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Presidents, politicians, artists, authors and many thousands of tourists visited Catalina during this storied era.

2010

King Sister.... Yvonne Burch dies at 89

2009-12-17T06:09:00.001-08:00

Yvonne King Burch, who gained early fame as one of the singing King Sisters during the big band era before launching her entire extended musical clan into show business as the King Family, has died. She was 89.

OBIT

The King Sisters

Available Recordings

HUGO STRASSER

2009-11-21T14:02:00.001-08:00

Hugo Strasser was born April 7th 1922 in Munich and became a famous German clarinetist and bandleader. The orchestra is known for its dance music, especially through the album series "Dance Record of the Year" and the musical sound and rhythm-settings in many dance championships. He formed his own 16-man dance band in the post WWII years and still today plays at many balls, including, inter alia, the Carnival balls, the Bayerischer Rundfunks. Many of his band members such as the late tenor saxophonist Werner Tauber, Hans Ehrlinger trombonist, trumpeter Etienne Cap and guitarist Dirk Schweppe were/are outstanding arrangers for their instruments. Although the orchestra has been around for all those years, there were few personnel changes.

Available Recordings

Reci's Oldies: Ambrose & His Orchestra - Plays Cole Porter - Anything Goes

2009-10-08T03:31:00.000-07:00

Reci's Oldies: Ambrose & His Orchestra - Plays Cole Porter - Anything Goes

Kelly's Lounge Soundz: The Andrews Sisters Sing The Dancing 20's (1958)

2009-10-08T03:09:00.000-07:00

Kelly's Lounge Soundz: The Andrews Sisters Sing The Dancing 20's (1958)

Schadenfreudian Therapy: Sophisticated Sixties

2009-09-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Schadenfreudian Therapy: Sophisticated Sixties

2009-07-29T14:39:00.001-07:00

2009-07-29T14:35:00.001-07:00

welcome

2009-07-29T14:31:00.001-07:00

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