To warm everyone up for tonight's "Swing City Radio - New Year's Eve Special", I decided to post a program entitled “Swing Around The Clock”. This program was broadcasted worldwide by the Armed Forces Radio Service to ring in the year 1946. It contains some very good performances by some of the biggest names of the Big Band Era.
The audio for this video is fantastic. It was posted to Youtube by Barry Papiernik and he always does such a great job with his YouTube creations.
Enjoy! ...and I hope you all have a fantastic 2022.
Listen to: The Big Bands Celebrate New Year's Eve
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The classic song, "Begin The Beguine", is one of the most famous and popular recordings of the Big Band Era. It was originally written by Cole Porter in 1935 while aboard an ocean liner. Such a weird place to write a song. On a cruise in the Pacific.
So what is a Beguine anyway? A Beguine is a dance and music form, similar to a slow rumba.
The song was first introduced to the public later in 1935 by June Knight in the Broadway musical, "Jubilee". Xavier Cugat recorded one of the first versions of "Begin The Beguine" with a much stronger Latin sound than later versions. It was recorded as an instrumental track, although Cugat's vocalist, Don Reid, sang the title at the beginning and the end of the song. But the song gained little popularity.
In 1938, "Begin the Beguine" was recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra. Shaw and his lead arranger Jerry Gray, had put together an extended swing version of the tune which gave it a whole new "feel". Their version was an instrumental as well and was released as a B-Side of another Shaw song, "Indian Love Call". "Begin the Beguine" later became one of the best-selling records in 1938, peaking at Number 3, and it launched Artie Shaw and his band to a new level of fame and popularity.
The instrumental version of "Begin the Beguine" was covered by all of the major bands of the era including: Harry James, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were among the vocalists that recorded versions of the song that included the original lyrics.
Listen to: "Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra.
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Today's Soundie is "Dreamsville, Ohio" and was filmed in 1942. It features vocals by Buddy Rogers and Marilyn Maxwell. The music is provided by Hal Bourne and His Orchestra.
The "plot" of this Soundie is road weary bandleader "Biff Morgan" (played by Rogers) along with his band "The Cats" are waiting for a 4am Greyhound Bus. There's a bunch of waiting, a bunch of kissing and a whole bunch of dreaming.
This is a fun little Soundie with Rogers and Maxwell doing a good job with the vocals. Enjoy!
Watch: "Dreamsville, Ohio" featuring Buddy Rogers and Marvel Maxwell
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Bob Chester led a band that was billed as "The New Sensation of the Nation" from the mid-1930's to the mid-1940's. They had a Glenn Miller-influenced sound to them, but in later years, managed to create a style of their own.
Like most bandleaders, Chester began his career as a sideman. He gained a lot of experience playing tenor sax in the orchestras of Irving Aaronson, Ben Bernie, and Ben Pollack. In 1935, Bob Chester put together his first band based in the Detroit area but it proved unsuccessful. About a year or so later he tried again, this time based on the East Coast, and that band did quite well.
By 1939, Bob Chester and His Orchestra had already signed with Bluebird Records and briefly had it's own radio show during the fall of that year. His band also managed to land some minor hits with songs like "From Maine to California", "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie", "Madeliaine", and "A Nickel to My Name". Also, his recording of "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair" became a hit on a national level.
His band included some talented musicians over the years. Names like Peanuts Hucko and Alec Fila immediately come to mind. Chester also featured some very good vocalists as well. His female singers included Dolores O'Neill, Kathleen Lane, and Betty Bradley. His male singers were Gene Howard, Peter Marshall, Bob Haymes, and Al Stuart. Not bad at all.
In the mid-1940's, Chester dissolved his Orchestra because he was losing key bandmembers to the armed forces and the overall decline of the Big Bands was starting to take effect. Chester assembled another band for a short time in the early 1950s, but after it failed he retired from music and returned to Detroit.
Listen to: "Practice Makes Perfect" by Bob Chester and His Orchestra
You can listen to the music of Bob Chester and His Orchestra right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's Soundie is a charming little song from 1942 called "He Plays Gin Rummy" and features vocalists Gale Storm and Iris Dawn. The Ted Fio Rito and His Skylined Music provide the music. The credits listed on Youtube claim that this is from 1948 with Ivan Scott and His Orchestra providing the musical background, but my sources tell me otherwise.
Regardless, this is a cute little number and quite entertaining. I'm not the biggest fan of colorized Soundies, but this still manages to retain it's charm.
I don't know much about Iris Dawn, other than the fact that she made appearances in a couple of Soundies.
Gale Storm, who's real name was Josephine Owaissa Cottle, was an actress who appeared in many films during the 1940's, as well as starring in over a half a dozen Soundies. She later starred on two television program in 1950's and even landed a couple of Billboard hits as a singer.
Enjoy!
Watch: "He Plays Gin Rummy" featuring Gale Storm and Iris Dawn
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The song "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" is such a beautiful tune. It's been recorded by so many iconic vocalists including Buddy Clark, Dick Haymes, Martha Tilton and covered by so many more. The song evokes a sense of nostalgia and a longing for home. Glocca Morra sounds like such a wonderful little village with it's weeping willow trees and leaping little brook that run through it. But, how are things in Glocca Moora? What's really going on there?
Well, sadly, Glocca Morra, Ireland, is a fictional place. It's a shame, because it sounds like it would be a charming place to visit. The song was published in 1946. The music was composed by a gentleman named Burton Lane and the lyrics were written by E.Y. Harburg. The original working lyrics were "There's a glen in Glocca Morra" but later changed to "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" to evoke that nostalgia I mentioned before.
The song was featured in the musical "Finian's Rainbow" and versions recorded by Buddy Clark and Dick Haymes found their way into the Top 10 on the Billboard Charts. I've included Clark's recording below for your listening pleasure. A funny side note: In an episode of the television show "All In The Family", Archie Bunker refers to New York City as a "regular Sodom and Glocca Morra." Such great writers.
Listen to: "How Are Things In Glocca Morra" by Buddy Clark
You can hear many different versions of "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" right here on Swing City Radio.
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You may not recognize the name Lillian Lane, but during her career she managed to lend her voice to some of the biggest bands of the era. Lillian appeared on the scene as a solo vocalist with Claude Thornhill's Orchestra in 1941, she was also a member of the "Snowflakes" vocal group which featured with Thornhill.
In late 1942, Lane moved on to replace Anita Boyer in Jerry Wald's Orchestra, but then only months later, settled in with George Olsen's band for about a year. By July of 1944, Lane had joined Gene Krupa's band and recorded many sides with them. She was replaced by Anita O'Day in 1945 and Lillian found her way into the bands of Randy Brooks and Artie Shaw.
1946 was the year that Lane joined up with Tex Beneke and his Glenn Miller "ghost band". She received increased attention with Beneke and in early 1947, she joined the ranks of Benny Goodman's Orchestra and scored a hit with the song "I Want To Be Loved".
From 1948 on, she recorded mostly as a solo artist and would show up in the liner notes of many reformed orchestras and tribute bands. As you can see, Lillian rarely settled into a band for longer than a year. Was it because she didn't have the "staying power" of some of the other featured female vocalists of the time, or was it because of her talent, that she was always being lured away to join the next big name orchestra? You can decided that.
Listen to: Benny Goodman's "I Want To Be Loved" featuring Lillian Lane on vocals.
You can hear the beautiful voice of Lillian Lane right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's Soundie is called "The Singing Telegram Song". This was filmed in June of 1941 and features Johnny Downs on vocals along with Will Osbourne and His Orchestra. Will and the band don't make an appearance in this one.
This is just a classic, simple story told through song. An older, rich gentleman hires a singer (Downs) to deliver a message of love to a beautiful blonde bombshell (played by Etheldreda Leopold). I could tell you the ending, but I don't want to ruin it for you.
The song itself is a catchy one and Johnny Downs does a good job with the vocals. As a child, Downs was a member of "The Little Rascals" and would go on to have a decent career as an entertainer.
After viewing this, the biggest question I have is ... Did that older gentleman get a refund?
Enjoy!
Watch the Soundie: "The Singing Telegram Song"
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Her vocal pitch, phrasing, and delivery were top notch and in the late 1940's and early 50's began to receive national attention from her great performances on the CBS radio show "Lucky Strike's Your Hit Parade." You can hear Dorothy's voice in many of those early Lucky Strike commercial spots as a spokeswoman for the company. In fact, she became known as "The Sweetheart of Lucky Strike."
When "Your Hit Parade" made the jump to television Dorothy also made the transition. Collins was truly a fantastic and versatile performer. Her television credits also included The Steve Allen Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Hollywood Palace.
As I stated above, Collins eventually went on to marry Raymond Scott in 1952 and they remained married into the mid 1960's.
"Singing in the Rain" performed by Dorothy Collins & Raymond Scott Quintet in 1955
You can hear the beautiful voice of Dorothy Collins backed by Raymond Scott on many songs featured right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's Soundies features vocalist and actress Lina Romay singing a romantic little ballad called "Let's Get Lost". This well produced Soundie was filmed and released in 1943. In this clip, the always beautiful and talented Romay shows why she was constanly fielding calls from Hollywood. She does a fantastic job with this song.
Romay started her music career singing with Horace Heidt's Orchestra then later moved on to be a featured vocalist with Xavier Cugat and his crew. In the late 1940's, Romay left Cugat's band to focus more on her film career.
Enjoy!
Watch: Lina Romay sing "Let's Get Lost"
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Today's Snader Telescription is from the early 1950's and features Dixieland favorites - The Bob-Cats. Watch these legends perform "Who's Sorry Now". Unfortunately, this was filmed after the departure of Bob Crosby, who at that time was either leading the Jack Benny Show studio orchestra or hosting Club Fifteen.
Even without the presence of Crosby, this Snader Telescription still manages to capture some big names in action including: Billy Butterfield, Jess Stacy, Ray Bauduc and Matty Matlock. They were such a great Dixieland band and this video really captures what they were all about. Enjoy!
Watch: The Bob-Cats perform "Who's Sorry Now"
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The Dinning Sisters were signed to Capitol Records as an answer to The Andrews Sisters. They did sound quite similar at times, especially in their fast-paced, boogie-woogie style songs. But, to label the Dinnings as a simple knock-off of The Andrews Sisters would not be fair.
The Dinning Sisters were born in Caldwell, Kansas and raised in a small farm town in Oklahoma. The singing group consisted of Lucille and her younger sisters, Jean and Ginger, who were twins. In 1939, The Dinnings began to attract a following in the Chicago area due to their own radio program that aired on WENR. They later gained national exposure while making appearances on the show "National Bar Dance."
In 1943, they signed their record deal with Capitol and released the hits: "Pig Foot Pete," "Down in the Diving Bell," "The Hawaiian War Chant," and "They Just Chopped Down the Old Apple Tree." They also appeared in two Hollywood movies and filmed a handful of Soundies and Snader Telescriptions.
Lucille left the trio in 1946 and was replaced by Jayne Bundesen who sang along side the twins until 1952.
Listen to: "They Just Chopped Down the Old Apple Tree" by The Dinning Sisters
You can hear The Dinning Sisters right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's video is a Snader Telescription from 1951 and features Bonnie Baker performing "Especially For You." Baker was a vocalist for Orrin Tucker's Orchestra from the mid-1930's to the early 40's and was known for her sweet, girlish voice. Bonnie, along with Tucker's band, were best known for their version of the 1917 song "Oh, Johnny, Oh!" which they turned into a hit in 1940. She was also known as "Wee" Bonnie Baker, because of her petite, 4'11 height.
In 1942, Baker left Orrin Tucker's Orchestra to pursue a solo career and found some moderate success. Later on, in the 1950's, she became the voice of Chilly Willy, the adorable cartoon penguin. Sadly, in 1965, Bonnie suffered a heart attack and gave up performing.
Enjoy this great Snader Telescription, which truly captures what Bonnie Baker was all about.
Watch: Bonnie Baker perform "Especially For You"
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The Jimmy Joy Orchestra will never rank amongst the top bands of the Swing Era, but for a regional band, they did manage to attract a pretty good following. The orchestra itself was started in the mid-1920's on the campus of the University of Texas. They got their name from their leader’s association with Joyland Park in Galveston, TX, where many of their early concerts took place.
The bandleader's name was Monte Maloney. In 1929, Maloney changed his name to Jimmy Joy. Joy was quite the showman. He was well known for his ability to play two clarinets at the same time. Even though the band never broke through to the national level, Jimmy Joy was so popular in Texas that he was made an honorary Texas Ranger in the 1930's. Joy was also made an honorary Kentucky Colonel after his orchestra played three seasons at the track as the Official Kentucky Derby Orchestra.
The majority of the orchestra's bookings and gigs were in the Midwest and Southern parts of the United States. Jimmy Joy and His Orchestra, to their credit, remained active until the 1950's. A pretty good run for a regional band.
Listen to: "Last Night's Gardenias" by Jimmy Joy and His Orchestra.
You can hear Jimmy Joy and His Orchestra right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's video features The Raymond Scott Quintette performing the song "War Dance For Wooden Indians." This originally appeared in the 1938 Hollywood film: "Happy Landing". The clip really captures Raymond and the boys at their musical best and even includes some tap dancing Native Americans to round out the entertainment.
The film itself starred Sonja Henie, Ethel Merman, Don Ameche and Cesar Romero. After reading the plot, I can't say I have much inspiration to watch the full film, but this Raymond Scott clip is fantastic.
Enjoy!
Watch: "War Dance For Wooden Indians" by The Raymond Scott Quintette from 1938.
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Today's video features Glenn Miller and His Orchestra performing "People Like You and Me" along with the Modernaires. This clip is from the 1942 film "Orchestra Wives" which was also the second, and last, movie to feature Glenn Miller.
Orchestra Wives was released at the height of the "Miller Craze" and included the classics: "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo", "At Last", "Serenade in Blue", as well as the song featured today, "People Like You and Me".
This movie finished up production just months before Miller announced he would be joining the Armed Forces. Also, if you look hard enough, you'll notice a young Jackie Gleason portraying the band's bass player in this clip.
Enjoy!
Watch: "People Like You and Me" by Glenn Miller
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Freddy Martin's childhood was filled with challenges. He was bounced around by various relatives, but spent the majority of his younger years in an orphanage. Martin started out as a drummer, then moved on to learn saxophone, the instrument that would define his career.
Martin led his own band while he was in high school, then played in various local bands after leaving school. His playing style was heavily influenced by Guy Lombardo. In fact, Lombardo had a chance to hear Martin's band and at one point recommended Martin to fill in on a date that Lombardo's band couldn't fulfill. That event gave Freddy Martin the break he needed.
By the early 1930's, Martin was cutting records for both Columbia and Brunswick. He became quite popular in the Hotel Ballroom circuit, and his band at the time had the "sweet" sound that was popular with the public.
As the Swing Era took hold, Martin adapted with a bit of a "hotter" sound but retained his smooth style and his band rode the craze into the 1940's. Freddy also had a great ear for vocalists. During his career he employed singers Merv Griffin, Buddy Clark and Helen Ward. His popularity as a bandleader led him to Hollywood where he and his band appeared in a handful of films, including Seven Days' Leave, Stage Door Canteen, Melody Time and a few others.
Martin continued to record throughout the 1950's and into the 60's. You can hear the sweet, smooth, saxophone of Freddy Martin right here on Swing City Radio.
Listen to: On A Slow Boat To China by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
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Today's video features The Andrews Sisters singing the old catchy classic - "Dance With The Dolly With The Hole In Her Stocking." This clip is from the 1945 movie titled "Her Lucky Night", which stared Martha O'Driscoll. I've never seen the movie myself, but from what I've heard, it's simply awful. Apparently, the only thing that saved this movie were the appearances by The Andrews Sisters.
The Andrews Sisters' version of "Dance With The Dolly With The Hole In Her Stocking" is great one. Their performance is both energetic and quirky, an Andrews trademark. The part that shows them playing with dolls of themselves may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but just comes off a little silly and weird.
Here is a quick plot summary from IMBb in case you are interested: "A fortune teller predicts Connie (Martha O'Driscoll) will find her true love sitting next to her in a movie theatre. Connie buys two tickets on an aisle and tosses one of them away...and hopes for the best." - Sounds like a true Hollywood classic, huh?
All of that being said, it's still The Andrews Sisters in the prime of their careers so it's definitely worth watching. And I'm sure you'll get a chuckle out of that awkward doll scene. Enjoy!
Watch: The Andrews Sisters perform "Dance With The Dolly With The Hole In Her Stocking"
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The story behind Dean Hudson and His Orchestra is a bit of a weird one. The band was originally formed at the University of Florida in the mid 1930's and performed as the "Clubmen". The first leader of the band was a student named Eli Katz, who used the name Dean Hudson as an alias. When Katz graduated, another band leader needed to be chosen, but under the condition that the new leader would assume the "Dean Hudson" fictitious moniker.
1n 1936, the Clubmen chose Marion Brown to become the new "Dean Hudson" and the band recorded their first records as "Dean Hudson and the Florida Clubmen". Marion Brown, who played trumpet and was a decent singer, retained the alias "Dean Hudson" for the rest of his career.
Listen to: "Holly Hop" by Dean Hudson and His Orchestra
The Clubmen name was dropped after a couple years, and they continued as "Dean Hudson and His Orchestra." Though the band never became a huge name, they did attract a following. Dean Hudson and His Orchestra recorded and performed throughout the 1940's and into the 50's.
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Today's Soundie features the beautiful, and quite talented vocalist, Martha Tilton. This entertaining clip was filmed in August of 1941 and also includes some dancing by The Three Slate Brothers. The swingin' music is provided by Ben Pollack and His Orchestra, but they don't make an appearance in the film. It's a shame, because Pollack and his boys put together a nice performance in this one.
This Soundie was filmed shortly after Tilton had moved on from Benny Goodman's band to embark on a solo career. She had major success from 1942 to 1949 as one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records. She also recorded a handful of Soundies in her career.
In my opinion, this is a great Soundie that truly captures the perkiness and energy that made Martha Tilton so lovable. The song itself is also top shelf, as long as you can get past the first two lines:
"It makes no difference what your ailment is,
It may be gout it may be rheumatism"
Wow, what a weird way to open such a bouncy song. Enjoy!
Watch: "A Little Jive Is Good For You" by Martha Tilton
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Today's Soundie is called "House On 52nd Street" and features Henry "Red" Allen and J.C. Higginbotham. Even though the credits in the title list this as a 1946 release on YouTube, my resources state that this was released to the nationwide network of Panorams in late 1944. But I could be wrong, because the person that originally posted this online included some very good and detailed information in the description.
This is a straight-forward, stage performance Soundie that features some great music provided Red Allen's Combo. Allen's Combo at the time included Higginbotham on trombone, Bill Thompson, Alvin Burroughs, Don Stovall, Bennie Moten, and of course, Henry "Red" Allen on trumpet and vocals. Some pretty big names in there.
By the time this was filmed, Red Allen had made quite a name for himself as a featured soloist for bands led by Luis Russell, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman and many others.
Such a good Soundie! Enjoy.
Watch: "House On 52nd Street" performed by Henry "Red" Allen
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Billy May was a very good trumpet player, but his influence on The Big Band Era was felt most in his skills as an arranger. May wrote arrangements for many of the top singers of the time, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters and many, many more.
May got his start in 1938 when he joined Charlie Barnet's Orchestra. He played trumpet and arranged for the band. His arrangement of the Ray Noble's "Cherokee" became a major hit of the era and a defining song for Charlie Barnet. May remained with Barnet from 1938 to 1940 and played a large role in Barnet's rise as a bandleader.
In 1940, Glenn Miller hired May away from Barnet. Billy May's trumpet playing can be heard on many of those Miller hits from the early 1940's, but his arrangements were rarely used. His arranging skills were, in my opinion, under-utilized with Glenn Miller's Orchestra. May's trumpet playing mixed well into the "Miller Sound", but his arrangements did not. Jerry Gray and Miller himself were the arrangers responsible for that classic sound and style, but May's contributions should never be overlooked.
After leaving Miller's orchestra, May relocated to Los Angeles, where he became a much-coveted arranger and studio orchestra leader, working for top recording stars of the day. He also led some good bands of his own that put out some great, swinging music throughout the 1950's.
Listen to "Charmaine" by Billy May and His Orchestra from 1952
In the late 1950's, May made his debut as film composer and went on to find much success in film and television through the 1960's and 70's.
You can hear many of Billy May's arrangements and recording right here on Swing City Radio.
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Luis Russell was a pianist from Panama that led a couple of great bands in the 1930's and 40's. He began playing professionally in 1917 at a casino in Colon, Panama, where he would provide the live music for silent films.
He later won $3,000 in a local lottery and used it to move to the U.S. along with his mother and sister. They settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked as a pianist for a few years.
Russell relocated to Chicago in 1925 to play with bandleader King Oliver, then left to form his own band in 1929. His first band became one of the leading groups in the New York City scene and included some big names including Red Allen and J.C. Higginbotham. They soon became the backup band for Louis Armstrong, who eventually took over the band in 1935. Russell remained with the orchestra for over eight more years serving as the musical director.
In 1943, Russell formed a new band under his own name, which played at the Savoy and Apollo in Manhattan and Atlantic City, New Jersey. He retired from the music business in 1948.
Listen to "Ease On Down" by Luis Russell and His Orchestra
You can hear the music of Luis Russell right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's video features Peggy Lee singing one of my favorite tracks by her, "You Was Right, Baby." This Snader Telescription was filmed in September of 1950 in Hollywood, CA and was released into television syndication shortly afterward. Learn more about Snader Telescriptions.
"You Was Right, Baby" was one of ten "Snaders" Peggy filmed in the fall of 1950. She is backed by her then husband, Dave Barbour, and his Quartet. Dave Barbour is the gentleman on the guitar along with Jess Bourgeouis on bass, Sid Hurwitz playing piano and drummer Alvin Stoller. The Dave Barbour Quartet was such a talented group and provided the perfect musical background for so many great Peggy Lee songs.
Such a great video. Enjoy!
Watch: "You Was Right Baby" by Peggy Lee
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Blanche Calloway was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. She was the first woman to lead an all-male orchestra and had a music career that spanned over fifty years. Blanche had a brilliant stage presence and her style was known to be very flamboyant and a major influence on her brother's performance style and music. Take a listen to "Just a Crazy Song" by Blanche to hear how much she influenced her little brother. Keep in mind this song was recorded and released prior to Cab's famous song "Minnie the Moocher".
Listen to "Just a Crazy Song" by Blanche Calloway.
Blanche had become a successful entertainer in Chicago by the mid- 1920's. At that point in time Chicago, was considered the jazz capital of the world. She made her first recordings in 1925, hiring a young, up and coming musician named Louis Armstrong as a sideman.
In the early 1930's, Blanche joined Andy Kirk's Clouds of Joy as their featured vocalist. Her stay with Kirk's band was brief because she was fired when Andy found out that Blanche had plans to take over the orchestra. Shortly afterward, Blanche put together her own orchestra, first named Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys, later changing the name to Blanche Calloway and Her Orchestra.
After having a successful run throughout the mid-1930's and releasing some great sides including: "I Need Lovin", "Make Me Know It" and "You Ain't Livin' Right", Blanche decided to disbanded her orchestra in 1938. She formed an all-women band in the early 1940s, but that band was short-lived and never came close to achieving the success of her earlier band.
You can hear many of Blanche Calloway's songs right here on Swing City Radio.
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Today's Soundie is a bit on the silly side. It stars the The Fashionaires, which were a vocal quartet cut from the same cloth as The Merry Macs and The Modernaires. The Fashionaires perform their version of the song "A Knife, a Fork and a Spoon" and the music is provided by Hal Bourne and His Orchestra. (The orchestra is not shown in the Soundie.)
The song is quite catchy and The Fashionaires add some nice harmonies to the number. The Soundie was filmed in February of 1942 and also features multiple sets which was quite elaborate for these small budget films. It shows that the studio was really behind this one and felt like they had a winner.
There is not much information out there about The Fashionaires, but I can tell you that they found their way into about six different Soundies. Enjoy!
Watch: The Fashionaires perform "A Knife, a Fork and a Spoon"
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Louise Tobin will turn 103 years old this November and is one of the few remaining links we have left to The Big Band Era. She is most known for her work with Benny Goodman's band in which she recorded the hits "There'll Be Some Changes Made", "Scatterbrain" and "Blue Orchids" among others. Tobin was also the first wife of Harry James.
Louise, in my opinion, was a great vocalist. Her time with Goodman's band was quite short. She was originally brought in to replace Martha Tilton who had recently just left the band but in that brief time she was able to leave her mark. It's sometimes forgotten that she recorded with other big names from the era including Will Bradley, Bobby Hackett, Ziggy Elman and Emil Coleman.
Throughout the 1950's and early 60's, Tobin took a break from the music scene as she raised her two children she had while married to Harry James. In 1967, Tobin married famed clarinetist, Peanuts Hucko. Hucko went on to lead the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Tobin toured worldwide with the band as well.
Watch: Louise Tobin with Emil Coleman's Band
It was last reported that Louise Tobin now lives with her son, Harry James, Jr., in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. You can learn more about Louise at: louisetobin.com.
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Today's Soundie is "Sentimental Journey" by Glen Grey and The Casa Loma Orchestra. This simple and straight-forward performance was released to Panoram machines in July of 1945. The Soundie features the vocals of both Bob Anthony and Eugenie Baird. For some reason, many resources list the vocalist as Skip Nelson, but that is incorrect.
The performance itself lacks the strong emotions usually associated with this song but still remains entertaining. Bob Anthony provided vocals for the bands of Randy Brooks, Bob Chester and Harry James as well as forming his own band in the early 1950's. Eugenie Baird sang for Jan Savitt, Tony Pastor and a few others. She was also the first female vocalist to be featured in the long history of The Casa Loma Orchestra.
Watch: "Sentimental Journey" by Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra
"Sentimental Journey" was the first of seven official Soundies that Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra filmed for the Panoram. Enjoy!
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As a bandleader, Lani McIntire led his Aloha Islanders from 1935 to 1950. They released dozens of successful records, and the American public, who was simply fascinated with Hawaiian culture during that time, turned them into hits.
McIntyre is most remembered for featuring the Hawaiian guitar and steel guitar and helped popularize the instrument, which eventually became a mainstay in American country and western music. His brother Dick McIntire is considered a steel guitar legend.
The Aloha Islanders later changed their name to Lani McIntire and his Hawai'ians and worked with Bing Crosby on the original versions of "Blue Hawaii" and "Sweet Leilani". In the 1940's, Lani McIntire also starred in about a half-dozen Soundies and also appeared in four Hollywood Films.
My personal favorite by McIntire is a song called "Holoholo Kaa". It's a great example of how Hawaiian music can blend so well with Big Band music, if done correctly. And Lani knew how to do it correctly. This Soundie also features Lani's brother Dick McIntire singing in this one.
It's also important to note that Lani last name was spelled "McIntyre" on some recordings. Enjoy.
Lani McIntire performs "Holoholo Kaa"
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Georgie Auld's sax playing can be heard on some of the greatest songs of The Swing Era. Born in Toronto, Canada in 1919 , he later moved to Brooklyn, New York where he taught himself how to play saxophone.
It's surprising to me that Georgie Auld's name isn't more well known. He was a featured player in many great bands including the orchestra's of: Artie Shaw, Bunny Berigan, Benny Goodman, Jan Savitt and many more. Auld had the ability and talent to adapt his playing to blend into a variety of styles and moods.
He led his own band from 1944 to 1946. They had a good sound and a promising future ahead of them. Unfortunately, Auld began to face some medical issues that forced him to dissolve that first orchestra. Georgie recovered from his illness and later started two other bands, one in 1948 and another in 1955.
All of the bands Auld put together were very good. They contained some big names, but he never really took that step to the next level as a bandleader. That may be reason his name isn't mentioned more. But all of that being said, Georgie Auld recorded well into the 1960's under his own name and will always be remembered as one heck of a sideman.
Georgie Auld plays "In The Middle" - 1945
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This video is a fun little clip of The Four King Sisters performing "Route 66" with Alvino Rey and His Orchestra providing the music. This was originally released as a Snader Telescription in the early 1950's.
The King Sisters included: Luise, Alyce, Vonnie and Marilyn. Luise King was the wife of Alvino Rey.
This is just a simple and fun little video and pairs up well with the feel of the song. Enjoy!
Watch: The King Sisters in "Route 66"
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Today's Soundie features a pretty catchy song by Tommy Reynolds and His Orchestra called "Smiles". It also contains the worst filming of a dance act, EVER!
Tommy Reynolds never managed to establish a big name for himself as a bandleader, but his orchestra was pretty good overall. He recorded a handful of Soundies and I think you'll find his version of "Smiles" entertaining and fun to listen to.
The Soundie itself is filmed so badly, it makes it a classic. It was released in 1942 and the female lead in this is an actress/dancer named Sunnie O'Dae. For the record, Sunnie O'Dae is remembered as a very good dancer, but you would never know it by watching this film. O'Dae's performance in this Soundie wasn't the problem. It was the simple fact that the film crew recorded her dance routine so poorly. The clip barely shows her from the knees down as she dances and we never see her feet. Have you ever seen a tap dance performance where the dancer's feet aren't shown?
Watch the Soundie: "Smiles" by Tommy Reynolds and His Orchestra
When I watched this Soundie for the first time I just figured they were covering up the limitations of a poor dancer. But over time, as I learned more about Sunnie O'Dae and her dancing talent, it became quite clear that the film crew simply screwed up. I would NOT be surprised if a few of the crew were fired that day. It's important to note that Soundies were made on a VERY tight budget. So a reshoot, most likely, was not a possibility.
All that being said, I'm glad they released it because watching it always gives me a good laugh and I do like the song. I've also included another clip of Sunnie O'Dae dancing. Enjoy!
Watch: A clip of Sunnie O'Dae dancing in the movie "Sing Another Chorus"
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Today's post isn't about a Big Band artist or band. It's about a writer/reporter named George T. Simon, who covered the scene and left behind volumes and volumes of information that helps fans, like myself, understand and appreciate the era.
The Big Band Era was filled with colorful personalities, constant drama and most of all, incredible music. George Simon (1912–2001), covered all of it as the editor-in-chief of Metronome (the most influential magazine to cover the Swing scene) from 1939 to 1955. The books he later wrote about the times are, in my opinion, the best books that cover the era. His writing can also be found in the liner notes of so many old Big Band albums and collections.
Simon was probably the most influential jazz commentator during the swing era. Thanks to his inside connections with the jazz world, he was able to report information about bands and their personnel with great accuracy. Simon would honestly critique the bands of the time, sometimes upsetting bands and record labels, but he also had strong friendships and relationships throughout the Swing Scene.
He was also an early drummer in the Glenn Miller Orchestra. George later became known for being the most comprehensive writer and resource on Glenn Miller's career, his personal life and his bands.
George Simon's brother was Richard L. Simon, the co-founder of the American publishing house Simon & Schuster. One of his nieces, Carly Simon, later became a singer-songwriter that topped the charts throughout the 1970's.
I highly recommend reading his books to get a true feel for the Big Band Years, it's music and it's drama. Here are three of them that I have in my collection: "The Big Bands" (1968), "Simon Says: The Sights and Sounds of the Big Band Era" (1971) and "Glenn Miller and His Orchestra" (1974). All of these books, in my humble opinion, are EXCELLENT!
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Gene Krupa was a fantastic bandleader and composer, but he is most remembered for his energetic drumming style. His solos were simply legendary. Krupa is also considered "the founding father of the modern drum set".
Krupa broke into the Chicago music scene around 1927. In his early years Gene appeared on recordings by Eddie Condon, Bix Beiderbecke and Thelma Terry. In December 1934, he joined Benny Goodman's band, where his drum work made him a national celebrity. His tom-tom interludes on the hit "Sing, Sing, Sing" were the first extended drum solos to be recorded commercially.
Krupa decided to leave Goodman's band shortly after the famous Carnegie Hall concert in January 1938 to form his own band. The band was a complete success and recorded a boatload of hits in the early 1940's.
Watch: Gene Krupa and His Orchestra play "Drum Boogie. This version is from the 1941 movie "Ball of Fire". The female vocalist in this clip is actress Barbara Stanwyck, whose singing was dubbed by Martha Tilton.
In 1943, Krupa was arrested on drug charges which resulted in a short jail sentence and bad publicity. Krupa broke up the orchestra and returned to Goodman's band for a few months moved on to Tommy Dorsey's band for a short time before putting together his next orchestra.
Through the 1950's and 60's, Krupa continued to perform and even had some roles in Hollywood. His drum battles with Buddy Rich were outstanding and the two recorded a couple of albums together.
You can hear Gene Krupa and His Orchestra right here on Swing City Radio.
If you are an Andrews Sisters fan, I strongly recommend you set aside a rainy afternoon to watch the movie "Private Buckaroo". The movie itself should manage to keep you entertained for about an hour, but it's the music that shines in this film. I've just watched it again recently and it gets a little better every time. Let me sum it up by describing it as "brain candy" with a great soundtrack.
Songs by The Andrews Sisters dominate this 1942 release including hits like "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree", "Six Jerks in a Jeep", and the song I included below, "Three Little Sisters". Altogether, the film features six songs by Patty, Laverne and Maxene. Harry James plays a large part in the movie as well and his trumpet playing can be also heard throughout.
Watch: The Andrews Sisters perform "Three Little Sisters" from Private Buckaroo
Also, I can't forget to mention that Shemp Howard's role as Sgt. Muggsy had me looking up old classic Three Stooges clips afterwards. Enjoy.
Swing City Radio: Playing Your Big Band and Swing Music Favorites from the 1930's, 40's and Today! - Big Band Radio Station Broadcasting Online from King of Prussia, PA.
