Yank Bandstand was an Armed Forces Radio Services show that was solely focused on what we call today, The Service Bands. A few of these bands featured some pretty big names, but most were made up of lesser known servicemen and women who happened to be musicians and singers. Yank Bandstand provided a platform for some of these groups to be heard and included bands from the Army, Navy Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
Over the next month, I will be adding many songs from these great shows to the Swing City Radio playlist. Some of them need to be cleaned up and shown some love, but many were well recorded and the audio remains in good condition. I think you are really going to enjoy this music. There was some true talent in many of these bands.
Keep an ear out for the music of Joe Stabile who led the Air Transport Command Band from Hamilton Field in California. Great stuff. Joe was the brother of bandleader Dick Stabile and a cousin of vocalist Dolly Dawn.
Enjoy!
