7 - SWING

THE MUSIC OF THE BIG BAND ERA

Swing or Mainstream Jazz - Any jazz created over a swinging 4/4 beat.

Due to the Great Depression, total record sales had slumped from one hundred million in 1927 to a mere six million in 1932. The extravagant devil-may-care attitude of the previous decade was all but a vague memory. Membership in The American Federation Of Musicians had dropped by one third even after their dues had been cut in half. During the 1930's, the main focus of entertainment was the movies. And since motion pictures had begun to talk in 1927, the biggest immediate music trend of the era was the movie musical.

Jazz in its original form had become somewhat passé and the term "jazz" itself was considered old fashioned. A newer exciting music trend which had been brewing over the years in black quarters had finally begun to gain momentum. Black orchestra leader/arranger Fletcher Henderson had been experimenting with the style since the mid 1920's. It was essentially big band jazz with distinct boogie overtones which later, popularized by commercially prominent bands like The Benny Goodman Orchestra, would come to be known as swing.

Swing was not a major music form like jazz but a style or mood, an outgrowth of jazz, basically a new name for current jazz trends. It was notated, orchestrated and more organized and controlled than jazz proper. With the use of head arrangements (see Jazz), musicians provided a steady thumping rhythmic foundation beneath familiar melodic strains. Swing was a very physical music style, closely allied with dancing. It was the vehicle used by dancers as a framework for their own particular improvisations.

One dominant influence on the development of swing was the boogie woogie pianists of the late 1920's like Meade Lux Lewis and Pine Top Smith. The strong "8 to the bar" rhythms provided an excellent base for swing band arrangements.

As the bands grew in size, arrangements became much more complex than ever before and total jazz improvisation would have resulted in utter chaos. Improvisation in swing was a luxury allowed only to soloists, later causing many a virtuoso to become disenchanted with big band restrictions and return to the artistic freedom of the small combo. Even Goodman, longing for a more casual improvisational outlet, formed his Benny Goodman Trio (later a quartet) as an alternative. He usually featured the smaller unit as a centerpiece of his concerts.

Swing as a branch of the jazz family tree was once again black in origin and black in design. It became popular with the masses yet most whites isolated from black culture were quite unaware of its roots. There were also those who smugly labelled it "jungle music." Sweet bandleader Blue Barron denounced swing music as orchestrated sex and white bandleader/crooner Rudy Vallee caused an uproar when he described it as "Ubangi tripe." The big joke on Vallee was that the music that he himself had been attempting to play throughout his career was in fact a rather watered down version of the same "Ubangi tripe."

Swing spread like wildfire and by the mid 1930's, a multitude of big bands sprang up all over the country.

BASIC BIG BAND STRUCTURE

• FRONT LINE: 2 or 3 trumpets, 1 or 2 trombones, 1 clarinet and 1 saxophone.
• RHYTHM SECTION: Piano, bass and drums.
• VOCALISTS

THE JITTERBUG

Jazz was primarily a dance oriented music and during the 1930's with the onslaught of the great depression, people needed to dance. In the 1930`s, a frenetic high energy dance craze erupted, driving many a parent to distraction. All modesty and decorum were abandoned when male dancers began tossing their partners over their shoulders and between their legs. It was called the jitterbug - and it was cool man. All of the hep cats were doin' it!

Actually, it was based on a black originated dance called The Lindy Hop (later shortened to The Lindy) which had been popular in black quarters since 1927. Named after Charles A. Lindbergh, who "hopped" the Atlantic solo that year, it was a smooth combination of Charleston and boogie. By the early 1930's, whites began to catch on to the trend. Later, as a concession to other ballroom dancers, certain areas of the dance floor were often roped off specifically for the more athletic participants.

Of all the great dance palaces of the period, probably the most important was Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. Unlike Roseland, it was the only truly integrated hall in the country. The venue sported two stages and was nicknamed "the track" because it was so vast, it looked like a racetrack. The music never stopped because as one band was finishing their set, the next band took over. The house band was The Chick Webb Orchestra. The Savoy was later immortalized in the song, "Stompin' At The Savoy."

Swing culture influenced several new clothing trends and a new youth jargon associated with the jitterbug enthusiasts or "cats" became the rage. As the era progressed, women's clothing once again became shorter to allow the freedom and abandon of the wild new dances. Musicians and the coolest of fans embraced the zoot suit (baggy suits featuring long sleek jackets with padded shoulders and wide lapels) and wide brimmed hats popularized by trumpeter/ clothier Harold Fox and singer/bandleader Cab Calloway.

THE SWING ERA

The metamorphosis of swing came about through the farsightedness of several unique individuals, the first being the truly gifted and adventurous Fletcher Henderson who certainly had nurtured big band jazz from its infancy to its full blown commercial form in the mid 1930's. Another major contributor was producer/manager/critic/talent scout John Hammond, one of the true non performer giants in the history of 20th century recorded music. It was he who brought Henderson and Benny Goodman together in 1934. That momentous collaboration was decidedly the substratum of commercial swing, bearing fruit in 1937 when Goodman's band created pandemonium at The Paramount Theatre in New York City.

Swing swept the country. It dominated the period from the mid 1930's until the end of World War Two, since known as The Big Band Era. Although vocals were still popular, they were swamped by the power of the big band instrumentals. The swing bands ruled the charts. In January of 1938, Benny Goodman, now known as "The King Of Swing," gave the new music legitimacy by staging the first ever jazz and swing concert at Carnegie Hall. The swing bands who toured Europe during the war brought the American music to the continent.

The ultimate demise of the big band was the result of several contributing factors. During World War Two, the draft had decimated the rosters of many of the bands. Another major drawback was the overwhelming cost of operating a 20 to 30 piece orchestra. A series of musician strikes in the 1940's, coupled with the public's disenchantment with instrumentals, caused a drastic shift in the music scene. By the time the war had ended, many of the big bands had become slick and predictable, far removed from their jazz roots. Radio had begun promoting vocals (see The Sing Era) backed by smaller combos and technically the swing era was over. By Dec., 1946, eight of America's biggest bands including Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman had disbanded. Several orchestras continued successfully, however most of the larger outfits splintered into smaller combos, taking up residency in jazz clubs (see Modern Jazz).

Swing had infiltrated country music in the 1930's, creating a new hybrid called western swing, popularized by various outfits from the Southwest including "The King Of Western Swing" Bob Wills (see Country And Western).

Swing also became an important element in the emergence of R&B in the late 1940's. Pioneers of the genre such as Louis Jordan, successfully promoted the small electric swing combo which later, fused with the blues, got energized and evolved into full fledged R&B.

Then, in the late 1970's, swing was unmercifully plundered and bastardized by numerous disco artists who adapted orchestrated big band classics to the pounding disco drum sound.

The nineties saw a big band renaissance of sorts with the commercial success of Harry Connick Jr., yet its popularity remains steeped in nostalgia.

JOHN HAMMOND

• John Henry Hammond Jr. (Dec. 15, 1910 - July 10, 1987)
• Producer/talent scout/manager/critic/record collector/musicologist born in New York City.
• Father of blues singer/slide guitarist John Paul Hammond (1943 – ).
• Exerted great influence on American culture, changing the face of contemporary music by integrating black artists into the mainstream.
• Hammond came from a wealthy family, his mother being a Vanderbilt. He was the great-grandson of Commodore Vanderbilt and the grandson of William Douglas Sloane, founder of W. & J. Sloane Furniture Company.
• 1922 - Age 12, he became enamoured of black music, especially jazz and blues. His childhood heroes were James P. Johnson and Bessie Smith.
• Wrote several music columns and later produced for Columbia and Vanguard Records.
• Hammond had a genius for discovering and nurturing talent.
• 1933 - He was instrumental in recording Bessie Smith's last sides before she died.
• 1934 - Brought Fletcher Henderson and Benny Goodman together, triggering the birth of commercial swing music.
• Dec. 23, 1938 - Organized the first "From Spirituals To Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall.
• Dec., 1938 - With Hammond's aid, restauranteur Barney Josephson (a 36 year old ex-shoe manufacturer) opened Cafe Society, the first integrated nightclub in New York City. The L-shaped basement club did not close until 1950.
• Dec. 24, 1939 - The second "From Spirituals To Swing" concert featured Benny Goodman.
• 1942 - His sister Alice married Benny Goodman.
• 1959 - The "From Spirituals To Swing" concerts were released on record, later repackaged in the year 2000.
• Artists benefitting from Hammond's aid included Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Sonny Terry, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan (often dubbed "Hammond's Folly"), Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Benson.
• Feb., 1986 - Received The President's Merit Grammy Award.

ARTISTS OF THE BIG BAND ERA

FLETCHER HENDERSON

• See Jazz

BENNY GOODMAN

• Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 - June 13, 1986)
• Clarinetist/bandleader born in Chicago, Illinois.
• The 12th child of poor Russian Jewish parents.
• 1918 - Age 9, learned to play the clarinet.
• 1922 - Began playing with local bands.
• Aug., 1925-1929 - Played in The Ben Pollack Orchestra in California.
• Played briefly with both the Arnold Johnson and Red Nichols bands, also taking numerous recording session gigs.
• 1933 - Backed Bessie Smith in her final recording sessions.
• 1934 - Formed his first permanent band including drummer Gene Krupa, trumpeter Bunny Berigan and singer Helen Ward, enlisting the services of black swing pioneer Fletcher Henderson. It was the arranging ability of Henderson (his fortes being his head arrangements and creative underscoring), brought to Goodman's attention by John Hammond which helped the band achieve its innovative sound.
• The Benny Goodman Orchestra debuted at Billy Rose's Music Hall on Broadway in New York City.
• Dec., 1934-May, 1935 - Played regularly on the "Let's Dance" radio programs, the title also being the name of his theme song. The band became famous for its precision.
• July, 1935 - After the cancellation of the "Let's Dance" program, they began a discouraging cross country tour of one-nighters.
• Aug. 21, 1935 - Goodman's band, playing Henderson's exciting swing arrangements of the popular songs of the day created a sensation at The Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, California.
• Swing was really not new. Henderson had been playing it since the 1920's and Duke Ellington had helped popularize the term in his 1932 hit, "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Commercially, Goodman was in the right place at the right time.
• 1935 - Metronome Magazine nominated them as the best band of the year.
• March 3, 1937 - Audiences went wild and caused a riot when Goodman began a 2 week engagement at The Paramount Theatre in New York City. For the first time, teenagers were able to see the band live since previously they had only played hotels. There was frantic jitterbugging in the aisles and during several shows, 21,000 fans saw the band in one day.
• Goodman automatically became known as "The King Of Swing."
• Goodman's band was the first white big band with jazz credentials. Gene Krupa stated, "Benny built himself a band playing musician's music, but didn't shoot over the heads of the public."
• Jan. 16, 1938 - Staged the first ever jazz concert at New York City's Carnegie Hall, giving jazz and swing legitimacy. A recording of the event was released 12 years later, becoming a best seller. The finale and highlight of the evening was "Sing Sing Sing."
• Missing the freedom of improvisation, he formed The Benny Goodman Trio consisting of himself on clarinet, Gene Krupa on drums and black pianist Teddy Wilson on piano. Later, it became The Benny Goodman Quartet when he added Lionel Hampton on vibes. By featuring 2 black musicians, he was not only a musical innovator but also a racial integrator. These combo projects were presented during his regular concerts as an added attraction.
• Between 1938 and 1940 - Goodman lost Krupa, Wilson and Hampton.
• 1939 - At Mary Lou Williams and John Hammond's insistence, Goodman hired 23 year old electric guitarist Charlie Christian from Oklahoma City.
• Dec. 24, 1939 - Appeared at John Hammond's second "From Spirituals To Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall.
• 1942 - Married John Hammond's sister Alice.
• Dec., 1946 - Disbanded his orchestra.
• 1956 - A biopic titled "The Benny Goodman Story," was released starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed.
• Goodman sold well over 50 million records internationally.
• May 12, 1963 - The Benny Goodman Sextet were the top billed act at New York's Basin Street club. The supporting act was a new singer named Barbra Streisand.
• Feb., 1986 - Received The Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.
• He won 27 awards in Downbeat Magazine's annual readers' polls.
• Hits include "Moonglow"(June, 1934)#1, "Bugle Call Rag"(Oct., 1934)#5, "King Porter Stomp"(Sept., 1935)#10, "These Foolish Things"(June, 1936)#1-2 wks., "Stompin' At The Savoy"(July, 1936) #11, "You Turned The Tables On Me"(Oct., 1936)#1-2 wks., "Goodnight My Love"(Jan., 1937)#1-4 wks., "Don't Be That Way" (March, 1938)#1-5 wks., "One O'Clock Jump"(April, 1938)#8, "Sing Sing Sing"(April, 1938)#7, "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart"(May, 1938)#1, "And The Angels Sing"(April, 1939)#1-5 wks., "Jersey Bounce"(March, 1942)#1-4 wks., "Why Don't You Do Right"(Jan., 1944)#4 (with Peggy Lee) and "Gotta Be This Or That"(June, 1945) #2.
• Recommended track - "Flying Home"(Oct., 1939) by The Benny Goodman Sextet featuring Charlie Christian and Lionel Hampton.

DUKE ELLINGTON

• See Jazz

BENNY MOTEN

• See Jazz
• See The Blues - Big Band Blues

BEN POLLACK

• See Jazz

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD

• James Melvin Lunceford (June 6, 1902 - July 13, 1947)
• Saxophonist/composer/bandleader born in Fulton, Missouri.
• In the late 1920's, while teaching music at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee, he formed his first band which played during the summers in Lakeside, Ohio. By 1928, his students were so good, the band remained permanent and the Lunceford band became a full-time thing.
• A gruelling 4 years of one nighters finally bore fruit with his huge success at The Lafayette Theatre in New York City.
• Jan., 1934 - Replaced Cab Calloway's orchestra as the resident band at The Cotton Club in Harlem.
• Popular with the dance crowd, the band boasted a big bold blues based sound.
• With trombonist Trummy Young, alto saxophonist Willie Smith and trumpeter/arranger Sy Oliver, the band was one of the most exciting swing outfits of the period and probably the best stage show.
• His arrangers included Eddie Durham, Edwin Wilcox, Willie Smith and Sy Oliver.
• Two of the band's trademark songs were "Jazznocracy," written by Will Hudson and "White Heat."
• July 13, 1947 - Died in Seaside, Oregon.
• Hits include "Rhythm Is Our Business"(May, 1935)#1, "T'ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)"(Feb., 1939)#11 and "Blues In The Night"(Feb., 1942)#4 (vocal by Willie Smith).
• Other notable pieces include "Because You're You"(1934), "Liza" (1939) and "Lunceford Special"(1939).

COUNT BASIE

• William James Basie (Aug. 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984)
• Pianist/composer/bandleader born in Red Bank, New Jersey.
• Began as an accompanist for vaudeville performers.
• 1924 - Moved to Manhattan where he learned from the masters - Fats Waller, James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith.
• 1927 - Played with Walter Page's Blue Devils in Kansas City.
• 1929-1935 - Played with Bennie Moten's Kansas City Band.
• 1935 - Became the leader of The Barons Of Rhythm with Buster Smith and Lester Young.
• 1935 - After Moten's death, Basie took his best musicians, using them as the basis for his own big band. The new 9 piece unit took up residency at The Reno Club in Kansas City.
• Basie made no concessions to white ears. His was a totally black sound.
• Never following trends but setting them, he was second only to Ellington as an innovator. He was famous for his spare piano stylings.
• The outstanding features of the Basie band were the tenor sax solos of Lester Young (see Modern Jazz), the unique bluesy vocals of Jimmy Rushing (see The Blues), saxophonist/composer Earle "Smiley" Warren and the amazing trumpet solos of Buck Clayton who joined Basie at The Reno Club in 1936.
• Oct., 1936 - Signed by Jack Kapp to Decca. The 3 year contract paid the band $750 yearly and no royalties, forcing them to tour constantly in order to survive.
• His career escalated with his association with John Hammond.
• 1937 - Billie Holiday became his female vocalist.
• Sept., 1937 - His recording of "One O'Clock Jump" went to #15 and was later selected as a NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording. The piece was originally called "Blue Balls" by his band members.
• Summer, 1938 - Took up residency at The Famous Door in New York.
• Dec., 1940 - Young left the band.
• Basie enjoyed charted hits well into the 1950's and continued to tour throughout the 1970's.
• 1977 - Retired briefly after a heart attack.
• April 26, 1984 - Died in Hollywood, Florida.
• Hits include "Stop Beatin' 'Round The Mulberry Bush"(Oct., 1938) #6, "Jumpin' At The Woodside"(Dec., 1938)#11, "Goin' To Chicago Blues"(Sept., 1941)#25 (with Jimmy Rushing), "Jimmy's Blues" (Oct., 1945)#10 (with Jimmy Rushing), "The Mad Boogie"(April, 1946)#10, "Blue Skies"(Sept., 1946)#8 (with Jimmy Rushing), "Open The Door Richard"(Feb., 1947)#1, "Free Eats"(April, 1947)#7, "One O'Clock Boogie"(June, 1947)#8, "I Ain't Mad At You (You Ain't Mad At Me)"(Aug., 1947)#7, "Blue And Sentimental"(Jan., 1948)#21 and "April In Paris"(Jan., 1956)#28.

CHARLIE BARNET

• Charles Daly Barnet (Oct. 26, 1913 - Sept. 4, 1991)
• Tenor saxophonist/composer/bandleader born in New York City.
• Born into a wealthy family.
• 1929 - Age 16, led his first band - on an ocean liner.
• One time member of Duke Ellington's orchestra.
• Nicknamed "Mad Mab."
• By 1935, Barnet was incorporating both black and white musicians in his band.
• 1936-1937 - Appeared regularly at The Glen Island Casino.
• 1939 - Became swing conscious.
• 1941 - Lena Horne sang briefly with his band.
• Musicians included Billy May and Neal Hefti (trumpets) and Buddy DeFranco (clarinet). Later, his lead trumpet player was the young Doc Severinson.
• His was one of the first bands to feature black musicians.
• Oct., 1939 - His theme song, "Cherokee," written by Ray Noble, went to #15.
• 1947 - Appeared in the film, "The Fabulous Dorseys."
• 1949 - Broke up his big band and began working with smaller ensembles.
• He was said to have married 11 times.
• Hits include "Sing Baby Sing"(Oct., 1936)#6, "Did You Mean It" (Dec., 1936)#10, "Lilacs In The Rain"(Nov., 1939)#8, "Where Was I?"(May, 1940)#1-2 wks., "Pompton Turnpike"(Oct., 1940)#3, "I Hear A Rhapsody"(Jan., 1941)#2 and "Cement Mixer (Put-ti Put-ti)"(June, 1946)#13.

ARTIE SHAW

• Arthur Jacob Arshawsky (May 23, 1910 – )
• Clarinetist/saxophonist/arranger/bandleader born in Manhattan.
• 1925 - Age 15, played saxophone in the pit band at New Haven's Olympic Theatre.
• Began playing the clarinet and learning arranging.
• Played with various bands including Irving Aaronson, Red Nichols, Vincent Lopez and Roger Wolfe Kahn.
• Willie "The Lion" Smith nicknamed him "Snow White."
• 1935 - Took part in New York City's first swing concert held at The Imperial Theatre.
• 1936 - Formed his own band, featuring the arrangements of Jerry Gray and vocals of Helen Forrest. The tenor sax players were Tony Pastor and George Auld.
• By 1938, Shaw's band was one of the hottest attractions in America.
• 1938 - Billie Holiday sang briefly with his band, making her the first black female to travel with an all white band.
• Sept., 1938 - His recording of Cole Porter's "Begin The Beguine," went to #1-6 wks.
• 1939 - Disbanded briefly.
• 1940 - Formed a larger band featuring a string section.
• Like Goodman, formed a small improvisational combo within his band, calling it The Gramercy Five.
• During World War Two, he led a navy band.
• Shaw was rivalled only by Goodman as the most popular clarinetist of the swing era.
• 1940 - Appeared in the film, "Second Chorus."
• 1953 - Formed a new band.
• Married 8 times, his wives included Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.
• Hits include "Indian Love Call"(Aug., 1938)#6, "Nightmare"(Nov., 1938)#7 (his theme song), "Deep In A Dream"(Dec., 1938)#3, "They Say"(Dec., 1938)#1-2 wks., "Thanks For Ev'rything"(Jan., 1939)#1, "Comes Love"(Aug., 1939)#4, "Traffic Jam" (Sept., 1939)#9, "All The Things You Are"(Jan., 1940)#8, "Frenesi"(July, 1940)#1-13 wks., "Star Dust"(Jan., 1941)#2, "Concerto For Clarinet"(Feb., 1941)#10, "Dancing In The Dark"(March, 1941)#9, "It Had To Be You"(Sept., 1944)#10 and "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive"(Jan., 1945)#5.

BUNNY BERIGAN

• Rowland Bernart Berigan (Nov. 2, 1909 - June 2, 1942)
• Trumpeter/bandleader/singer from Hilbert, Wisconsin.
• Played with many bands including Paul Whiteman, Hal Kemp, Benny Goodman and The Dorseys.
• 1935 - Played lead trumpet for Tommy Dorsey.
• 1937-1940 - Led his own band.
• Jan., 1938 - His classic "I Can't Get Started," written by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin, went to #10. It was later selected as a NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording.
• His alcoholism led to bankruptcy and he became a sideman in Tommy Dorsey's band. Dorsey later fired him.
• 1942 - When Berigan lay broke in a New York hospital, Dorsey paid his medical bills.
• Considered to be the finest white trumpet player of his generation.
• Hits include "Honeysuckle Rose"(April, 1937)#4, "The First Time I Saw You"(June, 1937)#8, "Ebb Tide"(Oct., 1937)#5 and "I Cried For You"(Dec., 1938)#13 (vocal by Kathleen Lane).

GLENN MILLER

• Glenn Alton Miller (March 1, 1904 - Dec. 15, 1944)
• Trombonist/bandleader born in Clarinda, Iowa.
• Raised in North Platte, Nebraska.
• 1917 - Age 13, began playing the trombone.
• 1924-1926 - Attended The University Of Colorado, later working briefly with Boyd Senters' band in Denver, Colorado.
• Played trombone in various bands including Ben Pollack, Red Nichols, Benny Goodman and The Dorseys.
• 1935 - Became defacto leader of Ray Noble's American band.
• Arranged for Glen Gray and several other outfits.
• 1937 - Formed his own band which failed.
• 1938 - Formed another band which failed.
• 1939 - Developed his trademark reed sound of 4 saxes and 1 clarinet. The result was immediate success.
• His arrangers were Jerry Gray and Bill Finegan.
• Featured musicians included Bobby Hackett (cornet), Tex Beneke (tenor sax), Billy May (trumpet) and Hal McIntyre (alto sax).
• His featured vocal group was Marion Hutton and The Modernaires.
• Miller's band was commercial, extremely disciplined and regimented. It achieved greater global success than any other swing band.
• 1940-1941 - Voted the Best Sweet Band.
• 1941 - Miller's was the top selling band in the U.S.A.
• Sept., 1942 - He enlisted in the army airforce as a captain, later major, forming the world's most famous service band.
• Miller and his band appeared in the films, "Sun Valley Serenade" (1941) and "Orchestra Wives"(1942).
• The Miller band was an institution.
• Dec. 15, 1944 - His plane was lost over the English Channel.
• Tex Beneke carried on the Miller tradition with a new band.
• 1954 - Miller was immortalized in the biopic, "The Glenn Miller Story" starring James Stewart.
• By 1970, disc sales had topped 60 million.
• Feb., 1995 - Glenn Miller's last live recordings made 2 weeks before his death were released. Originally recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, England, they were discovered in a London archive by DJ Alan Dell, vice-president of Britain's Glenn Miller Society. The package was titled "Glenn Miller - The Lost Recordings."
• Hits include "My Reverie"(Nov., 1938)#11, "Wishing (Will Make It So)"(May, 1939)#1-4 wks., "Stairway To The Stars"(June, 1939)#1-4 wks., "Moonlight Serenade"(July, 1939)#3 (his theme song), "Moon Love"(July, 1939)#1-4 wks., "In The Mood"(Oct., 1939)#1-12 wks. (NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording), "Tuxedo Junction"(Feb., 1940)#1-9 wks., "Pennsylvania 6-5000"(July, 1940)#5, "Chattanooga Choo Choo"(Sept., 1941)#1-9 wks., "Elmer's Tune"(Oct., 1941)#1, "A String Of Pearls"(Jan., 1942)#1-2 wks., "Moonlight Cocktail" (Feb., 1942)#1-10 wks., "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree"(April, 1942)#1-2 wks., "(I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo"(Aug., 1942)#1-8 wks., "Jukebox Saturday Night"(Nov., 1942)#7 and "That Old Black Magic"(Feb., 1943)#1.

HARRY JAMES

• Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 - July 5, 1983)
• Trumpeter/bandleader born in Albany, Georgia.
• Son of a circus bandmaster, he learned his hard edge style playing in his father's band.
• Famous for his clear, piercing tone.
• 1935-1936 - Played trumpet with Ben Pollack.
• 1937-1938 - Played trumpet with Benny Goodman.
• 1938 - Formed his own orchestra showcasing his trumpet playing and his remarkable singers, one of whom was Frank Sinatra.
• Debuted at The Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia.
• 1943-1965 - Married to film star/pinup girl Betty Grable.
• Film appearances include "Springtime In The Rockies"(1942) and "Best Foot Forward"(1943).
• Featured musicians included trombonist Juan Tizol in 1945 and drummer Buddy Rich during the 1950's.
• Vocalists included Kitty Kallen, Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest.
• 1951 - Experienced a setback of sorts when several of his key performers defected to Duke Ellington's band, often called "The Great James Raid" in jazz circles.
• July 5, 1983 - Died of a heart attack in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Hits include "One O'Clock Jump"(Feb., 1938)#7, "Ciribiribin" (Jan., 1940)#10 (his theme song), "The Flight Of The Bumble Bee" (June, 1940)#20, "You Made Me Love You"(Nov., 1941)#5, "I Don't Want To Walk Without You"(Feb., 1942)#1-2 wks., "Sleepy Lagoon" (April, 1942)#1-4 wks., "I Had The Craziest Dream"(Nov., 1942) #1-2 wks., "I've Heard That Song Before"(Jan., 1943)#1-13 wks., "All Or Nothing At All"(June, 1943)#1-2 wks. (with Frank Sinatra), "I'll Get By"(April, 1944)#1-6 wks., "I'm Beginning To See The Light"(Jan., 1945)#1-2 wks. (with Kitty Kallen) and "I Can't Begin To Tell You"(Dec., 1945)#5 (with Betty Grable).

LES BROWN

• Lester Raymond Brown (March 14, 1912 - Jan. 4, 2001)
• Clarinetist/saxophonist/songwriter/arranger/bandleader born in Reinertown, Pennsylvania.
• Worked as arranger for Jimmy Dorsey, Larry Clinton and others.
• 1938 - Formed his "Band Of Renown," featuring trumpeter Billy Butterfield (1942), tenor saxophonist Ted Nash and trombonists Si Zentner and Warren Covington.
• His theme song was "Leap Frog."
• Summer, 1940 - Sixteen year old Doris Day signed on as featured vocalist, staying until 1946.
• During the 1950's, Brown's band was the resident orchestra for TV's "The Steve Allen Show."
• Later, toured military bases all over the world with Bob Hope over a 30 year period.
• Hits include "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio"(Oct., 1941)#12 (vocal by Betty Bonney), "Sentimental Journey"(March, 1945)#1-9 wks. (with Doris Day), "My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time"(March, 1945)#1-7 wks., "Till The End Of Time"(Aug., 1945)#3 and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm"(Dec., 1948)#1.

BENNY CARTER

• Bennett Lester Carter (Aug. 8, 1907 – )
• Alto saxophonist/trumpeter/arranger/composer/bandleader from New York City.
• Nicknamed "America's Amazing Man Of Music."
• Began on trumpet, later trading it in for a C-melody sax, his inspiration being Franklyn Trumbauer (saxophonist with Paul Whiteman).
• 1924 - Age 17, became a pro, playing with several bands including Fletcher Henderson, McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Chick Webb.
• Late, 1928 - Formed his own band.
• 1935 - Played a 3 year stint in Europe.
• 1936 - Became staff arranger for Henry Hall's BBC dance band in London, England.
• 1939 - Composed "Melancholy Lullaby."
• 1939 - Discovered singer Sylvia Syms.
• 1946 - Formed his own band after settling in Los Angeles, California.
• Carter acquired very little commercial success, yet served as a tremendous influence on others. His greatest popularity was in Europe.
• Known in America mainly for his ability as a score composer.
• 1952 - Appeared in the film, "The Snows Of Kilimanjaro."
• Hits include "Sleep"(May, 1940)#27, "Poinciana"(Feb., 1944)#8 R&B, #11, "Hurry Hurry"(Feb., 1944)#2 R&B, (March, 1944)#27 (vocal by Savannah Churchill) and "I'm Lost"(Aug., 1944)#1-2 wks. R&B.

COLEMAN HAWKINS

• (Nov. 24, 1904 - May 19, 1969)
• Tenor saxophonist/pianist/cellist/composer born in St. Joseph, Missouri.
• Considered to be the first great tenor saxophonist.
• Nicknamed "Hawk" or "Bean."
• Revolutionized the role of the tenor saxophone by utilizing a stiff reed which increased the volume.
• 1921-1923 - Played with Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds.
• During the 1920's, recorded often with Bessie Smith.
• 1924-1934 - Played with Fletcher Henderson's band who recorded Hawkins' "Queer Notions" in 1933.
• Dec. 18, 1933 - Jazz history was made at The Cherry Blossom in Kansas City, Missouri when Hawkins jammed with such local luminaries as Lester Young, Ben Webster and Herschel Evans.
• 1934-1939 - Toured Europe.
• 1939 - Fronted his own band at Kelly's Stables in New York City.
• Oct., 1939 - Recorded the classic "Body And Soul"(Jan., 1940)#13, (July, 1944)#4 R&B (a NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording).
• 1943-1945 - Formed Coleman Hawkins' Sextet featuring pianist Thelonious Monk.
• A no nonsense, self reliant man, Hawkins remained a major force in jazz until his death.
• May 19, 1969 - Died in New York City.
• Hits include "I Surrender Dear"(1940), "I Only Have Eyes For You"(1944) and "Picasso"(1948).

THE DORSEY BROTHERS BAND

• Jimmy (alto saxophonist/clarinetist) and Tommy (trombonist/ trumpeter) Dorsey born in Pennsylvania. (see individual profiles for detailed information)
• 1928-1933 - The Dorsey brothers were two of the hottest musicians of their time, recording as session musicians and performing and recording in their own band.
• 1934 - Formed a permanent Dorsey Brothers Orchestra featuring arrangements by Glenn Miller.
• 1935 - After constant rivalry and feuding, Tommy walked offstage in the middle of a number and they split, forming 2 incredibly successful units.
• 1953 - Reunited when Jimmy joined Tommy's band.
• 1954-1956 - Hosted their own summer TV variety series.
• Hits include "Lost In A Fog"(Nov., 1934)#15, "Lullaby Of Broadway"(April, 1935)#1-2 wks., "Chasing Shadows"(June, 1935)#1- 3 wks., "You Are My Lucky Star"(Oct., 1935)#2 and "I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'"(Oct., 1935)#3.

JIMMY DORSEY

• James Francis Dorsey (Feb. 29, 1904 - June 12, 1957)
• Alto saxophonist/clarinetist/composer/bandleader born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.
• Brother of trombonist/trumpeter Tommy Dorsey.
• Both he and Tommy played with The California Ramblers, The Charleston Chasers, Jean Goldkette, Red Nichols and Paul Whiteman.
• 1928-1934 - Recorded as The Dorsey Brothers (see The Dorsey Brothers Band).
• 1934 - Together formed a permanent Dorsey Brothers Band.
• 1935 - After years of feuding, Tommy quit to form his own band.
• In the early 1940's, it was the vocals of Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell which were chiefly responsible for the popularity of The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.
• 1953 - Jimmy joined Tommy Dorsey's orchestra.
• 1954-1956 - Hosted a musical TV variety program with his brother.
• June 12, 1957 - Jimmy Dorsey died of cancer just as his million selling "So Rare" climbed to #2 nationally.
• Hits include "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?"(May, 1936) #1-4 wks., "Change Partners"(Oct., 1938)#1-2 wks., "The Breeze And I"(May, 1940)#1, "I Hear A Rhapsody"(Jan., 1941)#1-2 wks., "High On A Windy Hill"(Feb., 1941)#1-2 wks., "Amapola"(March, 1941)#1-10 wks. (vocals by Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell), "Green Eyes"(May, 1941)#1-4 wks. (vocals by Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell), "Blue Champagne"(July, 1941)#1, "Tangerine"(April, 1942)#1-6 wks. (vocals by Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell), "Brazil" (Dec., 1942)#14, (April, 1943)#8 R&B, "Besame Mucho"(Jan., 1944) #1-7 wks. and "So Rare"(Feb., 1957)#2, (May, 1957)#4 R&B.

TOMMY DORSEY

• Thomas Francis Dorsey (Nov. 19, 1905 - Nov. 26, 1956)
• Trombonist/trumpeter/composer/bandleader born in Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania.
• Nicknamed "The Sentimental Gentleman Of Swing."
• Brother of alto saxophonist/clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey.
• Considered to be among the greatest trombonists in jazz history.
• Both he and Jimmy played in The California Ramblers, The Charleston Chasers, Jean Goldkette, Red Nichols and Paul Whiteman.
• 1928-1934 - Recorded as The Dorsey Brothers (see The Dorsey Brothers Band).
• 1934 - Formed a permanent Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.
• 1935 - Quit The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra to form his own band, the remnants of Joe Haymes' band. It featured the top musicians of the day and arrangements by Sy Oliver.
• Oct., 1938 - His recording of "Boogie Woogie" went to #3. It hit the charts again in 1943 and 1944.
• During the early 1940's, his featured vocalist was Frank Sinatra.
• 1953 - His brother Jimmy joined his band.
• 1954-1956 - Hosted their own summer TV variety series.
• Nov. 26, 1956 - Choked to death in Greenwich, Connecticut.
• Trombonist Warren Covington fronted the band after his death.
• Hits include "On Treasure Island"(Oct., 1935)#1, "The Music Goes Round And Round"(Dec., 1935)#1-5 wks., "Alone"(Jan., 1936)#1-6 wks., "Marie"(March, 1937)#1-2 wks., "Song Of India"(March, 1937) #5, "Satan Takes A Holiday"(July, 1937)#1-3 wks., "The Big Apple" (Sept., 1937)#1-2 wks., "Once In A While"(Oct., 1937)#1-7 wks., "The Dipsy Doodle"(Nov., 1937)#1-6 wks., "Music Maestro Please" (June, 1938)#1-6 wks., "All The Things You Are"(Dec., 1939)#1-2 wks., "I'll Never Smile Again"(June, 1940)#1-12 wks. (vocals by Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers), "Dolores"(April, 1941)#1, "There Are Such Things"(Nov., 1942)#1-6 wks., #2 R&B (vocals by Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers) and "Tea For Two Cha Cha"(Sept., 1958)#7 (with Warren Covington).

BOB CROSBY AND HIS BOBCATS

• George Robert Crosby (Aug. 25, 1913 - March 9, 1993)
• Singer/composer/bandleader born in Spokane, Washington.
• Younger brother of Bing Crosby.
• Began his career singing professionally for the Anton Weeks band in San Francisco, California.
• 1934 - Joined The Dorsey Brothers Band.
• 1935 - Formed a band consisting of ex-members of Ben Pollack's band.
• His band specialized in the preservation of Dixieland jazz.
• His signature tune was "Summertime."
• Featured musicians included Gil Rodin (tenor sax), Buddy Morrow (trombone), Billy Butterfield (trumpet) and Matty Matlock and Irving Fazola (clarinets).
• 1942 - Disbanded. Crosby later led a services band.
• During the 1960's, hosted his own TV show in Australia.
• Hits include "In A Little Gypsy Tea Room"(June., 1935)#1-3 wks., "Whispers In The Dark"(Aug., 1937)#1-4 wks., "Day In, Day Out" (Sept., 1939)#1 and "Down Argentine Way"(Nov., 1940)#2.

TEDDY WILSON

• Theodore Shaw Wilson (Nov. 24, 1912 - July 31, 1986)
• Pianist/bandleader born in Austin, Texas.
• 1933 - Recorded with Louis Armstrong.
• During the 1930's, his band featured trumpeter Roy Eldridge, drummer Cozy Cole and tenor sax virtuoso Lester Young.
• His succession of vocalists included Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nan Wynn.
• 1936-1939 - He was a member of The Benny Goodman Orchestra, rejoining (1944-1946).
• He was also a member of The Benny Goodman Trio and Quartet making them the first integrated ensembles.
• Famous for his distinctive piano stylings, he played a key role in the de-segregation of jazz.
• 1945 - Recorded with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, although Wilson was not appreciative of bebop.
• 1955 - Appeared in the biopic, "The Benny Goodman Story."
• July 31, 1986 - Died in New Britain, Connecticut.
• Hits include "Twenty-Four Hours A Day"(Nov., 1935)#6, "These Foolish Things"(Aug., 1936)#5, "The Way You Look Tonight"(Nov., 1936)#3, "Pennies From Heaven"(Jan., 1937)#3, "Carelessly" (April, 1937)#1-3 wks., "Mean To Me"(June, 1937)#7 (with Billie Holiday), "Remember Me"(Sept., 1937)#2 and "You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming"(Oct., 1937)#1-2 wks.

CAB CALLOWAY

• See Jazz

CHICK WEBB

• William Henry Webb (Feb. 10, 1902 - June 16, 1939)
• Drummer/composer/bandleader born in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Webb was a hunchback dwarf who had been inflicted with tuberculosis of the spine.
• Leader of one of the hottest bands of the 1930's, he was a powerful drummer.
• Described by Gene Krupa as "The Little Giant Of The Drums."
• Began as the leader of a quintet.
• 1928 - His 8 piece band debuted at The Paddock Club in New York City.
• 1931 - Became resident band at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. Webb was the acknowledged "King Of The Savoy."
• Featured musicians included charismatic trumpeter Taft Jordan and alto saxophonist/arranger/composer Edgar Sampson who was the co-writer of "Don't Be That Way" and "Stompin' At The Savoy." The band was fronted by Ali Bardu.
• His compositions include "Jungle Mama"(1929) and "Strictly Jive" (1937).
• During battles of the bands at The Savoy, Webb beat out both Goodman and Basie.
• 1935 - Ella Fitzgerald (his greatest discovery) became featured vocalist.
• 1939 - Because of illness, Webb brought in another drummer shortly before he died.
• 1939-1942 - After Webb's death, Fitzgerald led the band before embarking on her successful solo career.
• Hits include "Stompin' At The Savoy"(June, 1934)#10, "A-Tisket A-Tasket"(June, 1938)#1-10 wks. (vocal by Ella Fitzgerald) (NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording), "F.D.R. Jones"(Nov., 1938)#8 and "Undecided"(March, 1939)#8.

LIONEL HAMPTON

• Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 - Aug. 31, 02)
• Vibraphonist/pianist/drummer/songwriter/singer/bandleader born in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Raised in Birmingham, Alabama and Chicago, Illinois.
• While at school in Wisconsin, he was taught basic technique by a Dominican nun.
• During the 1920's, began his career in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1924 - First recorded with the Reb Spikes band.
• 1928 - Moved to Los Angeles, California.
• 1930 - Played with Louis Armstrong, later moving on to Les Hite.
• 1936-1940 - Worked with Benny Goodman, becoming the fourth member of the revolutionary integrated The Benny Goodman Quartet.
• 1940 - Formed his first big band featuring overheated boogie style arrangements. His 2 featured tenor soloists were Jack McVea and Illinois Jacquet.
• His sound was an important link in the development of R&B.
• Became known as "The King Of Vibes."
• His band at times included bassist/composer Charles Mingus, trumpeter/arranger Quincy Jones and singers Dinah Washington and Joe Williams.
• Composer of "Flying Home," "Vibraphone Blues" and "Midnight Sun."
• Film appearances include "Pennies From Heaven"(1936), "Hollywood Hotel"(1937) and "The Benny Goodman Story"(1955).
• Hits include "After You've Gone"(Nov., 1937)#6, "Wizzin' The Wiz" (May, 1939)#10, "Flying Home"(May, 1940)#25 (his trademark song), "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop"(March, 1946)#1-16 wks. R&B, #9 and "Rag Mop" (Feb., 1950)#4 R&B, #7.

SAMMY KAYE

• Samuel Zarnocay (March 13, 1910 - June 2, 1987)
• Clarinetist/alto saxophonist/composer/bandleader born in Lakewood, Ohio.
• Sweet bandleader whose motto was "Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye."
• 1935 - His band was broadcasting nationally from Cleveland, Ohio.
• 1937 - Began recording for Vocalion.
• 1942 - Don Cornell joined as vocalist.
• Famous for his 12 year long "Sunday Serenade" radio series.
• During the 1950's, hosted several TV programs including the game show, "So You Want To Lead A Band"(1954).
• Hits include "Rosalie"(Oct., 1937)#1-2 wks., "Love Walked In" (March, 1938)#1-3 wks., "Penny Serenade"(Feb., 1939)#2, "Dream Valley"(Dec., 1940)#1, "Daddy"(May, 1941)#1-8 wks., "Remember Pearl Harbour"(Jan., 1942)#3, "I Left My Heart At The Stage Door Canteen"(Aug., 1942)#3, "Don't Fence Me In"(Jan., 1945)#4, "Chickery Chick"(Oct., 1945)#1-4 wks., "I'm A Big Girl Now" (March, 1946)#1, "The Old Lamp-Lighter"(Nov., 1946)#1-7 wks. and "Harbor Lights"(Sept., 1950)#1-4 wks.

HAL KEMP

• James Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 - Dec. 21, 1940)
• Saxophonist/bandleader born in Marion, Alabama.
• 1924 - His band worked its way to London, England aboard ship.
• They made their first recordings in England.
• Kemp's band featured the arrangements of John Scott Trotter and the vocals of Skinnay Ennis and The Smoothies vocal trio.
• Basically, a sweet band.
• Hits include "In The Middle Of A Kiss"(May, 1935)#2, "There's A Small Hotel"(April, 1936)#1-2 wks., "When I'm With You"(July, 1936)#1-2 wks., "This Year's Kisses"(Feb., 1937)#1-4 wks. and "Where Or When"(May, 1937)#1.

KAY KYSER

• James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1909 - July 23, 1985)
• Sweet bandleader born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
• Nicknamed "The Ol' Professor."
• 1928 - Began his recording career.
• His theme song was "Thinking Of You."
• He was able to blend sweet ballads, jive numbers and wacky comedy into his repertoire.
• Featured personnel included his ace trumpeter/stuntman Ish Kabibble (Merwin Bogue).
• Vocalists included Ginny Simms (Virginia Simms) (May 25, 1916 – ) and Harry Babbitt.
• May, 1939 - His recording of "Three Little Fishes" went to #1-2 wks., becoming his first million seller.
• 1943 - Appeared in the film, "Stage Door Canteen."
• During World War Two, toured military camps.
• Famous for his radio program, "Kollege Of Musical Knowledge."
• Hits include "The Umbrella Man"(Dec., 1938)#1, "(Lights Out) Til Reveille"(July, 1941)#1-2 wks., "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover"(Dec., 1941)#1, "Who Wouldn't Love You" (April, 1942)#1-2 wks. (vocal by Harry Babbitt), "Jingle Jangle Jingle"(July, 1942)#1-8 wks., "He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings" (July, 1942)#1-4 wks., "Strip Polka"(Oct., 1942)#1-2 wks., "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition"(Oct., 1942)#1-3 wks., "Ole Buttermilk Sky"(Sept., 1946)#1-2 wks. and "Woody Woodpecker" (June, 1948)#1-6 wks.

GENE KRUPA

• (Jan. 15, 1909 - Oct. 16, 1973)
• Drummer/bandleader/composer born in Chicago, Illinois.
• Originally studied for the priesthood.
• During the 1920's, played with Paul Whiteman.
• 1927 - Made his recording debut in a band led by Eddie Condon.
• Moved to New York City.
• 1934-1938 - John Hammond helped recruit Krupa for Benny Goodman with whom he achieved national fame. The two split after a heated on-stage quarrel.
• Famous for his gum chewing and hair swinging antics during performance.
• 1938 - Formed The Gene Krupa Orchestra.
• Personnel included black trumpet star Roy Eldridge and the cool vocals of Anita O'Day.
• Erratic and untameable, Krupa's lifestyle and involvement with drugs was legendary, yet somewhat overblown.
• 1943 - His career collapsed when he was arrested and jailed for possession of marijuana and allegedly impairing the morals of a minor (his valet). Although the charges were dropped, the damage was done and his reputation as a "dope fiend" became the popular belief.
• After release from jail, he was immediately hired by Tommy Dorsey and later Benny Goodman. Several months later, he debuted with a new band.
• In the 1950's, Krupa formed his own quartet which he led for almost 20 years.
• 1959 - Supplied the soundtrack for the biopic, "The Gene Krupa Story" starring Sal Mineo.
• Compositions include "One Hour"(1929) and "Drumboogie"(1940).
• Shortly before his death, he appeared with the original Benny Goodman Quartet at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
• Oct. 16, 1973 - Died of leukemia in Yonkers, New York.
• Hits include "It All Comes Back To Me Now"(Feb., 1941)#2, "High On A Windy Hill"(Feb., 1941)#2, "Just A Little Bit South Of North Carolina"(June, 1941)#4, "Let Me Off Uptown"(July, 1941)#10 (vocal by Anita O'Day) and "Boogie Blues"(July, 1946)#9.
• Recommended track - "That's What You Think"(Feb., 1942) (vocal by Anita O'Day).

WOODY HERMAN

• See Modern Jazz

RAY NOBLE

• Stanley Raymond Noble (Dec. 17, 1903 - April 2, 1978)
• Pianist/arranger/composer/bandleader born in Brighton, Sussex, England.
• 1927 - Won a music magazine competition for a new dance band orchestrator.
• 1929 - Arranger for Jack Payne's BBC dance orchestra.
• July, 1929-Aug., 1934 - Musical director for HMV Records.
• Recorded hundreds of tracks with The New Mayfair Orchestra, a dance band boasting Britain's finest musicians.
• Sept., 1934 - Took his ace vocalist Al Bowlly and drummer Bill Harty to America where he became the musical director for Radio City in New York.
• Band members included Glenn Miller, Charlie Spivak, Claude Thornhill and Will Bradley.
• Worked on The Edgar Bergen radio program for 13 years.
• Composer of "Goodnight Sweetheart"(1931) (his signature tune), "The Very Thought Of You"(1934) and "Cherokee"(1938).
• Film appearances include "Damsel In Distress"(1937) and "Here We Go Again"(1942).
• Feb., 1947 - His recording of "Linda," featuring singer Buddy Clark went to #1-2 wks.
• 1955 - Retired to the Isle Of Jersey, off the English coast, later returning to America in the 1970's.
• He was the first British bandleader to achieve American success.
• April 2, 1978 - Died in London, England.
• Hits include "Lady Of Spain"(Sept., 1931)#5, "Love Is The Sweetest Thing"(July, 1933)#1-5 wks., "The Old Spinning Wheel" (Oct., 1933)#1-3 wks., "The Very Thought Of You"(July, 1934)#1-5 wks., "Isle Of Capri"(Dec., 1934)#1-7 wks., "Paris In The Spring" (June, 1935)#1, "Let's Swing It"(July, 1935)#1-2 wks., "I Hadn't Anyone Till You"(April, 1938)#4 and "Linda"(Feb., 1947)#1-2 wks.

STAN KENTON

• See Modern Jazz

XAVIER CUGAT

• Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Duelofeo (Jan. 1, 1900 - Oct. 27, 1990)
• Violinist/composer/bandleader born in Gerona, Spain.
• 1904 - His family emigrated to Cuba.
• 1921 - Moved to America.
• Began as a violinist in the Teatro Nacional Orchestra, later giving recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
• Became a sideman in Vincent Lopez's orchestra, also taking a job as a caricaturist for The Los Angeles Times.
• 1932 - Formed an orchestra to back his 15 year old niece, dancer/ singer/actress Margo at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. After 16 years, Cugat's band became The Waldorf's highest paid orchestra.
• He dressed his musicians in flamboyant Latin garb and introduced America to the rhumba and the conga.
• Colourful Cugat popularized berets and chihuahuas in the U.S.
• He was famous for his exotic Latin American dance music and his array of lovely female vocalists including Lina Romay and 3 he married - Carmen Castillo, Abbe Lane and Charo. Conga star Desi Arnaz was also a major attraction in his orchestra.
• 1948 - Released his autobiography, "Rhumba Is My Life."
• 1978 - After singer/guitarist/comedienne Charo divorced him and ill health set in, Cugie gave up his music career.
• Hits include "The Lady In Red"(May, 1935)#3, "Perfidia"(Jan., 1941)#3, "Brazil"(Jan., 1943)#2 and "Babalu"(April, 1944)#27.

GLEN GRAY

• (1900 - Aug. 23, 1963)
• Alto saxophonist/bandleader born in Metamora, Illinois.
• 1927 - Formed The Orange Blossom Band as an offshoot of The Jean Goldkette Orchestra in Detroit, Michigan. Later, after breaking away from Goldkette, renamed it The Casa Loma Orchestra (named after the Toronto, Ontario, Canada landmark).
• The band featured clarinetist Clarence Hutchinrider, trombonist Pee Wee Hunt and benefitted from the arrangements of banjoist/ guitarist Gene Gifford.
• Nov., 1937 - His trademark song, "Smoke Rings" went to #15.
• 1950 - Retired from touring.
• 1956-1963 - Recorded several LP's for Capitol Records.
• Hits include "Casa Loma Stomp"(Jan., 1931)#15, "Blue Moon"(Jan., 1935)#1-3 wks., ""When I Grow To Old To Dream"(Feb., 1935)#1-4 wks., "Heaven Can Wait"(March, 1939)#1-2 wks., "Sunrise Serenade" (April, 1939)#1-2 wks. and "My Heart Tells Me"(Nov., 1943#1-5 wks.

EDDY DUCHIN

• (April 1, 1909 - Feb. 9, 1951)
• Pianist/composer/bandleader born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• 1928 - Became pianist for Leo Reisman' s orchestra and a featured attraction on Reisman's recordings in 1929.
• 1931 - Formed his own orchestra.
• His theme song was "My Twilight Dream."
• 1932 - Began recording for Brunswick, the first 2 tracks being "Snuggled On Your Shoulder"(March, 1932)#7 and "Can't We Talk It Over?"
• Jan., 1939 - Backed Mary Martin on her #9 hit, "My Heart Belongs To Daddy."
• Feb. 9, 1951 - The debonair Duchin died of leukemia in New York City.
• 1956 - Tyrone Power starred in the biopic, "The Eddy Duchin Story." Carmen Cavallero supplied the piano-playing.
• His son Peter Duchin became a pianist/bandleader in the 1960's.
• Hits include "Night And Day"(Jan., 1933)#2, "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking"(Dec., 1933)#1-3 wks., "Let's Fall In Love"(Feb., 1934)#1-5 wks., "I Won't Dance"(March, 1935)#1-3 wks., "Lovely To Look At"(March, 1935)#1-4 wks., "Moon Over Miami"(Jan., 1936)#1-3 wks., "Lights Out"(Jan., 1936)#1, "Take My Heart"(July, 1936)#1-2 wks., "It's De-Lovely"(Nov., 1936)#1-2 wks., "I'll Sing You A Thousand Love Songs"(Nov., 1936)#1 and "I Give You My Word"(Dec., 1940)#2.

ALSO SEE

• Jazz, The Blues - Big Band Blues

VALUABLE SOLOISTS

• Leon "Chu" Berry - (Sept. 13, 1910 - Oct. 31, 1941) (tenor sax).
• Billy Butterfield (Charles Butterfield) (1917 - 1988) (trumpet).
• Buck Clayton (Wilbur Dorsey Clayton) - (1912 - 1992) (trumpet).
• John Coltrane (John Williams Coltrane) - (Sept. 26, 1926 - July 17, 1967) (sax).
• Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge (David Eldridge) - (1911 - 1989) (trumpet).
• Bobby Hackett (Robert Leo Hackett) - (Jan. 31, 1915 - 1976) (cornet).
• Coleman Hawkins - (Nov. 24, 1904 - May 19, 1969) (tenor sax).
• Ben Webster - (Feb. 27, 1909 - Sept. 20, 1973) (tenor sax).
• Lester Young - (Aug. 27, 1909 - March 15, 1959) (tenor sax) - The greatest rival of Coleman Hawkins (see Modern Jazz).

A SELECTED LISTING OF OTHER BIG BAND HITS

• Will Bradley - "Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar"(Nov., 1940)#2 (vocal by Ray McKinley).
• Johnny Green - "Two Cigarettes In The Dark"(Sept., 1934)#2 (vocal by Ethel Merman).
• Phil Harris - "How's About It"(May, 1933)#10.
• Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra - "Gin Mill Special"(July, 1939).
• Ina Ray Hutton - "Georgia's A Gorgeous Gal"(Dec., 1934)#20.
• Wayne King - "The Waltz You Saved For Me"(Dec., 1930)#4.
• Vincent Lopez - "Dark Eyes"(June, 1939)#14.
• Freddy Martin - "I Saw Stars"(Aug., 1934)#1-4 wks.
• Lucky Millinder With The Mills Blue Rhythm Band - "Jammin' For The Jack Pot"(July, 1937).
• Ozzie Nelson - "And Then Some"(July, 1935)#1.
• Red Norvo - "Says My Heart"(June, 1938)#1-4 wks.
• Don Redman & His Orchestra - "Milenberg Joys"(Dec., 1938).
• Freddie Slack - "Cow Cow Boogie"(July, 1942)#9 (vocal by Ella Mae Morse).
• Orrin Tucker - "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh"(Nov., 1939)#2 (vocal by Wee Bonnie Baker).

BIG BAND VOCALISTS

Big bands were considerably loud and few concessions were made to vocalists. Keys were subject to instrumentalists and the singer generally had little or no say since the orchestra and its leader were the main attraction. Sound equipment was in its infancy and as it improved, vocalists enjoyed the luxury of developing a more intimate relaxed style.

Life on the road was gruelling, especially for a girl singer touring with an all male entourage. Basically, she became one of the boys or she didn't make it. Dressing rooms were often non existent and travelling on a band bus could be extremely uncomfortable. Mildred Bailey and Loyce Whiteman (wife of Harry Barris of The Rhythm Boys) were considered to be the first female band singers.

Billie Holiday, who was the first black female to go on the road with an all white band, experienced the problems of sexism and racism. Finding restaurants and hotels which would accommodate blacks, not to mention something as simple as washroom facilities was a common challenge. She was often forced to use rear entrances and freight elevators and sometimes wasn't even allowed the privilege of sitting on the bandstand with the rest of the performers. After a year and a half with Artie Shaw, "Lady Day" had had enough and resigned.

After the war, many top notch band singers made the transition to solo star performers. Several major recording stars of The Sing Era such as Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day had cut their teeth in the business as big band singers.

MALE VOCALISTS OF THE BIG BAND ERA

BOB EBERLY

• Robert Eberle (July 24, 1916 - Dec. 17, 1981)
• Singer from Mechanicville, New York.
• Older brother of singer Ray Eberle.
• During the early 1930's, sang with The Dorsey Brothers.
• 1936-1943 - Sang with The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Hits include "Change Partners"(Oct., 1938)#1-2 wks., "The Breeze And I"(May, 1940)#1 and "Blue Champagne"(July, 1941)#1.
• With Dorsey, he was often paired vocally with Helen O'Connell. Hits together include "Amapola"(March, 1941)#1-10 wks., "Green Eyes"(May, 1941)#1-4 wks. and "Tangerine"(April, 1942)#1-6 wks.
• 1940-1943 - Ranked #3 for 3 straight years as favourite male vocalist in the Billboard college polls.
• Late 1940's - Went solo.
• Solo hits include "Hair Of Gold (Eyes Of Blue)"(Oct., 1948)#25, "When I Dream"(Dec., 1952)#30 and "You Are Too Beautiful"(Aug., 1953)#30.

RAY EBERLE

• Raymond Eberle (Jan. 19, 1919 - Aug. 25, 1979)
• Singer from Hoosick Falls, New York.
• Younger brother of singer Bob Eberly.
• Sang with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, often featured with The Modernaires.
• 1940 and 1942 - Edged out Frank Sinatra as the #1 male big band singer in the Billboard college polls.
• Hits with Miller include "Over The Rainbow"(Aug., 1939)#1-7 wks. and "Blue Rain"(Sept., 1943)#8.

BILLY ECKSTINE

• William Clarence Eckstein (July 8, 1913 - March 8, 1993)
• Singer/trumpeter/valve trombonist/bandleader born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• One of the richest most distinctive baritone voices in pop music history.
• 1930 - Age 17, he won his first amateur competition imitating Cab Calloway, later singing with bandleader Tommy Miles.
• 1939-1943 - Sang with The Earl Hines Orchestra, his biggest hit being "Stormy Monday Blues"(April, 1943)#23.
• Discovered Sarah Vaughan, who stayed with him when he formed his own band with Budd Johnson in 1943.
• June, 1944 - Formed The Billy Eckstine Big Band featuring Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Art Blakey and 2 of the greatest incubators of bebop - alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpet ace Dizzy Gillespie.
• 1947 - Went solo, signing with MGM and performing in cabarets.
• Became known as "The Fabulous Mr. B."
• 1954 - Toured Europe.
• 1965 - Signed to the Tamla-Motown label.
• March 8, 1993 - Died following a stroke.
• Hits include "A Cottage For Sale"(Oct., 1945)#8, (Nov., 1945)#3 R&B, "I'm In The Mood For Love"(Jan., 1946)#12, "Prisoner Of Love"(April, 1946)#10, (May, 1946)#3 R&B, "I Wanna Be Loved" (June, 1950)#7, "If"(Feb., 1951)#10, "I Apologise"(March, 1951) #6, (April, 1951)#4 R&B and "Kiss Of Fire"(April, 1952)#16, (June, 1952)#8 R&B.
• Recommended track - "Passing Strangers"(July, 1957)#82 (with Sarah Vaughan).

FRANK SINATRA

• See The Sing Era

JOHNNY DESMOND

• Giovanni Alfredo De Simone (Nov. 14, 1920 - Sept. 6, 1985)
• Singer/actor born in Detroit, Michigan.
• Sang with several big bands including Bob Crosby, Gene Krupa and Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band.
• Nicknamed "The GI Sinatra" and "The Creamer."
• During the 1950's, he was featured on "The Breakfast Club" radio program.
• Hits include "Guilty"(March, 1947)#12, "Because Of You"(Sept., 1951)#17, "Woman"(Nov., 1953)#9 and "The High And The Mighty" (July, 1954)#17.

DICK HAYMES

• Richard Benjamin Haymes (Sept. 13, 1916 - March 28, 1980)
• Ballad singer/actor born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• 1936 - Moved to the U.S.
• Educated at Loyola University in Montreal, Canada.
• Trained by his mother, a vocal teacher.
• During the early 1940's, sang with Benny Goodman, Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.
• 1944-1953 - Appeared in several film musicals including "Irish Eyes Are Smiling"(1944) and "Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe" (1945).
• 1953-1954 - Married to actress Rita Hayworth.
• 1955 - Formed his own production company.
• During the mid 1960's, retired to Ireland after a string of failed marriages and mounting debts.
• Big band hits include "Idaho"(Aug., 1942)#4 (with Benny Goodman), "Serenade In Blue"(Oct., 1942)#17 (with Benny Goodman) and "I'll Get By"(April, 1944)#1-6 wks. (with Harry James).
• Hits include "It Can't Be Wrong"(June, 1943)#1, "You'll Never Know"(July, 1943)#1-7 wks., "Till The End Of Time"(Sept., 1945)#3, "Mam'selle"(May, 1947)#3, "Little White Lies"(April, 1948)#2 and "You're Just In Love"(April, 1951)#30 (with Ethel Merman).

SKINNAY ENNIS

• Robert Ennis (Aug. 13, 1908 - June 3, 1963)
• Singer from Salisbury, North Carolina.
• 1933-1937 - Sang with Hal Kemp. Hits include "For All We Know" (Aug., 1934)#3, "In The Middle Of A Kiss"(May, 1935)#2 and "When I'm With You"(July, 1936)#1-2 wks.
• Late 1938 - Formed his own orchestra, featuring the arrangements of Claude Thornhill and Gil Evans.
• During the 1940's, appeared on the Bob Hope radio shows.
• His only charted solo hit was "Wishing (Will Make It So)"(April, 1939)#9.

AL BOWLLY

• Albert Alick Bowlly (Jan. 7, 1899 - April 17, 1941)
• Singer/guitarist/pianist/banjoist born in Lourenco Marques, Mozambique.
• A dark, handsome man of Greek-Lebanese descent.
• Raised in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Summer, 1928 - Moved to England, performing with Fred Elizade's band at The Savoy Hotel Ballroom in London.
• 1930 - Sang with Roy Fox's band.
• Featured vocalist with Lew Stone and Ray Noble.
• During the 1930's, Bowlly was England's most popular dance band singer.
• Sept., 1934 - Noble took Bowlly and drummer Bill Harty to New York City to perform with Noble's American band at Radio City.
• 1938 - Back in London, England, recorded with Geraldo.
• Throat infections later put an end to his singing career.
• April 17, 1941 - Killed by an air raid bomb in London, England.
• Hits include "If I Had You"(Jan., 1929)#12, "Sweet And Lovely" (Oct., 1931), "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking"(Dec., 1933), "I'll String Along With You"(June, 1934), "Blue Moon"(Feb., 1935) #5 and "My Melancholy Baby"(May, 1935)#20.

ART LUND

• Arthur Earl Lund (April 1, 1920 - May 30, 1990)
• Singer/actor from Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Began as a mathematics teacher in Kentucky.
• Quit teaching to tour with Jimmy Jay's Orchestra.
• Originally known as Art London when he sang with Benny Goodman. His rich baritone voice was featured on Goodman's "Winter Weather"(Jan., 1942)#24 (with Peggy Lee).
• Served in the U.S. Navy during World War One.
• Late 1940's, went solo.
• 1956 - Starred on Broadway in "The Most Happy Fella."
• Hits include "Mam'selle"(April, 1947)#1-2 wks., "Peg O' My Heart" (June, 1947)#4 and "On A Slow Boat To China"(Nov., 1948)#12.

MERV GRIFFIN

• Mervin Griffin (July 6, 1925 – )
• Singer/actor/TV talk show host/producer born in San Mateo, California.
• 1948-1952 - Sang with Freddy Martin, his biggest hit being the novelty song, "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts"(Oct., 1949) #8.
• 1953 - Appeared with Kathryn Grayson in the film musical, "So This Is Love."
• Became a TV game show host, later hosting his own successful TV talk show.
• One of the richest men in America.
• Hits include "The Morning Side Of The Mountain"(Aug., 1951)#27, "Twenty-Three Starlets (And Me)"(Nov., 1951)#30 and "The Charanga"(April, 1961)#69.

MIKE DOUGLAS

• Michael Delaney Dowd Jr. (Aug. 11, 1925 – )
• Singer/TV talk show host born in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1945-1950 - Sang with Kay Kyser. Hits include "Ole Buttermilk Sky"(Sept., 1946)#1-2 wks. and "The Old Lamp-Lighter"(Oct., 1946)#3.
• 1950 - Douglas supplied the singing voice for Prince Charming in the Walt Disney animated classic, "Cinderella" but did not receive onscreen credit.
• 1961-1980 - Hosted his own syndicated TV variety/talk show.
• His biggest solo hit was "The Men In My Little Girl's Life"(Dec., 1965)#6.

VAUGHN MONROE

• See The Sing Era

PERRY COMO

• See The Sing Era

FEMALE VOCALISTS OF THE BIG BAND ERA

BILLIE HOLIDAY

• Eleanora Fagan (April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959)
• Singer/songwriter/actress born in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Her father Clarence Holiday was guitarist with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. Her parents never married.
• As a child, listened to the recordings of her idols Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith in the parlors of the brothels where she did chores.
• 1928 - Moved to New York City where she worked as a domestic.
• 1929 - Age 14, served 4 months in jail for prostitution.
• Tried out unsuccessfully as a dancer in Harlem nightclubs, later singing in various speakeasies, tablehopping and perfecting her improvisational vocal skills. She was able to sing each song differently at every table.
• 1933 - Discovered by John Hammond at Monette Moore's speakeasy on West 133rd Street. He remembered, "she was 17, slightly overweight, a singer of incredible improvisation and absolutely beautiful."
• Her next success came with appearances at Pods And Jerry's Log Cabin, also on 133rd Street.
• Holiday possessed a small vocal range, yet her achievements as an intimate song stylist were remarkable. Her voice also had a strange scratch.
• If Bessie Smith perfected the blues, Holiday's life WAS the blues. Ralph Cooper at Harlem's Apollo Theater stated, "it ain't the blues. I don't know what it is, you just gotta hear her."
• Famous for the gardenias she pinned in her hair.
• Nicknamed "Lady Day."
• 1935-1938 - Sang with The Teddy Wilson Orchestra.
• 1937 - Toured with Count Basie.
• She recorded with Benny Goodman and Count Basie and in 1938, toured with Artie Shaw's band, making history as the first black female vocalist to travel with an all white band.
• 1937-Dec., 1940 - Holiday was often paired with tenor saxophonist Lester Young on her recordings. The Holiday and Young sides are considered to be some of the most inspired jazz recordings ever made. They were reunited for the last time on a 1957 TV special.
• Dec., 1938 - Holiday once again made history, opening at Barney Josephson's Cafe Society, New York City's first racially integrated nightclub. It was here that she introduced the dazzling "Strange Fruit"(July, 1939)#16. The NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording was a revolutionary song, originally conceived as a poem by Jewish songwriter/poet/schoolteacher Abel Meeropol (aka: Lewis Allen) concerned with the lynching of blacks in the American South. It became one of the most celebrated songs in 20th century music history and one of Holiday's trademark songs.
• During the early 1940's, she was the undisputed queen of 52nd Street (The Street).
• In the 1940's, formed her own orchestra.
• 1947 - Appeared in the film, "New Orleans."
• 1947-1948 - Spent a year in prison for drug possession.
• 1948 - Enjoyed a triumphant concert at Carnegie Hall.
• Her totally unique vocal style can only be described as intense and intimate. One critic stated, "next to Billie, others singing about love sounded like little girls playing house." It seemed as if she was singing to you and you alone. Holiday was a master of the microphone and one of the most inspired improvisers in jazz. She was a tremendous influence on singers then and now.
• During the late 1950's, she was in decline. Drugs abuse had taken its toll. Yet, the voice now grainy in texture was even more effective.
• July 17, 1959 - Died of a heroin overdose in New York City.
• Holiday was buried beside her mother at St. Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.
• 1972 - A film biography titled "Lady Sings The Blues" enjoyed considerable success despite a miscast Diana Ross as Holiday.
• 2000 - Time Magazine chose "Strange Fruit" as the best song of the century.
• Hits include "What A Little Moonlight Can Do"(March, 1935)#12, "I Can't Get Started"(Nov., 1937) (with Count Basie), "Gloomy Sunday"(Aug., 1941), "God Bless The Child"(Oct., 1941)#25, "Lover Man"(Oct., 1944)#16, (May, 1945)#5 R&B, "Don't Explain"(Aug., 1945), "Good Morning Heartache"(Jan., 1946) and "Them There Eyes" (Aug., 1949).
• Recommended album - "Lady In Satin"(1958), her last commercial set featuring "You've Changed" and the devastating "I'm A Fool To Want You."

PEGGY LEE

• Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 27, 1920 - Jan. 21, 2002)
• Singer/songwriter/actress born in Jamestown, North Dakota.
• Her biggest influence was Billie Holiday.
• 1924 - From the death of her mother on, she would suffer abuse from her stepmother.
• 1936 - Left home, beginning to sing locally.
• 1940 - Sang briefly at a Hollywood nightclub with Will Osborne`s band.
• 1941-1943 - Sang with Benny Goodman. Hits include "Jersey Bounce" (March, 1942)#1-4 wks., "We'll Meet Again"(May, 1942)#16 and the classic "Why Don't You Do Right"(Jan., 1943)#4.
• Duke Ellington christened her. "The Queen."
• 1943 - Married Goodman's guitarist David Barbour with whom she wrote several hit songs.
• July 30, 1945 - Went solo, signing with Capitol Records.
• Developed a sexy, jazzy, intimate vocal style. The lady was a perfectionist.
• Composing credits include "It's A Good Day"(1946) and "Manana" (1947).
• 1950 - Made her screen debut with Bing Crosby in "Mr. Music."
• 1952 - His alcoholism led her to leave Barbour.
• 1953 - Starred with Danny Thomas in a remake of "The Jazz Singer."
• 1955 - Nominated for an Academy Award for her acclaimed dramatic performance in the film, "Pete Kelly's Blues."
• 1955 - Collaborated on the score for Walt Disney's "Lady And The Tramp," also providing the voices for several animated characters.
• During the early 1960's, Lee was credited with helping to revive the supper club business, famous for her appearances and live recordings at Basin St. East.
• 1969 - Won a Grammy Award for her recording of Leiber & Stoller's "Is That All There Is?"(Oct., 1969)#11.
• 1976 - Suffered a near fatal fall which left her with a rigid demeanour.
• 1984 - Wrote the much maligned autobiographical musical, "Peg."
• 1985 - She had four angioplasties and still resumed performing.
• 1989 - Released the Grammy-nominated "Peggy Sings The Blues" album.
• Plagued by diabetes and illness, Lee was an incredible trouper who continued to cast a spell over audiences with her inimitable sultry jazz song stylings.
• Jan. 21, 2002 - Died of a heart attack in Bel Air, California.
• Hits include "It's A Good Day"(Jan., 1947)#16, "Golden Earrings" (Nov., 1947)#2, "Manana"(Jan., 1948)#1-9 wks., "Don't Smoke In Bed"(May, 1948)#22, "Riders In The Sky"(May, 1949)#2, "Lover" (June, 1952)#3, "Mr. Wonderful"(March, 1956)#14, "Fever"(July, 1958)#8, (Aug., 1958)#5 R&B and "I'm A Woman"(Jan., 1963)#54.
• Recommended track - "He Needs Me"(1955) from "Pete Kelly's Blues."

MARION HUTTON

• Marion Thornburg (1919 - 1986)
• Singer born in Battle Creek, Michigan.
• The older sister of singer/actress Betty Hutton.
• 1938-1942 - Sang with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, often paired with The Modernaires.
• Hits with Miller include "Ooh What You Said"(March, 1940)#13 and "The Woodpecker Song"(April, 1940)#1-7 wks.

IVIE ANDERSON

• Ivie Marie Anderson (1904 - Dec. 28, 1949)
• Singer from Gilroy, California.
• During the 1920's, established her reputation with appearances at The Cotton Club.
• 1931-1942 - Featured vocalist with Duke Ellington.
• Clear voiced, graceful singer with a quiet charming personality.
• 1942 - Illness forced her to pursue a less stressful lifestyle. She opened a restaurant in Los Angeles, California.
• Hits with Ellington include "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"(Feb., 1932)#6, "I'm Satisfied"(Sept., 1933)#11, "Love Is Like A Cigarette"(April, 1936)#8, "There's A Lull In My Life"(May, 1937)#12, "If You Were In My Place (What Would You Do?)"(March, 1938)#10 and "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" (Oct., 1941)#13.

DORIS DAY

• See The Sing Era

MAXINE SULLIVAN

• Marietta Williams (May 13, 1911 - April 7, 1987)
• Singer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• Wife of bandleader John Kirby.
• Vocalist with Claude Thornhill.
• 1939 - Appeared in the Broadway show, "Swingin' The Dream" with Louis Armstrong where she introduced "Swingin' A Dream."
• Hits include "Nice Work If You Can Get It"(Dec., 1937)#10, "Loch Lommond"(Dec., 1937)#9 (her trademark song) and "My Ideal"(Sept., 1943)#11.

MILDRED BAILEY

• Mildred Rinker (Feb. 27, 1907 - Dec. 12, 1951)
• Jazz singer/pianist born in Tekoa, Washington.
• Sister of Al Rinker of The Rhythm Boys.
• 1925 - Began singing in speakeasies in Los Angeles, California where she debuted on radio.
• 1929 - Began singing with Paul Whiteman. By 1930, she was making $1,250 a week.
• Bailey is considered by many to be the very first female band singer and the first non black female singer to be accepted in jazz.
• In the 1930's, married xylophonist/vibraphonist Red Norvo (Kenneth Norville) (March 31, 1908 – ) with whom she formed a band. They became known as "Mr. And Mrs. Swing," recording brilliant tracks for the Brunswick label.
• Nicknamed "The Rockin' Chair Lady" because of her classic recording of Hoagy Carmichael"s "Rockin' Chair"(June, 1937)#13.
• A superb jazz vocalist with a high, thin yet soulful voice.
• She was always unhappy about being overweight.
• After 1939, she usually performed as a solo artist with a backing trio.
• 1944-1945 - Hosted her own popular radio program.
• Late 1940's - Divorced Norvo.
• Dec. 12, 1951 - Died penniless of heart related problems in Poughkeepsie, New York.
• Hits include "Georgia On My Mind"(Jan., 1932)#19, "Lazy Bones" (Aug., 1933)#9, "Trust In Me"(March, 1937)#4, "Where Are You" (April, 1937)#5, "So Help Me"(Aug., 1938)#2, "Moon Love"(Aug., 1939)#14 and "Almost Like Being In Love"(Aug., 1947)#21.

SARAH VAUGHAN

• Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 - April 3, 1990)
• Singer/pianist born in Newark, New Jersey.
• Originally dubbed "Sailor" because of her salty dialogue.
• Extraordinary jazz singer nicknamed "The Divine One" and dubbed "Sassy" by her mentor Billy Eckstine.
• 1931-1939 - Studied piano.
• 1942 - Won an amateur contest at The Apollo Theater in Harlem singing "Body And Soul."
• Joined Earl Hines' band as vocalist and second pianist.
• 1944-1945 - Sang and played piano with Billy Eckstine's band.
• Critic Leonard Feather said she had a voice whose pitch and range reminded him of a soprano, a contralto and a coloratura. Her style was almost operatic in its approach.
• She was so unlimited in improvisation that at times, she seemed in danger of losing the essence of a song.
• Her masterpiece was her rendition of "Misty"(1959).
• During the 1960's, she withdrew somewhat from show business, later returning with a vengeance in the 1970's.
• 1979 - Played 3 SRO concerts at New York City's Carnegie Hall in 9 days.
• 1989 - Awarded The Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.
• April 3, 1990 - Died in Los Angeles, California.
• Hits include "Tenderly"(Nov., 1947)#27, "Nature Boy"(July, 1948) #9, "Black Coffee"(June, 1949)#13, "I Love The Guy"(Sept., 1950) #10, "Thinking Of You"(Nov., 1950)#16, "A Lover's Quarrel"(Feb., 1953)#28, "Make Yourself Comfortable"(Nov., 1954)#6, "Whatever Lola Wants"(April, 1955)#6, "Mr. Wonderful"(Feb., 1956)#13, "Broken Hearted Melody"(July, 1959)#7, "Smooth Operator"(Nov., 1959)#44 and "Eternally"(Feb., 1960)#41.

MARTHA TILTON

• (Nov. 14, 1915 – )
• Singer born in Corpus Christie, Texas.
• Raised in Los Angeles, California.
• Began singing with Al Lippan's band at the Coconut Grove.
• Toured for 2 years with Hal Grayson. Became a member of 3 Hits & A Miss.
• 1937-1939 - Rose to prominence as vocalist with Benny Goodman. Hits include "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart"(May, 1938)#1 and "And The Angels Sing"(April, 1939)#1-5 wks.
• Nicknamed "Liltin' Martha Tilton."
• Film appearances include "Sunny"(1941), "Swing Hostess"(1944), "Crime Inc."(1945) and "The Benny Goodman Story"(1956).
• Hits include "I'll Walk Alone"(July, 1944)#4, "How Are Things In Glocca Mora"(March, 1947)#8 and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder" (July, 1947)#9.

HELEN O'CONNELL

• (May 23, 1921 - Sept. 9, 1993)
• Singer from Lima, Ohio.
• Beautiful blonde vocalist famous for her unique vocal style of bending notes in a sly seductive manner.
• 1939-1943 - Sang for Jimmy Dorsey, often featured in duets with Bob Eberly.
• Duets with Eberly include "Amapola"(March, 1941)#1-10 wks., "Green Eyes"(May, 1941)#1-4 wks. and "Tangerine"(April, 1942)#1-6 wks.
• Other hits with Dorsey include "Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga" (June, 1940)#4, "I Threw A Kiss In The Ocean"(June, 1942)#12 and "Take Me"(July, 1942)#7.
• 1940 - Named top female vocalist by Metronome magazine.
• 1943 - Retired.
• 1956 - Sang with Russ Morgan's orchestra for 3 months.
• Later, O'Connell enjoyed a career as a TV host for beauty pageants.
• Married to orchestra leader Frank DeVol.
• Solo hits include "Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)"(March, 1951)#16 and "Slow Poke"(Dec., 1951)#8 (with Cliffie Stone's orchestra).

LENA HORNE

• See The Musical - Stage And Film

HELEN FORREST

• (April 12, 1918 - July 11, 1999)
• Singer from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
• 1938-1943 - Sang with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Harry James.
• 1942 - Appeared in the film, "Springtime In The Rockies."
• Hits include "They Say"(Dec., 1938)#1-2 wks. (with Artie Shaw), "I Had The Craziest Dream"(Nov., 1942)#1-2 wks. (with Harry James), "I've Heard That Song Before"(Jan.,1943)#1-13 wks. (with Harry James) and "Takin' A Chance On Love"(April, 1943)#1-3 wks. (with Benny Goodman).

ANITA O'DAY

• Anita Belle Colton (Dec. 18, 1919 – )
• Singer born in Chicago, Illinois.
• Trendsetting husky voiced jazz singer who revolutionized the appearance of girl singers by wearing suits instead of gowns.
• Small vocal range but a gifted improviser.
• Changed her last name to O'Day (pig-latin for dough).
• Nicknamed "The Jezebel Of Jazz."
• 1939 - Sang with vibraphonist Max Miller's trio.
• 1941 - Replaced Irene Daye as featured singer with Gene Krupa's band.
• 1944 - Sang for Stan Kenton before rejoining Krupa.
• 1946 - Went solo.
• 1958 - Enjoyed great success at The Newport Jazz Festival.
• 1981 - Released her autobiography, "High Times Hard Times," chronicling her career and battles with drug addiction and alcoholism.
• Band hits include "Let Me Off Uptown"(July, 1941)#10 (with Gene Krupa) and "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine"(Sept., 1944)#4 (with Stan Kenton).
• Recommended track - "That's What You Think"(Feb., 1942) (with Gene Krupa).
• Solo hits include "Hi Ho Trailus Boot Whip"(Dec., 1947)#24 and "Tennessee Waltz"(Feb., 1951)#24 (Will Bradley Orchestra).

HELEN WARD

• 1934-1936 - Featured vocalist with Benny Goodman. Hits include "Blue Moon"(Jan., 1935)#2, "Goody Goody"(Feb., 1936)#1-6 wks. and "These Foolish Things"(June, 1936)#1-2 wks.
• Ward's cool looks and singing style were a major reason for Goodman's band getting booked into Billy Rose's Ballroom.
• Also sang with Teddy Wilson, Joe Sullivan and Harry James.
• Her only charted solo hit was "You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me"(Nov., 1953)#30.

CONNIE HAINES

• Yvonne Marie Jamais (Jan. 22, 1920 – ).
• 1940-1942 - Sang with Tommy Dorsey. Hits include "Two Dreams Met" (Nov., 1940)#12 and "Kiss The Boys Goodbye"(Aug., 1941)#8.
• Solo hits include "How It Lies, How It Lies, How It Lies"(April, 1949)#19 and "Maybe It's Because"(Sept., 1949)#20.

DINAH WASHINGTON

• Ruth Lee Jones (Aug. 29, 1924 - Dec. 14, 1963)
• Singer/pianist born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
• 1927 - Moved to Chicago, Illinois.
• 1940-1941 - Sang with The Sallie Martin Gospel Singers.
• 1943-1946 - Sang with Lionel Hampton, her biggest hit being "Blow Top Blues"(May, 1947)#21. She became a solo artist yet recorded regularly with Hampton.
• During the early 1950's, she was known as "The Queen Of The Jukeboxes."
• Married 7 times, she once stated, "I change my husbands before they change me."
• A crystal clear voice of unique timbre and strong vibrato.
• Dec. 14, 1963 - Died of an overdose of alcohol and pills in Detroit, Michigan.
• Solo hits include "Am I Asking Too Much"(Sept., 1948)#1 R&B, "I Wanna Be Loved"(June, 1950)#5 R&B, #22, "I Won't Cry Anymore" (May, 1951)#6 R&B, "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes"(May, 1959)#8, (June, 1959)#4 R&B, "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)"(Jan., 1960) #1-10 wks. R&B, #5 (with Brook Benton), "A Rockin' Good Way"(May, 1960)#1-4 wks. R&B, #7 (with Brook Benton), "This Bitter Earth" (June, 1960)#1 R&B, #24 and "September In The Rain"(Oct., 1961) #23, (Sept., 1961)#5 R&B.
• Recommended track - "Unforgettable"(Oct., 1959)#17, (Sept., 1959) #15 R&B - easily rivals Nat King Cole's 1952 version.

JUNE CHRISTY

• See Modern Jazz

ELLA FITZGERALD

• (April 25, 1918 - June 15, 1996)
• Singer/songwriter born in Newport News, Virginia.
• Lovingly nicknamed "The First Lady Of Jazz."
• 1932 - After her mother died, Ella lived on the streets of Harlem, homeless for 2 years.
• Nov., 1934 - Competed in and later won a $25 first prize at The Harlem Opera House talent contest.
• Feb., 1935 - Made her professional singing debut with Tiny Bradshaw.
• 1935 - Began singing regularly with The Chick Webb Orchestra. Webb originally refused to hire her because of her plain appearance, but her flawless voice convinced him otherwise.
• 1937 - Fitzgerald won both Metronome and Downbeat polls as #1 jazz female beating out Billie Holiday.
• June, 1938 - Her recording of "A-Tisket A-Tasket" with Webb went to #1-10 wks. It was later selected as a NARAS Hall Of Fame Recording.
• 1939-1942 - Fronted Webb's band after his death, renaming it The Ella Fitzgerald Orchestra.
• Film appearances include "Ride 'Em Cowboy"(1942), "Pete Kelly's Blues"(1955) and "St. Louis Blues"(1958).
• A consummate artist who took jazz singing and scat in particular to a high art form.
• In the 1950's, she began releasing composer tribute albums called "songbooks," which became a turning point in her career. Audiences outside of the jazz spectrum were thus exposed to her extraordinary talents.
• Winner of the Down Beat Top Female Vocalist Award more than 20 times.
• 1967 - Won The Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.
• 1986 - Underwent open-heart surgery and returned to performing the following year.
• Winner of 13 Grammy Awards.
• Recorded over 250 albums during her career.
• 1993 - Suffered the amputation of both legs. June 15, 1996 - Died of complications due to diabetes.
• Hits include "Sing Me A Swing Song"(July, 1936)#18, "Undecided" (March, 1939)#8, "Five O'Clock Whistle"(Nov., 1940)#9, "I'm Making Believe"(Nov., 1944)#1-2 wks. (with The Ink Spots), "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall"(Nov., 1944)#1-2 wks. (with The Ink Spots), "It's Only A Paper Moon"(Aug., 1945)#9, "My Happiness" (June, 1948)#6, "Crying In The Chapel"(Sept., 1953)#15, "Mack The Knife"(May, 1960)#27 and "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" (April, 1963)#75.

ELLA MAE MORSE

• See The Sing Era

VOCAL GROUPS OF THE BIG BAND ERA

THE BOSWELL SISTERS

• Sister vocal trio from New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Connie Boswell (Dec. 3, 1907 - Oct. 12, 1976)
• Lead singer/cellist/saxophonist born in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Martha Boswell (1905 - July 2, 1958)
• Singer/pianist born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Helvetia "Vet" Boswell (1911 – )
• Singer/violinist born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Considered to be the most accomplished close-harmony vocal trio of all time.
• Raised in New Orleans.
• Recorded with some of the period's finest jazz musicians.
• Sang with Ben Pollack and Bob Crosby's Bobcats.
• 1932 - Joined Arthur Tracy and Ruth Etting on The Chesterfield radio program.
• 1932 - Connie began recording solo while still with the group.
• 1933 & 1935 - Played in England with The Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
• The great Ella Fitzgerald cited Connie Boswell as her main vocal influence.
• Nov., 1934 - The Boswell Sisters' recording of "Rock And Roll" went to #7 nationally. The song, featured in the film, "Trans Atlantic Merry-Go-Round" is considered to be the very first time the term was used in a song title.
• 1935 - Connie married their manager Harry Leedy.
• 1936 - Connie went solo when the others married.
• During World War Two, began spelling her name as Connee.
• The mid 1950"s - Retired.
• 1975 - Her final stage appearance was with The Benny Goodman Orchestra at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
• Oct. 12, 1976 - Restricted to a wheel chair for a great deal of her life, she died of polio.
• Boswell Sisters hits include "When I Take My Sugar To Tea"(April, 1931)#6, "The Object Of My Affection"(Jan., 1935)#1-2 wks., "Dinah"(April, 1935)#3 and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter"(Feb., 1936)#3.
• Connie Boswell solo hits include "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight)"(Nov., 1937)#1, "Alexander's Ragtime Band"(Aug., 1938) #1-2 wks. (with Bing Crosby) and "On The Isle Of May"(Feb., 1940) #3.
• Recommended Connie Boswell track - "The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"(1934). This particular recording shows the understated Boswell delivering an exquisite rendition of the classic depression dirge.

THE ANDREWS SISTERS

• Sister vocal trio born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Patti Andrews (Patricia Andrews) (Feb. 16, 1920 - 1992) Lead singer (her name sometimes appears as Patty Andrews).
• Maxene Andrews (Feb. 3, 1918 - Oct. 21, 1995)
• Laverne Andrews (July 6, 1915 - June 8, 1967)
• Considered to be the most popular harmony vocal trio of all time.
• Technically not as brilliant as The Boswells, yet developed a lively infectious style with a definite lean towards boogie.
• Beginning in vaudeville, they later sang regularly with Vic Schoen's band.
• Discovered by Jack Kapp of Brunswick Records.
• Appeared in 17 movies during the 1940's, often starring with the Abbott And Costello comedy team. Films include "Argentine Nights" (1940), "Buck Privates"(1941), "In The Navy"(1941), "Follow The Boys"(1944) and "Hollywood Canteen"(1944).
• During World War Two, The Andrews Sisters were one of the major morale boosting acts of the period.
• They sold more than 60 million records.
• 1953 - Patti went solo.
• 1956 - Regrouped briefly for TV and cabaret appearances and re- recording some of their earlier tracks.
• 1974 - Patti and Maxene starred in the Broadway musical, "Over There."
• Hits include "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen"(Jan., 1938)#1-5 wks., "Hold Tight, Hold Tight"(Jan., 1939)#2, "Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar"(Nov., 1940)#2, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"(March, 1941)#6, "In Apple Blossom Time"(April, 1941)#5, "Pennsylvania Polka"(Aug., 1942)#17, "Shoo-Shoo Baby"(Dec., 1943)#1-9 wks., "Rum And Coca- Cola"(Jan., 1945)#1-10 wks., "I Can Dream Can't I"(Sept., 1949) #1-5 wks. and "I Wanna Be Loved"(May, 1950)#1-2 wks.

THE MERRY MACS

• Harmony vocal quartet.
• Consisting of Cherry MacKay and brothers Joe, Ted and Judd McMichael.
• During World War Two, Joe McMichael was replaced by Lynn Allen.
• Hits include "Deep In The Heart Of Texas"(March, 1942)#11, "Jingle Jangle Jingle"(June, 1942)#4 and "Mairzy Doats"(Feb., 1944)#1-5 wks.

THE MODERNAIRES

• Vocal quartet.
• Consisting of Hal Dickinson ( – Nov. 18, 1970), Ralph Brewster, Bill Conway and Chuck Goldstein.
• They were often joined by Dickinson's wife Paula Kelly.
• Famous for their association with Glenn Miller.
• Hits with Miller include "Chattanooga Choo Choo"(Sept., 1941)#1-9 wks. (with Tex Beneke), "(I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo"(Aug., 1942)#1-8 wks. and "It Must Be Jelly ('Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That)"(Jan., 1944)#12.
• Solo hits include "To Each His Own"(Aug., 1946)#3, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"(Jan., 1947)#11 and "April In Paris"(March, 1956)#97.
• Recommended track - "Juke Box Saturday Night"(Nov., 1942)#7 (with Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke and The Glenn Miller Orchestra).

THE PIED PIPERS

• 1937 - Male vocal octet formed.
• 1939 - Joined Tommy Dorsey's band.
• 1941-1945 - Featured female lead singer Jo Stafford and consisted of John Huddlestone, Chuck Lowry and Clark Yokum.
• Stafford was later replaced by June Hutton.
• During the early 1940's, sang with Tommy Dorsey, often backing Frank Sinatra.
• Hits with Dorsey include "I'll Never Smile Again"(June, 1940)#1- 12 wks. (with Frank Sinatra) and "Let's Get Away From It All" (May, 1941)#7.
• Solo hits include "The Trolley Song"(Oct., 1944)#2 and "Dream" (March, 1945)#1.

THE MILLS BROTHERS

• Brother vocal quartet from Piqua, Ohio.
• Herbert Mills (April 2, 1912 - April 12, 1989)
• Harry Mills (Aug. 19, 1913 - June 28, 1982)
• Donald Mills (April 29, 1915 – )
• John Mills Jr. (Feb. 11, 1911 - Jan., 1936)
• 1922 - Began singing professionally.
• 1925 - Debuted on WSAI radio in Cincinnati, Ohio. Heard by talent scout/agent Tommy Rockwell, they went East and worked on CBS radio.
• Became famous for their close harmony and vocal technique of imitating musical instruments.
• 1925-1975 - Recorded a total of 2490 songs.
• Jan., 1936 - John died and was replaced by their father John Sr. (1882 - Dec. 8, 1967).
• 1956 - John Sr. retired, leaving the group a trio.
• No other group in music history turned out hit records over a longer span of time.
• They were one of the premier crossover acts, appealing to both blacks and whites.
• Hits include "Tiger Rag"(Nov., 1931)#1-4 wks. (featuring their famous horn imitations), "Dinah"(Jan., 1932)#1-2 wks., "St. Louis Blues"(July, 1932)#2, "Swing It Sister"(June, 1934)#2, "Paper Doll"(July, 1943)#1-12 wks., "You Always Hurt the One You Love" (June, 1944)#1-5 wks., "Till Then"(June, 1944)#8, "The Glow Worm" (Sept., 1952)#1-3 wks., "Queen Of The Senior Prom"(May, 1957)#39, "Yellow Bird"(Jan., 1959)#70 and "Cab Driver"(Jan., 1968)#23.
• Recommended track - "Diga Diga Doo"(Dec., 1932) (with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra).

THE INK SPOTS

• 1931 - Male vocal quartet formed in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Originally called The King, The Jack & Jesters.
• Consisting of Ivory "Deek" Watson ( – 1969) (tenor), Charlie Fuqua ( – 1971) (bass singer/guitarist), Orville "Hoppy" Jones (Feb. 17, 1905 - Oct. 18, 1944) (bass singer/cellist) and Jerry Daniels.
• 1932 - Changed their name to The Ink Spots.
• 1935 - First recorded for RCA Victor.
• 1936 - Daniels was replaced by Bill Kenny (1915 - March 23, 1978) (lead tenor).
• April, 1939 - Their recording of "If I Didn't Care" featuring the talking vocals of "Hoppy" Jones went to #2.
• Nov., 1944 - After Jones' death, he was replaced by Kenny's brother Herb Kenny.
• 1945 - Watson left to form the new group The Brown Dots, later renamed The Four Tunes.
• Watson was replaced by Billy Bowen (1909 - Sept. 28, 1982).
• 1952 - Bill Kenny went solo. His high tenor voice was a great inspiration for many doo wop singers of the 1950's.
• 1989 - Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame because of their influence.
• Later, several groups claiming to be The Ink Spots cashed in on the original group's name.
• Hits include "Address Unknown"(Oct., 1939)#1,"My Prayer"(Oct., 1939)#3, "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)"(Oct., 1940)#1-3 wks., "Java Jive"(Dec., 1940)#15, "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire"(Oct., 1941)#4, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"(Jan., 1943)#2, "The Gypsy"(May, 1946)#1-13 wks. and "To Each His Own" (Aug., 1946)#1.

ALSO SEE

• Chapter 3: Jazz
• Chapter 9: The Sing Era
• Chapter 10: Modern Jazz
• Chapter 12: The Musical - Stage And Film

BIBLIOGRAPHY