ON THE SWEET SIDE the newsletter of joe enroughty and his royal virginians
WINTER, 2013 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1 Dear Readers: Our Four Man Sax Section Welcome to the first is by joe enroughty sue of our ewsletter for 2013. We may start spotlight One question I’m often asked is “Why do you use only four saxophones and four ing some of our regular brass in your Big Band?” dancers that join us at That’s an easy question to answer. In the early days of the Big Bands, going all the the Midway here in our way back to the 1920’s, most of the bands had either three or four man reed and ewsletter. brass sections. Typically a Big Band would have 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, and four In future editions we saxophones. In the very early stages of the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, the band might also start spot consisted of 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, and 3 saxophones. It wasn’t until 1929, when lighting various band Victor Lombardo joined the band, that the saxophone section was augmented. Still, members of our Big with that small group of musicians, Guy was able to get a big sound. In 1935, the Band. So please look for band added Dudley Fosdick on mellophone to make the brass a 3 man section. And that as well. sometime in late 1942 or early 1943, Walter Smith joined them to play 2nd trumpet. We are still selling cop By the 1950’s, the band was a steady 4 saxophones, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones. ies of our CD “A Senti All of the early bands expanded over time, for the most part. Many of them added a mental Journey” at fourth saxophone, a 2nd trombone, or whatever was needed. By 1936, most Big every performance. The Bands featured four saxes and four brass. CD’s are $10 each. Just Then along came bands like Benny Goodman and Harry James. Money was flow see me to get your copy. ing like wine and there was nowhere to put it. So what do you do? You add more We’re looking forward musicians to the band and you pay them. That’s a quick way to get rid of your ex to seeing you at one of cess cash. ever mind the fact that once you get beyond a 3rd trumpet, the extra our upcoming perform trumpets are not doing anything very musical. They are doubling other trumpets in ances!!! the section. It becomes redundant. But you have a larger ensemble. You require more money. And you help bring about the end of the Big Band Era in doing so. OTSS Editor The bands became so big, that they could not sustain themselves on the road. By 1947, many of the big “ ame Bands” had pulled off the road. Tommy Dorsey had to restructure his band and make it smaller. Harry James and Count Basie had to do the same, as did many others. When they came back, things were much different. Woody Herman made occasional tours with his Big Band as did Count Basie and Duke Ellington during the 50’s and 60’s. However, bands like Guy Lombardo’s had to do nothing. Their popularity had not waned, and their touring had not even begun to see a dent. In fact, if you wanted to start a Big Band in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s, you’d better start one in the Lombardo style, or you were almost assured it wouldn’t last. There were a few ex ceptions here and there, as there are with most things. But for the most part, those bands containing four brass, four saxes, and three or four rhythm, were the ones getting all the work in those later years. So The Royal Virginians are using the Guy Lombardo instrumentation. It is essen tially the original Big Band instrumentation. The instrumentation that started it all for dancers everywhere! www.guylombardomusic.com [email protected] (804) 859 0938
Upcoming Performances
We will be at Club Midway on the 3rd Sunday of each month through May 2013, and hope you’ll join us at one of those performances. The cover charge is $10 and the dancing runs from 6pm 9pm . Come early for dinner and stay for dancing. For complete details, please visit our special web page about our Midway dances.
www.guylombardomusic.com/midway.html
Our annual Memorial Day Weekend Concert At Christ Ascension Episcopal Church will take place on Saturday, May 25th, 2013 from 6pm 8pm. The concert is FREE and will be held on the front lawn of the church. All we ask is that you bring non perishable food items to donate to the Christ Ascension food pantry to help those in the Richmond area who are less fortunate than many of us. There will be containers for collecting these items. Light refreshments will be served. So, bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening of Big Band music that has become a orthside Richmond tradition! More details will follow soon!
Please visit our web site for more details and a complete and updated itinerary:
www.guylombardomusic.com
To Contact the Orchestra: Since 2004, The Royal Virginians have been Central Vir ginia's premiere Big Band Dance Orchestra. Specializing in Joe Enroughty And His Royal Virginians the music of the 20's, 30's, 40's, and beyond, this 15 Piece Big Band provides listening and dancing enjoyment through its Post Office Box 26120 inimitable style and vast library of custom arrangements: Richmond, Virginia 23260 classic tunes, waltzes, Latin styles, society numbers, swing, and Dixieland. Hit tunes of the Big Band era, show tunes, and (804) 859 0938 popular pieces from the great American song writers are all a [email protected] part of The Royal Virginians’ Big Band magic.