Hallock a Barefaced Liar/ Says Johnny Green
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Hallock A Barefaced Liar/ Says Johnny Green By JOHNNY GREEN Hollywood—Y ou■ can imagine my shock and surprise at Around With Studio Folk readingrendine the article in the May 4 Down Beat entitled “Holly wood I* Phony. Sickening: Hallock.** On the first page, youi correspondent dares to print u characterization of my lan guage to our recording orchestra 4------------------------------------------------------------------- based only on alleged information received from a “Mr. Doe.” This is annoying and ridiculous Bushkin Fronts but unimportant in comparison with the rest of the statement, which goes on, “then (he) beats First Big Band off a typical society, businessman’s bounce tempo, the only one he New York—Joe Bushkin fronted knows.” a big band for the first time to Statem«m ‘False’ play the Paramount theater here This statement is a false reflec during Frank Sinatra’s two-week tion upon my abilities as a con engagement. ductor. For example, at my record Bushkin and Sinatra both ing session on April 16 the worked the Paramount a decade orchestra recorded under my baton ago as members of the Tommy a considerable section of the Semi- Dorsey orchestra. The big Bushkin ramide Overture of Rossini; the band included three of their old entire third movement of the Third Dorsey ork colleagues, trombonists Symphony of Brahms, and a some George A rug and Walt Mercurio what edited version of all three and tenor man Manny Gershman. movements of the Grieg Piano Con Rest of the band comprised: certo with Jacob Gimpel as soloist. trumpets — Buck Clayton, Dick With such music on the racks Kaufman, and Al Stewart; saxes Hollywood—Top bras* of the MGM studio* cluater and with such a soloist, one is —Sam Marowitz and Harry Pool, around Esio Pinza, while Harold Arlen aervea aa ac- wrote the music. Left to right above are Bronislau either a legitimate conductor or altos; Mickey Folus, tenor; eompaniat, for a little extra airing of the Pinza baaa. Kaper, producer Edwin Knopf, Pinza, director Don >ne is not. rhythm—Matty Golizio, guitar; Hartman, and Johnny Green, head of the MGM music Charlie Smith, drums; Bill Goodall, The former Metropolitan opera and South Pacifie One does not “beat off . busi atar I* »potted opposite Lana Turner in the movie department. nessman’s bounce tempo, the only bass, and five strings. Despite the presence of three one he knows” in conducting name singers on the bill—Sinatra, Brahms, Rossini, and Grieg. Eileen Barton, and Dagmar— Old Tunes Fven More So Bushkin got to sing I Love a Pi ano in the show. But Dagmar But Hallock’s allegation that I irew the broadest beams. accepted my Academv Award for . Never Die a score written by Calvin Jackson r New York—Tin Pan Alley went is an even more vulgarly barefaced I into a million-dollar dither as a lie. The only Academy Award I have I result of General MacArthur’s use VOL 18—No. II CHICAGO. JUNE I. 1951 Capitol Inks I of the “old soldiers never die” ever won, I won for my work as a freelance composer-conductor in I phrase in his much-discussed speech (Cepy right. I9SI. Dowa Im*, Im.I [ before congress. The song of the 1948 for a picture which I started Bob Crosby I same name was quickly disinterred in 1947—Easter Parade. Hollywood—Bob Crosby, report I and recorded by most major com- This was tong before I was ever edly unhappy with Coral because I panies. head of any studio music depart the Decca subsidiary failed to give I Some sort of a record was estab- Disc Firm Makes Out-Of-Court ment (I did not become MGM’s him the buildup he expected, has | lished by MGM, which cut the tune genera) music director until Au secured his release and signed with I with Leroy Holmes’ orchestra and gust of 1949). Capitol. It’s also reported latter I a male quartet, and had the rec- Calvin Jackson was not even employed at MGM during the term firm boosted the S percent Crosby I ords pressed and delivered to New Settlement In Wax Piracy Case was getting from Coral to 5 per P- York dealers within 48 hours of of my employment on Easter Pa cent. rade and therefore did not do one L the session. A similar feat was ac Hollywood- — The Folkways Cap, it was understood, would and without authorisation of the minute’s or one note’s worth of complished by RCA Victor with record company of New York, continue to present Crosby m a Vaughn Monroe’s Trolley Song, its owners of the masters.” work of any kind, nature, or de “dance bandleader” even though first release after the record ban facing legal action by the Jazz scription on Easter Parade. Tnus, accusing me of stealing an he has not been active as such for in 1944. Alan firm, main office here in years. The fact that the singer is Although several versions of Old Hollywood, on charge« of lifting Academy Award from Jackson— and this for a film on which he not a musician and never was is Soldiers are around, the one mostly and releasing material from the Rugalo Draws well known in the music business. in use at present is credited to Jazz Man catalog without permis did not even work—is a complete falsehood. It’s believed he will continue to Charles R. Campbell and is pub sion (Down Heat, May 4) has made front a recording unit similar to lished by Carl Fisher. an out-of-court settlement. 1st Movie Job Nomination that he launched recently on Coral, It’s understood the settlement Hollywood — Pete Rugolo, long The year preceding Easter Pa a group containing a number of was made on the basis of an un rated as outstanding in the pro- former Crosby band members and revealed cash payment, agreement rade I was nominated for the gressive jazz field, has drawn his Academy Award for my scoring comprised of three trumpets, two by Folkways to stop pressing of trombones, four saxes, and four Basie's Big Crew first film assign of the film Fiesta, but did not win the LP Jazz, Vol. 3 containing the ment. He’s ar rhythm with arrangements in the Jazz Man item, and agreement by it. And when I say my scoring 1 ranger and as don’t mean anybody else’s. big band Dixie idiom. Folkways not to use any items sistant to Georgie wm Goes Out On Tour from the Jazz Man catalog in the It in that film that my New York—After a week at Stoll, currently adaptation for piano and symphony future. preparing the un- Birdland with his sextet, Count Nesuhi and Marili Ertegun, of Aaron Copland’s El Salon Mexi Basie again enlarged to big band co appeared. This work wm not operators of the Jazz Man firm, MGM’s The Strip, Charlie Barnet dimensions for a booking at the said: only adapted by me but wm also Strand theater here, then expand music movie in orchestrated in full score and con “The important thing is that we which Mickey ed still further, from five to seven have established a precedent that ducted by me with Copland’s full Re-Forms Again brass, for a series of dates taking Rooney stars as approval. we believe will be a step toward a Dixie drummer New York—Charlie Barnet has him out to Los Angeles. blocking the rapidly growing prac Anyone having the vaguest ac reorganized his band here for dates Before leaving town he recorded and which will quaintance with the rhythmic tice of reissuing jazz and other feature the Arm along the eastern coast. Baritone four sides with a full band for types of records taken from origi structure of El Salon Mexico man Bob Dawes has assembled a Columbia. nals without payment to anyone Rugolo strong All-Stars, would not suggest that a man who with a number of topflight crew of sidemen that in knows only now to "beat off a cludes : top names at MGM, and which also society tempo” would dare to con will mark the screen debut of duct it. Trumpet*—Lyman Vunk (on singer Kay Brown. leave from CBS), Dale Pearce, Stoll will use something new to Inaccuracy Ziggy Schatz, Dick Sherman, and Morgan Music Director Hollywood soundstages in the group Also, as secretary of the Acad Johnny Vohs; trombones — Dave assembled for the underscoring, a emy of Motion Picture Aris and Dwack, Carl Raetz, and Jimmy combination containing no strings Sciences and chairman of its mu Knepper; saxes — Andy Cicalese, and comprised of novachord, vibes, sic branch, I want to put on record Dick Meldonian, Dick Hafer, Char On Disc Jockey' Movie guitar, trombone, three French that your editor’s note about the lie Kennedy, and Dawes; rhythm horns, ulto flute, oboe, bass, and method of presentation of the scor —Lou Pagani, piano; Art Mease, Hollywood — Rum Morgan 4----- - ——-------— -------- drums. ing awards is completely inaccur bass, and Harold Hahn, drums. will draw- official— - - credit- aa mu*_ concluded a tong run at the Los Red Norvo was called in to do ate. This award does not go to a Vocalists are Ellye Russell and Angeles Riltmore hotel and was the vibe wo/k, Buddy Cole plays department. It goes to the indi Bill Derry. sic director «tn Ihr Allied Art- set to reopen Tommy Dorsey’s Ca the novachord. vidual or individuals who are ac- isle production Iliac Jockey. sino Gardens May 30, will also credited by the studio for the job big budget musimi no» in produc appear in the picture.