“When Swing Was King” Want some Big Band trivia? Autumn Newsletter -- 2018 You’ve got it in your hands!
Walt Disney’s 1967 animated film, Jungle Book, featured 2 big band legends in voice roles: Phil Harris as the bear Baloo and Louis Prima as A Big Band Quiz the orangutan King Louie.
1) What bandleader/singer was known as The nation’s most popular band in the “Hi-De-Ho Man” and whose theme the summer of 1939 came extremely song was “Minnie the Moocher”? close to packing up and quitting just 2) From Sioux City, Iowa Peggy Gilbert 6 months earlier because of a lack once led an all-girl band headquartered in of success. I’m awfully glad they Lincoln, Nebraska. The name of that band kept at it because that band wasSed takenporttitor from imperdiet a comic strip odio. called Sed what?ut leo. was…The Glenn Miller Orchestra![Date] 3) In Ella Fitzgerald’s hit with Chick Webb, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” The most important new record what color was her basket? company in the 1930’s was Decca. 4) Before becoming a national treasure, And they signed 3 of the most this Midwest bandleader once led a group popular acts: the Isham Jones called “The Hotsy Totsy Boys.” Orchestra, Guy Lombardo and His 5) In “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” when Royal Canadians, and Bing Crosby. you hear the whistle blowin’ eight to the (Their records sold for 35 cents.) bar, what is it that’s not very far? 6) Can you name the Andrews Sisters? Tommy Dorsey once said this about 7) Can you name the Lombardo brothers? trombone expert, vocalist, and 8) Not only a great bandleader and pianist, bandleader Jack Teagarden: “I play this fellow is credited with writing over a pretty. Jack Teagarden plays great!” thousand songs. Who is he? 9) In 1931, who was featured on Charlie Barnet’s amazing trumpet RCA-Victor’s first LP (long playing) made him a popular bandleader. record album? But he also had an excellent eye for 10) What top bandleader got his talent, introducing to the nation such “musical start” by selling saxophones future stars as Lena Horne, in Cleveland, Ohio? Kay Starr, and another terrific horn player, Doc Severinsen. (Answers to Quiz on page 3.)
A Note from Denny & Claire Did You Know?
American Bandstand creator, Dick * Big band royalty? Benny Goodman Clark, once observed that “Music is was known, of course, as “The King of Swing.” But don’t forget Nat the soundtrack of your life.” I think “King” Cole and Joe “King” Oliver. the people who love our “When And then there was Duke Ellington, Swing Was King” programs would Count Basie, and Earl Hines… agree. For they come to the shows not to mention Peggy Lee (“The not only to hear the great music of Queen”), Ella Fitzgerald (“The First the big band era, and not only to look Lady of Song”), Frank Sinatra at the lovely photos in the slide show, (“Chairman of the Board”), Billie and not only to hear details about the Holiday (“Lady Day”), and Dean songs and musicians. Those, of Martin (“The King of Cool”). course, are all fun elements. * Bob Eberly, the vocalist who had so Yet I believe the most important many great years with the Jimmy reason audiences embrace “When Dorsey band, was the 2nd most Swing Was King” is that it does popular male vocalist in the early indeed play the “soundtrack” of their 40s, right behind Frank Sinatra. In lives. For though the music is fact, one of the reasons Sinatra left Tommy Dorsey to try a solo career wonderful in itself, it brings with it was that he was afraid Bob Eberly precious memories of youth and love, would do it first and thereby leave laughter and tender tears, Frank in the dust! beauty and optimism. * One of Jimmy Dorsey’s biggest hits Dances at the high school gym or the and the only big band song to reach ballroom of Peony Park. Radio shows the Top Ten in the rock and roll era listened to in the living room with (It went all the way to #2.) was the family. Records played in jukeboxes, wonderful song, “So Rare.” lonely nights dreaming of loved ones Jimmy’s sax solo on that song was in the service, lullabies sung to one of the best things he ever babies, and on and on. These are the recorded. But sadly, while that song best gifts of all that “When Swing was playing on jukeboxes and radios Was King” brings you…and we are all over the nation, the personable absolutely delighted to do so! and ever-popular Jimmy Dorsey was in a hospital bed dying of cancer. 2
Number One Songs from the Fall of 1943:
“In the Blue of Evening” (Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Frank Sinatra)
“Sunday, Monday or Always” (Bing Crosby)
Nunc cursus magna quis “Paper Doll” (The Mills Brothers ) In the 1920s Fred Gerwick led a Number One Songs big band based out of Beatrice, from the Fall of 1949: Nebraska. And he had with him a handsome kid playing drums with “You're Breaking My Heart” the fancy moniker, (Vic Damone) Spangler Arlington Brugh. The son of a doctor, this youngster “That Lucky Old Sun” was a bit of a dazzler in that he also (Frankie Laine) played cello, was an outstanding student and athlete at Beatrice High “Mule Train” (Frankie Laine) School, and had won awards for oratory as well. In fact, it was that interest in (Answers to Page 1 Quiz) dramatics (and his good looks) that eventually led him away from 1) Cab Calloway studying medicine and into a movie 2) Boots and Her Buddies contract with MGM. 3) Yellow Oh, by the way, you know 4) Lawrence Welk Spangler Arlington Brugh by his 5) Tennessee stage name — Robert Taylor. 6) LaVerne, Patty, & Maxene. 7) Lebert, Carmen, Guy, & Victor. ------8) Duke Ellington 9) Fred Astaire and The “When Swing Was King” his sister, Adele. quarterly newsletter 10) Freddy Martin is published by Vital Signs Ministries.
3 Wit & Wisdom -- On Friendship
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)
“A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden.” (Anonymous)
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
“Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.”(Charles H. Spurgeon)
“Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.” (Euripides)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
“Sometimes being with your best friend is all the therapy you need.” (Anonymous)
“No friendship is an accident.” (O. Henry)
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
“Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.” (Cicero)