Those of us who are fans of the big band era know that the tenor saxophone was an important part of its success, and in the early years its use was popularized by guys like Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. But there was another saxman around in those days who could stake a legitimate claim … Continue reading Swingin’ With The Eel – Bud Freeman
Category: Big Band
The Geezer And The Gigolo
Okay, I'm not going to get all silly and turn this into a new special feature, but I do want to report that I've had another one of those funny musical coincidences. You might recall that I wrote about this kind of thing in a previous post titled Mysterious Musical Occurrences. If you're new to … Continue reading The Geezer And The Gigolo
Fantastic Foursome – Revisiting A Familiar Time And Place
It's been several months since our last Fantastic Foursome, so I'll remind everyone that it's the Special Feature that presents a classic song in its definitive version and then gives you four different variations. You can listen to them and - if you'd like - vote for your favorite. We seem to be featuring music … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome – Revisiting A Familiar Time And Place
Jan Garber – The Idol Of The Airwaves
One of the longest careers by a bandleader would have to be the one enjoyed by Jan Garber, who was sometimes billed as 'The Idol of the Airwaves' during his early radio days*. He was barely an adult when he led his first group and was still directing musicians nearly six decades later, almost up … Continue reading Jan Garber – The Idol Of The Airwaves
Betty Jane Rhodes Had A Roller Coaster Career
She was just 15 when she first sang in a Hollywood film, and within a year was co-starring in two Jungle Jim movies, but in spite of her early start Betty Jane Rhodes had plenty of ups and downs over the course of her career. She managed to find spots in a number of films … Continue reading Betty Jane Rhodes Had A Roller Coaster Career
Machito And His Brother-In-Law
We haven't featured Latin jazz in quite a while, and even though the subject might bring to mind guys like Xavier Cugat, Perez Prado, and Tito Puente, there were many others who were a big part of the history of the music. The popular bandleader known as Machito was an early star who had a … Continue reading Machito And His Brother-In-Law
Johnny Guarnieri – Small Hands But Big Talent
I don't play the piano. I tried to learn once but gave up on it. But one thing I do remember is how difficult it was to make my fingers cover all the territory they needed to -- and I have big hands. That made it even more amazing to me when I learned that … Continue reading Johnny Guarnieri – Small Hands But Big Talent
Hal McIntyre Got A Boost From Glenn MIller
Glenn Miller was one of the biggest names around during the the big band era, and he remained an iconic figure even after his tragic death near the end of World War II. But he was also a good friend to many, as Hal McIntye could have attested. Miller not only encouraged his band-mate to … Continue reading Hal McIntyre Got A Boost From Glenn MIller
The Good Fortune Of Lucky Millinder
There's not much information around about how bandleader 'Lucky' Millinder got his nickname. It's possible that it was just a natural progression from his given name of Lucius, but you could make a case that there might be another reason. Even though he sang a little, Lucky Millinder did not play an instrument and couldn't … Continue reading The Good Fortune Of Lucky Millinder
Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
Isham Jones kept pretty busy in the 1920s and 1930s as the leader of a popular orchestra, but years later his legacy is more about his songwriting ability. He was the composer of a number of familiar songs, among them "I'll See You In My Dreams," "There Is No Greater Love," and our Anatomy of … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – It Had To Be ME?
Geezer Music Club 