A familiar line that has been used in live shows for years is 'let's hear it for the boys in the band'. Additionally, Boys In The Band (albeit with a different meaning) has been the title of both a play and a movie, so it has become a familiar phrase. A new documentary takes advantage … Continue reading Remembering The Girls In The Band
Category: Big Band
Blue Barron – Moving To The Front
During the big band era, one of the most popular 'sweet' bands around (as opposed to cutting-edge 'hot' bands) was the outfit whose motto was: 'the music of yesterday and today, styled the Blue Barron way'. But the leader's name wasn't originally Blue Barron, and fronting a band -- or performing in one, for that … Continue reading Blue Barron – Moving To The Front
A Lunar Fantastic Foursome
One of my favorite posts on the GMC is titled Picnics And Music –The Curious Case Of Moonglow, and it explores how "Moonglow" -- a fine song in its own right -- somehow got attached to the theme from the 1955 film Picnic, and became a best-selling record. In fact, the resulting two-song medley was … Continue reading A Lunar Fantastic Foursome
Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Was Something Different
As if having a hyphenated name wasn't unusual enough, a 1950s swing band known as the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra had a couple of other odd attributes. For one thing, the group reached its peak during the twilight of the big band era. It was also unusual for having dual bandleaders, but the real oddity was how … Continue reading Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Was Something Different
Manny Klein – Mastering The Trumpet
In a recent post I mentioned that a trumpet solo in a classic movie had been dubbed by Manny Klein, a talented but relatively unknown trumpeter who deserves a little more attention. He had a fascinating and varied career, one that included not only playing conventionally, but also mastering something you seldom hear about -- … Continue reading Manny Klein – Mastering The Trumpet
Ralph Marterie Knew What People Liked
His name sounds at least a little familiar to those of us who have been around a while, and it's a pretty good bet that you've heard a lot of his music through the years, but Ralph Marterie is not someone who comes to mind when you think of cutting-edge orchestral jazz. Nevertheless, he sold … Continue reading Ralph Marterie Knew What People Liked
Syd Lawrence – Glenn Miller’s Biggest Fan?
Glenn Miller had a lot of fans in his heyday. Probably still does for that matter, even though he's been gone for a long time. But how many of those fans were so dedicated to his musical style that they'd end up leading their own band built around the Miller sound? That's what British trumpeter … Continue reading Syd Lawrence – Glenn Miller’s Biggest Fan?
Anatomy Of A Song – “At Last”
You would be hard-pressed to find a greater connection between a song and a performer than the one shared by the late Etta James and her classic "At Last." The song earned her a special Grammy Hall Of Fame award, and the feisty singer fiercely fought for her right to perform it even as her … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – “At Last”
Goodbye To Claude King And Fran Warren
I've never really intended for the GMC to be a consistent source for obituaries of musical artists. In fact, there are a lot that don't show up here. But I do try to mark the passing of those performers who have been featured on earlier posts, and I also note some of those who haven't … Continue reading Goodbye To Claude King And Fran Warren
Dick Stabile — Dino’s Go-To Guy
One of the things I enjoy about reading biographies of entertainment legends is learning about the less famous people whose lives revolved around the stars, like the guy I ran across in a book about Dean Martin. An accomplished saxophonist who'd gotten his start in the early big band era, Dick Stabile was the musical … Continue reading Dick Stabile — Dino’s Go-To Guy
Geezer Music Club 