The general public is encouraged to assist her, by making a comment and signing an online petition at the website rudyvalleestamp.com, or by writing a letter directly to the Committee, c/o Stamp Development, U.S. Postal Service, 1735 N. Lynn St., Suite 5013, Arlington, VA 22209-6432 (with a copy requested to Promotion in Motion, at 6464 Sunset Blvd., Suite 755, Hollywood, CA 90028).
"I am the luckiest girl to have had Rudy Vallee as my husband," Eleanor Vallee wrote online. "If there was ever a man who deserved a tribute and a stamp such as this, it was Rudy Vallee. He gave so much of himself to so many people throughout his life. He was a multi-talented singer, musician, band leader, and actor . . . Rudy was also a well-known pioneer in the broadcasting industry."
Perhaps the Vallee stamp campaign will be buoyed by the fact that the Postal Service has announced that it will issue a Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp this Spring. On December 12th (which was Sinatra's birthday), Postmaster General John Potter was joined by Sinatra’s three children — Nancy, Tina and Frank Sinatra, Jr. — to preview the stamp image during a special ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA.
“Frank Sinatra was an extraordinary entertainer whose life and work left an indelible impression on American culture,” said Potter. “His recordings, concert performances and film work place him among the first rank of our country’s artists, and his legendary gift for transforming popular song into art is a rare feat that few have been able to replicate. The Postal Service is proud to honor his achievements.”
Meanwhile, the Thousand Oaks Library in California, which in the 1980s acquired Rudy Vallee's personal papers and memorabilia, continues to raise funds to build a two-story museum, to be called The American Radio Archives, to showcase his and other special collections.
The Vallee materials include scrapbooks, press clippings, photographs, personal correspondence, music scores, and recordings.
The Bergen Foundation (named for ventriloquist Edgar Bergen), a private philanthropic organization, recently pledged $1 million toward the Library's $30 million goal ($25 million will be spent on construction and the remaining $5 million will be for an endowment fund).
Fundraising is expected to take three years.
Thank You, Gene Joslin
It has been announced that this past August issue of Joslin's Jazz Journal was the last. Gene Joslin has decided, with regret, to end his publication after more than 25 years.
Volume 1 - No.1 came out in February 1982, and each Journal contained much worthwhile information, including well-written articles, engaging photos, reviews, collector wants, and, helping to pay the printing costs, classifieds and a section of auction listings (even they were interesting to peruse).
"With most auction lists going to the Internet, it's been increasingly hard to continue," he explained. "The final blow came . . . when our printer called to say they'd sold their tabloid press and would no longer offer printing in that format."
Subscription refunds are to be sent out this month.
The contacts I personally had with Mr. Joslin were enjoyable (he told me that he spent many happy lunch hours in Bob Elfman's sandwich shop on State St. in Chicago, looking out at the State-Lake Theatre between what he called "bouts" with the corned beef).
I consider him to be a first-class guy and wish him the best!
Rag Time
The Mississippi Rag, established in 1973, is now free to everyone with Internet access. Their last print issue was October 2006, and during 2007 online subscriptions were offered.
Founder / editor Leslie Johnson stated, "As many of you know, the decision to convert the subscriber-based Online Rag to a free website-based publication was a sudden one, made in late November when medical tests confirmed that I needed to lighten my administrative workload."
This month's Rag (Vol.XXXV, No.1) includes "Randy's Scrapbook: Sax Appeal," a collection of Selmer musical instrument advertisements chosen by by jazz aficionado / photographer Randy Richards. The images show the reed sections of various famous big bands of the 1930s, namely Bunny Berigan, Bob Crosby, Glen Gray, Horace Heidt, Russ Morgan, Ozzie Nelson, and Red Norvo.
The work of Ms. Johnson and her feature writers, columnists, and reviewers may be viewed at mississippirag.com.
the big bands are back
in a new and exciting way
JANUARY 2008
"BIG BAND NEWS"
compiled by Music Librarian CHRISTOPHER POPA
Heigh-Ho, Everybody:
The Connecticut Yankee Rides Again!
Interest in singer-bandleader Rudy Vallee (1901-1986) is on the increase, thanks to a new campaign which hopes that the U.S. Postal Service will issue a commemorative stamp honoring him.
Vallee, who played the alto saxophone and in the mid-1920s formed a big band, The Connecticut Yankees, is considered a pioneer of American popular music. He is credited with an early, distinctive singing style, which included crooning into a megaphone.
His widow, Eleanor, author of the memoir My Vagabond
Lover: An Intimate Biography of Rudy Vallee (Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1996), will be sending the formal application to the Post Office's Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee.
image courtesy of rudyvalleestamp.com
by permission of publicist Brad Butler
More In-Print and / or Online
Anthony Baldwin, "Earl Hines," VJM's Jazz and Blues Mart, Issue No. 148 / Winter 2007,
pp.2-4 [ interview of Hines from 1979 ].
"Berigan Jazz Jubilee shaping up," [ Beaver Dam WI ] Daily Citizen, Jan. 26, 2008
[ preparations are underway for the annual "Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee," which this year
will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Berigan's birth ].
Will Friedwald, "70 Years Later, Goodman's Mark Remains at Carnegie," New York [ City ]
Sun / nysun.com, Jan. 15, 2008 [ the impact of Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall jazz
concert of January 16, 1938 ].
Steven D. Harris, "Salute to Stan Kenton will rock the house with jazz," [ CA ] Inland Valley
Daily Bulletin / dailybulletin.com, Jan. 10, 2008 [ a "Salute to Stan" will be presented
Jan. 18 at Beckman Auditorium in Pasadena, CA; guest artist Mike Pacheco (Kenton '59-'60)
will play percussion ].
Stephen Holden, "Music Review: No Tomorrow? 95 Years of Yesterdays," New York Times
/ newyorktimes.com, Jan. 31, 2008 [ vocalist Tony Martin (Noble '38; Miller AAF '43) is at
Feinstein's at Loew's Regency; " . . . Mr. Martin may be 95, but his voice is more or less
intact. Time has certainly taken its toll. He no longer belts. There is a wobble in his
vibrato, and high notes are elusive. But the essential Tony Martin sound was still
discernible . . . " ].
"Iowa Business Briefs . . . State awards $94,123 to support tourism," Des Moines [ IA ]
Register / desmoinesregister, Jan. 18, 2008 [ The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society gets
a grant of $5,122 to run a combined total of 15 insertions in the Kansas City [ MO ] Star,
Omaha [ NE ] World-Herald, Lincoln [ NE ] Journal-Star, and St. Joseph [ MO ] News Press
newspapers to try to attractors visitors there ].
Gus Klein, "Final Notes: Mannie Klein: Remembering 100 Years," [ Los Angeles AFM
Local 47 ] Overture, Jan. 2008, p.13+ [ a remembrance of trumpeter Klein by his son,
Gus ].
Tom Nolan, "When Carnegie Hall Swung," Wall Street Journal / online.wsj.com, Jan. 12,
2008 [ recalling the January 16, 1938 appearance by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra ].
Eleanor Quinn, "Big Memories Linger From '40s Band Gig," Tampa [ FL ] Tribune,
Jan. 22, 2008 [ Quinn, now 87, reminisces about the year she worked as a secretary for
bandleader Horace Heidt ].
Necrology
Margie Wood (Toscano), 83, vocalist (Raeburn '44-'45; Brooks '45), d.Jan. 3, 2008, heart attack.
Irene Reid, 77, vocalist (Basie '61-'62), d.Jan. 4, 2008, cardiac arrest.
Seymour "Cy" Leslie, 85, founder of Pickwick Records (budget label which licensed music from Capitol,
RCA, others), d.Jan. 6, 2008, heart failure.
Pete Candoli, 84, trumpeter (Dunham '41; Bradley '42; McKinley '42; T. Dorsey '43-'44; Herman '44-'46; Miller-Beneke
'47-'48?), d.Jan. 11, 2008, prostate cancer.
Debbie Lang, 67, vocalist (McKinley-Miller Orch '60-'61), d.Jan. 25, 2008, heart attack.
Harold "Doc" Winter, 87, drum major (Miller AAF while at Yale University 4/1-12/5/1943), d.Jan. 26, 2008.
Jimmy Abato, 89, saxophonist (Miller '39-'40; Whiteman '40?; Byrne '58 "Great Song Hits of the Glenn Miller Orchestra"
Grand Award LP), d.Jan. 31, 2008.
Where Are They Now?
In August 1970, Mike Vax joined Stan Kenton and His Orchestra on first trumpet. During the next two years, they toured and recorded the albums "Live At Redlands University," "Live At Brigham Young University," "Stan Kenton Today," "Live At Butler University," and "National Anthems of the World."
"The music, as you'd expect from Kenton, is difficult and tiring. But rewarding, of course, and very inspiring," Vax was quoted in Crescendo Magazine in 1971. "All of us in the band believe very much in our music and our leader."
In fact, shortly afterwards, when Kenton was sidelined due to an operation, Vax and trombonist Dick Shearer co-led the ensemble in concert.
"In those days, Vax did the M.C.ing and I did the conducting, and that's the way it was for about four months," Shearer later recalled to Kenton biographer William F. Lee.
Now, Vax still plays trumpet, leads his own contemporary big band on the West Coast,
and teaches.
He recently wrote to me about Friends of Big Band Jazz, a 501c3 non-profit corporation.
"Besides sponsoring my Kenton Alumni Tours, my big band in the Bay Area of California, and the Prescott, Arizona Jazz Summit, they have also given over $30,000 to scholarships for young musicians to go to summer jazz camps, given funds to high school jazz bands to purchase music, sponsored concerts for other fundraising activities, and most recently gave a donation to Habitat for Humanity for the New Orleans Musicians' Village," Vax reported.
More information may be viewed at his website, mikevax.net, or at the Friends of Big Band jazz website, bigbandjazz.net.
Keep up the great work, Mike!
Happy Birthday to You
Bucky Pizzarelli, guitarist (Monroe '43 / '46-'52; Goodman '67 / '69 Reader's Digest / '70 / '71 / '72 / '73 / '74 / '75 / '77 /
'79 / '80 / '81 / '85), b. Jan. 9, 1926.
Ray Anthony, trumpeter (Al Donahue '40; Miller '40-'41; J. Dorsey '42) - bandleader ('46- ), b. Jan. 20, 1922.
Benny Golson, tenor saxophonist (Gillespie '56-'58), b. Jan. 25, 1929.
Dick Nash, trombonist (Donahue '47; G. Gray '49; Beneke '50; May '53), b. Jan. 26, 1928.
Ed [ "Eddie" ] Shaughnessy, drummer (Byrne '48; Ventura '48-'50; Millinder '51-52), b. Jan. 29, 1929.
"The Big Broadcast" Turns 35
Rich Conaty's "The Big Broadcast," heard Sundays from 8 pm to midnight on public radio WFUV 90.7 in New York City (as well as online), celebrates its 35th anniversary on the 6th of this month.
“It’s amazing how many great songs were written and wonderful records made during the 1920s and 30s,” Conaty said. “It’s a rare week that I don’t turn up something that’s ‘new’ to my audience and me.”
Congratulations, Rich!
Big Bands In-Person
Tex Beneke Orchestra directed by Jim Snodgrass, Jan. 19, Norris Center Performing Arts
Theatre, Rolling Hills Estates, CA [ "Swingin' with the Big Bands" including The Chordettes,
Mary Lou Metzger (Welk) ].
Les Brown's Band of Renown directed by Les Brown Jr., Jan. 13, "Bob Hope Chrysler
Classic Ball," Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA; Jan. 17-20, Busch Gardens,
Tampa, FL.
Jan Garber Orchestra directed by Howard Schneider, Jan. 15, Monte Vista Village Resort,
Mesa, AZ; Jan. 16, Quail Creek Madera Clubhouse, Green Valley, AZ; Jan. 18, Sun Dial
Recreation Center, Sun City, AZ; Jan. 19, Las Palmos Grand, Mesa, AZ.
Horace Heidt Orchestra directed by Horace Heidt Jr., Jan. 26-27, Maricopa County
Events Center, Sun City West, AZ [ "Cavalcade of Stars" with Kay Starr (Crosby '39; Miller '39;
Venuti '39-'42; Barnet '43-45), Tony Martin (Noble '38; Miller AAF '43), Charo (Cugat's wife 1966-77), others ].
Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians directed by Al Pierson, Jan. 5, Martin Theatre, Panama
City, FL; Jan. 26, Gillioz Theatre, Springfield, MO.
Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke, Jan. 11, San Luis Obispo, CA; Jan. 13,
Oxnard, CA; Jan. 14, El Cajon, CA; Jan. 15, Borrego Springs, CA; Jan. 17, Lake Havasu,
AZ; Jan. 20, Payson, AZ; Jan. 22, Silver City, NM; Jan. 24, Midland, TX; Jan. 26,
Greenville, TX; Jan. 27, Kilgore, TX; Jan. 30, Harlingen, TX; Jan. 31, McAllen, TX.
Gene Krupa Orchestra directed by Michael Berkowitz, Jan. 9, Arturo Sandoval's Jazz Club,
Miami Beach, FL.
Tony Martin (Noble '38; Miller AAF '43), Jan. 29-Feb. 2, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, New York, NY
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Larry O'Brien, Jan. 11, private, Ft. Myers, FL; Jan. 12-13,
Lake Sumter Community College, Leesburg, FL; Jan. 14, R.F. Kravis Center, West Palm
beach, FL; Jan. 15, Lely High School, Naples, FL; Jan. 17, Florida Community College,
Jacksonville, FL; Jan. 19, Grove Park Inn & Resort, Asheville, NC; Jan. 20, Clayton State
University, Morrow, GA; Jan. 22, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL; Jan. 24, private,
Surfside, FL; Jan. 25, Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie, FL; Jan. 26, Polk Community
College, Winter Haven, FL; Jan. 27, Schein Hall, Sanibel, FL; Jan. 29, Englewood United
Methodist Church, Englewood, FL; Jan. 31, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL.
Louis Prima Jr., Jan. 20, Mohegan Sun (in "The Wolf Den"), Uncasville, CT.
Artie Shaw Orchestra directed by Dick Johnson, Jan. 3-4, Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA;
Jan. 7, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter, FL; Jan. 8, Levy Performing Arts Center, Lake City.
FL; Kan. 9, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Jan. 12, Coral
Shores Performing Arts Center, Tavernier, FL; Jan. 13, Manatee Community College,
Bradenton, FL; Jan. 14, Burnt Store Church, Punta Gorda, FL; Jan. 15, South Florida
Community College, Avon Park, FL; Jan. 17, Newbury Opera House., Newbury, SC; Jan.
18, Grove Park Inn & Resort, Asheville, NC.
A Musical by Cab's Daughter
"Clouds," a one-woman musical by Cab Calloway's daughter, Chris, will be presented at Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA from January 22nd through February 10th. The production --- a biography of her aunt (and Cab's sister) Blanche, who was a singer, bandleader, and dancer --- was, according to the website chriscalloway.com, first performed
as "Clouds of Joy" in 2001, then was re-titled "Blanche and Her Joy Boys" in 2002.
New DVDs
Louis Armstrong, "The Portrait Collection," Hip-O 1036509 [ vintage Satchmo, including
select film and TV appearances and interview footage ].
Various artists, "Harlem Double Feature: Jivin' in Be Bop / Beware," Alpha Video ALP5494D
[ both films 1946; former with Gillespie, latter with Jordan ].
New CDs
Ray Anthony, "Dancing Under the Stars," Montpellier ( UK ) 40 [ = Capitol LPs T 831 "Star
Dancing" and T 866 "Young Ideas" ]. WARNING: "Young Ideas" album already released
on CD by Lone Hill Jazz ( as part of LHJ10306 ).
Louis Armstrong, "Ella [ Fitzgerald ] & Louis / Ella & Louis Again," Essential Jazz Classics
55417 [ = Verve LPs MG-V4003 and MG-V4006 ].
---, "Louis Armstrong All-Stars Live in Zurich, Switzerland 18.10.1949," TCB ( Sw ) 43072.
Charlie Barnet, "Volume 1: Cherokee," Collectables 0817 [ budget-priced reissue of 10
select Everest recordings from 1958 ] and "Volume 2: Begin the Beguine," Collectables
0818 [ 10 more select Everest recordings from 1958 ]. WARNING: same material as two
Evidence Music CDs: "Cherokee," ECD 22065-2 and "More Charlie Barnet," ECD
22112-2, but in shuffled order and without 3 remaining Barnet Everest recordings which
the Evidence issues had.
Benny Carter, "In Copenhagen," Storyville ( Denmark ) 1018517 [ with Kenny Drew (piano)
and Jesper Lundgaard ( bass ) ].
Bob Crosby, "The Complete Bob Cats 1938 Volume 1," Sounds of YesterYear ( UK ) 750
[ first of 3 projected volumes; WARNING: Crosby's big band and small group Decca
recordings were already issued on CD by Halcyon ( UK ) ].
Sam Donahue, [ 1956 ], Joyce JRC1028.
Duke Ellington, "A Drum Is a Woman," Jazz Track 933 [ = Columbia CL 951 +
Pomegranate, "a rare song played at the original TV show but omitted from the LP" ].
NOTE: same material as Columbia ( Fr ) "Jazz Originals" 471320 CD except for
Pomegranate.
---, "Such Sweet Thunder," Essential Jazz Classics 55416 [ = Columbia LP CL 1033 / CS
8091 + 3 bonus cuts from 1956 (A-Flat Minor / Suburban Beauty / Cafe Au Lait) + from
1951 A Tone Parallel to Harlem + The Controversial Suite ].
---, "Live in Zurich, Switzerland 2.5.50," TCB ( Sw ) 43062 [ " . . . This recording was found
by accident in a drawer . . . " (sic) ].
Woody Herman, "Mosaic Select: Woody Herman," Mosaic MS-031 [ 3 CDs; = the LPs
"Woody Herman - 1963", "Woody Herman: 1964", "Encore", "The Swinging Herman Herd
Recorded Live" and "Woody's Big Band Goodies" ].
Harry James, "The Complete Harry James in Hi-Fi," Lone Hill Jazz ( Sp ) LHJ-10310
[ 2 CDs; = Capitol LPs "Harry James in Hi-Fi" (W-654) / "More Harry James in Hi-Fi"
(W-712) / "Wild About Harry" (T/ST-874) + the 3 James cuts from "Dance to the Bands"
(TBO-727) + In a Sentimental Mood ]. WARNING: all material previously available on
Mosaic MD7-192, "The Complete Capitol Recordings of Gene Krupa & Harry James."
Stan Kenton, "Live At the Blue Note," Sounds of Yesteryear ( UK ) 747 [ 2-CD set;
1952-53 ].
Big Bands added to the Hall of Fame
There are now 868 titles in the Recording Academy's Grammy Hall of Fame, and several
big band discs are among the latest additions.
The 2008 inductees include Choo Choo Ch'Boogie - Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five
[ Decca, 1946 ], It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra [ Brunswick, 1932 ], King Porter Stomp - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
[ Victor, 1935 ], Seven Come Eleven - The Benny Goodman Sextet [ Columbia, 1940 ], St. Louis Blues - Louis Armstrong [ Okeh, 1929 ], and Weather Bird - Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines [ Okeh, 1928 ].
According to publicity, "The Hall Of Fame serves as a celebration and reminder of the triumphs and achievements of the recording arts . . . They exemplify the best qualities that make the recording arts such a vital part of our culture — and each not only uniquely reflects
the zeitgeist of its time, but also possesses the enduring power of transcending time."
Give the Bands Their Props
51-year-old Sebastian Coe, who is chairing the bid to bring the Olympics to London in
2012, was this month asked a series of questions by reporter Kate Weinberg. One was what Coe's fantasy job would be, to which he replied, "Leader of the Count Basie band in the 1940s." And who, in the whole of history, would he most like to sit next to on a long-haul flight? To that, Coe answered, "Duke Ellington, because he was the most influential composer of the 20th century."
send feedback about the January 2008 "Big Band News" via e-mail
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Glenn Miller, spring 1942
image courtesy of serenadeinblue.net
and used with permission
"I'm a young fan of Glenn's (I'm 31), she told me, "and became very interested in the music and him just a little over four years ago . . . Building this site is my creative contribution to keeping the legacy going."
Congratulations, Lisa!
New Miller Serenade
More than 63 years after his disappearance, Glenn Miller's music continues to find new fans, including a young woman named Lisa, who has created an attractive website in his honor.
The domain name is
"Serenade In Blue: A Tribute to Glenn Miller," with a URL of
serenadeinblue.net.
