The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way!
JANUARY 2013
"BIG BAND NEWS"
compiled by Music Librarian CHRISTOPHER POPA
D A T E L I N E   S U N D A Y   2 4 T H   S E P T E M B E R   1 9 4 4

On Sunday the 24th Major Glenn Miller and the American Band of the AEF were bused from Bedford to North Witham, Lincolnshire, located northeast from Stamford and south from Grantham, to entertain 2,500 airborne troops in a hanger.  The 60-minute concert started at 1 pm. 

Major Miller and the band then moved 10 miles to Grantham for a charity benefit involving military personnel and civilians in a local theatre.  Hours before that concert, which began at 3 pm, there were massive queues outside the cinema, and the seating capacity of 1,500 was soon filled.  To accommodate the remaining 1,000 supporters, the band’s performance was relayed outside over loudspeakers.  The charity event was in aid of the Grantham people’s “Thank You Fund” for the forces.

The next day, Monday the 25th, Major Miller and the full band traveled southwest to Oxford to play for 1,200 patients and staff at the 91st General Hospital.  This was an open-air concert from 3:30 to 4:30 pm on the lawn in front of the hospital.  The Miller music played for wounded troops recently flown back from the Continent proved to be just the kind of tonic they needed. 

The full band was then bused a short distance southeast of Oxford to Mount Farm (Station 234) for another hour-long appearance and were greeted by 3,500 service personnel of the 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group (PRG) F-5.  The concert started at 7:30pm.  Mount Farm was situated near Berinsfield and north of the town of Dorchester, and was originally a satellite base for the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Benson.  The association of the airfield with the US Air Force began in February 1943 when a single squadron of F-4 Lightning photographic aircraft moved in for tutorage from the RAF.  This was the 13th Photographic Squadron which began operations at the end of March 1943.  The requirement for photographic reconnaissance of targets by the Air Force meant several other squadrons were assigned to Mount Farm and the 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group was established to control four other photographic squadrons.  The 7th PRG snapped over three million photographs and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its work covering the Invasion of Normandy.  Originally a grass field, Mount Farm was concreted for runways, taxiways and aircraft parking facilities.  The airfield was transferred back to the RAF on 1 May 1945 but became inactive and was later farmed.  In 1961 the St. Ives Sand and Gravel Co. bought the site for gravel extraction and eventually over 600 acres of concrete were lifted for hardcore.

The distance from Mount Farm and Bedford in 1944 was around 50 miles but Major Miller and the AEF Band’s return to Bedford proved to be problematic.  The drivers of the buses transporting them lost their way en route and didn’t arrive in Bedford until 12 midnight!

26th September 1944 (Tue) 6:30-7:00 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE SWING SHIFT broadcast AEFP
T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the American Dance Band
SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) [ opening theme ] / KING PORTER STOMP / IDA!  SWEET AS APPLE CIDER (voc: Ray McKinley) / SOMEBODY’S WRONG / HOW BLUE THE NIGHT (voc: Johnny Desmond) / title unknown [ original tune for the Boogie Woogie Trio of Hucko, Powel, and McKinley ] / CHERRY / I’LL GET BY (voc: Johnny Desmond) / NINE TWENTY SPECIAL / SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley)
[ closing theme ]

26th September 1944 (Tue) 7:45-8:00 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL broadcast AEFP
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [ opening theme ] / THE BLUE ROOM / SOPHISTICATED LADY / SUGAR [ quartet: Hucko, Powell, Alpert and McKinley ] / WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE (voc: Johnny Desmond) / THE SHEIK OF ARABY / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme]

26th September 1944 (Tue) 8:45-9:15 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL reserve recording #7 (first aired 16th Dec ’44 6:15-6:30 pm AEFP)
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [ opening theme ] / ROSETTA / LOVE IS THE SWEETEST THING featuring Cpl. Addison Collins on French Horn / AS LONG AS I LIVE [ quartet:   Hucko on clarinet and tenor sax, Powell, Alpert and McKinley / WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE (voc: Johnny Desmond) / THE SHEIK OF ARABY / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme ]

27th September 1944 (Wed) 2:45-3:00 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
A SOLIDER AND A SONG reserve recording #2 (aired 20th Nov. ’44 7:01-7:15 pm AEFP and AFN)
Sgt Johnny Desmond and the American Band of the AEF (all Desmond vocals unless noted)
TIME ON MY HANDS [ opening theme ] / THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC / WHERE OR WHEN / 7-0-5 [ band instrumental ] / MY PRAYER / TIME ON MY HANDS [ closing theme ]

27th September 1944 (Wed) 6:15-6:30 pm
THE UPTOWN HALL broadcast AEFP
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
Cpl Joe Shulman on string bass and Cpl Frank Ippolito on drums for this broadcast
MY GUY’S COME BACK [opening theme ] / ROSETTA / SWEET LORRAINE / POOR BUTTERFLY [ quartet: Hucko, Powell, Shulman and Ippolito ] / ONCE IN A WHILE (voc: Johnny Desmond) / DON’T BE THAT WAY / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme ]

27th September 1944 (Wed) 7:45-8:00 pm
STRINGS WITH WINGS broadcast AEFP
Sgt George Ockner and the string section
I SUSTAIN THE WINGS [ opening them ] / MAKE BELIEVE / TICO-TICO / PRAYER / MY SILENT LOVE / I SUSTAIN THE WINGS [ closing theme ]

27th September 1944 (Wed) 8:45-9:00 pm
STRINGS WITH WINGS reserve recording #4 (aired 20th Dec ’44 7:45-8:00 pm AEFP)
S/Sgt George Ockner and the string section
I SUSTAIN THE WINGS [ opening theme ] / OVER THE RAINBOW / MAY NIGHT / TICO-TICO / PAVANE POUR UNE INFANTE DEFUNTE / I SUSTAIN THE WINGS
[ closing theme ]

During the next morning, Thursday the 28th, Major Miller and the American Band of the AEF traveled to London for an afternoon appearance in the American Red Cross Rainbow Corner Club, situated in Dunkers Den in Piccadilly, London, followed later by the usual Thursday night broadcast from the Queensberry All-Services Club.  The Dunkers Den recording for Cecil Madden’s “American Eagle in Britain” was the 199th programme in that long-running series and the American Dance Band fronted by T/Sgt Ray McKinley provided the music.  This would prove to be the Dance Band’s fifth and final appearance on Cecil’s programme.

28th September 1944 (Thu) 3:30-4:00 pm
Dunkers Den, Piccadilly,  London
American Red Cross Rainbow Corner Club
AMERICAN EAGLE IN BRITAIN recording (aired 30th Sept ’44 8:00-8:30 pm New York EWT MBS 6:30-7:00 pm London time BBC-Purple)
T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the American Dance Band
Compere: Cecil Madden
IT’S A LONG, LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY (voc: Murray Kane and the service personnel in the audience accompanied by S/Sgt Mel Powell on piano) / BREAKIN’ IN A NEW PAIR OF SHOES / SOMEBODY’S WRONG

For some time the British musicians, and the music fans in particular, had complained that the BBC had “cold shouldered” the Miller music by not repeating the AEFP broadcasts on the Home Service of the General Forces programmes.  Melody Maker took up the challenge that the BBC considered (quote) “Glenn Miller’s music is not suitable for the British public” (unquote).  British bandleaders also aired their feelings about the BBC stigmatizing the music of Major Miller’s AEF Band by instead paying graceful and spontaneous compliments to Major Miller at the Queensberry All-Services Club during the “warm up” which preceded the actual broadcast on 28th September 1944.  Melody Maker reported the following:

“Tommy Trinder introduced the bandleaders and got a great laugh when he suggested that the BBC was not broadcasting Glenn Miller’s music to listeners at home because it made ‘British bands sound so shabby.’  He then called up Jack Hylton who paid sincere compliments to Glenn Miller and the men of his orchestra, and then announced to the audience that the BBC had said that the Miller music was not suitable for the British public.  This was greeted with cries of ‘Oh!’ and Jack went on to say: ‘I am sure somebody has made a mistake.  As far as I am concerned – and I speak for every dance music fan in this country – I could hear him on the air every day.’  This opinion was received with roars of appreciation from the audience.

Similar speeches were made by Harry Roy, Geraldo, Maurice Winnick, Victor Sylvester, RSM George Melanchrino and Lt Ben Oakley (conductor of the Band of the 28th Group, Pioneer Corps).  Geraldo made a particularly happy speech, referring to himself as ‘the leader of one of those “shabby” bands that Tommy Trinder mentioned’ and said how honoured the dance band profession was to welcome so great an orchestra as that of Major Glenn Miller.  Background of this unique tribute is that Miller’s Band is no longer heard on the Home Service, and is shortly coming off the General Forces Programme.  This means that it will only be heard on the AEF wavelength, which is quite unobtainable in most parts of Britain.

There was an amusing sequel to the tribute to Glenn Miller at the Queensberry Club.  After noted British bandleaders had come on the stage to express their admiration of the great work and playing of the Major and his orchestra, Tommy Trinder decided that the occasion was getting too serious, so he immediately set about organizing a ‘jam session.’  In a trice, he had Jack Hylton sitting at the piano, and borrowed violins for Maurice Winnick and George Melanchrino and a clarinet for Harry Roy.  Appointing Victor Sylvester as leader, he then used all his wiles to persuade Geraldo to sing the vocal chorus, but in this ambitious suggestion he was not successful!

Well, in response to vociferous shouts from the huge audience, the number selected for this epic combination was Bless ‘Em All which was duly rendered.  The conducting of Victor Sylvester kept it all in strict tempo – but we certainly needed a Jerry Gray arrangement to do justice to the instrumental genius of the combatants.  It was all good fun – even if it wasn’t good music!”

The protests appeared in various newspapers including a cogent statement from Lord Queensberry in the Sunday Chronicle, as follows:

“I am relieved that Glenn Miller, who is probably America’s greatest band leader, is to continue to broadcast to British listeners.  Last week a story went about that the BBC were cutting his broadcasts on the ground they were ‘not acceptable’ to British audiences.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  After Glenn Miller’s show at my club last week, a party of big names from the dance band world were introduced from the stage to a crowded house by Tommy Trinder.  They paid tribute to Major Glenn Miller, as he now is, and expressed their resentment at the BBC’s ‘decision.’

Fortunately, the ‘decision’ has proved to be a myth and you will be able to hear this fine combination of America’s swing stars on the General Forces programme next Saturday at 1 pm.  Glenn Miller, himself a quiet-spoken young man, took the story admirably.  ‘I am not interested in the debate,’ he told me.  ‘My job is to carry out orders, as any man in uniform must do.  My job is to play to the men and women of the Allied forces, and that is what I am doing.’”

28th September 1944 (Thu) 8:00-8:30 pm
Queensberry All-Services Club, London
CONCERT: warm-up for broadcast
Compere: Tommy Trinder
Guest stars: Victor Sylvester, Geraldo, Jack Hylton (piano), Maurice Winnick (violin), Harry Roy (clarinet), George Melanchrino (saxophone)
BLESS ‘EM ALL

28th September 1944 (Thu) 8:30 – 9:00 pm
Queensberry All-Services Club, London
Compere: Major Glenn Miller
Guest star: Pat Kirkwood
MOONLIGHT SERENADE [ opening theme ] / GET HAPPY / LONG AGO (AND FAR AWAY) (voc: Johnny Desmond) / IS YOU IS, OR IS YOU AIN’T (MA’ BABY) (voc: Ray McKinley) / medley: FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON – MOON DREAMS (voc: Johnny Desmond and The Crew Chiefs) – DON’T BE THAT WAY – BLUE CHAMPAGNE / MY KIND OF MUSIC (voc: Pat Kirkwood) / ANVIL CHORUS / MOONLIGHT SERENADE [ closing theme ]

29th September 1944 (Fri) 10:5-10:45 am
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
STRINGS WITH WINGS reserve recording #5 (aired 27th Dec ’44 7:45-8:00 pm AEFP)
S/Sgt George Ockner and the string section
I SUSTAIN THE WINGS [ opening theme ] / THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE / ORCHIDS IN THE MOONLIGHT / JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR / I SUSTAIN THE WINGS [ closing theme ]

29th September 1944 (Fri) 2:45-3:30 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE SWING SHIFT reserve recording #4 (first aired 16th Dec ’44 3:01-3:30 pm AEFP)
T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the American Dance Band
SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) [ opening theme ] / GET HAPPY / IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD / I’M HEADIN’ FOR CALIFORNIA (voc: Ray McKinley and The Crew Chiefs) / HOW BLUE THE NIGHT (voc: Johnny Desmond) / S-H-I-N-E (Boogie Woogie Trio: Hucko, on tenor sax, with Powell and McKinley) / STEALIN’ APPLES / THE MUSIC STOPPED (voc: Johnny Desmond) / ANVIL CHORUS / SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) [ closing theme ]

29th September 1944 (Fri) 6:15-6:30 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL broadcast AEFP
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [opening theme ] / DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME / GET HAPPY featuring Sgt Carmen Mastren on guitar and Cpl Phil Cogliano on violin) / SWINGIN ON A STAR (voc: Johnny Desmond and The Crew Chiefs) / PERDIDO / MY GUY’S COME BACK
[ closing theme ]

29th September (Fri) 7:15-7:30 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL reserve recording #8 (aired 20th Dec ’44 6:15-6:28 pm AEFP)
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [ opening theme ] / DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME / SWINGING ON A STAR (voc: Johnny Desmond and The Crew Chiefs) / GET HAPPY featuring Sgt Carmen Mastren on guitar and Cpl Phil Cogliano on violin) / TEMPTATION / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme ]

30th September 1944 (Sat) 9:30-10:00 am
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE SWING SHIFT broadcast AEFP
T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the American Dance Band
SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) / [ opening theme ] / 7-0-5 / SONG OF THE VOLGA BOATMEN / THE DAY AFTER FOREVER (voc: Johnny Desmond) / WHAM (RE BOP BOOM BAM) (voc: Ray McKinley / PERRYWINKLE WALLOP (Boogie Woogie Trio: Hucko, Powell and McKinley) / SPANISH SHAWL / I DREAM OF YOU (MORE THAN YOU DREAM I DO) (voc: Johnny Desmond) / ANOTHER ONE OF THEM THINGS / SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) [ closing theme ]

30th September 1944 ( Sat) 11:00-11:30am
C o-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL reserve recording #9 (first aired 21st Dec ’44 9:15-9:30 pm AEFP)
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [ opening theme ] / MAKIN’ WHOOPEE! / I DON’T KNOW WHY (I JUST DO) (voc: The Crew Chiefs) / WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE (voc: Johnny Desmond) / YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY! / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme ]

30th September 1944 (Sun) 2:45-3:15 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE SWING SHIFT recording (aired 3 Oct ’44 6:30-7:00 pm AEFP)
T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the American Dance Band
SONG AND DANCE (voc: Ray McKinley) [ opening theme ] / SWANEE RIVER / UNCLE TOM (GET WITH IT) / PEGGY, THE PIN-UP GIRL (voc: Ray McKinley and The Crew Chiefs) / I DREAM OF YOU (MORE THAN YOU DREAM I DO) (voc: Johnny Desmond) / PERRYWINKLE WALLOP (Boogie Woogie Trio: Hucko, Powell and McKinley) / IS YOU IS, OR IS YOU AIN’T (MA’ BABY) (voc: Ray McKinley) / NOW I KNOW (voc: Johnny Desmond) / KING PORTER STOMP / SONG AND DANCE [ closing theme ]

30th September 1944 (Sat) 6:15-6:30 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
THE UPTOWN HALL broadcast AEFP
S/Sgt Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet
MY GUY’S COME BACK [ opening theme ] / AT SUNDOWN / LUM-DE-DO (quartet: Hucko, Powell, Alpert and McKinley) / I’LL WALK ALONE (voc: Johnny Desmond) / CARAVAN / MY GUY’S COME BACK [ closing theme ]

30th September 1944 (Sat) 7:30-7:45 pm
Co-Partners Hall, Bedford
A SOLDIER AND A SONG recording (aired 1st Oct ’44 12:45-12:59 pm AEFP and AFN)
Sgt Johnny Desmond and the American Band of the AEF (all Desmond vocals unless noted)
TIME ON MY HANDS [ opening theme ] / STAR EYES / I’LL WALK ALONE / JEEP JOCKEY JUMP [ band instrumental ] / I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU / TIME ON MY HANDS [ closing theme ]

The next day, Sunday 1st October, the AEF Band traveled 60 miles in an easterly direction to Great Ashfield (Station 155), located 10 miles northeast of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and 3 miles north of the village of Elmswell.  Built by John Laing & Son Ltd. in 1942, the NW to SE runway was 100 yards longer than the usual 1,400 yards length. 

Because Major Glenn Miller was not at this concert, T/Sgt Ray McKinley led the ensemble, which played for a 200th Mission Party and carnival for officers, enlisted personnel and special guests including General James Doolittle.  Attendance was 15,000 total.  A 45-minute concert started at 3:30 in Hangar No. 1 and the sound system malfunctioned before the proceedings began,  Special guest singer Paula Green later recalled in the BBC’s Radio Times:

“And that wasn’t all because before the show some of the boys had insisted on taking me on a merry-go-round at a fair and I’d fallen off and got my frock filthy.  There I stood in my dirty frock on the stage of the hangar, singing to an audience that couldn’t hear a sound.  They kept whistling and stomping --- and who could blame them?  When they got the mikes working and I was well away with a good old sentimental number somebody’s little dog got loose and ran around the stage.  That was not a successful day.”

At 4:15 in Hangar 1 the AEF Band was involved in a 15-minute special broadcast that was shortwaved to the United States, again in honour of  the 200th Mission of the 385th Bomber Group. 

Then at 8:00 pm, T/Sgt Ray McKinley and the band – remaining in Hangar 1 – provided the dance music for enlisted men and guests.  The 385th, known as “Van’s Valiants,” after their first Commanding Officer, Colonel Elliott Vandervanter, flew 296 missions from Great Ashfield and lost 129 B-17s.  They returned to the USA in July 1945 with the last element leaving the station on 4th August.  The RAF took over control in October 1945 and a memorial to those of the 385th who lost their lives was placed in the village church in Great Ashfield.

On Monday 2nd October, Glenn Miller led the AEF Band for a one-hour concert at Nuthampstead (Station 131) in Hertfordshire for the 398th Bomber Group.  Although the concert in the hangar there started at 3:30 in the afternoon, the band had to play with woolen gloves on for the crowd of 3,000.

The following day, 3rd October, the AEF Band moved on to Kings Cliffe (Station 367) to entertain 2,500 officers and enlisted personnel attached to the 20th Fighter Group.  The 70-minute concert started at 3:30 pm.  Originally, the 20th Fighter Group commenced operations in December 1943 with P-38H Lightnings, but in July 1944 they converted to P-51 Mustangs and by May 1945 had completed 312 combat missions.  Kingscliffe was situated 12 miles west of Peterborough Huntgindomshire and 251 feet above sea level.  Kingscliffe was the most northerly and furthest west of all the 8th Air Force fighter stations. 

The 20th Fighter Group returned to the USA in October 1945 and before their departure, a memorable open day was organized on 1st August 1945 when Mustangs from all three 20th Group Squadrons – the 55th, 77th and 79th – were exhibited.  The RAF returned to Kings Cliffe but the area was used only for armament storage, abandoned on 1st January 1959, and sold later that year.

Kings Cliffe would prove to be the final appearance by the AEF Band at airfields used by the 8th Air Force.  The weather was a contributory factor – early October that year was one of the wettest for many years and the cold weather affected the musicians’ instruments. The 8th Air Force occupied in excess of 60 bases and the AEF Band played at 40% of those in three months… a massive achievement, taking into consideration their schedule of live and recorded broadcasts for the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme!

[ to be continued ]

NEW ITINERARIES
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Bill Tole.  Jan. 8, tea dance, The Castle, Chandler,
     AZ.
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Terry Myers.  Jan. 19, Grove Park Inn, Asheville,
    NC; Jan. 22, private event, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke.  Jan. 24, Sun City, FL.
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher.  Jan. 3, Buchholz High School,
    Gainesville, FL; Jan. 6, Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, Melbourne, FL; Jan. 7, Lake
    Mary High School, Lake Mary, FL; Jan. 8, Laurel Manel Recreation Center, The
    Villages, FL; Jan. 10, Wilson Center for the Arts, Jacksonville, FL; Jan. 11, Jabez
    Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center, Evans, GA; Jan. 12, Carolina Civic Center
    Historic Theatre, Lumberton, NC; Jan. 13, Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC;
    Jan. 15, Francis Marion Performing Arts Center, Florence, SC; Jan. 17, Carolina
    Theatre, Greensboro, NC; Jan. 18, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC; Jan. 19, Civic
    Center, Fountain Inn, SC; Jan. 20, Spivey Hall, Morrow, GA; Jan. 22, private; Jan. 23
    to Jan. 26, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL; Jan. 27, Lely High School,
    Naples, FL; Jan. 28, San Pablo Catholic Church, Marathon, FL; Jan. 29, Island 
    Community Church, Islamorada, FL; Jan. 31, Lemon Bay High School, Englewood,
    FL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Frank Wess, saxophonist, b.Jan. 4, 1922.  With Eckstine '46; Millinder '47; Basie '53-'64.
Marian Monroe, widow of Vaughn Monroe, b.Jan. 7, 1912.  Married to Monroe from
    Apr. 2, 1940 until his death on May 21, 1973.
Bucky Pizzarelli, guitarist, b.Jan. 9, 1926.  With Monroe '43 / '46-'52; Goodman '67 / '69
    Reader's Digest / '70 / '71 / '72 / '73 / '74 / '75 / '77 / '79 / '80 / '81 / '85.
Nat Peck, trombonist, b.Jan. 13, 1925.  With Miller AAF '43-'45.
Ray Anthony, trumpeter, b. Jan. 20, 1922.  With A. Donahue '40; Miller '40-'41; J. Dorsey
    '42.  Own band '46- .
Benny Golson, tenor saxophonist, b. Jan. 25, 1929.  With Gillespie '56-'58.
Dick Nash, trombonist, b.Jan. 26, 1928.  With S. Donahue '47; G. Gray '49; Beneke '50;
    May '53.
Ed [ "Eddie" ] Shaughnessy, drummer, b.Jan. 29, 1929.  With Byrne '48; Ventura '48-'50;
    Millinder '51-52.

NECROLOGY
Patti Page, 85, d.Jan. 1, 2013.  Vocalist with Jimmy Joy '46-'47.
Daniel J. Edelman, 92, d.Jan. 15, 2013, congestive heart failure.  Publicist with Musicraft
    Records '46.
Tracy A. Sugarman, 91?, d.Jan. 20, 2013.  Illustrator of record album covers for Waldorf
    Music Hall Records and Grand Award Records.
Ken Vail, 76?, d.Jan. 27, 2013, bone cancer.  Author of the two-part Ellington study Duke's
    Diary and "Jazz Itineraries" books about Basie and Gillespie.
Patty Andrews, 94, d.Jan. 30, 2013.  One of The Andrews Sisters vocal trio.  Besides
    working with Miller on the Chesterfield radio program '39-'40, the Sisters recorded
    with J. Dorsey '38; Crosby '39; Venuti '39; Lombardo '45 / '46 / '49 / '50 / '51;
    Cavallaro '47; Morgan '49 / '52; J. Gray '49; T. Dorsey '51; Burke '51 / '53;  Arnaz '51;
    Oliver '51; and May '57 / '58.

REMEMBERING YOU
Milt Jackson, vibraharp, b.Jan. 1, 1923.  With Gillespie, Herman.
Nick Fatool, drummer, b.Jan. 2, 1915.  With Goodman, Shaw, Crosby, G. Gray.
Chuck Flores, drummer, b.Jan. 5, 1935.  With Ferguson, Herman.
Vernon Brown, trombonist, b.Jan. 6, 1907.  With Goodman, Shaw, Spanier.
Haywood Henry, saxophonist, b.Jan. 7, 1919.  With E. Hawkins.
Dave Schildkraut, saxophonist, b.Jan. 7, 1925.  With Prima, Rich, Kenton.
Bobby Tucker, pianist, b.Jan. 8, 1922.  With Eckstine.
Betty Roche, vocalist, b.Jan. 9, 1920.  With Savoy Sultans, Ellington.
Buddy Johnson, bandleader, b.Jan. 10, 1915. 
Bob Enevoldson, valve trombonist, b.Jan. 11, 1920.  With Beneke.
Jay McShann, pianist-bandleader, b.Jan. 12, 1909.
Trummy Young, trombonist-vocalist, b.Jan. 12, 1912.  With Hines, Lunceford, Barnet,
    Armstrong.
Danny Barker, guitarist, b.Jan. 13, 1909.  With Calloway.
Quentin Jackson, trombonist, b.Jan. 13, 1909.  With Redman, Calloway, Ellington.
Billy Butterfield, trumpeter-bandleader, b.Jan 14, 1917.  With Crosby, Shaw, Goodman.
Jimmy Crawford, drummer, b.Jan. 14, 1910.  With Lunceford, Goodman, Oliver.
Maxwell Davis, tenor saxophonist-conductor, b.Jan. 14, 1916.  With F. Henderson,
    Anthony, H. Henderson, Crown tributes.
Joe Muranyi, clarinetist, b.Jan. 14, 1928.  With Armstrong.
Steve Jordan, guitarist, b.Jan. 15, 1919.  With Bradley, Shaw, Raeburn, Goodman.
Gene Krupa, drummer-bandleader, b.Jan. 15, 1909.  With Goodman, T. Dorsey.
Jerry Wald, clarinetist-bandleader, b.Jan. 15, 1919.
Ivie Anderson, vocalist, b.Jan. 16, 1904.  With Ellington.
Sandy Block, bassist, b.Jan. 16, 1917.  With Alexander, Rey, Wald, T. Dorsey.
Big Sid Catlett, drummer, b.Jan. 17, 1910.  With Carter, F. Henderson, Redman,
    Armstrong, Goodman, Wilson.
Vido Musso, tenor saxophonist, b.Jan. 17, 1913.  With Goodman, Krupa, James,
    Herman, Kenton.
Tommy Reynolds, clarinetist-bandleader, b.Jan. 17, 1917.
Ray Sims, trombonist, b.Jan. 18, 1921.  With Wald, Sherwood, Goodman, Brown, James.
Bubber Miley, trumpeter, b.Jan. 19, 1903.  With Ellington.
Billy Maxted, pianist, b.Jan. 21, 1917.  With Nichols, Pollack, Powell, Bradley.
Teddy McRae, tenor saxophonist-composer, b.Jan. 22, 1908.  With Webb.
Juan Tizol, trombonist-composer, b.Jan. 22, 1900.  With Ellington, James.
Scoops Carry, b.Jan. 23, 1915.  With F. Henderson, Eldridge, Hines, H. Henderson.
Teddy Napoleon, pianist, b.Jan. 23, 1914.  With Krupa.
Avery Parrish, pianist, b.Jan. 24, 1917.  With E. Hawkins.
Truck Parham, bassist, b.Jan. 25, 1913.  With Eldridge, Hines, Lunceford, Spanier,
    Bellson.
Skitch Henderson, pianist, b.Jan. 27, 1918.  With Shaw.
Hot Lips Page, trumpeter, b.Jan. 27, 1908.  With Shaw.
Milt Raskin, pianist, b.Jan. 27, 1916.  With Krupa, T. Dorsey, Powell, Rey.
Arnold Ross, pianist, b.Jan. 29, 1921.  With Jenney, Monroe, James, Crosby, Jones.
Roy Eldridge, trumpeter-bandleader, b.Jan. 30, 1911.  With F. Henderson, Krupa, Shaw.
Bernie Leighton, pianist, b.Jan. 30, 1921.  With Scott, Goodman.
Bobby Hackett, trumpeter-cornetist-guitarist-bandleader, b.Jan. 31, 1915.  With Heidt,
    Miller, G. Gray, Goodman.

NEW IN-PRINT AND / OR ONLINE
Brian Belton.  "B.B.'s Big Band Beat," In Tune International, No. 251 / Jan. 2013, pp.
    30-31.  Includes reviews of recently-released CDs by Buddy Morrow, Benny
    Goodman, and Woody Herman. 
Traci Bridges.  "'Chattanooga Choo Choo' pulls in to Florence," South Carolina Now /
    scnow.com, Jan. 10, 2013.  Nick Hilscher comments about how he discovered the
    big bands including Glenn Miller's and Tommy Dorsey's music.
"Down Memory Lane.... ," In Tune International, No. 251 / Jan. 2013, p19.  Includes a
    new Ted Heath 3-CD set , "Listen To My Music: The Very Best of Ted Heath" (Memory
    Lane GLM/Y-56).
Robert W. Rice.  "Stateside with Robert W. Rice," In Tune International, No. 251 / Jan.
    2013, pp.13-15.  His topics include the new Mosaic Earl Hines set; Woody Herman,
    who was born 100 years ago in 1913; and a new Reader's Digest (UK) set called
    "Moonlight in Vermont" that includes Vaughn Monroe, Harry James, Bob Crosby,
    Paul Weston, Louis Armstrong, and many others.
Edward Sharp.  "Book Review: 'Norman Granz - The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice,"
    In Tune International, No. 251 / Jan. 2013, pp.4-5.
---.  "The Great Albums: Benny Goodman - The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz
    Concert," In Tune International, No. 251 / Jan. 2013, p.12+.
    There's more than a dozen new big band compact discs for collectors, ranging from Miller to Morrow, Covington to Kenton, and Benny to Beneke.
    But first, another installment of Roland Taylor's multi-part investigation tracing the day-by-day activities of The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Orchestra.
    Mr. Taylor began it in 2006 in the pages of the Moonlight Serenader, the journal of the internatonal Glenn Miller Society, which had been formed in London in 1950.
    The Society ceased operation last Spring and Mr. Taylor kindly consented to allowing the remaining installments of his series to be presented here.  (The first was in the September 2012 "Big Band News.")
    And there's also current big band itineraries, birthdays, remembrances, and much more!
© 2013 Submarine Records
WHAT A WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR!
The Chronology Continues
MILLER'S MIGHTY SERVICE BAND
The Ensemble in Focus
by ROLAND TAYLOR
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Warren Covington.  “Dance and Romance,”
    Montpellier [ UK ] MONT CD 090.  Two Decca LPs combined on one CD.  The 23
    selections include some of Covington’s best, such as Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,
    Miss July, and Oh, To Be Loved Again.
Les and Larry Elgart.  “Girl Watchers / The Wonderful World of Today’s Hits,” Vocalion [ UK ]
    4488.  Two Columbia LPs from 1967, including such enjoyable Elgart renditions as Out
    of Nowhere, Girl Talk, and Camelot.
Dizzy Gillespie.  “On the French Riviera / New Wave,” Essential Jazz Classics 55575. 
    Two Philips LPs, plus a bonus track, on one CD.  Includes a 16-page booklet.
Benny Goodman.  “AFRS Benny Goodman Show, Volume 15,” Sounds of YesterYear [ UK ]
    DSOY 911.  Continuing the series with guests Beryl Davis and Dennis Day.
---.  “AFRS Benny Goodman Show, Volume 16,” Sounds of YesterYear [ UK ] DSOY 914.
    Another volume, with guests Shirley Ross and Arthur Treacher.
---.  “Benny Goodman in Moscow,” Vocalion [ UK ] 4489.  The 1962 RCA Victor 2-LP set
    (LSO-6008) transferred to two CDs.  NOTE: Previously available in 1995 on Giants of
    Jazz CD 53195, but minus the tune Midgets, liner notes, and the original artwork.
Ted Heath.  “The Song Is You: Rare Transcription Recordings of the 1950s, Volume 5,”
    Vocalion [ UK ] CDEA 6206.  A generous portion of music taped at the BBC in 1955
    and 1956, including Listen to My Music, Zambesi, and No, Not Much.
Stan Kenton.  “It’s the Talk of the Town,” Sounds of YesterYear [ UK ] DSOY 912.  The band
    live in 1953, playing such pieces as Street of Dreams, Solo for Alto, and Southern
    Scandal.   
Enoch Light.  “Big Band Bossa Nova,” Sepia 1213.  A pair of Command LPs combined
    on one CD.  Recorded in stereo in 1962, the 24 selections depict the bossa nova
    craze with Desafinado, One Note Samba, Meditation, and more.
Glenn Miller.  “Speaking of Angels,” Sounds of YesterYear [ UK ] DSOY 910.  A celestia
    theme for such songs as Heaven Can Wait, My Prayer, and The Angels Came Through.
    25 performances, mostly Miller himself, but a few by postwar Miller “ghost” bands.
Buddy Morrow.  “Music for Dancing Feet,” Montpellier [ UK ] MONT CD 087.  Two
    Mercury LPs combined on one CD.  Recorded in the mid-1950s, the 24 selections
    include Buddy’s Blues, Georgia Bop Dance, and That Old Feeling.
Si Zentner.  “Right Here Right Now / Rhythm Plus Blues,” Vocalion [ UK ] 4481.  24
    selections from two 1960s Liberty LPs combined on one CD.  The songs include
    Sunny, Goin’ Out of My Head, and The Happening.
Various artists.  “The Best Years of Our Lives: The Most Popular Songs of 1939,” Sounds
    of YesterYear [ UK ] DSOY 913.  The ninth CD in a series focused on specific years.
    Bands heard include Shaw, Armstrong, T. Dorsey, Miller, Crosby, and Goodman.

SNEEK PEEK
    The stream of big band CDs in 2013 will continue with planned releases including Glenn Miller (an interesting one titled "How Glenn Found His Sound").  And my friend, Dave Smith, the "Swingmeister" from Florida, reported that The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher was in the studios this month, readying a new CD, too!
   


go to Big Band Library homepage



NEW COMPACT DISCS
Tex Beneke.  “Designed for Dancing,” Montpellier
    [ UK ] MONT CD 088.  Two RCA Camden LPs
    (“Star Dust,” CAL-316; “Moonlight Serenade,”
    CAL-459) and the RCA Camden “Swingin’
    Marches” EP (CAE-377) combined on one CD.
    Recorded from 1946 to 1950, the 22 selections
    include Sunrise Serenade, Blues in the Night
    March, and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Les Brown.  “If You Please,” Sounds of YesterYear
    [ UK ] DSOY 915.  Two radio broadcasts by the
    and of Renown: one from December 1943 at the
    Hollywood Palladium, the other on January 15,
    1945 from the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York
    City.
© 2013 Montpellier Records