Big Band Bash

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Revisited Part 8 - Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy Aug 21, 2021

Show notes

This week's Revisited episode is on the band of Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy. Andy Kirk was an American jazz saxophonist and tubist who led the Twelve Clouds of Joy, a band popular during the swing-era. Their pianist, and the band's arranger, was Mary Lou Williams, who went on to become a prominent figure in jazz. There is some great music in this programs and I hope you enjoy Andy Kirk as we revisited this popular band. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 7 - Two Kays Kay Kyser and Sammy Kaye Aug 14, 2021

Show notes

On Part 7 of my revisited series, I'm going back to a program I produced in 2012. I called it Two Kays because I highlighted Kay Kyser and Sammy Kaye. They had two very good bands and played in what is called the sweet style of swing. There is some good music in this program and I hope you enjoy the music of Kay Kyser and Sammy Kaye. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 6 - Claude Thornhill Aug 07, 2021

Show notes

This week's show is part 6 of my revisited series. We are going to revisit the music of the late pianist and composer Claude Thornhill. His band was not as driving or swinging as some of the others but he produced some beautiful songs that are some of my favorites from that era. August 10 is also Claude's birthday so most of this show is from a birthday salute I did for Claude several years ago. I hope you enjoy hearing again those Thornhill classics on the program today. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 5 - Bob Crosby and the Bobcats Jul 31, 2021

Show notes

The Revisited series continues this week with part 5 featuring music from the band of Bob Crosby and the Bobcats. Bob was the younger brother of Bing Crosby and a fine vocalist in his own right. But he became a band leader when he was picked to lead members of the disbanded Ben Pollack orchestra. He was the front man and saxophonist Gil Rodin was the man who ran the band. They had quite a few hits and I hope you enjoy the great sounds of the Bob Crosby orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 4 - Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra Jul 24, 2021

Show notes

The Revisited series continues this week with a look back at the music and career of Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra. He is best remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" (1939) with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. The song became a hit during World War II, rising to No. 7 nationally (version by the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra) and to No. 1 nationally (version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra). Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 3 - Glenn Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

The Revisited series continues this week with a look back at the music and career of Glenn Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. As an orchestra they predated Benny Goodman and the start of the swing era. They had some excellent musicians and had a few big hits in the 30's and 40's. I'll be playing some of these numbers as we look back at the career of the Casa Loma Orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 2 - Larry Clinton Jul 10, 2021

Show notes

This week I am continuing with part two of a ten week series I call Revisited. I am going to revisit some bands from the 30's and 40's that I enjoy and that were not the Number One bands at that time. I started the series with a look at Will Bradley's band and this week we will look at the music and career of Larry Clinton. Larry had a very good band and wrote a couple of hits for other bands namely, The Dipsy Doodle, and A Study in Brown. He also had a big hit with a song called My Reverie. I hope you enjoy my revisit of the Larry Clinton Orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

American Celebration Repeat Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

This show is a repeat of the show I produced last year. Here is the copy from that show and I hope you enjoy the program as we celebrate Independance Day here in America. July the 4th is an important day for us here in the United States. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. I tried to put some patriotic music together to celebrate this date. There is not that much patriotic music before World World 2 but what I could find I tried to include in this show. I hope everyone has a safe and happy July 4th holiday and enjoy the music. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Revisited Part 1 - Will Bradley Jun 26, 2021

Show notes

In looking back over some of the programs I have done in the past, I decided to revisit about 10 of the lesser bands. Today I am going to revisit the Will Bradley-Ray Mckinley Orchestra. They had a hit with Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar and produced several other boogie woogie numbers. We'll take a look at the career of Will Bradley on the show. The Puzzler is back too. I hope you enjoy revisiting one of the swingingest bands from that era, the Will Bradley Orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

WW2 DDay Revisited - Part 2 Jun 19, 2021

Show notes

This week I am going to continue our observance on June 6th 1944 by playing the songs that were in the number one spot in the United States during the years of 1944 and 1945. These were the songs that reached number one in the jukeboxes or on the radio. There is a wide variety of artists on this program and I hope your favorites are among them. In honor of all the men and women who fought and were part of the action on June 6th, 1944 I dedicate these two shows to you. To the listeners, I hope you enjoy the music as much as I did while putting this show together. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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