Big Band Bash

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Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands - 4 Remotes Aug 20, 2016

Show notes

This week's program is an encore presentation of a show I did a couple of years ago. The Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands was the Coca-Cola Company’s big band legacy and its contribution to the war effort. An outstanding collection of 25 of America’s most popular big bands broadcasting live from military bases and defense plants from coast-to-coast during World War II. This week we will listen to four of these live radio remotes featuring the bands of Les Brown, Bob Chester, Jan Savitt, and Gene Krupa. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Claude Thornhill - A Birthday Salute Aug 13, 2016

Show notes

August 10th is the birthday of one of the most creative bandleaders in big band history, the late Claude Thornhill. He was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards "Snowfall" and "I Wish I Had You", the latter recorded by Billie Holiday. I had never heard of Claude when a fellow Big Band lover asked me if I had ever listened to his music. I obtained a couple of his lp's (lp stood for long playing back then) and really enjoyed what I heard. Claude had an orchestra that was the forerunner of the classic Miles Davis "Birth of the Cool". To celebrate his birthday we'll revisit some of that great music. I hope you enjoy the music from one of the most original big bands of all time. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Tony Bennett - a 90th Birthday Salute Aug 06, 2016

Show notes

This past August 3rd was the 90th birthday of the great vocalist Tony Bennett. This program is a celebration of his life with many of his recordings and a look back at his career. I hope you enjoy the music from one of the greatest vocalist of all time, Mr. Tony Bennett. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Songs From 1944 - A D-Day Remembrance Jul 08, 2016

Show notes

I'm a little late with this episode but I wanted to remember all the men and women who took place in the D-Day Invasion by playing some of the music that would have been in the jukeboxes and on the radio in 1944. June 6, 1944 was the anniversary of the invasion of Normandy so along with the music I found some interesting facts about that historic day. The "D" in D-Day stands for Day as the planners of the invasion weren't exactly sure what day the invasion would take lace because of the weather. I hope you will join me for this special D-Day Remembrance. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Three by Three Part 3 Rosemary Clooney Jul 01, 2016

Show notes

This week we conclude the series Three by Three with a birthday salute to the late Rosemary Clooney. Rosemary was born on May 23 1928 and got her start singing with the band of Tony Pastor. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me", "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House". A favorite singer of mine, she recorded many cds for the Concord record label until her death in 2002. I hope you enjoy this look at the career and music of vocalist Rosemary Clooney. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Three by Three Part 2 Kitty Kallen Jun 25, 2016

Show notes

This week we continue our birthday celebarations with a salute to the great Kitty kallen. She was born on May 25, 1921 and her career spanned from the 1930's to the 1960's. She performed with some of the most popular bands of the 1940's. She was voted the most popular female singer of 1954 by Bilboard and Variety magazines. I hope you enjoy this look at the career of the fantastic vocalist, Kitty Kallen. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Three by Three Part 1 Helen O'Connell Jun 18, 2016

Show notes

This week starts a three week birthday celebration of three great Big Band female vocalists Helen O'Connell, Kitty Kallen, and Rosemary Clooney. They all have their birthdays around the same time so I thought it would be interesting to learn about these three great vocalists as well as listen to their fantastic recordings some of which are the best from the big band era. We'll start off this week with a look at the career of Helen O'Connell who spent most of her time with the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Happy Birthday Glen Gray Jun 10, 2016

Show notes

Glen Gray, leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra, was born on June 7th 1906. The Casa Loma Orchestra was a popular American dance band active from 1927 to 1963. When the big bands went into decline after World War II the orchestra disbanded in 1947. Glen Gray started out playing saxophone in the band and then went on to become its leader. In 1956, he went back into the studio to record the first of what became a series of LPs for Capitol Records. I hope you enjoy this encore presentation from last year celebrating Glen with the Casa Loma Orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://www.fgmiller.com/bbb/

Duke Ellington A Birthday Salute May 07, 2016

Show notes

April 29, 1899 is the birthday of one of Big Band's greatest composers Duke Ellington. I have been an Ellington fan for over 40 years and continue to discover new music by him that I have never heard. I last paid tribute to Duke during Black History month of 2015. Rather than produce a new program, I elected to run this one again. This show focuses on the years of 1940 and 1941 2 of Duke's most prolific years. I hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Big band bash as we salute Duke Ellington's birthday. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbash.libsyn.com

Big Bands Live Part 2 Apr 30, 2016

Show notes

This week is part 2 of the Big Bands Live series that I started last week. This week we will be hearing the bands of Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Bob Crosby, and Larry Clinton. Artie's show is from sometime in late 1938 or early 1939. Les Brown's set is from his early band when he was billed as Les Brown and his Duke Blue Devils. I don't have a date for the Crosby and Clinton broadcasts. There are some really nice performances here and I hope you'll tune in. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbash.libsyn.com

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