In the second hour, Sheila will feature conversation and music by some well-known names associated with the Big Band Academy. Butch Stone kicks things off, talking about life on the road and segueing into "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Then you'll hear Van Alexander discuss how he got paid for that very arrangement of "A Good Man" half a century after writing it. Sheila concludes by playing a few tracks from, among others, Billy May and vocalist Sue Raney.
"Swingtime" can be heard by going to www.purejazzradio.com and clicking the "Listen Live" link at the top of the page.
*************
Longtime L.A. classical radio announcer Tom Dixon passed away three weeks ago. His obituary in the Los Angeles Times contained a quote made by Tom in 1996 on the occasion of his 50th anniversary as a classical host:
"By having a knowledge of classical music, I fell into a format that never changes," he said. "If I had been a red-hot disc jockey for a trend -- big bands or whatever -- I would have been gone. Classical music, from the time I started at KFAC in 1946, is the same commodity."
Hard words for a lover of big bands to read.
But those red-hot big band disc jockeys were something, weren't they?
"By having a knowledge of classical music, I fell into a format that never changes," he said. "If I had been a red-hot disc jockey for a trend -- big bands or whatever -- I would have been gone. Classical music, from the time I started at KFAC in 1946, is the same commodity."
Hard words for a lover of big bands to read.
But those red-hot big band disc jockeys were something, weren't they?
*************
So Butler University, improbably, is going to play for the NCAA men's basketball title. The Four Freshmen formed in the halls of Butler's music conservatory and there can't be any doubt about where Bob Flanigan will be Monday night. Go Bulldogs!
