Lena Horne
1917 - 2010*************
In a belated Mother's Day salute, Ed Cecchini presents the mother of all big band quizzes. Answers appear near the bottom of the post:
1. Who played saxophone and headed an orchestra
called the Connecticut Yankees?
2. His band was tagged with the "Tic-Toc Rhythm"
label. Who was he?
3. At 18, Yvonne Marie Antoinette JaMais had her
name changed by Harry James and became a
famous band vocalist. Name her.
4. Jack Benny clowned around on the violin as part
of his act. Before entering comedy, with whose
orchestra did he play violin seriously?
5. Born in 1908. Child prodigy. Staff pianist with
CBS radio house band. Stern taskmaster with his
own "Quintette." Identify him.
6. What was the professional name of the guitarist
born Salvatore Massaro? He died in 1933 at age
30.
7. Name the California Collegians sax player who
later became a movie star.
8. By what nickname was singer George Tunnell
better known?
9. A legendary drummer came into the world as
Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio
Balassoni. Identify him.
10. From 1941 to '46, the Coca-Cola Company
sponsored a radio show featuring big
bands, Kay Kyser's being the first to
appear. Name the show.
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Jazz historian and author Steven Harris has been hosting his own radio show since December and it deserves your attention. "Silhouettes in Jazz" airs every Saturday night at 10:00 (with a repeat broadcast Sunday evenings at 6:00) on KSPA AM 1510 out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. If you don't live within the reach of KSPA's signal -- which is more or less confined to the Inland Empire and Orange County -- try the streaming audio at www.am1510kspa.com. In coming weeks, Steven will celebrate the birthdays of Woody Herman and Artie Shaw, highlight vintage and contemporary jazz vocal ensembles, and spend an hour with jazz virtuosos of the violin.
Steven is particularly pleased that management has given him the green light to air recordings from his private collection. Don't miss the opportunity to hear these rarities!
Steven is particularly pleased that management has given him the green light to air recordings from his private collection. Don't miss the opportunity to hear these rarities!
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Here are your answers to the quiz:
1. Rudy Vallée
2. Gray Gordon
3. Connie Haines
4. Joe Kayser
5. Raymond Scott
6. Eddie Lang
7. Fred MacMurray
8. Bon Bon
9. Louie Bellson
10. "The Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands"
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A Southern California man believes the shirt he bought recently at a garage sale was once worn by Frank Sinatra:
What I want to know is whether Sinatra's underpants are out there somewhere. Hey, I've heard stories.
