That Last-Minute Gift Idea

Looking for a perfect gift for that hard-to-please big band fan on your list? Consider "An Angel City Christmas," the new CD from the Angel City Big Band, featuring vocalist Bonnie Bowden. It's 11 tracks of yuletide favorites, along with "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" and the quasi-seasonal "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

Check out audio samples on the band's homepage:

AngelCityBigBand.com

Information about how to purchase the CD accompanies the samples. The Big Band Academy is pleased to recommend this disc with our highest enthusiasm.

*************

I personally hope to receive a "nook," the new e-reader from Barnes & Noble:

Ever since I was 13, I've been asking Santa for some nook. I think this might be the year the big guy finally comes through.

Merry Christmas to all!

Occupy Forest Lawn

On Wednesday of this week, I attended a luncheon of ASMAC, the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers. One of the speakers happened to mention the name Oscar Rabin. Rabin was an English bandleader popular in the years between the wars and is probably best remembered today for having given vocalist Beryl Davis her springboard to worldwide fame.

So, of course, the moment Rabin's name came up I thought about Beryl. Until entering assisted living, Beryl had been a devoted supporter of the Big Band Academy and I hoped she was doing well. Then just yesterday came word that Beryl had died that morning. An odd coincidence.


Here's an obituary prepared by Beryl's family:



Funeral services will take place at 12:30 p.m. next Friday, November 4, at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Beryl undoubtedly would be honored by the presence of as many friends from the BBAA as possible.

************* 

Our own John Tumpak returns to Burbank's Joslyn Adult Center on Monday, November 14, with another of his famous audio/video big band presentations. Click the link for more details:

www.burbankbus.org/index.aspx?recordid=3685&page=875 

Keep up the good work, John!

Come Celebrate the Life of Uan Rasey

Legendary L.A. studio trumpeter Uan Rasey passed away on September 26th at the age of 90. Two days later, Uan was the subject of radio host Doug McIntyre's semi-weekly column in the Los Angeles Daily News:

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18992019 

Many of you will remember Uan and his wife Margaret -- who died in 2008 -- from their regular attendance at our Big Band Reunions. Even if you happened to be in a bad mood, it was impossible not to feel better when Uan entered the room. Not surprisingly, Uan's children and the cream of his fellow studio musicians have decided to celebrate the life of this remarkable man with a dinner and big band concert. The event will take place on the evening of Monday, November 7th, at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills:

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d14596612534a3878cae20baea82ff&id=0df27db0c2&e=[UNIQID]

http://www.rmala.org/pubs/uancelebration.pdf 

Either of the two links will take you to a page containing all the information you'll need. Uan's older daughter, Duanna Ulyate, is acting as addressee for ticket orders.

To further whet your appetite, check out this interview that Uan and his colleague from the trumpet section, Malcolm McNab, gave last year to KPCC, the public radio station in Pasadena:

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2010/09/17/16093/brass-behind-the-screen-film-trumpeters-uan-rasey-

If something's been missing in your life since the last Big Band Reunion three years ago, by all means make plans to be part of what will undoubtedly be a memorable night. And do it soon. Once tickets are gone, they're gone; no tickets will be sold at the door.

And let me add a personal promise: I guarantee that this event will not be called off at the last minute!

James Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Our good friend Ed Cecchini has provided us with another of his patented big band quizzes. Answers can be found at the bottom of the post:

 1. Who was the leader of the orchestra known as 

    the Melodears?

 2. He was the leader of the most famous all-girl 

    orchestra. Name him.

 3. This male singing group made more than 2,000 

    recordings and sold more than 50 million

    copies. Duke Ellington started them on the

    road to fame. Who were they?   

 4. Bandleader Vincent Lopez had two sisters as

    vocalists in his orchestra. Name the sisters.

 5. He was a vaudevillian and later comedian on

    radio, TV and film, but started out leading a

    New Orleans-type jazz band. Name him.

 6. What band used "What Is This Thing Called

    Love?" as its theme song?

 7. Which leader started his shows with the

    catch phrase, "Is everybody happy?"

 8. Name the well-known trumpeter (who also had

    his own band) who played with a prosthetic

    arm, having lost his own in an accident as a

    child.

 9. He was born Harry Friedland. Give his

    better-known professional name.

10. This leader used "Snowfall" as his theme.
    Identify the band.

Good luck!

*************

Richard Snyder collects photos of unidentified musicians. Hey, people collect all kinds of things. Here are four of which Richard is particularly interested in solving the mystery. Can you help?

  

Let us know if you have any ideas about who these gentlemen might have been.

Meanwhile, here are the answers to the quiz:

 1. Ina Ray Hutton

 2. Phil Spitalny

 3. The Mills Brothers

 4. Marion and Betty Hutton

 5. Jimmy Durante

 6. Leo Reisman

 7. Ted Lewis

 8. Wingy Manone

 9. Blue Barron

10. Claude Thornhill

*************

The "Other" Snooky and the "Other" Ray

I told someone I was going to Snooky's funeral. They replied, "She died? That's sad. I loved 'Jersey Shore.'"

Well, what's sad is that Snooky Young, one of the great lead trumpeters of all time is being confused, for the moment, with a "star" from an MTV reality series. But it won't always be that way. Family and friends packed the Old North Church at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills last Wednesday to say goodbye to the real Snooky:



We at the BBAA feel especially fortunate that we were able to honor Snooky with our Golden Bandstand Award at the Big Band Reunion in 2005. Along with fellow honoree Louie Bellson, Snooky helped make a wonderful afternoon that we won't soon forget. If you were there, you know what I mean.

Love you madly too, Snooky.

*************

Another prominent musician who used to be mistaken at times for a musical counterpart of the same name is Ray Charles:

Okay, clearly he wasn't the singer of "What'd I Say." And for decades he has even billed himself as "The Other" Ray Charles. However, our Ray is a first-rate vocalist in his own right, as well as a songwriter, vocal arranger and conductor. In fact, Ray was immortalized in a 1974 novelty hit, "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)."

The song is basically a lung-busting list of pop/rock performers delivered in rap style but before there was rap. Ray's entry ("Ray Charles Singers," to be precise) is just the third from the top, so listen carefully:



How about that? And Ray never knew about the record until I brought it up to him a year or so ago. If you miss him the first time, freeze the video at the 10-second mark.

Meanwhile, Ray comments on our March 26 blog post in which we wondered if the recently deceased Hugh Martin might not have been the last living composer of a true standard in the pre-rock and roll edition of the Great American Songbook:

"You've overlooked 92-year-old Ervin Drake, who wrote or co-wrote, among other songs, 'I Believe,' 'It Was a Very Good Year' and 'The Father of Girls.' He also wrote the score to the musical version of 'What Makes Sammy Run' and provided lyrics for 'Perdido,' 'Tico Tico,' 'Good Morning Heartache' and 'Al-di-la.'"

An outstanding point, Ray. I'll admit I couldn't have named the writer(s) of "I Believe." And it was a pre-rock and roll song - from 1953 - so I stand corrected!

Thirteen Years On

Today we commemorate the 13th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's death with reminiscences by Herb Stark, a big band friend from Long Island:

"Here we are thirteen years since the passing of Frank Sinatra on May 14, 1998. But his music endures through performances that can be seen and heard in all entertainment formats. 

The first time I saw Frank was in the early 1940s at New York's Paramount Theatre; the movie was 'Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.' He was the lead vocalist with Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers in the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. A couple of standout tunes featuring Frank were 'Oh! Look at Me Now' and 'Everything Happens to Me,' complete with a garish green spotlight to highlight the rail-thin figure that was part of Sinatra's persona. 

However, there was no denying that certain something in his voice that appealed to his male fans as well as the thousands of bobby-soxers who came to sit through five or six shows a day. His music lives on despite the attempt by 'American Idol' to honor Frank last year, which wound up a dismal failure. Alas, there was no performer who came close to doing justice to any of the songs associated with Sinatra. 

So it falls on veteran singers such as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Jane Monheit, plus shows on Sirius-XM satellite radio, to carry on the tradition of Ol' Blue Eyes' music. I fervently hope the younger generation will produce some talented singers who have studied the music of Frank Sinatra and in turn will honor the gift and pick up on the the classic pop music that was given to fans around the globe. Take a moment this day to remember the legend destined to live forever."

Thanks, Herb.

*************

I received an important-looking envelope in the mail this week, addressed to the president of the Big Band Academy. The return address said "Marsh U.S. Consumer, a service of Seabury & Smith, Inc." Offices on the 36th floor of the Heller International Building in Chicago. Well, I'd better open that envelope, hadn't I?

Associating the name "Marsh" with Marsh & McLennan, I figured the contents probably had something to do with insurance. Sure enough, it was a solicitation to buy event cancellation insurance.

For the next couple of minutes, I was treated to a sermon on how even the best plans are at the mercy of uncontrollable outside forces. Floods, fires, possibly the collapse or destruction of a hotel or meeting center. What would we do if our event were cancelled due to any of these circumstances? And there are always man-made disasters lurking around the corner: strikes, slowdowns, power failures and, yes, even terrorism. Almost makes you want to forget about getting out of bed, doesn't it?

Interestingly, poor ticket sales -- the fear of which is the primary reason why the BBAA hasn't launched a luncheon/concert since 2008 -- is not mentioned anywhere in the sales literature as a covered circumstance. No matter, though. Despite our desire to put on another show, I believe we've done the responsible thing by holding back during these last three years.

I started to get a little rankled. Where does an insurance giant get off sending event cancellation offers to big band organizations? Do they think people in the big band business are more likely to need that kind of insurance?

I'm insulted.

Oh, Orrin!

Only a month ago, we noted the 100th birthday of bandleader Orrin Tucker:

bigbandacademy.blogspot.com/2011/03/loneliest-night-in-week.html 

Now a small, paid death notice in Saturday's Los Angeles Times announces that Orrin died on April 9. Major media coverage of Orrin's passing is sure to come, but for the time being our blog is one of few sites carrying this news. Please join us in mourning the loss of one of the last living leaders of the big band era.

*************

That was a great day:

*************

If this item is any indication, there may be a future for big bands among young people after all:

Teen threatens to post nude photo of girl unless she gives him her saxophone

By TERESA AUCH SCHULTZ
Sun-Times Media
Apr 14, 2011
 

A Northwest Indiana high school student is facing a charge of possessing child pornography after a fellow student accused him of threatening to post a nude picture of her if she didn’t give him her saxophone, police said.

The incident came to light Friday when the girl, a freshman at Portage High School, told Principal Caren Swickard about the threat. The boy in question, who is not being named, told Swickard and police that his saxophone broke and the band director told him that because the girl didn’t use hers, to have her give him her saxophone, police said.

When she wouldn’t, the boy said he reminded the girl he had the picture of her, police said. The boy allowed police to look at his phone, which had nude pictures of a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. The original girl’s mother said she had discovered the nude pictures about a month or two ago and forced her daughter to erase them and that her daughter had asked the suspect to delete them.

The other girl said she had sent nude pictures of herself to several other boys at other schools in Lake and Porter counties and she did so because she had low self-esteem.

The boy was arrested and taken to the Porter County Juvenile Detention. 

Hey, at least he asked for a saxophone, not an electric guitar.

Violent Torpedo of Swing

In 1944, future Big Band Academy president Milt Bernhart was a recently inducted Army private, undergoing basic training at Camp Hood (now Fort Hood), near Killeen, Texas. During Milt's time there, songwriter Hugh Martin came through the base as part of a Special Services show. Milt often recounted how Hugh treated the servicemen to a preview of his and Ralph Blane's contributions to the MGM musical "Meet Me in St. Louis."

The film had been completed but not yet released, making Milt among the first outside of Culver City to hear three songs that would quickly become classics: "The Boy Next Door," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Trolley Song."

Hugh's death two weeks ago at the age of 96 got me wondering if he might not have been the last living composer of a true standard in the pre-rock and roll edition of the Great American Songbook. I'll stand corrected, but I think that's the case.

Sort of makes one feel cut adrift, doesn't it?

*************

Dear Big Band,

I am writing to you on behalf of Mr. Michael Mackintosh. Last year, Mr. Mackintosh had contacted you regarding the son of Charles D. Barnet and you had posted Michael's contact information within your community bulletin. We are still hoping to find Charlie Jr. Has anyone had any success in finding him? A close friend of Charles Sr. has been looking for Charlie Jr. for some time and to no avail.

If there are any ideas or anyone in your big band community may have a phone number or e-mail or some way to contact him, we would be very much appreciate it.

Looking forward,

English Gardiner

Assistant to Michael Mackintosh

P.O. Box 150870

San Rafael, CA 94915

(415) 925-1518 Office

(707) 322-3404 Cell

michael@classactionlocator.com

Dear English,

It was actually in March of 2009 that we printed that request for the whereabouts of Charlie Barnet Jr. He really must have gone underground if you're still looking for him two years later. Nevertheless, I will again encourage any of our readers with pertinent information to get in touch with you.

Hmmm.

*************

With the melodramas of bandleaders and their children in mind, Jack Melick of Dallas mentions that Stan Kenton's daughter Leslie has recently published a memoir. The charges she makes concerning her dad can be found easily online, so I'm not going to go into detail here. But Jack poses a provocative issue:

I am very bothered by [Leslie's] allegations ... Stan was my favorite bandleader for many years and a great man, as far as I was concerned.

For a long time, I too thought that my musical heroes, in addition to being great artists, must have been great people. Gradually, I learned many were not. Our challenge as consumers of entertainment may be to come to terms with the reality that the best and worst of human expression can exist in the same person.

Jack also asks, wryly, if I've ever heard bad things about Stan, other than the fact that he always wanted the band to play louder. No, I haven't. Then again, the subject at hand is one that the world tends to squelch rather than discuss openly.

Whether Leslie's claims against Stan are true or fabricated, Stan's reputation undoubtedly will survive this test. Anybody familiar with the saga of the Kenton kids can find reason to believe that the daughter is in the wrong, not the father. Either way, though, it's a tragedy. 

*************

Wash your ears out with this note from Herb Stark of Massapequa, N.Y.:

I would like to post this tribute (somewhat belated) to Sid Bulkin, a fine big band drummer who died on March 1, 2008, at age 83. Sid played with some of the greats of the big band era. Among them were Benny Goodman, Ralph Flanagan and Terry Gibbs, in addition to vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Harry Prime and Dinah Shore.

Sid gave me drum lessons back in the early '50s when I was a roadie with the Flanagan band. He was a gentle, fun-loving guy who took his music seriously.

His daughters and niece carry on the legend of this highly regarded musician. Do yourself a favor: Google the name Sid Bulkin. Enjoy time well-spent with videos and stories of this beloved drummer on the occasion of the third anniversary of his passing.

Thanks, Herb. Sid was a friend to many and is deeply missed.

The Loneliest Night in the Week

Those who purchased tickets from the Big Band Academy already know that the March 12 dance at the Hollywood Palladium has been rescheduled for September. In case you were thinking of heading into Hollywood tomorrow evening on the spur of the moment and buying tickets at the box office, consider yourself advised not to do so.

Instead, please mark Saturday, September 10, on your calendar. Same time as before: Doors open at 6 p.m., dancing from 7 until 11 p.m. And the line-up will be the same: Pat Longo and his 18-piece band, joined by Bill A. Jones, Peter Marshall, The Modernaires, Nancy Osborne and Bonnie Bowden.

The BBAA continues to make tickets available at the discounted price of $35.00. Compare that to Ticketmaster's figure of $48.20! Just send an e-mail to bigbandacademy@yahoo.com telling us how many tickets you'd like and whether you wish to pay by credit card or check. We'll reply with all the details.

*************

Belated 100th birthday wishes go out to bandleader Orrin Tucker, who achieved centenarian status on February 17. Orrin, of course, is best remembered for the 1939 hit "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!," featuring vocalist "Wee" Bonnie Baker.

In 2003, Orrin sat for an interview conducted by Dan Del Fiorentino, curator of the NAMM Oral History Project:

www.namm.org/library/oral-history/orrin-tucker 

Way to go, Orrin!

March 12 at the Hollywood Palladium

Tickets are now on sale through the Big Band Academy for Pat Longo's dance spectacular at the Hollywood Palladium from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12:



For a limited time, we're making tickets available to friends of the Big Band Academy at the special price of just $35.00. If you buy from the Palladium, they'll add $13.20 in service charges, resulting in a total of $48.20 for the same ticket!

** To order by credit card, e-mail us at bigbandacademy@yahoo.com and tell us how many tickets you'd like. We'll e-mail you back a secure invoice, into which you can enter your credit card information with complete privacy. Only you will see the details of the transaction.

** To order by check, e-mail us at bigbandacademy@yahoo.com and we'll let you know where to mail your payment.

See you on Sunset Boulevard!

We Aren't Really an Academy

Because the word "Academy" is part of our organization's name, we occasionally receive unsolicited mail from entities who believe us to be an actual school. I've gotten letters inquiring about our admission policies and tuition rates, often from aspiring musicians in other countries. These letters are so heartfelt and sincere that a reply is mandatory, even though it isn't the reply each would-be student eagerly awaits.

Mail also arrives from real schools, again under the impression that the BBAA has classrooms, performance space and a flagpole out front. These schools usually want to partner with us in some way. The most recent such invitation comes from the European School of Music and Art, based in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.:



We're not beating the drum for this particular institution, of course, but simply presenting its letter as an example of the things that go on behind the scenes of the Big Band Academy.

I first thought about writing on this subject a few months ago when a manila envelope arrived in the mail. Inside, a catalog of animal organs available for purchase by school science departments. In glorious color. I didn't eat for days.

But I decided to wait for something a little more palatable instead of posting a few photographs from the catalog. Despite America's obesity epidemic, I couldn't do that to you.

*************

Highly recommended is the music of jazz songwriter and singer Marilyn Harris. Her latest CD, "Round Trip," features the backing of a big band populated by a number of friends of the BBAA. Saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Dan Higgins, reedman Don Shelton, and trombonists Andy Martin and Bill Watrous are among those lending their considerable talents to this marvelous disc:

   
Visit www.marilynharris.com for more information about Marilyn and to learn how to order her recordings.
 

*************

Reader Chuck Helms asks:

"I am interested in hearing what you know about Bruce Snyder, who played saxophone with Tommy Dorsey and the Airmen of Note. I knew Bruce in the '70s, but he died in 1980 and I wish to learn more about his background. His wife gave me his tenor sax, which I am playing now. Do you have any history on him, especially during his Dorsey years? I am aware that he was personal friends with Frank Sinatra and that he performed with Sammy Nestico and Tommy Newsom in the Airmen of Note."

Well, Sammy Nestico himself checks out this blog from time to time, so maybe he'll write in. And we'll be pleased to print reminiscences of Bruce from anyone else. Thanks, Chuck!

The Bandstand: February 2007

We begin the new year with further information pertaining to our final blog entry of the old year. Jazz authority Stephen Fratallone says: 

"I have a correction to make in regards to the Christmas holiday quiz.

One question asked who was the only female member of the Pied Pipers. The answer given was Jo Stafford and, indeed, Jo was the first and best-known female member of the group.

However, another girl singer joined the Pipers after Jo Stafford went solo. This was June Hutton, who originally sang with Charlie Spivak's orchestra. June was with the Pied Pipers when they recorded their hit, 'My Happiness,' in 1948."

Thanks for the correction, Stephen. But I'll see your correction and raise you an elucidation.

June Hutton was herself not the last female member of the Pied Pipers. Following in her footsteps were Sue Allen and later Virginia Marcy. And to top it off, the Pipers continue to this day, with Nancy Knorr out front on vocals. Who knew? Check out the group at www.thepiedpipers.com.

*************