Big Band Bash

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

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

This week I am going to start a two part series called Big Bands Live. This comes from a Reader's Digest Records set that I have. There is anywhere from 5-6 selections from each band and these were all recorded live off the radio. There are some exciting performances and this week we will be hearing the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and Woody Herman. Also, the big band puzzler makes it's return. I hope you'll tune in and listen. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbash.libsyn.com

April 3rd of this year marks the 92nd birthday of vocalist and actress Doris Day. Before she gained fame as an actress, Doris sang with a few big bands notably Les Browns. To celebrate her birthday I have gone back into my collection and pulled out a show I produced three years ago. Most of the songs on this show are ones that Doris recorded with the band of Les Brown. There is some great music in this set and I hope you enjoy it. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbash.libsyn.com

As we wind up Black Histoy Month on the program today, we are going highlight four African-American male vocalists who sang with the big bands. The four singers are Jimmy Rushing, Louis Jordan, Billy Eckstein, and The Mills Brothers. There is some great music today and we'll also learn a little bit about their careers. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbash.libsyn.com