One of the last surviving ‘saloon singers’ of the big band era, he survived the rise of rock music and at the age of eighty-eight broke the record as the oldest living artist to have a number one album on the Billboard charts. Tony Bennett (born Anthony Benedetto August 3, 1926) was a renowned vocalist … Continue reading A Lauded Life in Music: Tony Bennett
Big Band & Swing News
Remembering Don Kennedy: Legendary Big Band Jump Host
The world of music mourns the passing of radio and TV personality Don Kennedy, the host of the nationally-syndicated “Big Band Jump” radio show. Don spent over 60 years in broadcasting, enchanting audiences with his passionate dedication to preserving and promoting the timeless melodies of the big band and swing era. Don Kennedy, born on … Continue reading Remembering Don Kennedy: Legendary Big Band Jump Host
Ambassador of Jazz to the Roaring Twenties: Gus Arnheim
The 1920s, smack-dab between a world war and a great depression, witnessed a flourishing cultural and artistic renaissance in America. The 1920s was a period of massive growth and innovation in music, witnessing the first electrical recordings, the explosion of jazz music, the proliferation of record players, the birth of radio. Among the notable figures … Continue reading Ambassador of Jazz to the Roaring Twenties: Gus Arnheim
Of Minnie the Moocher and Me: Bandleader Cab Calloway
In the vibrant world of swing, there are few figures as iconic and influential as Cab Calloway, the renowned band leader. Calloway’s talent, showmanship, and unique style made him a beloved and lasting figure of the swing era and beyond. Through his distinctive performances and captivating stage presence, Calloway brought swing to new heights and … Continue reading Of Minnie the Moocher and Me: Bandleader Cab Calloway
Charlie Barnet – Leader of “The Blackest White Band of Them All”
Saxophonist and bandleader Charlie Barnet was born into a wealthy family. His grandfather was Charles Frederick Daly, a vice-president for the New York Central Railroad, banker, and businessman. His father, a successful lawyer, wanted young Charlie to follow him into the family business. But Charlie had other plans. As a boy, Barnet attended exclusive boarding … Continue reading Charlie Barnet – Leader of “The Blackest White Band of Them All”
Jack Kapp – The Man with the Musical ‘Midas Touch’
He could not read or compose music, nor carry a tune. But for all of his personal ‘musical short comings’, he had an uncanny ability to discover musical talent in others. Born in Chicago, Illinois to a Jewish family of Russian immigrants, Jack Kapp (born Jacob Kaplitzky) was a record company executive with Brunswick Records … Continue reading Jack Kapp – The Man with the Musical ‘Midas Touch’
The Casa Loma – High on a Hill and High in Popularity
High on a hill in Toronto, Canada, sits ‘Casa Loma Castle’. Replete with gables, turrets and arches, the medieval castle boasts more than 100 rooms, 60 bathrooms, 5000 electrical lights, and the largest wine cellar in North America. It cost Canadian industrial magnate Sir Henry Pellatt more than $5 million dollars to construct between 1911 … Continue reading The Casa Loma – High on a Hill and High in Popularity
Historical Big Band Site Falls To Wrecking Ball
New York City has lost yet another landmark, and fans of big band music have lost a venue that was pivotal in the careers of some of the greatest names of the Big Band Era. The historic Hotel Pennsylvania, home to the Café Rouge and The Manhattan Room, has fallen to the wrecker’s ball to … Continue reading Historical Big Band Site Falls To Wrecking Ball
Kirby: One Fine Vacuum Cleaner Or One Fine Swing Musician?
He led one of the most influential small-groups of the swing era and played with such notable bands as Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson and Benny Goodman. He also scored several hit standards including “Loch Lomond” and “Undecided”. And yet in spite of his innovation and talent, more people are inclined to associate the name “Kirby” … Continue reading Kirby: One Fine Vacuum Cleaner Or One Fine Swing Musician?
The Pint-sized Songstress of Pittsburgh – Maxine Sullivan
At 4 foot 11 inches tall and weighing a mere 82 pounds, her diminutive size could hardly be considered imposing. But the moment she began to sing, she brought everything to a standstill- and became the biggest talent in the room. Performing before a crowd of over 20,000 people at a memorial concert for the … Continue reading The Pint-sized Songstress of Pittsburgh – Maxine Sullivan
