Well, The Phantom Dancer (2SER 107.3 Sydney Tuesday 12 noon and Saturday 6pm) has a few delectable swing radio rarities for you this week. (Live stream)

First off, I never knew swing gospel singer and guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, sang with the Erskine Hawkins’ Orchestra. But she did, on-air, in 1943, and you’ll hear it this Tuesday and Saturday on the Phantom Dancer

And I’ve seen so many photos, heard so many commercial recordings by R. A. Rolfe’s Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra, and now, here they’ll be, live on this week’s Phantom Dancer, backing the Boswell Sisters! They follow a brief drama about tyres, which you’ll also hear from the same show, but it’s the ginger ale subplot in this little dramatisation which I personally find most interesting

And I’ll be giving another double pass away to a 2SER subscriber this Tuesday to see Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters at the Blue Beat, Double Bay, Wednesday 15 February. Tix at door or through Moshtix: $10

This week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week: oop-boop-a-doop, another Betty Boop! Enjoy…

Vale Etta James and band leader Johnny Otis, the man who just happened to ‘discover’ Ms James in the 1950s. You’ll hear Johnny Otis live from a 1945 ‘Jubilee’ broadcast and Etta James live singing a song Johnny Otis co-wrote ‘Roll With Me, Henry’ at the end of this Tuesday’s and this Saturday’s Phantom Dancer. And check out Johnny Otis live on 1950s TV with the Three Tons of Joy in this week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week

And there’s lots of live 1930s-60s radio jazz and swing for you, too, including three Alastair Cooke jazz jam session excerpts broadcast from the BBC in the 1930s and 40s. Check out the play list

And exciting news, Bakeliters, you can see myself and the Bakelite Broadcasters playing two sets of your 1920s-30s swing jazz favourites in a Noirsville Show with an opening set by 40s noir singer Johnny Vargas at the Blue Beat, 16 Cross St, Double Bay, Wednesday 15 February. Doors open 7:30pm for dinner. Show starts at 9pm. Dance floor, restaurant and bar. $10 cover charge. Bookings: 02 9328 4411

How organised is this? This Tuesday’s and Saturday’s Phantom Dancer will have a set of 1930s live radio bands, a set of 1940s live radio bands and a set of 1930s-40s Australian radio bands including a live concert piece by Peter Dawson from 1ZB Auckland in 1942. Yeah, I know, he’s not swing and jazz, (and Auckland isn’t in Australia), but you will still hear lots of live 1930s-60s swing and jazz with radio performances by Red Nichols, Larry Clinton, Gene Krupa, Jan Garber and more on the other 86 minutes of the Phantom Dancer

I’ll also be playing another Don Redman record, following on from last week’s airing of ‘How’m I Doin’?’. This week’s Don Redman is ‘I Heard’ from 1931 and ties in nicely with this week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week where Don & the Orchestra plays the same song in a film-animation Betty Boop cartoon, coincidentally entitled ‘I Heard’

So boop, boop-a-doop, here ’tis…

Till next time,
Your Phantom Dancer
Greg Poppleton

“You were fantastic!!!! Before we entered the room we could hear you from outside. I said to my new husband “listen to them, our wedding is awesome!!!!” You made the party! Thank you so much for coming”

Thank you, Kate & Andrew. Below are some happy snaps of the band taken at Kate & Andrew’s wedding. Please visit our website. We look forward to adding glamorous vintage sparkle to your wedding, too!

Greg Poppleton, Sydney's only authentic 1920s & 30s singer in dinner suit. Kate & Andrew's wedding theme was 1920s

Bakelite Jazz at Kate & Andrew's Wedding

Greg Poppleton singing with Bakelite Jazz at Kate & Andrew's Wedding, Lillianfels

Monique Lysiak on piano. You may know her from the all women Sirens Big Band

Al Davey, trumpet. Like Monique he plays in lots of bands, because he's very, very good

Mark Harris on double bass. Where have you seen Mark before? Lah-Lahs, Monsieur Camembert and top name bands like the Bakelites - because he, too, is very, very good

Laurie Bennett - one of Sydney's top drummers. He's played in all the big theatre and TV bands, backed too many jazz greats to list here and has even played in the big bands of Cliff Richards, Harry Secombe and Liza Minelli

Another great show for you of live 1920s – 60s radio swing and jazz this Tuesday and Saturday

Highlights include Larry Clinton & the Orchestra playing for RCA in 1938. The Clinton band was put together to spruik on NBC for RCA, sort of an early form of The Monkees, if you will. And from 1960s Sydney radio there’s a 15 minute program of songs for you by Barbara James & her husband, pianist and band leader, Reg Lewis. Both were big in the Australian jazz and swing scene from the late 1920s into the early 60s

See the full play list and show details below this week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week – Ronald Reagan gets the donations flowing to Radio Free Europe

Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz had a great time playing 1920s – 1930s Hot Jazz and Swing for you in 2011. Thank you for enjoying our music live and on the YouTube clips you’ll find posted throughout this blog. In fact, just for you, there’s a New Year’s present of music we hope you’ll click on and enjoy a few pars down…

In 2011, the band played at such historic 1920s – 1930s occasions as the First Sydney Artists’ Ball and opening night of Art & About at the Art Gallery of NSW, connected with the ‘Mad Square’ exhibition of German Expressionist Art. We supported Mary Schneider in a big concert at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre and spent Melbourne Cup Day by the Harbour in the beautifully art deco Manly Pavilion

Great Gatsby theme parties became vogue in 2011 and will grow in popularity in 2012. Needless, to say, as Sydney’s only authentic 1920s singer, why would you book any other band than Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your Great Gatsby party? Sydney’s only 1920s and 1930s singer with duo to sextet of world-touring musicians played some big ones in 2011, here’s a clip from the biggest

In 2012, the full band including Paul Furniss on saxes and clarinet and Al Davey on trumpet and trombone have been invited to perform at the Glen Street Theatre on 20 March as part of Glen Street’s ‘Music in The Glen’ series. We play the VE Day Ball at Elizabeth Bay House on 4 May. As well, you’re booking Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your weddings and Great Gatsby theme corporate and private events. We thank you

And throughout 2011 and 2012 we’ll continue to be regulars at Penrith RSL. We’re tipped to be back this April. Keep an eye on the band’s News Page. And check out this clip from our last show there on 17 Dec 2011…

During the show above, drummer Bob Gillespie told me that these Bakelite Jazz YouTube clips posted throughout this blog brought him a ‘blast from the past’ ‘out of the blue’ ‘from the other side of the world’

Bob was the drummer in Maynard Ferguson’s English Band. And the bass player from that band rang Bob after 40 years, tipped off by the bass player’s son who saw Bob playing in Bakelite Jazz on YouTube. How’s that!

You’ll also hear early, toe-tapping 1930s radio by the orchestras of Phil Harris, Jimmy Grier and Gus Arnheim

See the full play list and tune-in details after this week’s SCARY video of the week…the Attack of the Monoliths movie trailer from 1957…

Tune into 107.3 2SER Sydney on Tuesday 27 December at 12 noon and New Year’s Eve, Saturday 31 December at 6pm (+11 GMT) for music to get you into the swing for 2012

Live stream

Check out the play list below this Week’s Video of the Week – ‘Ridin’ Hi’ a rare 15 minute radio show promoting Bike Riding for ‘Health & Happiness’ from New York’s WJZ radio in 1937. The orchestra is directed by Frank Sinatra’s Uncle Ray. The singer is Jane Froman, one of the top female pop vocalists of the late 1930s

For myself and all the Greg Poppleton Bakelite Jazz Band, we wish you a happy, healthy and successful 2012. And if you’ve never ridden a bike before, maybe this week’s Video of the Week vintage swing radio show will inspire you to get ‘Ridin’ Hi’…

And there’s tinsel on this week’s Video of the Week, too. A Christmas spiritual. Sister Rosetta Sharpe, her great soulful voice and gospel guitar with trio, singing Up Above My Head, live on French TV in 1964. Enjoy!

Next Tuesday and Saturday, tune into the New Year’s Eve Phantom Dancer to get you all ready for the fireworks!

Model17 Photo Booth

Well, Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz were playing a 1920s themed party recently, and the party organisers hired one of these booths for their guests to take photos of themselves. What a hit!

First, just to paint the scene of this 1920s party, here are two photos of the band snapped on stage at the Great Gatsby 1920s event…

Greg Poppleton singing with Bakelite Jazz at a 1920s themed Great Gatsby Party

Greg Poppleton, Sydney's only 1920s and 1930s Hot Jazz & Swing Singer with Geoff Power on Trombone

Now, to the photo booth: ‘The Original Photo Company‘ is the only business in Australia still operating these black and white photo booths with the original technology, using their own special black and white photographic formula. And they hire them out for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, parties and celebrations of all kinds

Here’s your truly’s Photo Booth mug shots. You can find out more about having these photo booths at your party by visiting www.originalphotoboothhire.com.au.

PS: And you can find out more about Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your 1920s, 1930s, Underbelly Razor and Great Gatsby Party at www.bakelitejazz.com

Greg Poppleton - Original Photo Booth Mug Shots Taken At A 1920s Themed Event