Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer and his Jazz Deco trio had the honour of playing for dancers at Elizabeth Bay House for the exclusive 2012 VE Day GI Dance.
Greg sang the songs popular in the early 1940s in his naturally true-to-the-era dance band singer style.
Some say his voice reminds them of Al Bowlly. Others say Ray Eberle.
And his small band is definitely 1940s Sydney when the majority of bands playing for dancers through the suburbs were trios to sextets. (Check out Greg Poppleton’s ABC Radio National documentary about Sydney’s 1942-45 Booker T Washington Club for U.S African-American service personnel. The band that played there was mainly a quartet.)
This fantastic evening celebrated the GI Dances held across Sydney in grand houses like Elizabeth Bay House during the Second World War.
Over a hundred guests filled the historic mansion dressed in 1940s style, many in authentic 1940s uniforms.
They danced to Greg Poppleton playing A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, White Cliffs Of Dover, I’ve Heard That Song Before and many other pop songs of the early 1940s.
At the end of the night, the band lead the guests in singing We’ll Meet Again, Vera Lynn’s post-WWII hit Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart.
Guests calling for an encore spontaneously sang out two choruses of Bless Them All as a gloriously emotional end to the dancing!
Guests were also treated at the dance to period 1940s cuisine, swing dance classes, 1940s makeovers, live drawing classes, the very funny ‘1940s paperboy’ MC with prizes for the best-dressed
All guests were gloriously dressed in vintage style, with many in authentic clothes and uniforms from the era, as you can see in the photos.
Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only 1920s – 1930s style singer with duo to 6-piece band. He can also offer a 1920s Great Gatsby Orchestra and 1930s-40s Swing Orchestra playing Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.
Contact Greg through Tony Jex at OzManagement.
Actor - Singer - Voiceover 
Hello Greg,
I listen to your show on Tuesdays when I can. I think the Prof. Julius Sumner Miller videos are a great idea, so informative. The good thing is that the esteemed Prof. uses Imperial Measurements when conducting his experiments.As a member of the British Weights & Measures Association, I find this most gratifying.
Thank you, Greg.
Paul Gilbert.