See My New Actor Showreel

Hi Everyone,

I have a new Drama Showreel for film and TV.

And a new film and TV actor website gregpoppleton.com

As technology has made the making of film more accessable, so the traditional actor showreel has quickly changed.

Greg Poppleton Film and TV actor. Photo by Sally Flegg.

Gone are the days when a reel had to be professionally shot clips from your film and TV credits.

Now casting directors want to see characters. ‘You can film them in your backyard’, one CD said.

So here are three of my characters from self tapes I’ve recorded over the past two months. There’s a forensic psychiatrist talking to a child, a deskbound detective, then a small time crim. Scripts by Chad Schnackel & David Dalton. Enjoy!

Actor Website: www.gregpoppleton.com

Exquisite Gin Mill Social Speakeasy Photos – 8 March 2019 Party

It’s as hot as one of Gatsby’s parties, it’s The Gin Mill Social! The fun never stops as live swing musicians play all night long and vaudeville performers pop up to entertain when you least expect it.

“A night of glamour, food, drinks and entertainment…. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.”
– Broadsheet

The first of those swing bands is singer Greg Poppleton’s real 1920s trio with Geoff Power on cornet doubling sousaphone and Paul Baker, banjo. Read, see, book the Band.

Photos: Alessio Bartoli Event Photography

Greg Poppleton waves from behind the vintage mic as a group of Gin Mill Socialites gather for a photo under Missy on the hoop.

 

Greg Poppleton sings through his 1920s megaphone to a happy couple

 

Dancing the Charleston to Greg Poppleton

 

Classy couple dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s jazz.

 

Finhead juggles fires at Gin Mill Social

 

How Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Trio looks from the Gin Mill Social mezzanine.

 

The Greg Poppleton 1920s Trio joins in the fun with Gin Mill Social MC Lou P. Lou

 

Geoff Power cornet, the brass section of Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Trio.

 

Paul Baker banjo, the string section of the Greg Poppleton 1920s Trio

 

Greg Poppleton using his shoes as percussion on the piano as his 1920s Trio solos.

Book Greg Poppleton for your party, wedding and event.
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With A Name Like Poppleton I Must Pop

As Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer, I put on a show, interact with the audience, constantly improvise, spontaneously take risks.

How can I have a name like Poppleton if I don’t Pop!

Look at the band’s 12 January 2019 Unanderra Hotel show (full house) for the Illawarra Jazz Club.

What’s going on in this photo?

I’d just sung the first chorus of Singing in the Bathtub in the 2nd set of my Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s show on stage at the Unanderra Hotel.

Then I jumped off stage and told the audience, “Everyone sounds good when they sing in the the bathroom. I will now demonstrate.”

So I walked through the audience as the band played on and went to the Gents.

Shelley Rae King, former Illawarra Jazz Club president, raced in to take snaps as I sang the second chorus from the public toilet using the full tiled amplifying bathroom reverb only a 1920s megaphone in a throne room can give.

Meanwhile, the band’s still playing on stage.

And the audience is having a great time – being surprised and entertained.

They’re being entertained by a singer whose voice can fill a 150 people room, off stage from a toilet, with only a megaphone, while a sousaphone, alto sax, banjo and washboard swing on stage without missing a beat.

It’s all sounding so good a swing dance couple join me in the toilet – dancing to the music…

One-by-one the band spontaneously walk off stage, still playing as I sing, to join me in the big porcelain echo chamber.

First Adam Barnard taps in on the washboard. Grahame Conlon strums along on the banjo (which weighs a ton). Damon Poppleton wails in playing alto sax. It gets a bit crowded when Geoff Power on sousaphone joins in…

Who’d would expect that would happen from a 1920s – 30s singer and band. Here’s a photo taken on stage by one of the audience of Damon, Geoff on cornet and myself a couple of minutes before the first set.

Below, Damon takes his last solo as a 15 year old, with Geoff Power on sousaphone and Grahame Conlon, banjo…

Book Greg Poppleton for you event

As I sang off the top of my head at Unanderra:-

“It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that Pop CD, 20 bucks, 20 bucks, 20 bucks, 20 bucks.” (Only $12 CD / $7 download on Bandcamp)

Band Website

Actor Website

New Years Party Photos – Greg Poppleton Sings at 12-Micron Restaurant on Sydney Harbour

Firing off with a great view of the 9pm family fireworks exploding into showers of brilliant reds, yellows and greens over Sydney Harbour, Greg Poppleton and his 1920s Trio kicked off the countdown to 2019 at 12-Micron, Barangaroo with a high energy 1920s show where everyone partied.

Guests dressed in speakeasy finery danced and partied to Greg Poppleton singing The Charleston, Peanut Vendor, Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue and a couple of 1930s requests for Jeepers Creepers and Cheek to Cheek.

Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer bringing in New Years 2019 at 12-Micron, Barangaroo, Sydney Harbour.

Greg pranced and danced in front of the band, crooned into his vintage 1920s microphone, and got up close and personal to guests, serenading them individually with his 1920s megaphone and big, warm lyric baritone voice.

12-Micron is a Barangaroo restaurant, bar & late night dessert house run by two-hat chef, Justin Wise. It’s located on the Sydney Harbour waterfront at Shipwrights Walk. A real culinary gem in the car free laneways of exciting Barangaroo.

In the band were Geoff Power on trumpet and sousaphone, who also played a Louis Armstrong request on ‘Strutting with Some BBQ’, Paul Baker banjo, and Ian Bloxsom, former Sydney Symphony Orchestra percussionist, on snare and washboard.

Dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Music, New Years Eve 2018-2019

Enquire about having Greg Poppleton for your party.

10 Nov Show – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

On Saturday November 10, the band and I returned to our favourite venue in Sydney’s outer west, Penrith RSL, for an afternoon of 1920s – 30s jazz and swing.

There was lots of dancing, lots of laughing and lots of jazz.

Here’s a very personal version of ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ which I sang to myself as a selfie live in front of the Penrith club audience.

It was like singing into the bathroom mirror, but with a band behind me, which included Grahame Conlon guitar, Dave Clayton double bass and Bob Gillespie drums. Enjoy!

Contact Greg: www.gregpoppletonmusic.com/contact

Yes We Have No Bananas – Country Version

Why is the focus on cows in this clip about bananas?

 

That’s a good question. Particularly since cows aren’t mentioned in the song.

THE STORY IS THIS

I took the film you see in the clip while walking between the towns of Kiama and Gerringong in New South Wales.

I saw this small herd sheltering from the hot sun under some small trees in the green, green grass.

I perched my pocket camera on the thickest branch of a bush and filmed them. It was a little bit breezy, so the branch swayed, hence the unsteady clip.

These cows look so contented!

ALBUM

Six months later, when I released this song in the album Back In Your Own Backyard, I chose the film to accompany this upbeat version of ‘Yes, I Have No Bananas’ because of the tension between the fast tempo of the song and the laid-back ‘tempo’ of the cows.

I also like that, to my not pitch-prefect ears, that where I placed the moos the cows make in the beginning of the mix, the note seems to be close to the same note as the banjo makes, just a bit flat and an octave down.

The song is in Bb. The cow is mooing in B very b

BAND

Greg Poppleton – 1920s vocals
Geoff Power – sousaphone, trumpet and trombone
Paul Furniss – alto sax and clarinet
Grahame Conlon – Spanish guitar
Lawrie Thompson – drums and washboard

Swing Dancing To Greg Poppleton

Greg Poppleton returned to Penrith RSL Saturday 30 June for another of his popular 1920s – 1930s jazz shows of swinging songs in English, German, Spanish and Italian.

And Greg will be back at Penrith RSL for dancers, Saturday 10 November, 2-5pm. FREE.

Swing dancers Sue Ann and Sandy pose with singer Greg Poppleton, Dave Clayton double bass and Damon Poppleton alto sax.

It’s free, it’s fun, it’s informal. And there was plenty of dancing. Swing dancers are always welcome with a good sized dance floor.

Gary & Deborah dancing to Greg Poppleton

Greg is Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer.

Unlike other jazz singers who find jazz after a journey through rock, opera or miming to a parent’s record collection of snappy-fingered Vegas crooners, Greg’s 1920s-30s vocals are authentic and original.

He fell in love with the music age three. That’s when he first heard Louis Armstrong.

Dancing to Greg Poppleton with Bob Gillespie drums, Damon Poppleton alto sax, Dave Clayton double bass and Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo.

 

Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer

Critics in Australia and the U.S are unanimous in saying that “Greg Poppleton captures the essence of the 1920s-1930s with uncanny accuracy.”

He has over 1.2 million total YouTube views for his four albums. That makes him Australia’s most listened to YouTube jazz singer without TV exposure.

He returned to Penrith RSL, Saturday 30 June, with his Jazz Deco band.

Greg Poppleton with Dave Clayton on double bass

Greg Poppleton Jazz Deco band instruments on stage

In the band was Greg’s up-and-coming 15 year old jazz alto saxophonist son, Damon Poppleton.

Grahame Conlon, who was in Ricky May’s band was on guitar.

Blue Mountains double bassist, Dave Clayton, who was in Mic Conway’s Hiccup Band played double bass.

And Penrith local, Bob Gillespie, who played in Maynard Ferguson’s English Orchestra, was musical director for Lovelace Watkins and was drummer for the 1990s Australian tour band of the original Glenn Miller Orchestra, was on drums.

Swing dancing to Greg Poppleton

Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco band will be back for more 1920s jazz, 1930s swing and dancing at,
Penrith RSL
8 Tindale St, Penrith
Saturday 10 November 2-5pm. FREE!

Free parking. Dance floor. Bar, bistro and child friendly.
PLUS grow 2″ taller, increase your attractiveness, ensure promotion at work, boost your confidence, stimulate hair growth and increase your IQ!

Contact Greg through OzManagement for your event: www.gregpoppletonmusic.com/contact

June Newsletter – Greg Poppleton

Heigh-ho!

As you know, June is traditionally the month to spoon beneath the moon as Greg Poppleton croons you your favourite 1920s-30s toons…

And I hope you’ll be able to spoon while I croon at one of these June events:

SATURDAY 9 JUNE
SUNDAY 10 JUNE
MONDAY 11 JUNE
Greg Poppleton at Transport Heritage Expo 2018
10AM – 2PM
Country Concourse, Central Station (Pitt St end)

Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco Quartet entertain with songs from the 1920s and 1930s on the Central Station Country Trains Concourse 9 – 11 June for the Sydney Central Station Transport Heritage Expo.

Music free. Dancers welcome. In fact, there will be a flash swing dance mob on Saturday! Buy tickets for steam and diesel heritage train rides.

The NSW Rail Museum will be operating steam train rides through the city from Central this June long weekend as part of the annual Transport Heritage Expo. This event is set to be a fantastic nostalgic long weekend event for families and transport enthusiasts alike!
https://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/

SUNDAY 10 JUNE
Private Event
Greg Poppleton brings his 1920s – 1930s Sextet to an extraordinary private event. Greg plays for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and all special occasions

THURSDAY 21 JUNE
Private Event
Greg Poppleton will entertain at a community centre event.

SUNDAY 24 JUNE
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Meantime, as an actor (not band related), I’ll be March Hare in The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Sydney Botanic Gardens, More Info and Tickets 

SATURDAY 30 JUNE
Penrith RSL
8 Tindale St, Penrith
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco Quartet entertain with songs from the 1920s and 1930s.

FREE

All Ages. Free car parking. Bar. Bistro. Dance Floor

EVERY TUESDAY
There’ are four live Phantom Dancer shows on 107.3 2SER radio for your listening pleasure this month. Every Tuesday, 12:04-2pm and any time online. Also heard every Sunday at 7pm on ArtSoundFM Canberra and on 23 radio stations across Australia. See the 5 June play list below. Listen to All Shows here

‘Tip Toe Through The Tulips’, Greg Poppleton Quartet.
Recorded live, 2017 Central Station Transport Heritage Expo by Cy Chan, a Chinese tourist.
If the video doesn’t work on your browser, you can see it here on YouTube

A NEW RECORDING OUT SOON
1920s – 30s Songs in English, German, Spanish and Italian
The band and I were in the studio yesterday recording a fresh set of 1920s – 30s songs. They’re songs we’re sure you’ll enjoy dancing and singing along to. I’ll keep you posted on the album release date which will be sometime this Spring.

You can find all Greg Poppleton albums and mixes at Bandcamp now selling in $A.

MAY PHOTOS

Photos above: ‘Wizards’ hosted in the Great Hall and McLauren Hall of Sydney University

BOOKINGS and ENQUIRIES
Contact Tony Jex at OzManagement: info@ozmanagement.com

PHANTOM DANCER RADIO SHOW and 5 JUNE PLAY LIST

Listen online now and any time at 2ser.com
Heard on 23 radio stations across Australia.

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #321
107.3 2SER Tuesday 5 June 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 23 other stations.
Set 1	Prehistoric Stan Kenton from 1941 Radio
Artistry in Rhythm	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles Nov 1941
A Setting In Motion	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles 20 Sep 1941
Blues in F Minor	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles 6 Jan 1942
El Choclo	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles Oct 1941
Set 2	Swing Band Leaders Speak on the Radio
Sunrise Serenade	Glenn Miller Orchestra	Glen Island Casino New Rochelle NY WEAF NBC Red NY 15 Nov 1938
When I Get It + Blue Lou + Close	Harry James Orchestra lead by Tommy Dorsey	Casino Gardens Ocean Park KECA ABC LA 12 Aug 1944
Hallelujah	Benny Goodman Quartet	‘For The Record’ WEAF NBC NY 1944
Set 3	Lounge Music on 1920s – 1950s Radio
Sugarloaf Mambo	Bernard ‘Whitey’ Berquist’ and the Chicago NBC Symphony Orchestra	‘Monitor’ WRCA NBC NY 19 Jun 1956
On The Wood Pile	Harry Bruer (xylophone) with the Colonial Club Orchestra	‘Brunswick Brevities’ WABC CBS NY 1929
White Sails + Time On My Hands	Johnny Saab (organ)	‘Musical Interlude’ WJSV CBS Washington DC 21 Sep 1939
Set 4	From Birdland over WNBC in 1952
Stuffy	Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge Orchestra	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 1952
Stardust + Lady Be Good	Kai Winding Group	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 2 Sep 1952
Set 5	The 1950s Dixie Revival on Radio
Chicago	Jimmy Dorsey ‘Dorseyland Band’	‘Marine Corp Show’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1950
Squeeze Me	Muggsy Spanier and his Dixieland All-Stars	‘Club Hangover’ KCBS San Francisco 11 Apr 1953
St James Infirmary	Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band	‘Club Hangover’ KCBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954
Memphis Blues + Bay City (close)	Turk Murphy’s San Francisco Jazz Band	‘Easy Street’ KCBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958
Set 6	Early Radio Appearances By Famous Singers
Shine	The Hoboken Four (Frank Sinatra’s first radio appearance)	‘Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour’ WABC CBS NY 1935
From The Bottom Of My Heart	Frank Sinatra (voc) Harry James Orchestra	‘America Dances’ Famous Door WABC CBS NY / BBC London Jul 1938
I’m Happy About The Whole Thing	Doris Day (voc) Barney Rapp and his New Englanders	Sign of the Drum Cincinnati Ohio NBC 17 Jun 1939
I Cried For You	Bing Crosby	WABC CBS NY 7 Nov 1931
Set 7	Harmony Singers on 1930s – 1940s Radio
When My Dreamboat Goes Home	The King Sisters with Frank DeVol	‘Radio Transcription’ Los Angeles 1949
Chi Baba, Chi Baba	Lionel Hampton Orchestra (voc) Herman McCoy and the Hamp-Tones	Casa Manana Culver City Ca KFI NBC LA 20 Jul 1947
That Sly Ol’ Gentleman	Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Martha Tilton and the Quintones	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 4 Apr 1939
Tiger Rag	The Inkspots	WFIL NBC Red Philadelphia 12 Jul 1939
Set 8	Swinging on 1940s Radio
Open + Tea For Two	Bob Strong Orchestra	Glen Island Casino New Rochelle NY WOR Mutual NY 5 Aug 1944
Theme + Quiet Riot	Buddy Rich Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Quonset Naval Air Station Rhode Island Blue Network 25 Jan 1946
The Elks’ Parade	Bobby Sherwood Orchestra	Terrace Room New Jersey WCBS CBS NY 17 Feb 1945
Cottontail	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date With The Duke’ Evansville Indiana ABC 16 Jun 1945

 

1920s Soiree

The client is holding a series of parties celebrating the music most associated with the ten decades of the 20th Century.

Who to book for their 1920s soiree to ensure it’s a success?

The band they chose to entertain and represent that roaring decade was Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer, Greg Poppleton, because…

Greg Poppleton Makes Jazz Deco Pop!

Greg Poppleton 1920s microphone at 1920s soiree

IMPRESSED

Greg Poppleton brought along his quartet of world-toured jazz musicians. Their authentic, swinging style certainly impressed – and won over a lot of people who had never heard 1920s jazz before.

The smiles, the spontaneous  little dances here and there, all those who stopped to intently listen, and the nice people who came up to compliment the band after each set, told me that the band was fulfilling its brief.

Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer

THE BRIEF

To provide atmosphere as friends and colleagues met in the courtyard to socialise, network and do business.

SOUND

So the music was low, yet energetic. People could talk easily and come and go as they please. The owner of the bar and restaurant next to the courtyard thanking us as both he and we packed up said it all.

The band was largely acoustic with two 100W speakers for the vocals and banjo, mixed wirelessly via ipad. Guitar and double bass used a small amp each and the clarinet and alto sax did not need to be mic’d at all to be heard clearly.

BOOKINGS

Enquire about having Greg Poppleton for your event and celebration.

Greg Poppleton jazz deco band. Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo / Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s singer / Dave Clayton double bass obscured / Paul Furniss clarinet and alto sax.

Saving A Big Band Show For A Client

Initially the client wanted a big band. They’d already advertised the show as ‘Swing Era’, ‘Glenn Miller’,  ‘Big Band’.

But a budget blow-out meant that the client needed a smaller band urgently – a band that could still create a big sound and a dynamic show through an energetic singer and front man.

The Solution:
Call Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer – the client went for the six-piece Greg Poppleton jazz deco band.

After that, no-one in the client group, or the audience, gave the ‘Swing Era’, ‘Glenn Miller’ Big Band a second thought.

Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer and band leader.

He delivered a mix of Jazz Deco swingers and ballads in English, Spanish, German and Italian, with the following band line-up:

Greg Poppleton – authentic 1920s-30s singer
Al Davey – trumpet and trombone
Paul Furniss – alto sax and clarinet
Grahame Conlon – swing guitar and banjo
Dave Clayton – double bass
Lawrie Thompson – swing drums
SwingKatz – swing dance lessons and demonstration

The Result:
The audience sang along and filmed and laughed and danced for a two hour show including lunch.

The client said they would definitely book the band again.

Greg Poppleton jazz deco band and SwingKatz swing dancers

Sound:

Because of the size of the room and the number of guests, 130, we provided our own digital sound system.

We created a pleasant sound for the audience mixed by our engineer with ipad via a wireless connection.

This is something we can do for audiences up to 5000 people.

We filled the big band’s shoes and more. Need an exciting band?

Band Enquiries: tony@ozmanagement.com
Band Website: gregpoppletonmusic.com

How’d It Look and Sound?