3 April 2018 Phantom Dancer. Helen Keller On How The Deaf Heard Radio Music In The 1920s

There’re some rare, rare early jazz radio broadcasts for your listening pleasure on this week’s Phantom Dancer. And below, read an insight from Helen Keller about how radio brought music to the deaf in the 1920s.

The Phantom Dancer is produced and presented by Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s-style singer and band leader, Greg Poppleton.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV. It’s made in the studios of 2SER in Sydney. The Phantom Dancer is heard across Australia on stations of the Community Radio Network.

Hear this week’s Phantom Dancer (and past Phantom Dancers online) at radio 2ser.com

Greg Poppleton music website.

In this week’s mix, you’ll hear sets of radio broadcasts by Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman over three days in October 1937 and The Andrew Sisters. There’s also a set of WW2 European dance bands from Prague, Moscow and Hilversum. The Prague recording features Andrew Sisters soundalikes, The Allan Sisters (Allanovy Sestry).

But the rare, rare radio comes from January 1929. Four ‘Sunny Meadows Washing Machine Programs’ featuring the Ray Miller Orchestra. These were recorded on five minute 78 rpm discs – six discs to a 30 minute show.

1920s radio set

And that got me thinking about 1920s radio and how it was perceived. That’s when I found two letters from 1924 and 1926 quoted by Timmy D. Taylor in his paper, ‘Music and the Rise of Radio in 1920s
America: technological imperialism, socialization, and the transformation of intimacy’, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2002.

The two letters come from the very early years of radio as a mass entertainment medium. They both describe how deaf people could ‘hear’ music on the radio.

 

HELEN KELLER REPORTS…

Helen Keller

The first letter is from the famous deaf and blind social activist, Helen Keller, in 1924.

It is a letter to the Symphony Society of New York and describes her joy at hearing a symphonic concert on WEAF Radio, New York City.

“I have the joy of being able to tell you that, though deaf and blind, I spent a glorious hour last night listening over the radio to Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony.’

I do not mean to say that I ‘heard’ the music in the sense that other people heard it; and I do not know whether I can make you understand how it was possible for me to derive pleasure from the symphony. It was a great
surprise to myself. I had been reading in my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing to the sightless everywhere. I was delighted to know that the blind had gained a new source of enjoyment; but
I did not dream that I could have any part in the joy.

Last night, when the family was listening to your wonderful rendering of the immortal symphony some one suggested that I put my hand on the receiver and see if I could get any of the vibrations. He unscrewed the top, and I lightly touched the sensitive diaphragm. What was my amazement to discover that I could feel, not only the vibrations, but also the impassioned rhythm, the throb and the urge of the music. The intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instruments enchanted me. I could actually distinguish the cornets, the roll of the drums, deep-toned violas and violins singing in exquisite unison. How the lovely speech of the violins flowed and flowed over the deepest tones of the other instruments! When the human voices leaped up thrilling from the surge of harmony, I recognized them instantly as voices. I felt the chorus grow more exultant, more ecstatic, upcurving swift and flame-like, until my heart almost stood still. The women’s voices seemed an embodiment of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and inspiring sound. The great chorus throbbed against my Žfingers with poignant pause and flow. Then all the instruments and voices together burst forth—an ocean of heavenly vibration—and died away like winds with the atom is spent, ending in a delicate shower of sweet notes.

Of course, this was not hearing, but I do know that the tones and harmonies conveyed to me moods of great beauty and majesty. I also sensed, or thought I did, the tender sounds of nature that sing into my hand—swaying reeds and
winds and the murmur of streams. I have never been so enraptured before by a multitude of tone-vibrations. As I listened, with darkness and melody, shadow and sound filling all the room, I could not help remembering that the great composer who poured forth such a flood of sweetness into the world was deaf like myself. I marveled
at the power of his quenchless spirit by which out of his pain he wrought such joy for others—and there I sat, feeling with my hand the magniŽficent symphony which broke like a sea upon the silent shores of his soul and mine.

Let me thank you warmly for all the delight which your beautiful music has brought to my household and to me. I want also to thank Station WEAF for the joy they are broadcasting in the world.”

 

JAZZING THE DEAF

The second report about the deaf ‘hearing’ radio in the 1920s comes from ‘Jazzing the deaf by radio’, Popular Radio, March 1926, p. 296.

“This information has been conveyed to Paul Ash, orchestra leader and radio star of KYW in letters from several women who explain that these are the only sounds they have been able to hear and that they enjoy the jazz music although otherwise deaf.

A famous ear specialist of Chicago has become interested in the subject, it is reported, and is conducting a series of tests to determine the possibilities of utilizing this means of ‘bone conduction’ of sound so that those
who have lost normal hearing may through radio have the pleasures of music.

When the unique investigation has been completed the renowned specialist promises the issuance of a report and a test program over the air is to be given with deaf persons asked to ‘listen in’ and to report what they ‘hear’.”

 

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

Your Phantom Dancer Videos of the Week feature Helen Keller herself.

In the first video, the teacher who taught her to speak, Anne Sullivan (who was blind herself), explains with Helen demonstrating, how Helen learnt to talk after hitherto being dumb as well as deaf and blind. Her first word was ‘it’. Her first sentence, “I am not dumb now.” Be amazed…

And here is a 1919 dramatisation of her childhood. The film is called ‘Deliverance’…

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #309 107.3 2SER Tuesday 3 April 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 22 other stations. Set 1 Russ Morgan his Wah-Wah Trombone and his Orchestra Does Your Heart Beat For Me? Russ Morgan Orchestra Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1937 Sheik of Araby Russ Morgan Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Apr 1944 Open Up That Door and Let Me In + So Long (Close) Russ Morgan Orchestra (voc) Al Jennings ‘One Night Stand’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Jun 1945 Set 2 Andrew Sisters on Radio Open + Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe Andrew Sisters with Raymond Paige Orchestra ‘Kraft Music Hall’ KFI NBC LA 6 Sep 1945 Begin the Beguine Andrew Sisters with Glenn Miller Orchestra ‘Chesterfield Show’ WABC CBS NY 31 Jan 1940 White Christmas + Jingle Bells Nash Ad + Apple Blossom Time (Close) Andrew Sisters with Curt Massey and Vic Schoen Orchestra ‘Nash – Kelvinator Show’ KNX CBS Los Angeles 19 Dec 1945 Set 3 Swing from WWII Europe Poznate lehce nas rytmus Allanovy Sestry Comm Rec Prague 17 Dec 1942 Baron von der Pschek (Bel Mir Bist Du Schoen) Leonid Utesov Comm Rec Moscow 1943 Ja De Ramblers (voc) Ferry Barendse and Band Comm Rec Hilversum 2 Mar 1944 Set 4 Benny Goodman – 3 Days in October 1937 Stardust on the Moon + Dear Old Southland Benny Goodman Orchestra Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NY 20 Oct 1937 Where or When + Someday Sweetheart Benny Goodman Trio and Orchestra Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NY 20 Oct 1937 Dixieland Band + Goodbye Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Martha Tilton Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WOR Mutual NY 23 Oct 1937 Set 5 Duke Ellington on 1951-53 Radio VIP’s Boogie Duke Ellington Orchestra Aircheck Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 4 Oct 1953 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be Duke Ellington Orchestra Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WNBC NBC New York 11 Jun 1951 Great Times Duke Ellington Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 11 Feb 1951 Just a Sit-in’ and a Rockin’ + Mood Indigo Duke Ellington Orchestra Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 13 Aug 1952 Set 6 Ray Miller on 1929 Radio Open + Angry Ray Miller Orchestra ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 I’ll Never Ask For More Ray Miller Orchestra ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 I Ain’t Got Nobody Ray Miller Orchestra (voc) Mary Williams ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 Tell Me Who + There’s No Place Like Home (theme) Ray Miller Orchestra (voc) Bob Nolan ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 25 Jan 1929 Set 7 Bob Crosby 1939 Radio South Rampart Street Parade Bob Crosby Orchestra ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 27 Jun 1939 Little Rock Getaway Bob Crosby Orchestra (piano) Joe Sullivan ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 4 Jul 1939 O, You Crazy Moon Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 11 Jul 1939 Diga Diga Doo Bob Crosby Orchestra ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 18 Jul 1939 Set 8 Buddy Rich Radio Rain on the Riff (theme) + Cool Breeze Buddy Rich Orchestra ‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville PA Mutual 24 Dec 1945 Nellie’s Nightmare Buddy Rich Orchestra Aircheck New York City 1947 In a Prescribed Manner Buddy Rich Quintet Birdland WABC ABC NY 7 Nov 1958

6 February 2018 Phantom Dancer – Yes! Serious Music Can Be Entertaining. Proof.

The Phantom Dancer, presented by 1920s-1930s singer and band leader, Greg Poppleton, since 1985, is your non-stop two hour mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s – 1960s radio and TV.

This week, you’ll hear 8 sets including folk singer Susan Reed, dixieland by Kid Ory and Turk Murphy, a set of vocal harmonists including The King Sisters, a set hit songs by Woody Herman and Count Basie from the Avadon Ballroom – all from live radio broadcasts, of course.

You can hear this show online for the next 4 weeks after the 6 Feb broadcast at radio 2ser.com

BLACK, BROWN AND BEIGE

Duke Ellington’s longest and most ambitious orchestral work is heard in part on today’s Phantom Dancer.

From an April 1945 WJZ NYC ‘Date With The Duke’ broadcast out of the 400 Club in New York City we’ll hear live, Work Song and Spiritual.

Duke Ellington introduced it in his first concert at Carnegie Hall, January 23, 1943. He wrote it as “a parallel to the history of the Negro in America.”

It was first performed as a preview at Rye High School in Westchester County, New York, the day before its premiere at Carnegie Hall.

Another performance at Boston’s Symphony Hall on January 28 are the only known performances of the complete work.

Thereafter, Duke Ellington only performed pieces of it, as we’ll hear on today’s Phantom Dancer.

Following ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ on the Armed Forces Radio Service re-broadcast disc, Joya Sherill singing the pop ditty, ‘Accentuate The Positive’. Something of a statement by the AFRS editor, I’m suspect.

The first movement, ‘Black’, is divided into three parts, the Work Song, the spiritual Come Sunday , and Light.

‘Brown’ has three parts, West Indian Dance or Influence; Emancipation Celebration, and The Blues.

‘Beige’ covers “the Afro-American of the 1920s, 30s and World War II,” wrote Leonard Feather in the liner notes of the 1977 release of the original 1943 performance.

Duke Ellington mentions his Carnegie Hall performance of ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ in an interview with Frank Sinatra before playing Solitude at the piano on this week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week. A scratchy ‘Songs By Sinatra’ radio broadcast from 1943. He’s then joined by Raymond Scott and the CBS Radio Orchestra.

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #302 107.3 2SER Tuesday 6 February 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Dance Bands on One Night Stand Theme + Kentucky Gay Claridge Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Chez Paree Chicago AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Aug 1944 Laura Tony Pastor Orchestra (voc) Dick Dyer ‘One Night Stand’ Hollywood Palladium CBS/AFRS Re-broadcast 15 May 1945 Saturday Night Is The Lonliest Night Of The Week + Sweet Dreams Sweetheart Freddy Martin Orchestra (voc) The Martin Men and Artie Wayne ‘One Night Stand’ Cocoanut Grove Ambassador Hotel LA AFRS Re-broadcast 3 January 1945 Set 2 Susan Reed Folk Singer The Continental Harry Sosnik and the Savings Bonds Orchestra ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription NYC 7 Dec 1947 The Soldier and the Lady / Turtle Dove / Danny Boy Susan Reed – Zither, Irish Harp, ‘the Everloving’ ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription NYC 7 Dec 1947 Two Guitars + Close Harry Sosnik and the Savings Bonds Orchestra ’’Guest Star’ Radio Transcription NYC 7 Dec 1947 Set 3 A Date With The Duke Working Song ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ Suite Duke Ellington Orchestra ’A Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ Blue NYC 30 Apr 1945 Spiritual ‘Black, Brown and Beige’ Suite Duke Ellington Orchestra ’A Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ Blue NYC 30 Apr 1945 Accentuate The Positive Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Joya Sherill ’A Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ Blue NYC 30 Apr 1945 Set 4 Stars For Defence Theme + You ‘Ol Son-of-a-Gun + Love Look Away Rosemary Clooney (voc) Buddy Cole Music ‘Stars for Defence’ Radio Transcription 8 Feb 1959 Civil Defence Leo A Hoig ‘Stars for Defence’ Radio Transcription 8 Feb 1959 Two Little Girls + Always Together + Close Rosemary Clooney (voc) Buddy Cole Music ‘Stars for Defence’ Radio Transcription 8 Feb 1959 Set 5 Harmony on 1930s-40s Radio People Will Say We’re In Love Nillsen Twins (voc) Spike Jones City Slickers Aircheck 1944 A Stairway To The Stars The Inkspots WFIL NBC Red Philadelphia 12 Jul 1939 Everybody Loves My Baby King Sisters Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1947 Chi-Baba Chi-Baba Herman McCoy and The Hamp Tones (voc) Lionel Hampton Orchestra Casa Mañana Culver City CA KFI NBC LA 20 Jul 1947 Set 6 Woody Herman Hits Open + Apple Honey Woody Herman Orchestra (Gene Krupa opens) ‘Timex All-Star Jazz Show’ NBC TV New York City 30 Dec 1957 Woodchoppers’ Ball Woody Herman’s Third Herd ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ WOW NBC Omaha 1954 Four Brothers Woody Herman Orchestra Blue Room Roosevelt Hotel WWL CBS New Orleans 10 Nov 1951 Golden Wedding Woody Herman Orchestra (drums) Dave Tough ‘One Night Stand’ AFRS Re-broadcast Oct 1944 Set 7 Turk Murphy and Kid Try On KCBS Radio Bay City (theme) + Down Home Rag Turk Murphy Easy Street KCBS San Francisco 2 Dec 1958 St James Infirmary Kid Ory Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954 Sadie Green, The Vamp of New Orleans Turk Murphy Easy Street KCBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958 Milneburg Joys + Close Kid Ory Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 30 Oct 1954 Set 8 Count Basie at the Avadon Hobnail Boogie Count Basie Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Avadon Ballroom Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1946 Lazy Lady Blues Count Basie Orchestra (voc) Jimmie Rushing ‘One Night Stand’ Avadon Ballroom Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1946 Andy’s Blues Count Basie Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Avadon Ballroom Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1946

Phantom Dancer 23 January 2018 – Hear Singer Lawrie Brooks Dad of Pulitzer Winner Geraldine Brooks

On this week’s Phantom Dancer…
There’s jazz harpsichord by Sylvia Marlow from 1941 radio, a set Duke Ellington’s women singers on live 1930s-50s radio, and a set of  1943-45 recordings by Sydney swing band leader, George Trevare, with a track by singer Lawrie Brooks, father of Pulitzer author, Geraldine Brooks.

See the full play list, program link and weekly video below.

I’m Greg Poppleton, 1920s-1930s singer. I’ve been bringing you the Phantom Dancer on 107.3 2SER Sydney every week since December 1985. It’s your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV. And it’s now heard on 22 radio stations around Australia.

You can hear this week’s show online for the next four weeks on the website of radio station 2SER. And as always, the last hour of The Phantom Dancer is all vinyl.

LAWRIE BROOKS
The father of author, Geraldine Brooks, sings with the George Trevare Orchestra on today’s Phantom Dancer.

Quoting from a review of one his daughter’s novels in The Australian newspaper, 6 February 2008,
“Lawrie Brooks was American, ‘a big-band singer in Hollywood and Hawaii in the 1930s’ who, stranded in Australia in 1938 (when the band manager made off with the earnings), became an early star of Australian radio, and who, at the age of 54, transformed himself into a proofreader for a daily newspaper. He was a man of opinion and integrity, angry, flawed, eccentric and delightful.
An obsessive subject to drinking bouts, he was addicted also to firing off letters to notables such as Albert Einstein and Rupert Murdoch (and often receiving replies). With his mysterious past and an assumed name, he is the most vivid character in Brooks’s memoir: loveable, infuriating, certainly less than perfect, but a fellow most of us would stand in a queue for the pleasure of meeting.”

GERALDINE BROOKS (Officer of the Order of Australia)
is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author now based in the U.S.

Recognition
2006: Pulitzer Prize for ‘March’ (a chronicle of wartime service for the ‘absent father’ of the March girls in Louise May Alcott’s ‘Little Women’.)
2008: Australian Publishers Association’s Literary Fiction Book of the Year for People of the Book[12]
2009: Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award
2010: Dayton Literary Peace Prize Lifetime Achievement Award
2016: Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours

Novels
Year of Wonders (2001)
March (2005)
People of the Book (2008)
Caleb’s Crossing (2011)
The Secret Chord (2015)

Nonfiction
Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women. 1994.
Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal’s Journey from Down Under to All Over. 1997.
Boyer Lectures 2011: The Idea of Home (or “At Home in the World”). 2011.

Also on this week’s Phantom Dancer, Rosa Rio. Here is a short video obit about her. She was still performing on the theatre organ age 107

Make sure you come back to this blog, Greg Poppleton’s Radio Lounge, every Tuesday, for the newest Phantom Dancer play list and Video of the Week!

Thank you.

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #301 107.3 2SER Tuesday 23 Jan 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Swing 1940-44 Radio Theme + Chopping Wood Woody Herman Orchestra Famous Door WEAF NBC Red NY 7 Jan 1940 It’s a Crying Shame Woody Herman Orchestra (voc) Frances Wayne Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NY 21 Aug 1944 Flying Home Lionel Hampton Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Civic Auditorium Oakland Ca 4 Jun 1944 Set 2 Jazz Organ and Harpsichord Sunrise Serenade (theme) + This Is The Missus Rosa Rio ’Rosa Rio Time’ WJZ ABC NY 14 Jul 1947 Tea For Two Johnny Saab ’Organ Interlude’ WJSV Washington DC CBS 21 Sep 1939 The Turkish March Sylvia Marlowe (harpsichord) ’Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 17 Dec 1941 Set 3 Latin Strains On 1930s-40s Radio Theme + Chiu Chiu + Begin the Beguine Desi Arnez Orchestra (voc) DA and Band Ciro’s KECA ABC LA 1947 Habenero and Vacero A&P Gypsies ’A&P Show’ WEAF NBC Red NY 1933 Night Must Fall + Nightingale + My Shawl (theme) Xavier Cugat Orchestra ’All-Star Parade of Bands’ Last Frontier NBC Las Vegas 30 Nov 1953 Set 4 Bop and Hard Bop on 1950s Radio Strike Up The Band Pete Brown Quintet ’One Night Stand’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 2 Sep 1952 Happy Birthday + Body and Soul Sarah Vaughan ’Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 26 Mar 1953 Out of Nowhere + Jumping With Symphony Sid Charlie Parker Hi-Hat Club WCOP Boston 24 Jan 1954 Set 5 Women Singers with the Duke Ellington Orchestra on 1930s-50s Radio In A Mizz Ivie Anderson (voc) Duke Ellington Orchestra Ritz Carlton Hotel WNAC NBC Boston 26 Jul 1939 Riff Staccato Joya Sherrill (voc) Duke Ellington Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Club Zanzibar AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Oct 1945 Rose of the Rio Grande Ivie Anderson (voc) Duke Ellington Orchestra Eastwood Gardens WWJ NBC Red Detroit 31 Jul 1940 Take The A Train Bette Roche (voc) Duke Ellington Orchestra Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 13 Aug 1952 The Kissing Bug Joya Sherill (voc) Duke Ellington Orchestra ‘Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ Blue NY 28 Apr 1945 Set 6 Commercial Sides: George Trevare and His Australians Don’t Sweetheart Me George Trevare Orchestra (voc) Joan Blake Comm Rec Sydney 1943-45 Under The Trees George Trevare Orchestra (voc) Lawrence Brooks Comm Rec Sydney 1943-45 No Love No Nothin’ George Trevare Orchestra (voc) Al Royal Comm Rec Sydney 1943-45 Let’s Have One For The Road George Trevare Orchestra (voc) Unknown Comm Rec Sydney 1943-45 Set 7 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra 1939 – 41 Radio Intro + Here We Go Again + White Cliffs of Dover Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Ray Eberle ’Sunset Serenade’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NY 27 Dec 1941 Georgia On My Mind Glenn Miller Orchestra ’Sunset Serenade’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NY 30 Aug 1941 Blueberry Hill Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Marion Hutton ’Sunset Serenade’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NY 6 Nov 1940 My Blue Heaven + Close Glenn Miller Orchestra NBC Baltimore 5 Sep 1939 Set 8 Kings Of Jazz Trumpet on 1930s-50s Radio Night Song Bunny Berrigan Orchestra Manhattan Centre WNEW NY 26 Sep 1939 I’m Confessin’ That I Love You Louis Armstrong ‘Jubilee’ AFRS LA Mar 1943 It Don’t Mean A Thing Roy Eldridge (voc) Anita Love Unissued Comm Rec Paris 9 Jun 1950 Down South Camp Meeting Harry James Orchestra (voc) Anita Love Hotel Astor Roof WCBS CBS NY 25 May 1953

We Met Micro-Nation Royalty – The Prince of Wy!

The Greg Poppleton 1920s – 30s trio has never for a moment ever dreamt we’d one day meet royalty!

To set the scene, we were playing outside a church converted into an art gallery/community centre. The event was a Christmas party for local artists and volunteers…

It was something of a windy summer afternoon, as you might tell from my windswept locks. Jim Elliott on the bass saxophone had to keep a tight hold on his woodwind so it wouldn’t go crashing to the ground.

Chuck Morgan played guitar to make up the Greg Poppleton vocals, guitar, bass 1920s trio.

We played in the shadow of the church, now Art Gallery, spire.

What were those poles in the background of the band photos? Here’s a better view, and their story…

The 24 poles were created by artist Warren Keen for the Bungaree’s Farm exhibition (2012). The poles are carved with dendroglyphs of Aboriginal design as used in NSW to signify burial and initiation sites. More info here.

Now to royalty.

One of the artists who came up to say hello to me and the band said my blue, striped, double-breasted suit reminded him of Duke Ellington.

That’s not quite the royalty bit.

The artist had painted Duke Ellington’s portrait, while Duke Ellington was touring Australia with his Orchestra in 1970. Duke Ellington tour news clippings.

That artist’s name is Paul Delprat.

Paul Delprat, pictured above in a snap I took (with his permission) while we were talking, is principal of the Julian Ashton School of Art – Australia’s oldest continuous art school. Paul is a distinguished painter and illustrator. His art hangs in the National Gallery of Australia and in collections around the world. He has also founded scholarships at the Julian Ashton School of Art.

Paul comes from a long line of famous and distinguished Australian artists, including Howard Ashton, Julian Howard Ashton and Julian Ashton CBE.

One of his great grandfathers, Guillaume Daniel Delprat CBE, was a developer of the froth flotation process for separating minerals (something I’m personally familiar with, separating and concentrating copper, zinc and lead ores as a young engineer at Cobar Mines in 1980).

And he’s THE PRINCE OF WY.

Paul leads a micro-nation. His ‘The Principality of Wy‘ seceeded from Australia due to a council dispute that Paul has now creatively turned long-term art project.

We’d met Royalty!!!

For a royal time at your soiree, BOOK GREG POPPLETON, authentic 1920s-1930s singer and band, now.

Did You Know Coca Cola Has It’s Own Tango?

Every week on 23 radio stations (welcome newcomer 89.1 Cairns) and online, authentic 1920s-30s singer Greg Poppleton brings you The Phantom Dancer.
Listen here. (Available for next 4 weeks)

It’s your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV.

On this week’s Phantom Dancer you’ll hear a set of jazz from Paris and Geneva 1937-1949, a set of Artie Shaw and his swing band from live 1938-1939 radio and a song from the 1930 ‘Coca Cola Top Notchers’ program

DID YOU KNOW COCA COLA HAS ITS OWN TANGO?

Yes it does.

Coca Cola is the master of complete marketing. Even TextEdit, in which I’m writing the draft for this blog, automatically takes the words, Coca Cola, out of all-caps (try it).

Coca Cola has its own song?

Yes. ‘Coca Cola Signature’ was written in 1930 by composer, Leonard Joy, for Coca Cola’s first US network radio show, ‘The Coca-Cola Top Notchers’ on which he lead the 31-piece orchestra.

He penned it in one sitting at a piano.

The song was used to open and close Coca Cola sponsored radio and TV shows, and in Coca Cola advertising, into the 1960s.

Originally a tango, audiences first preferred it as a waltz. In the swing and rock’n’roll eras it was also played in 4/4.

It quickly became an aural meme for the so-called ‘Pause That Refreshes’.

So on this week’s Phantom Dancer you can hear some of Leonard Joy’s all-string orchestra, introduced by his unique soft drink theme. And you’ll hear it from an original 1930 Coca Cola Top Notchers program.

We’ll also hear a song from a 1932 Nehi soft drink program in the same set.

Grape Nehi (pronounced Knee High) is what Radar always drank on MASH (1970s TV show).

In fact you can hear them online for the next month, as part of this week’s entire two hour Phantom Dancer non-stop mix, at the website of radio 2ser.com.

Leonard Joy was a studio bandleader and arranger for Victor records.

Though he was not a jazz musician, he was assistant director to Paul Whiteman in the 1928 recording of ‘San’ featuring Bix Beiderbecke. He also backed the ‘Book-boop-a-doop Girl’, Helen Kane.

In 1939, he was studio producer for Coleman Hawkins’ landmark version of ‘Body and Soul’.

Never heard the Coca Cola Signature? Here it is open and closing the New Years Eve 1945 ‘Coca Cola Time’ program. It’s your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week. Enjoy!

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #290 107.3 2SER Tuesday 28 November 2017 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Bop Influenced Swing on live 1940s Radio Contrasts (theme) + Milange Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Apr 1949 The Man I Love Gene Krupa Trio ’Spotlight Bands’ Blue Network 1944 Anthropology Claude Thornhill Orchestra Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ ABC NYC 22 Sep 1947 Set 2 Vocal Groups on the Air Open + Take The A-Train King Sisters (voc) Alvino Rey Orchestra ’Magic of Music’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1944 Open + Goody Goody The Singing Razorbacks ’Texaco Show’ WEAF NBC Red NY 31 Mar 1936 The Beat of my Heart + Close Sterling Male Chorus ’Chevrolet Musical Moments’ Radio Transcription 1936 Set 3 Club Hangover San Francisco Theme + Royal Garden Blues Kid Ory Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 5 Feb 1955 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Ralph Sutton All-Stars Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 7 Sep 1954 After Hours Red Richards (piano) Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 20 Nov 1954 When The Saints Go Marching In Muggsy Spanier Club Hangover KCBS San Francisco 20 Nov 1954 Set 4 Fizzy Tunes Varsity Drag Sam Lanin Orchestra (tp) Red Nichols Comm Rec New York City 17 Aug 1927 Crazy Rhythm George Shakley Ensemble (voc) The Rondoliers ’Nehi Program’ Radio Transcription New York City 19 May 1932 I’m Following You + Coca Cola Signature Leonard Joy Orchestra (voc) ’Coca Cola Top Notchers’ WEAF NBC Red NY 19 Mar 1930 Set 5 Artie Shaw 1938-39 Radio Nightmare (theme) + Begin the Beguine Artie Shaw Orchestra Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WEAF NBC Red NY 30 Dec 1938 I’m Sorry for Myself Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Tony Pastor Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WEAF NBC Red NY 21 Oct 1939 Day In Day Out Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WEAF NBC Red NY 19 Oct 1939 In The Mood + Diga Diga Doo Artie Shaw Orchestra Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WEAF NBC Red NY 20 Dec 1938 Set 6 Jazz from Paris and Geneva 1937-49 College Stomp Philippe Brun Swing Band Comm Rec Paris 28 Dec 1937 Russian Lullaby Oscar Aleman Comm Rec Paris 12 May 1939 Oui Alix Combelle Orchestra Comm Rec Paris 16 Feb 1943 Nuage Django Reinhardt Radio Geneva 25 Oct 1949 Set 7 Duke Ellington 1951 Diminuendo in Blue + Crescendo in Blue Duke Ellington Orchestra Birdland WNBC NBC NY 30 Jun 1951 Solitude Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Yvonne Lanauze ’Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City 11 Feb 1951 The Happening + Got To Go Duke Ellington Orchestra Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove WNBC NBC NY 8 Jun 1951 Set 8 Early Modern Jazz on Radio Just You Just Me Thelonius Monk ’Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 1948 Tiny’s Blues Chubby Jackson ’Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 12 Mar 1949 I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You Lester Young ’Symphony Sid Show’ WMCA NYC 27 Nov 1948 Serenade in Vout (not played – ran out of time) Slim Gaillard ’Symphony Sid Show’ WJZ ABC NYC 29 Sep 1951

Marilyn Keller – Lounge Bar Lotharios Cotton Club Parade

I’ve posted for you below some photos I took at the Cotton Club Parade show at the Chatswood Concourse, Sunday 7 June. Produced by John Buchanan.

American singer, Marilyn Keller, sang songs from the 1920s – 1930s Duke Ellington catalogue with tremendous verve and feeling. She was backed by Sydney’s only 1920s orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, (uncredited) directed by Geoff Power.

I emceed the concert.

It was a full house.

The next John Buchanan produced show, July 24 – 25, will be The Life and Music of Scott Joplin at the Glen Street Theatre, Belrose.

Discover the story of the life and music of Scott Joplin.

For fifteen years, Joplin composed music unlike any ever written. The piano playing public clamoured for his music, newspapers and magazines proclaimed his genius and musicians examined his scores with open admiration.

Hear his story as narrated by the character of John Stark (played by me), the music publisher who published Joplin’s first publication Maple Leaf Rag in 1899 and strongly supported him during his all too short career.

Scott Joplin’s music will be presented by Craig Mitten and his Ragtime Ensemble with special guest Stephen Grant, Australia’s finest ragtime pianist.

Friday 24 July @ 8pm
Saturday 25 July @ 2pm

Tickets: (selling fast)
Adults $49, Concession $44, Glen Street Subscribers $44, Children under 16 $29, Groups (8+) $39

7 JUNE COTTON CLUB PARADE PHOTOS

Marilyn Keller is a U.S. singer of Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop, Blues. She sang the 1920s – 1930s Cotton Club songs of Duke Ellington is front of The Lounge Bar Lotharios. (Publicity shot – not from the show.)

Sydney 1920s orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, accompanied Marilyn Keller uncredited.

Geoff Power, ARIA nominee music director of The Lounge Bar Lotharios and The Cotton Club Parade.

Concert MC, Greg Poppleton at the Concourse Steinway piano during the partially-dressed rehearsal. During the show, the Steinway was played by Lounge Bar Lothario, Bradley Newman. (Photo by Bradley Newman.)

Looking into The Concourse auditorium from the stage during the dress rehearsal. The room was full during the show.

Dressed to MC. Putting on my face in the dressing room mirror.

A peek through the wings as The Lounge Bar Lotharios launch into the opening number, Jubilee Stomp.

CONTACT
The Lounge Bar Lotharios with authentic 1920s singer Greg Poppleton for your event
Call Tony, 61 2 9567 7171 | 0407 941 263