January 2021 1920s-30s Band Newsletter

Happy 2021!

STOP PRESS
Due to Covid, the 6 Feb show has been postponed

2 Band shows in February
+
Phantom Dancer Radio Show
Every Tuesday & Saturday

Listen to past shows here

+
New Video 

Sweet Sue from the album
Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2
Buy the album here

Enjoy this uptempo version of Sweet Sue by Greg Poppleton from the album ‘Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2’. Live footage of Greg’s 1920s – 30s band with swing dancers at Glen Street Theatre, Sydney Central Station, Concrete Blonde Kings Cross and Django Bar

BAND SHOWS

Sat 6 Feb
Great Art Deco Ball
Historic Carrington Hotel Katoomba

On Saturday 6 February from 7pm the Grand DIning Room will once more swing to the sounds of everyone’s favourite Greg Poppleton and his band. Your tickets also include a 3 course dinner and beverage package

Due to COVID capacity restrictions tickets are limited so register your interest early!

Ticket and accommodation packages will be available very soon.

reservations@thecarrington.com.au 

Sun 14 Feb
Deco Park Picnic – Valentine’s Day
Cathy Freeman Park

Think Jazz on a Summer’s Day meets a Great Gatsby garden party. Inspired by summer picnics of the 1920’s, dining al fresco with friends and family is one of summer’s greatest pleasures.
Sydney Olympic Park’s Deco Park Picnic is chance to gather your friends, dress in your Sunday best and enjoy a long lunch on the lawn.
Let’s reimagine cultural experiences and take our creativity outdoors and connect to culture in the wide open, Covid Safe green spaces in Sydney Olympic Park.
Our community style picnic event will feature installations, themed hosts, visual performers, kids games, immersive theatre and roving live music. Guests will delight in curious vintage characters, live jazz and a shared glamorous nostalgia.
Date: Sunday 14th February, 2021
Location: Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park
Time: 11am – 3pm
Entry: Free – All Ages
Greg Poppleton Trio plays 11:30am – 1:30pm
Save the date and follow us for more updates, full entertainment program and event details which will be released soon!

Want to Book the Band?

These are the 3 Jan NSW Covid Rules
that apply to the band
Read regulations in full here

SINGING
Single singer with band 

Nothing about one vocalist singing in front of a band such as myself.

However, I will assume from the  official group singing advice that there must be 1.5m between performers and 5m between performers and the audience.

• The audience should not participate in singing or chanting indoors.
• There should be no dancefloors, except for weddings where the wedding party to a maximum of 20 are permitted.

BAND INSTRUMENTS

Players of non-reeded woodwind instruments (such as flutes and recorders) should maintain a physical distance of 3 metres from others in the direction of airflow, and
1.5 metres in all other directions.

Since brass instruments like trumpets, trombones and sousaphones aren’t mentioned, I will assume the above paragraph also applies to brass.

Players of all other musical instruments (including reeded woodwind instruments like saxophones and clarinets) should maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres between each other and the audience. This would include other Greg Poppleton band instruments like banjo, guitar, washboard and drums.

Ensembles and other musical groups should rehearse and perform outdoors or in large, well-ventilated indoor spaces.

WEDDINGS

Back to 100 guests

From 3 January 2021, a maximum of 100 people may attend a wedding (or a gathering after the service) subject to the following,

• one person per 4 square metres in indoor areas
• one person per 2 square metres rule in outdoor areas.

You must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your event.

People attending will be required to provide their name and contact details so that they can be used for contact tracing.

Only the wedding party, to a maximum of 20 persons, is permitted on a dancefloor. There cannot be rotation of people on the dancefloor beyond this wedding party.

FUNCTIONS & EVENTS

A function centre is a building or place used for holding events, functions, conferences, and includes convention centres, exhibition centres and reception centres. Function centre operators must complete and register a COVID Safety Plan.

If a trade show or exhibition is held in a function centre and open to the public, the maximum capacity is one person per 2 square metres outdoors or one person per 4 square metres in indoor areas.

No more than 5 performers should sing indoors, with 1.5m between performers and 5m between performers and the audience. The audience should not participate in singing or chanting indoors.

There should be no dancefloors.

Hear and Download Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2 on

Spotify, Apple iTunes and AMAZON

THE PHANTOM DANCER
Your non-stop mix of swing & jazz
from live 1920s-60s radio every week

Listen here any time

CBAA Best Music Show 2007. Finalist 2016
Live every week on these Radio Stations

TUES 5 January 2021 SHOW
Featuring 1930s-40s Radio First Nighters

First nighters for the first Phantom Dancer of 2021 – your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV hosted by me, Greg Poppleton.

Hear excepts from the 1939 radio premier of Morton Gould’s ‘American Symphonette #2’, the first all African-American Variety show on NBC in 1948, and Duke Ellington introducing his Shakesphere suite over CBS from the 1957 Ravinia Festival

You can hear The Phantom Dancer online now at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

FIRST NIGHTERS

Every week The Phantom Dancer brings you a feature artist. This week, it’s first nighter feature programs. Excerpts from three historic first nighters with some explaination about why they are so important below…

AMERICAN SYMPHONETTE No.3 RADIO PREMIER – WOR MBS New York City / CBC CANADA, 1939

Joseph Stevenson writes,

“This 1939 composition is one of the most convincing classical attempts to create a jazz spirit. It succeeds in doing so without the presence of any jazz players or use of improvisation. Nevertheless, jazz devices of coloration are used, such as wire brushes on drums, glissandi and lip slurs, and chord voicings that are common to jazz arrangements of the time. In addition, the themes (and their scales and harmonies) are jazz- and blues-derived. So successful was Gould in devising “jazz” themes for this symphonette that the second movement, “Pavane” has been widely quoted in actual jazz performances by such masters as John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Glenn Miller. The outer two movements of this three-movement piece are marked “Moderately fast” and “Very fast–Racy,” respectively. Incidentally, you have heard and are quite familiar with the theme of the Pavane, whether you know it or not. Outstanding listening. Gould is notable for creating excellent music, perfectly crafted, seemingly almost commercial in intent and yet, when really listened to, revealing unusual breadth. I always conclude listening to this piece believing that it is a true masterpiece without even trying to be. Wonderfully ingratiating music.”

‘SWINGTIME AT THE SAVOY’ WNBC NBC NY, 28 Jul 1948

New York Times headline: “The News of Radio; All-Negro Variety Show, ‘Swingtime at the Savoy,’ Will Bow Tonight on NBC”

“An all-Negro variety show, entitled “Swingtime at the Savoy,” will have its premiere at 8 o’clock tonight on NBC. The regular cast will include Lucky Millinder and his orchestra, Miller and Lee, comedians; Jackie (Moms) Pabley, comedienne, and the King Odem Quartet.” New York Times, 28 July 1948

RAVINIA FESTIVAL – DUKE ELLINGTON SHAKESPHERE SUITE PREMIER, CBS 1 JUL 1957

The Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in the United States, with a series of outdoor concerts and performances held every summer from June to September. In Ravinia Park’s first summer of 1905, it hosted the New York Philharmonic, and the prairie style Martin Theater dates from this time period. It has been the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 1936. Located in Highland Park, Illinois, the festival operates on the grounds of the 15 ha Ravinia Park, with a variety of outdoor and indoor performing arts facilities – Wiki

“In 1957, Duke Ellington premiered the latest in what would become a series of suites based on various subjects and inspirations. This one, inspired by the plays of William Shakespeare, had its U.S. premier at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and was broadcast (much, but not all of it) via CBS Radio on July 1st, with the performance already underway. An album of the suite was planned and recorded, slated for release in November of 1957, but apparently the stereo version was scrapped and only the mono version was available until 1999. The world premier of the piece was given at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where Ellington and his band were scheduled to play for two nights. It was there that Ellington got the idea to do a suite based on Shakespearean themes, and along with his co-writer Billy Strayhorn, worked on the suite to be premiered the following year at the festival. So the actual world premier of most of Such Sweet Thunder took place at Stratford around June 30 1957, but it wasn’t complete and no recording of it exists.” Gordon Skene.

5 JANUARY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream Community Radio Network Show CRN #469
107.3 2SER Tuesday 5 January 2020 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) and Saturdays 5 – 5:55pm National Program 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am 2SEA Eden Monday 3 – 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4pm 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4pm 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm 7MID Oatlands Tuesday 8 – 9pm 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Sunday 5 – 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm
Set 1	Swing on 1930s Radio
Open + Panamania	Leith Stevens Orchestra	‘Saturday Night Swing Club’ WABC CBS NY 12 Jun 1937
Naila (Delibes)	Arnold Johnson Orchestra	Comm Rec (unissued) Variety Records New York City 26 May 1937
RCA Radio Ad + Wolverine Blues + Study In Brown (theme)	Larry Clinton Orchestra	‘RCA Campus Club’ Glen Island Casino New Rochelle WEAF NBC Red NY 2 Jul 1938
Set 2	Latin Sounds on 1946-53 Radio
Open + Chiu Chiu	Desi Arnez Orchestra	Ciro’s KNX CBS LA 1946
Bolero	Sergio Torres Orchestra (voc) unannounced woman singer	‘Chiclets Program’ XEW Mexico City 1949
Chi sas? Chi sas?	Xavier Cugat Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Hotel Last Frontier NBC Las Vegas 30 Nov 1953
Set 3	1943-44 Swing Radio
Joshua	Richard Himber Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Aniston, Alabama Blue Network 13 Nov 1943
I’ve Got You Under My Skin	Leo Reisman Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ National Press Club Washington DC Blue Network 23 Jan 1943
I Got Rhythm + Close	Lenny Conn Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1949
Set 4	Special Music Programs
First Movement	Morton Gould Orchestra	‘American Symphonette No. 3’ WOR MBS/CBC New York City 1939
Open + I’ve Got Rhythm + Money Money (calypso)	Lucky Millinder Orchestra with Noble Sissle and the Hall Sisters	‘Swingtime At The Savoy’ WNBC NBC NY 28 Jul 1948
Circle of Fourths + Jam With Sam	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘Ravinia Festival’ WBBM CBS Chicago 1 Jul 1957
Set 5	1939 Radio Singers
We Three	Johnny Messner Orchestra (voc) Johnny Messner	Radio Transcription New York City 1939
Stairway To The Stars	Teddy Wilson Orchestra (voc) Thelma Carpenter	‘America Dances’ CBS NY / BBC London 1939
From The Bottom Of My Heart	Harry James Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra	‘America Dances’ CBS NY / BBC London 19 Jul 1939
Chew, Chew Your Bubblegum	Chick Webb Orchestra (voc) Ella Fitzgerald	Southland Cafe WNAC NBC Boton 4 May 1939
Set 6	Traditional Jazz on 1939 – 1951 Radio
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (theme) + Maple Leaf Rag	Wild Bill Davison	‘This Is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NY 19 Apr 1947
You’re Driving Me Crazy	Bob Crosby Bobcats	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 18 Jul 1939
Snag It	Henry ‘Red’ Allen Dixielanders	‘Doctor Jazz’ Stuyvesant Casino WMGM NY 1950
There’ll Be Some Changes Made + I Would Do Anything For You	Eddie Condon Group (voc) Red McKenzie	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ Town Hall WJZ Blue NY 16 Sep 1944
Set 7	Benny Goodman On The Air
The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise	Benny Goodman Quintet	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Re-broadcast Jan 1948
Clarinade	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Meadowbrook Gardens Culver City Ca KECA ABC LA 26 Jan 1946
Sweet Georgia Brown	Benny Goodman Quintet	‘Spotlight Bands’ Springfield Mass. Blue Network 29 Sep 1943
Jack Benny-Gary Cooper Skit + One O’Clock Jump	Benny Goodman Orchestra	‘Jack Benny Show’ WEAF NBC NY 13 Dec 1942
Set 8	Modern Sounds on 1940s-50s Radio
All of Me + VIP’s Boogie	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Bette Roche	Town Casino NBC Cleveland 1952
Hot House	Barry Ulanov’s All Star Modern Jazz Musicians	‘Bands For Bonds’ WOR MBS NY 13 Sep 1947
Painted Rhythm	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 27 Nov 1945
Fine and Dandy	Slim Gaillard Quintet	‘Symphony Sid Show’ WJZ ABC NY 2 Jun 1951

HAVING A 20s-30s PARTY? BOOK THE AUTHENTIC 1920s-30s SINGER & BAND

Wedding, corporate event and party bookings

Contact Tony Jex now for your quote,  0407 941 263 or info@ozmanagement.com

Cabaret of 1920s – 30s Songs

An hour cabaret of 1920s – 1930s songs by Greg Poppleton (1920s-30s-style singer) and Grahame Conlon (banjo / guitar)

No microphone (the suspension mic is a prop) and no audio sweetening. The sound is Zoom via an inbuilt laptop mic. We’re sitting on a lounge so this could also be called Lounge Music.

Every year since 2006 we’ve played an annual concert in the historic Bondi Pavilion next to iconic Bondi Beach. This year the concert was online because of Covid and restoration work at the Pavilion.

Greg’s authenticity in 1920s – 30s singing comes from a lifetime of listening. He also trained in bel canto singing with Steve Ostrow of Continental Baths fame. Steve discovered Bette Midler and relaunched the career of Peter Allen. Cab Calloway, Margaret Whiting and Josephine Baker sang in his club.

Greg sings in an Australian accent, including when he sings in German, Spanish and Italian. He sometimes sings while eating a banana. The Jazz Police called during the show.

Songs in this spontaneous, energetic cabaret include The Charleston, Yes We Have No Bananas and Carolina in the Morning.

Bookings & Music Website: https://www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Greg has put out 8 albums. His new album, released in July 2020, is ‘Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2’.
Read Dave J Doyle’s review of ‘Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2’ in the online US magazine, ‘The Syncopated Times’: https://syncopatedtimes.com/greg-poppleton-%E2%80%A2-tin-pan-alley-vol-2/

Download songs
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/1fWRX8EF00yiI9xYgYRVnA
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/tin-pan-alley-vol-2/1515196327
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Poppleton/e/B001LI794A
WEBSITE: https://www.gregpoppletonmusic.com/20s-30s-tin-pan-alley-vol-2/

Enjoy!

Video: We Would’ve Been On Stage Today, Now We’re Self-Isolating

Right now the band and I would have been playing the songs of the 1920s-30s at Penrith RSL. We look foward to the return of Saturday Swing afternoons when this emergency is over. Meanwhile, right now, at a Penrith RSL in a parallel, Covid19-free universe…

Live: Air Drum Solo on 1920s Dinah Song

Greg Poppleton sings the 1925 hit, Dinah. Watch out for the Air Drum solo.

With Dave Clayton double bass and Air Drums, Grahame Conlon banjo, Damon Poppleton soprano sax.

Filmed live, Sat 18 January 2020.

Visit the band website for more Music & Bookings: https://www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Victory Belles All-Women 1940s Radio Show – Phantom Dancer 19 March 2019

VICTORY BELLES

This week I’m thrilled to find for you on The Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton, a 1942 all-woman jazz show I played on the Phantom Dancer over ten years ago. The tape has re-surfaced. This week, enjoy the Victory Belles as your Phantom Dancer featured artists with the Bea Turpin Orchestra and singer Martha Mears (who sang White Christmas with Bing Crosby in the movie, Holiday Inn). See the full play list below.

PHANTOM DANCER

This week’s Phantom Dancer will be online immediately after the 12 March 2SER live mix at 2ser.com.
Hear the show live every Tuesday 12:04-2pm on 107.3 2SER Sydney

BACKGROUND

Billboard, 13 Feb 1943 page 7 wrote,

“KNX-CBS is the only net here having an all-girl show. ‘Victory Belles’ uses an all girl ork and comedienne, with Mabel Todd filling the latter spot. Show is produced by Ona Munson. Billy Gould, sound effects, the only man on the program is forced to don Mother Hubbard wig – and cigar – to hold his job on this show.”

Ona Munson

STORY

Jeannie Gayle Pool in her book, ‘Peggy Gilbert and Her All-Girl Band’ quotes Peggy Gilbert talking about the Victory Belle broadcasts,

“Ona Munson, who was a movie star, she was in Gone With The Wind, you remember? And she had quite a little reputation at that time as a star and she had her own show on CBS. She wanted an all-girl jazz orchestra on it and so we got together…There was actually no leader. A bunch of us just got together and said, “Here we are and this is it.” I was one of them and we were on that for a year. We had a weekly program. 1942, I think, right after the war started. We were at CBS in Hollywood. And what terrific audiences…they would bring fellows in from all over the place around here, in uniform, And it was just a terrific show. I loved it. The girls were such fine musicians. they would cut the stuff. They’d put the arrangements in front of us just before we went on. We’d be lucky if we had time to go through it before the show started. we’d talk through it, usually, and maybe go through a couple of parts of it. And then, away we’d go. Accompanying acts and doing our own thing.”

Side note: Munson introduced the song ‘You’re the Cream in My Coffee’ in the 1927 Broadway musical ‘Hold Everything’.

Martha Mears singing ‘White Christmas’ with Bing Crosby in the movie ‘Holiday Inn’.

EIGHT JILLS OF JIVE

“We had some fine musicians. we had Jane Sager on trumpet; and we had Pee Wee [Naomi Preble] on trombone;…Katherine Cruise on first alto: I was on first tenor, clarinet and vibes; Dody Jeshke on drums and Bea Turpin on piano.”

There would have been a double bass player and singer.

VIDEO

This week’s Phantom Dancer video of the week is not the Victory Belles, but a breathtaking climb up the radio 2UW tower in Sydney, 1944. Happy clambering!

19 MARCH PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #377
107.3 2SER Tuesday 19 March 2019 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm 2ARM Armidale Friday 12:04 – 1pm and early morning on 24 other stations.
Set 1	Mod 1950s Radio
Lover Come Back To Me	Bud Powell	Birdland WJZ ABC NY 7 Feb 1953
Cool Blues	Charlie Parker	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Hi Hat Club WCOP Boston
Indiana	Lester Young	‘Bandstand USA’ Cafe Bohemia WOR Mutual NY 22 Dec 1956
Set 2	Duke Ellington 1942-47 Radio
Feeling A Little Tomorrow Like I Feel Today	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Ciro’s Hollywood AFRS Re-broadcast 25 Jul 1947
I Wonder Why?	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Bette Roche	‘Spotlight Bands’ Buffalo NY Blue Network 27 Nov 1943
Poco + Take The A Train (theme)	Duke Ellington Orchestra	El Patio Ballroom Lakeside KLZ CBS Denver CO 15 Jul 1942
Set 3	Singin’ Sam
Open + Ol’ King Cole	Singing Sam	Radio Transcription New York City 1940
What’s It Gonna Get Ya? + Hortence	Singing Sam	Radio Transcription New York City 1940
A Brownbird Singing + Close (Coca Cola Waltz)	Singing Sam	Radio Transcription New York City 1940
Set 4	Women’s Radio ‘Victory Belles’
Open + Ten Little Soldiers	Bea Turpin Eight Jills of Jive (voc) The Music Maids	‘Victory Belles’ KNX CBS LA 12 Dec 1942
When You And I Were Young, Maggie	Bea Turpin Orchestra	‘Victory Belles’ KNX CBS LA 12 Dec 1942
When You And I Were Young, Maggie (voc) Mabel Todd	Bea Turpin Orchestra	‘Victory Belles’ KNX CBS LA 12 Dec 1942
I Came Here To Talk For Joe	Bea Turpin Orchestra (voc) Martha Mears	‘Victory Belles’ KNX CBS LA 12 Dec 1942
Set 5	Bunny Berrigan 1934-36 Radio
I Can’t Get Started (theme) + My Melancholy Baby	Bunny Berrigan Orchestra	Broadcast mid-1939
Moonshine over Kentucky and Heigh Ho	Bunny Berrigan Orchestra	Paradise Restaurant WOR Mutual NY 3 May 1938
Familiar Moe	Bunny Berrigan Orchestra	Trianon Ballroom WCLE Cleveland OH 9 Apr 1939
Deed I Do	Bunny Berrigan Orchestra (voc) Bunny Berrigan	Mutual Network Boston 20 Sep 1939
Set 6	Billie HolidayRadio
You Better Go Now	Billie Holiday (voc) Percy Faith Orchestra	‘Woolworth Hour’ KNX CBS LA 1954
I Cover The Waterfront	Billie Holiday	Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 29 Oct 1951
I’ll Get By	Billie Holiday	‘Spotlight Bands’ Metropolitan Opera House WJZ Blue NY 18 Jan 1944
You’re Driving Me Crazy	Billie Holiday	Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston Oct 1953
Set 7	1930s Radio Transcriptions
I’ve Got You Under My Skin	Red Nichols Orchestra (voc) The Songcopators	Radio Transcription NYC 30 Nov 1936
Panama	Hal Kemp Orchestra	Radio Transcription NYC 14 Dec 1934
Never Should Have Told You	Red Nichols Orchestra (voc) The Songcopators	Radio Transcription NYC 30 Nov 1936
Blue Moon	Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Bob Allen	Radio Transcription NYC 14 Dec 1934
Set 8	Dorsey Brothers 1956 Radio
You Are My First Love	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Tommy Mercer	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NY 1956
I Could Have Danced All Night	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Dolly Houston	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NY 1956
Too Close For Comfort	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Tommy Mercer	Cafe Rouge Hotel Statler WCBS CBS NY 1956
Too Young To Go Steady	Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Dolly Houston	Cafe Rouge Hotel Stadtler WCBS CBS NY 1956

World’s First Electric Guitarist (1923) – Phantom Dancer Show 29 Jan 2018

FIRST ELECTRIC GUITARIST

On this week’s Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton we hear from the world’s first electric guitarist, Alvino Rey, at the peak of his popularity in 1942. He invented the world’s first amplified guitar at age 15 in 1923.

There’s also a set of Claude Hopkins 1935 radio transcriptions, a Duke Ellington extended work from live 1945 radio and much more live 1920s-60s radio swing and jazz.

PHANTOM DANCER

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop swing and jazz mix of live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week. I’ve been bringing you The Phantom Dancer on Radio 2SER, and now online, since 1985.

Hear this week’s Phantom Dancer (after 18 Dec) and past Phantom Dancers at 2ser.com.
Hear the show live every Tuesday 12:04-2pm on 107.3 2SER Sydney

ALVINO REY

Was the stage name of big band leader, electronica and electric guitar pioneer, Alvin McBurney.

Alvin adopted the stage name in 1929 at the start of the Latin music craze in the U.S.

He wanted to be an electronics engineer and was an electronic genius as a kid.

He built his first radio at age 8, in 1916.

In the 1910s he had one of the first, and was the youngest, ham radio broadcaster.

STRINGY

Alvino was given a banjo as a child and then learnt guitar from age 12 in 1920, listening to records by Roy Smeck. At age 15, in 1923, Rey invented an electrical amplifier for the guitar but didn’t have it patented. He patented several later improvements.
Big Band historian, Christopher Popa, wrote about Rey’s early career in an interview he conducted with the World’s first electric guitarist,

“In 1927, Rey landed a job playing banjo with Cleveland bandleader Ev Jones.
“Yes, I joined the Union when I was 16,” he told me. “I went to Lakewood High School and from there I went to New York and never did come back.”
To capitalize on the popularity of Latin music in New York City during 1929, he added an “o” to his first name and changed his last name to “Rey,” which meant “the King” in Spanish.
He replaced banjoist Eddie Peabody with violinist Phil Spitalny, whose band was appearing at the Pennsylvania Hotel and was heard coast-to-coast over the radio.
“I spent two years in New York with Phil Spitalny and then went to California,” he recalled. “I joined Horace Heidt in San Francisco . . . he had a stage band, sort of like Fred Waring.”
Between 1934 and 1939, Rey was often featured on steel guitar with Heidt and became one of the best-known (and best-paid) sidemen in the country, thanks to Heidt’s weekly radio program.
“And there I met the King Sisters, and I married Luise, one of the sisters,” he reminisced.
Alvino Rey was the first to amplify the guitar.
“Well, that came about around 1930, when I was at NBC in San Francisco,” he explained to me. “And I’ve always been an electronic nut and I’ve been a ham operator and studied electronics. In fact, that was going to be my ambition, to be an electronics engineer, and I just applied the amplification of that to the guitar and string instruments.”
It brought a whole new sound to music.
“That was . . . before it was ever done, I believe. As far as I know, it was the first application to a string instrument,” he noted.
Ironically, some link it to rock and roll.
“Well, it got out of hand with a lot of the big rock groups who make so much racket with it. I didn’t intend it to be used with such volume. I used the idea just to be heard in a band, where the guitar — up until that time — was a soft, romantic background accompanying a singer. And after that, it became sort of an integral part of an orchestra.”

BIG BAND

In August 1939, Rey formed his first swing band with his amplified pedal steel guitar as the featured instrument.

An off-stage vocal microphone plugged into it with a Sonovox made it seem as though the guitar could talk.

That’s ‘Stringy the Guitar’, which you can see below in this week’s Phantom Dancer Video of the Week.

In 1942, Alvino was voted by music critics to be part of the Metronome All-Star Band as the top guitarist in the U.S.

He played in small groups from 1949, backing Elvis Presley in 1961 on Blue Hawaii.

He continued to perform on radio and TV and release albums into the 1980s.

VIDEO

This week’s Phantom Dancer video of the week is a 1940s soundy of ‘String the Guitar’ with Alvino Rey’s Orchestra.

29 JANUARY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #372
107.3 2SER Tuesday 29 January 2019 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 24 other stations.
Set 1	1944-45 Radio Swing Bands
Aukd Lang Syne (theme) + All My Love	Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (voc) Bill Flanagan	‘One Night Stand’ Grill Room Hotel Roosevelt NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 25 Oct 1950
Full Moon and Empty Arms	Buddy Morrow Orchestra (voc) Carl Denny	‘One Night Stand’ Blue Room Hotel Lincoln NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 27 May 1946
The Blizzard	Louis Prima Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jul 1946
Set 2	Sammy Kaye
The Belmont Boogie	Sammy Kaye Orchestra	‘The Sammy Kaye Showroom’ Radio Transcription New York City 1950s
Remember Pearl Harbour	Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) Trio	‘Spotlight Bands’ Blue Network Washington DC 31 Jan 1942
Sparking + Close	Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) The Four Kaydettes	‘The Sammy Kaye Showroom’ Radio Transcription New York City 1950s
Set 3	Alvino Rey
Open + Hindustan	Alvino Rey Orchestra (voc) Sparky the Guitar	‘Spotlight Bands’ Paramount Theatre WJZ NBC Blue New York City 28 Feb 1942
Cash For Your Trash	Alvino Rey Orchestra (voc) Bonnie Rae	‘Spotlight Bands’ Paramount Theatre WJZ NBC Blue New York City 28 Feb 1942
Deep in the Heart of Texas + Close	Alvino Rey Orchestra (voc) Band	‘Spotlight Bands’ Paramount Theatre WJZ NBC Blue New York City 28 Feb 1942
Set 4	Count Basie
Station ID and Ads	Station Announcers	KFWB Warner Brothers Los Angeles 1946
Ingin’ The Ooh	Count Basie Nonet	Comm Rec Boston 7 Sep 1954
Low Life	Count Basie Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Birdland WRCA NBC NY 2 Jul 1956
One O’Clock Jump + Kansas City Stride	Count Basie Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 27 May 1944
Set 5	Duke Ellington
Excerpts from Black, Brown and Beige: The Work Song + Come Sunday	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ ABC NY 28 Apr 1945
Candy	Duke Ellington Orchestra (vic) Ray Nance	‘A Date With The Duke’ 400 Restaurant WJZ ABC NY 28 Apr 1945
Set 6	Claude Hopkins
Chasing My Blues Away	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
The Traffic Was Terrific	Claude Hopkins Orchestra (voc) Fred Norman	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
You Stayed Away Too Long	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
Everybody Shuffle	Claude Hopkins Orchestra (voc) Ovie Alston	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
Set 7	Jubilee Small Acts
Trouble Trouble	Betty Roche (voc) Benny Carter Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Mad Monk	Eddie South Trio	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Daddy-O	Timmie Rogers	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Straighten Up and Fly Right	Golden Gate Quartet	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Set 8	Benny Goodman Small Groups
Honeysuckle Rose	Benny Goodman Quartet	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 18 Jan 1938
Three Little Words	Benny Goodman Quintet	‘Spotlight Bands’ Cornell University Blue Network 25 Sep 1943
Stomping at the Savoy	Benny Goodman Sextet	‘Kings of Jazz’ BBC NYC 8 Dec 1945

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

Back By Popular Demand Saturday 12 January

Illawarra Jazz Club presents:

The first Greg Poppleton show for 2019.

Come along for

1920s jazz and 1930s swing

by Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer

and his band of swingers.

 

It’s fast. It’s free.

And wait till you get Greg’s jokes!

“Undoubtedly Greg’s best show so far this year.”

 

The Illawarra Jazz Club writes:

“Back by popular demand, this consummate entertainer will have you tapping your toes, kicking up your heals and just having a bloody great time. Greg is a well loved and respected musician, entertainer, actor and genuinely nice guy. You won’t regret seeing this amazing quintet. Appearing with Greg will be his talented young son, Damon, seen recently at the School Spectacular.”

 

Greg is backed by his swinging band of:

Geoff Power – ARIA nominee: trumpet & sousaphone

Damon Poppleton – 2018 School Spec jazz soloist: alto sax

Grahame Conlon – TV music maestro: banjo & guitar

Adam Barnard – Makes the refrains run on time: washboard & snare.

 

Saturday 12 January

Unanderra Hotel

27 Central Road, Unanderra

Next to the Princes Hwy.

5 minutes walk from Unanderra Station.

 

FREE

Visit the Facebook event page

New Years Eve Party with Greg Poppleton and Sydney Fireworks

Great Gatsby New Years Eve Cocktail Party
12-MICRON
TOWER 1, LEVEL 2, 100 BARANGAROO AVENUE.
ENTER VIA SHIPWRIGHT WALK BARANGAROO NSW

MON, DEC 31, 2018 7:00 PM

Bring in the New Year 1920s style with drinking, dancing and live music on Sydney Harbour.

 

Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Quartet entertains 9 – 11pm

 

Guests will enjoy a 4 hour Great Gatsby themed beverage and canapé package with live music while you dance and indulge the night away with stunning views of the harbour. $190pp

 

Bookings essential.

 

TICKETS

 

Fireworks packages for Barangaroo Reserve to be made available to guests.

 

Menu by Justin Wise, former head chef at Melbourne’s famous Press Club.

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