Herbie Fields Child Prodigy – Phantom Dancer 29 May Radio Swing Jazz Mix

Herbie Fields is a musician I’ve long wanted to play a set of. Now the time has come.

I’m Greg Poppleton, 1920s-30s singer and your Phantom Dancer.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV.

On air every Tuesday, live from 107.3 2SER Sydney from 12:04-2pm, the Phantom Dancer is recorded for re-broadcast over 23 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online at 2ser.com.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX
– opens with a set of dance bands live on the 1940s ‘One Night Stand’ radio series,
– hear a set of Sarah Vaughan from live 1950s radio,
– a set of early radio dance bands from rare 1920s-30s radio,
– a set of the daddies of boogie woogie pianists from live 1930s radio,
– a set of today’s feature artist, Herbie Fields, including Miles Davis’s recording debut. See the full play list below for more…

HERBIE FIELDS
Herbie Fields was a child prodigy clarinet and sax player whose meteoric career in the mid-1940s faltered in the 1950s, making him increasing disgruntled until he couldn’t take it any more.

A student at the famous Juilliard School of Music, he began recording and broadcasting in 1944 after a two year stint in the U.S Army.

On this week’s Phantom Dancer we’ll hear his first orchestra live from 1944 radio on its own national network band remote. It was coveted radio exposure mostly given to more seasoned bands. We’ll also hear a song from his first recording session made for the prestigious Savoy record label.

The 1945 Savoy record we’ll hear on today’s show features singer Rubberlegs Williams. Rubberlegs, sounding very Fats Waller, calls out Herbie Fields by name on the record – more evidence of the meteoric rise of Herbie Field as a swing name.

This was also the first recording by teenage Miles Davis on trumpet. Miles sounds like Miles even then, though some players on the session complained that the teenager wasn’t good enough – another story for another Phantom Dancer.

Herbie Fields and his 3 year old daughter, Sandra

 

UP-AND-COMING
His star rising in just twelve short months, Fields also won Esquire magazine’s New Star Award on alto sax in 1945.

In 1946, RCA Victor signed Fields as leader of his own big band. Despite including musicians of the calibre of Neal Hefti, Bill Evans, Marty Napoleon and Serge Chaloff, the band was a commercial failure. Big bands were out of fashion.

He went from big band to septet in 1949. We’ll hear that septet on this week’s Phantom Dancer in a 1951 radio broadcast.

In the septet was Frank Rosolino trombone, Jimmy Nottingham trumpet, Jim Aton double bass, Bill Evans piano and Tiny Kahn drums. The group backed Billie Holiday on a successful U.S east coat tour. You’ll hear in this septet broadcast how Fields could play in swing, bop and r’n’b styles all on the one song (‘How High The Moon’).

R’N’B
In the 1950s, Fields moved into rhythm and blues. He became a sax ‘honker’.

You’ll hear him mix honk with bop and swing on ‘How High the Moon’ with his septet on what the 1951 announcer calls a ‘rock’n’roll’ number.

But his decreasing popularity after such a promising career start in 1944 made him increasing disgruntled.

Bill Evans said of Field’s r’n’b style, “In some ways he had been a forerunner of rock ‘n’ roll. He was wiggling, jerking. Rock ‘n’ roll came, brought millions of dollars, but nothing for Herbie Fields.”

Field’s recorded sporadically as an r’n’b artist, bop player and big band leader.

He was leading a trio in his own Miami restaurant in 1958 when is suddenly had enough at age 39.

PHANTOM DANCER VIDEO OF THE WEEK
It’s Herbie Fields on clarinet with the Lionel Hampton sextet on a Decca recording of ‘Ribs and Hot Sauce’.

29 MAY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #318
107.3 2SER Tuesday 29 May 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	Swing Bands on ‘One Night Stand’
Theme + Kentucky	Gay Claridge Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Chez Paree, Chicago AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Aug 1945
You’re Driving Me Crazy	Jan Savitt Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Palladium Ballroom Hollywood AFRS Re-broadcast 20 Sep 1945
9:20 Special + Pavanne (close)	Sonny Dunham Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 14 Apr 1944
Set 2	Sarah Vaughan Sings Jazz on 1953-56 Radio
Tenderly	Sarah Vaughan	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 31 Mar 1953
I Get a Kick Out of You	Sarah Vaughan	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 31 Mar 1953
Linger Awhile + ‘S Wonderful + Tenderly	Sarah Vaughan	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 21 May 1956
Set 3	Herbie Fields Feature
That’s The Stuff You Got To Watch	Herbie Fields, Miles Davis’s first recording, Rubberlegs Williams (voc)	WOR Studios New York City 25 Apr 1945
Theme + Don’t Take Your Love From Me	Herbie Fields Orchestra (voc) Carol Kaye	Glen Island Casinu New Rochelle NY WOR MBS NY 9 Aug 1944
How High The Moon + Close	Herbie Fields Septet	‘Stars on Parade’ Radio Transcription 1951
Set 4	1920s-30s Radio Bands
I’m Just A Vagabond Lover	Eskimo Pie Orchestra	Radio Transcription 1929
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me	Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) Gogo Delys	Radio Transcription 1932
I Following You + Coca Cola Waltz	Leonard Joy Coca-Cola Orchestra	‘Coca-Cola Top Notchers’ WEAF NBC Red NY 19 Mar 1930
Set 5	Duke Ellington on 1950s Radio
Open + Tulip or Turnip	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Ray Nance	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 13 Aug 1952
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WNBC NBC NY 11 Jun 1951
The Hawk Talks	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
Great Times	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York 11 Feb 1951
Set 6	Eddie Condon
Open + At The Jazz Band Ball	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 30 Sep 1944
I’m a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 16 Jul 1944
Easter Parade	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 23 Sep 1944
Ensemble Blues	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 29 Jul 1944
Set 7	Boogie Woogie
Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie	Pine Tops Smith	Comm Rec Chicago 29 Dec 1928
Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie	Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis (voc) Johnny Mercer	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 11 Apr 1939
Honky Tonk Train Blues	Meade Lux Lewis	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 3 Jan 1939
Roll ‘Em	Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 3 Jan 1939
Set 8	Farewell
Boompsie	Chubby Jackson Orchestra	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 5 Mar 1949

We Put On A ‘Helluva’ Show. And I Met Mrs Sparkle.

What do you do?

The venue you’re playing at has been undercut by not one, but two, nearby venues.

Audience numbers are down.

What do you do?

Well, if you’re Greg Poppleton at Mosman Bowling Club today, you put on a ‘helluva’ show for the club and the beautiful people who came to see and hear us.

Greg Poppleton Jazz Deco singer channeling the spirits of the 1920s and 1930s

You put on an intimate show – singing to each of the 40 guests individually -from the stage and table by table.

You bring people together and get the audience singing.

You tell personal stories, weave in an amazing anecdote about a song or two or three, and you sing a request or two that brings a tear to the eyes of the requesters.

Greg Poppleton and an over the shoulder shot of some of the audience at Sunday Jazz in Mosman Bowling Club

And you have a swinging band:

Greg Poppleton – 1920s-30s vocals
Grahame Conlon – banjo and guitar
Dave Clayton – double bass
Adam Barnard – drums and washboard

The Greg Poppleton swing rhythm section. Adam Barnard drums and washboard, Dave Clayton double bass, and Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo

In short, you create a ‘helluva’ show with great musicians that makes everyone happy. In fact, everybody left today with a smile and a desire to come back for more. Many left clutching a Greg Poppleton CD sold to them by Bev Evans. A CHILDHOOD HERO.

Having a special occasion? GREG POPPLETON MAKES JAZZ DECO POP!

The Copasetic 1920s – 1930s Jazz Singer and Band are absolutely the Bee’s Knees. 1.17 Million Total YouTube views. We’ll make your special occasion sparkle, too.  Enquire now.

Mosman Bowling Club presents a different top notch jazz band for your enjoyment on the first Sunday of every month, 2 – 4:30pm. And they welcome new players and members, too. Get in touch.

A guest photo. Greg Poppleton and Dave Clayton . double bass singing, ‘Yes, We Have No Bananas’.

MRS SPARKLE
Bev Evans was Mrs Sparkle in the Mr Sheen ads. Her talent made the ads hugely successful. As a result, she became Australia’s leading hand and placement model.

I used to watch Mrs Sparkle on TV as a very little kid and marvel at how natural she was while being incredibly precise in her movements. I’ve been in 60 TV commercials myself and looking natural while being ‘big’ as a TVC requires is a rare skill.

And I loved the music. Little did I know then that the song was ‘Mr Gallagher and Mr Sheen’, written in 1922. No, I’m not a ‘make-a-quick-buck-off-the-Great-Gatsby-movie’ blow-in. I’ve loved the music of the 1920s and 1930s eversince I first saw Louis Armstrong on TV when I was three years old.

Here’s  Mrs Sparkle selling Mr Sheen on 1960s TV

Photos from a Wedding in the Garden

The Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s trio played for a wedding in the garden at Hopewood House, Bowral.

The thunder rumbled but the rain stayed away for a beautiful ceremony and reception.

Greg Poppleton serenaded guests with songs from the 1920s and 30s selected from the Greg Poppleton play list by the bride and groom. Songs chosen included Begin the Beguine, Cheek to Cheek and Falling in Love Again.

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

 

The Greg Poppleton trio at the wedding reception. Greg Poppleton with red 1920s megaphone and vintage microphone. Geoff Power sousaphone and trumpet. Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo.

 

The Greg Poppleton duo playing the bride and groom’s 1920s-30s jazz requests before the ceremony. Geoff Power trumpet. Grahame Conlon guitar.

 

The view of the garden reception from the vintage 1920s microphone. Geoff Power trumpet.

 

A Tim Storrier sculpture in the gardens

Band Website: www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Bookings: tony@ozmanagement.com

February Newsletter

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What’s Happening in Feb-Mar?
Greg Poppleton at Great Art Deco Ball  – SOLD OUT 5 YEARS RUNNING
Blue Mountains 1920s Festival 3 Feb
Builders Club: –  Wollongong 4 Feb
Penrith RSL: –  10 Mar
Jazz at the Pines: –  Dural 18 Mar

 

Need Music?
Greg Poppleton makes 1920s-1930s POP!

Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer with band is available for all events.
Contact

Great Art Deco Ball!

Greg Poppleton and band play their fifth Great Art Deco Ball in the historic Carrington Hotel, Katoomba.

This is the highlight of the annual Blue Mountains 1920s Festival.

Since Greg Poppleton has been the band at the ball, the event sells out earlier and earlier.

Again this year, the $149 tickets (including 3 course meal) were sold out soon after they went on sale (by phoning hotel reception only.)

Here are my two favourite photos from the 2016 and 2017 Balls. Photo credits, ‘Mountain Life’…

Sunday 4 February, Builders’ Club
2:30-5:30. Free
61 Church St, Wollongong
Age 18+ only. FREE.

Greg Poppleton: 1920s-30s vocals
Grahame Conlon: guitar and banjo
Dave Clayton: double bass
(Damon won’t be playing sax because the venue is now 18+)

What’s it like?

THE POPPLETON EFFECT  © Kerrie Foster, Illawarra Breakfast Poets.

“The jazz crowd, they all got excited.
Mr. Poppleton was back in town.
He brought with him first class musicians,
including his son who came down.

This lad of just fourteen was brilliant
and the spitting image of Dad.
The talent will stay in the family.
And I know you’ll agree that’s not bad.

The way that Greg moves round the audience
and picks out whoever he will,
and sings to them through his own megaphone;
you see the crowds get a thrill.

He sings songs from back in the twenties,
and he dresses in clothes from back then.
The consummate entertainer,
we could have him back time and again.

At a TV audition this week
I had my portrait sketched by a young artist

Phantom Dancer Radio Show

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 23 radio stations around Australia.

Hear The Phantom Dancer:
Sydney 107.3 2SER Tuesday 12:04 – 2pm
Canberra 92.7 ArtsoundFM Sunday 7 – 7:56pm

You can hear each weekly show online at the radio station 2SER website. And as always, the last hour of The Phantom Dancer is all vinyl.

Here’s this week’s play list…

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #301 107.3 2SER Tuesday 30 January 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 23 other stations. Set 1 Glenn Miller and his Legacy Moonlight Serenade (theme) + Little Brown Jug Glenn Miller Orchestra Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WJZ NBC Blue NY 23 Nov 1940 Troop Movement + Moonlight Serenade (theme) Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 11 Sep 1946 Caribbean Clipper + Close Ray McKinley and the Glenn Miller Orchestra ‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City 30 Jun 1957 Set 2 Modern Jazz Radio 1959-60 Rhythm-a-Ning Thelonius Monk Connie Mack Park WCAU CBS Philadelphia 3 Mar 1960 So What Miles Davis ‘Treasury of Song’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 25 Aug 1959 Flamingo Rudolfo Alchourron (g) ’Esta es Jazz’ LR1 Radio el Mundo Buenos Aires Argentina 28 May 1960 Set 3 Piano Led Dance Bands Theme + Amor Joe Reichman Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Biltmore Bowl Biltmore Hotel AFRS Re-broadcast Jul 1944 Sunrise Serenade (theme) + Let’s Do It Again Frankie Carle Orchestra (voc) Band ’Your Saturday Dance Date’ Marine Ballroom Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 12 Aug 1950 The Doll Dance Vincent Lopez Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Grill Room Room Taft Hotel NYC AFRTS Re-broadcast 1959 Set 4 The Outskirts of Trad on Radio It’s Alright with Me + Hava Nagala Henry ‘Red’ Allen London House WBBM CBS Chicago 30 Mar 1962 Slow Blues Johnny Mercer (voc) Mary Lou Williams (piano) Pee Wee Russell (clarinet) ’Eddie Condon’s Floor Show’ WPIX TV NY 1948 Set 5 Jumping 1944 Radio Paradise Valley Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy Aircheck Apollo Theatre NYC 7 Jun 1944 Elk’s Parade Bobby Sherwood Orchestra Aircheck Terrace Room NJ 17 Feb 1945 Bangs Count Basie Orchestra Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WABC CBS NY 14 Apr 1944 Futurama Gene Krupa Orchestra ’Spotlight Bands’ Newport RI Blue Network 2 Oct 1944 Set 6 1931-32 Radio I’ve Got Five Dollars (Theme) + Copenhagen Friendly Five Orchestra ‘Friendly Five Program’ Radio Transcription New York City 1932 You Could Have Been The One, Baby Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) Loyce Whiteman Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1932 Take It From Me Gus Arnheim Orchestra (voc) The Three Ambassadors Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1931 Egyptian Shimmy Anson Weeks Orchestra Peacock Court Hotel Mark Hopkins KGO NBC San Francisco 1932 Set 7 Trumpeter Charlie Spivak on Radio Charlie Horse Charlie Spivak Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 1941 You Turned The Tables On Me Charlie Spivak Orchestra (voc) Irene Day Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 7 Apr 1948 But None Like You Charlie Spivak Orchestra (voc) Irene Day and Tommy Mercer Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 7 Apr 1948 Half Past Jumpin’ Time Charlie Spivak Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Century Room Commodore Hotel NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 25 Feb 1945 Set 8 Post Swing Alto Sax Let The Good Times Roll Louis Jordan (as) Tympani 5 Aircheck Empire Hotel Los Angeles Apr 1949 St Louis Blues Dave Brubeck Quartet (as) Paul Desmond ’Timex Jazz Show’ WRCA TV NYC 30 Dec 1957 These Foolish Things Lee Konitz (as) Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954

CONTACT

Management, Tony Jex, OzManagement
0407 941 263
info@ozmanagement.com

Harry James and Arban’s – 3 October Phantom Dancer + ‘Leave It To Harry’ (1954)

If the 26 September show is anything to go by, the 3 October Phantom Dancer, one week before the annual 2SER Subscriber Drive, is going to be the best show ever.

This week you’ll Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye and tune in for Part 5 of the Harry James aircheck series 1953-54. Indeed, the entire Vinyl Hour of The Phantom Dancer is devoted to trumpet band leaders on live radio: Louis Armstrong, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins and Dizzy Gillespie.

Your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV is presented by myself, Greg Poppleton, over radio station 107.3 2SER Sydney. I’ve been bringing you The Phantom Dancer since 1985.

You can now hear it live-streamed and online on Radio 2SER’s website: http://www.2ser.com/phantomdancer.

HARRY JAMES
Since we are up to Part 5 in our chronological review of radio airchecks by trumpeter Harry James, it is worth noting here that just like Fats Waller, discussed in last week’s Phantom Dancer play list notes, Harry James also had a classical background when learning his instrument.

Harry James was none for his great facility on the trumpet and his wonderful tone. Harry’s father was a circus band leader. He started teaching Harry trumpet when Harry was aged 10.  The lesson regime was that each day, he had to learn a page from the Arban’s book.

What’s the Arban’s book? It’s the instruction book for cornet, flugelhorn and trumpet written by the famous Joseph Jean-Baptiste Laurent Arban  before 1859.

Arban was a cornetist, conductor, composer, teacher and the first famed virtuoso of the cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini’s virtuosic technique on the violin and successfully proved that the cornet was a true solo instrument by developing virtuoso technique it.

Arban’s book consists of:  Introduction / First Studies / Playing Methods: Slurring or Legato Playing /  Scales / Ornaments / Advanced Studies / Tonguing / Phrasing: 150 Classic and Popular Melodies / 68 Duets for Two Cornets / 14 Characteristic Studies / Celebrated Fantasies and Airs Varies

See the full Phantom Dancer play list below.

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

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #281 107.3 2SER Tuesday 3 October 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 Dance Bands on 1944-1950 Radio Small Town Boogie Barbara James (voc) Albert Fisher Orchestra Aircheck Sydney 1944 Sunrise Serenade (theme) + Let’s Do It Again Frankie Carle Orchestra (voc) Band ’Your Saturday Dance Date’ Marine Dining Room Edgewater Beach Hotel WMAQ NBC Chicago 12 Aug 1950 On The Beach At Waikiki + Aloha Oe Harry Owens Orchestra (voc) Prince Kawuhi and Chorus ’Sweet Leihani’ Mural Room Hotel St Francis KPO NBC San Francisco 1940s Set 2 Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Theme + Just A Prayer Away Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) Billy Williams ’Sunday Serenade’ WJZ Blue Network NYC 15 Apr 1945 It’s A Great Feeling Sammy Kaye Orchestra (voc) The Kaydettes and Kaye Choir ’Sammy Kaye’s Showroom’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1949 How Deep Is The Ocean? + I’m In The Mood For Love + Avalon + Close Sammy Kaye Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Hotel Astor Roof AFRS re-broadcast 27 Aug 1945 Set 3 Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street 1941 Open + Ballin’ The Jack Henry Levine Dixieland Octet ’Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 18 Aug 1941 Peter and the Wolf Paul Laval Woodwinds ’Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 23 Jun 1941 Gone With What Wind + Close Paul Laval Woodwinds ’Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 4 Aug 1941 Set 4 Swing Bands on 1943-46 Radio I’ve Got You Under My Skin Leo Reisman Orchestra ’Spotlight Bands’ National Press Club Washington DC Blue Network 23 Jun 1943 Open + Look For The Silver Lining Andy Russell (voc) Toots Cammerata Orchestra ’Double Feature’ AFRS Re-broadcast 2 Oct 1944 Tuesday at Ten + Close Ray McKinley Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Century Room Commodore Hotel AFRS Re-broadcast 1946 Set 5 Louis Armstrong Theme + If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight Louis Armstrong Orchestra ’Jubilee’ AFRS New York City Mar 1943 Super Tiger Rag Louis Armstrong and French Orchestra Comm Rec Paris 1934 Lazy River Louis Armstrong Orchestra (voc) LA ’Spotlight Bands’ Dallas TX Blue Network 17 Aug 1943 Royal Garden Blues Louis Armstrong All-Stars ’Damon Runyon Memorial Jazz Concert’ Blue Note ABC Chicago 11 Dec 1948 Set 6 Harry James on 1953-54 Radio Stomp and Whistle Harry James Orchestra (voc) Buddy Rich Aircheck Superior WI 29 May 1954 Down South Camp Meeting Harry James Orchestra Aircheck Hotel Astor Roof NYC 25 May 1953 Open + Stealin’ Apples Harry James Orchestra Aircheck Aragon Ballroom Chicago 18 Jun 1954 Back Beat Boogie Harry James Orchestra Aircheck Aragon Ballroom Chicago 20 Jun 1954 Set 7 Erskine Hawkins What Do You Know About Love? Erskine Hawkins Orchestra (voc) Ida James Comm Rec New York City 20 Oct 1938 Open + Eelibuj Boogie Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Paradise Restaurant WOR MBS NY 3 May 1938 Holiday For Strings + Trinidad Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ’One Night Stand’ Blue Room Hotel Lincoln New York City 1 May 1946 Set 8 Dizzy Gillespie Intro + Blue ’n’ Boogie Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker ’Symphony Sid Show’ Bordland WJZ NYC 31 Mar 1951 Minor Walk Dizzy Gillespie with Tony Proteau Orchestra Rex Theatre RTF Paris Feb 1953 Doodlin’ Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Birdland WCBS CBS NY Jun 1956 Ool-Ya-Koo Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Winter Palace Radio Sweden Stockholm 2 Feb 1948

Fats Waller’s Classical Background – 19 September Phantom Dancer Radio Show Play List

If the 19 September Phantom Dancer radio show is anything to go by, the 26 September non-stop mix of swing and dance from live 1920s – 1960s radio and TV is going to be the best show ever.

This week you’ll hear Fats Waller, Benny Goodman and news on the European Crisis over WABC NY in 1938 which we didn’t get to hear on last week’s show. We ran out of time with so much good music.

There’s also a set of women bop singers including Sarah Vaughan and Jackie Kane, and tune in for Part 4 in the Harry James aircheck series 1948-51.

Your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV is presented by myself, Greg Poppleton, over radio station 107.3 2SER Sydney. I’ve been bringing you The Phantom Dancer since 1985.

You can now hear it live-streamed and online on Radio 2SER’s website: http://www.2ser.com/phantomdancer.

See the full play list below.

FATS WALLER

Fats Waller was a composer, pianist and entertainer. He wrote such jazz standards as Keeping Out of Mischief Now, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Honeysuckle Rose. You’ll hear him play his popular tune, The Joint is Jumpin’, on today’s Phantom Dancer on a live WABC NYC broadcast from 1938.

What’s little known about Fats Waller is the classic background that informed his unique jazz stride piano style.

Waller’s grandfather was an accomplished violinist. His mother, Adeline, was a church organist. She taught him to play organ, gave him his first lessons in classical music, and hired a tutor for him. His church musical director introduced him to the works of J.S. Bach.

1920s stride piano stars James P. Johnson and Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith later mentored Fats, teaching him stride piano style and introducing him to the works of impressionistic composers of the nineteenth century.

Enjoy!

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #280 107.3 2SER Tuesday 26 September 2017 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 Tunes on 1936 Radio On The Beach At Bali Bali Teddy Stauffer and his Original Teddies Comm Rec Berlin 19 Sep 1936 The Way You Look Tonight Freddy Rich Orchestra (voc) Freddy Rich ’Your Hit Parade’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 21 Oct 1936 Fix It Easy + Ro-Ro-Rolling Along (theme) Bob Crosby’s Bobcats (theme voc: The Freshmen) ’Ford V8 Revue’ Radio Transcription NBC NYC 1936 Set 2 1947 Swing Radio Spring Isn’t Everything Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Stuart Foster Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca KECA ABC LA 1947 Naughty Angeline Nat King Cole Trio (voc) Nat King Cole ’King Cole Trio Time’ KFI NBC Hollywood 5 Jul 1947 Come To The Mardi Gras + Close Ray Eberle Orchestra ’All-Star Parade of Bands’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 9 Sep 1952 Set 3 1950s Big Bands One O’Clock Jump (theme) + Little Pony Count Basie Orchestra ’Stars in Jazz’ WNBC NBC NY 31 Jul 1952 I’ll Take Romance Charlie Barnet Orchestra (voc) June Christy ’The Charlie Barnet Show’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 20 Jan 1957 Limelight + Close Stan Kenton Orchestra ’Concert in Miniature’ WBOW NBC Terre Haute IN 16 Jun 1953 Set 4 Swing Bands on 1945 Radio Theme + No Can Do Chuck Foster Orchestra (voc) Judy Tremain ’One Night Stand’ Terrace Room Hotel New Yorker NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 8 Sep 1945 Caldonia (theme) + You Was Right, Baby Louis Jordan Tympani 5 (voc) LJ Zanzibar Cafe WOR Mutual NYC 15 Oct 1945 Taco Tico + Close Clyde Lucas Orchestra ’Spotlight Bands’ Blue Network 12 Jan 1945 Set 5 Women Bop Singers What More Can A Woman Do? Dizzy Gillespie Septet (voc) Sarah Vaughan Comm Rec New York City 25 May 1945 I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles Jackie Kain and Roy Kral (voc) Charlie Ventura Group ’Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 1948 The Man I Love Benny Goodman Sextet (voc) Patti Page ’One Night Stand’ The Click Philadelphia 3 Jun 1948 I’m Glad There’s You Jackie Kain (voc) Charlie Ventura Group ’Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 1948 Set 6 Harry James on 1948-51 Radio Open + How High The Moon Harry James Orchestra Aircheck 1948 Ciribiribin (theme) + Don’t Be That Way Harry James Jazz Octet Blue Room Roosevelt Hotel WWJ CBS New Orleans 1950 Open + New York Blues Harry James Orchestra Aircheck 1949 Two O’Clock Jump Harry James Jazz Octet Blue Room Roosevelt Hotel WWJ CBS New Orleans 1950 Set 7 1930s Radio Dance Bands You Stayed Away To Long Claude Hopkins Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 1935 Moonshine Over Kentucky + Heigh Ho Bunny Berrigan Orchestra Paradise Restaurant WOR MBS NY 3 May 1938 St Louis Blues Paul Whiteman Orchestra (tb) Jack Teagarden ’Paul Whiteman’s Varieties’ WJZ NBC Blue New York City 16 Feb 1936 My Melancholy Baby + The White Star of Sigma Nu Joe Haymes Orchestra Grill Room Hotel McAlfin WABC CBS NYC 29 Jan 1935 Set 8 1938 Radio, WABC New York The Joint is Jumping / Summertime / Stomping At The Savoy Fats Waller ’This is New York’ WABC CBS NY 11 Dec 1938 CBS News WABC CBS NY 25 Sep 1938 Love Me Or Leave Me Benny Goodman Orchestra ’Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 23 Aug 1938

15 August Phantom Dancer – Ep 7 Radar Men From the Moon

If the 8 August show is anything to go by, the 15 August Phantom Dancer is going to be the best show ever.

And now you can hear the whole two hour swing jazz mix online at radio 2SER (for the next four weeks).

Your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV is presented by myself, Greg Poppleton, over radio station 107.3 2SER Sydney, and now online, (after the broadcast) and has been since 1985.

See the full play list below.

This week you’ll hear a set of late night dance bands from early 1940s Chicago over WGN, a set of Andrew Sisters on 1940s radio and WHDH Boston 1950s airchecks of Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and Lee Konitz.

Your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week this week is episode 7 of the 1952 Republic serial, Radar Men From The Moon.
Enjoy!

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 #275 107.3 2SER Tuesday 15 August 2017 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: 2RRR Gladesville Thurs 11am – 12 ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 1932 – 1934 Cocoanut Grove Radio Bands Music in the Moonlight (theme) + By The Fireside Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) Donald Novis ’Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1932 Here You Come With Love Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Phil Harris ’Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1933 OK Toots + close Vincent Valsanti Orchestra (voc) Dons One, Two and Three ’Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1934 Set 2 Home Recordings of Late Night Dance Bands on WGN Chicago 1940s Bella, Bella Marie + In My Dreams + I Love You So Much It Hurts + Theme Jimmy Featherstone Orchestra (voc) Jimmy Featherstone and Peggy Murdoch Walnut Room Bismarck Hotel WGN Chicago 1940s Love Of My Life Art Kassels and his Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra (voc) Harvey Crawford Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Chicago 1940s In My Dreams + Close Al Trace Orchestra Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Chicago 1940s Set 3 Andrew Sisters on 1940s Radio Spoken Intro + Go West, Young Men Andrew Sisters ’Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City 2 Mar 1959 Hold Tight Andrew Sisters (voc) Glenn Miller Orchestra ’Chesterfield Show’ WABC CBS New York City 27 Feb 1940 Jingle Bells + We’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time Andrew Sisters ’Nash-Kelvinator Showroom’ KNX CBS LA 19 Dec 1945 Set 4 Latin Music on 1940s Radio Begin the Beguine Desi Arnez Orchestra Ciro’s Hollywood KNX CBS LA 1948 Chapanica Xavier Cugat Orchestra (voc) Band ’Xavier Cugat Show’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1940s Mambo the Most Woody Herman’s Third Herd ’Hear America Swinging’ Royal Grove Peony P WOW NBC Omaha Nebraska 1948 Set 5 French Dance Bands 1936-38 Cafunga Lecuona Cuban Boys (voc) Bruguera Comm Rec Paris 1936 The Pop Corn Man Ray Ventura et set Collegiens (voc) Betty Allen Comm Rec Paris 1938 Rumba Azul Lecuona Cuban Boys (voc) Albert Rabagliati Comm Rec Paris 1936 Lambeth Walk Ray Ventura et set Collegiens Comm Rec Paris 1938 Set 6 Swing Trumpet Stars of the 1930s-40s High Hat Trumpet and Rhythm Valaida Snow Comm Rec London 6 Sep 1936 Sleepy Lagoon Harry James Orchestra Roof Garden Hotel Astor WABC CBS NY 28 Aug 1942 Night Song Bunny Berrigan Orchestra Manhattan Centre WNEW New York City 26 Sep 1939 Harlem Airshaft + Take The A Train (theme) Duke Ellington Orchestra (tp) Rex Stewart ’One Night Stand’ Cafe Zanzibar New York City AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Oct 1945 Set 7 Sweet and Swing Hal Kemp on 1934-40 Radio Mood Indigo Hal Kemp Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 14 Dec 1934 When Summer Is Gone (theme) + You’ve Got Me Crying Again Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Skinnay Ennis ’Lavena Program’ Radio Transcription New York City 1934 There’s a Small Hotel Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Maxine Grey ’Lady Esther Serenade’ WEAF NBC Red NY 26 Aug 1936 Just an Angel in Disguise + I Hear Bluebirds Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Janet Blair CBS Cedar Point, Ohio 3 Jul 1940 Set 8 Jazz from Storyville WHDH Boston Hi Beck Lee Konitz Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954 I Love You Porgy Billie Holiday Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954 Ornitholgy + Out of Nowhere Charlie Parker Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 10 Mar 1953

4 July 2017 Phantom Dancer – Radar Men From The Moon Chapter 2

Here’s your Phantom Dancer radio show play list and Video of the Week for Tuesday 4 July.

Your two hour non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV.

Presented by Greg Poppleton on Radio 2SER 107.3 Sydney since 1985.

If you missed the show live and streaming, it’s now online for you to hear over the next month at Radio 2SER

In this week’s Phantom Dancer mix listen to a set of early Frank Sinatra from 1943-44 radio, jump jive by Louis Jordan on 1940s radio and the King of Corn, Spike Jones, on 1949 radio.

The last hour is all vinyl.

Live-streamed and archived online at 2ser.com, your Phantom Dancer is heard on over 22 radio stations.

Your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week this week is Part 2 of the 1940s Republic serial, ‘Radar Men from The Moon’
Enjoy!

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 #269 107.3 2SER Tuesday 4 July 2017 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: 2RRR Gladesville Thurs 11am – 12 ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Spike Jones 1949 Spotlight Review Ghost Riders In the Sky Spike Jones and his City Slickers (voc) ’Corn’s A’Poppin’’ AFRS Re-broadcast 21 May 1949 By The Sea Spike Jones and his City Slickers (voc) Trio ’Corn’s A’Poppin’’ AFRS Re-broadcast 30 Jan 1949 Carolina Moon + When Yuba Played The Rhumba On The Tuba (theme) Spike Jones and his City Slickers (voc) Professor Beetlebaum ’Corn’s A’Poppin’’ AFRS Re-broadcast 27 Feb 1949 Set 2 Louis Jordan Jive on 1940s Radio Caldonia (theme) + You Was Right, Baby Louis Jordan Tympani 5 (voc) LJ Cafe Zanzibar WOR Mutual NY 15 Oct 1945 Nagasaki + One O’Clock Jump Louis Jordan Tympani 5 (voc) LJ ’Jubilee’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1943 Don’t Worry ‘Bout That Mule + Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie Louis Jordan Tympani 5 (voc) LJ ’Here Comes Mr Jordan – Pilot Show’ Radio Transcription 1946 Set 3 Sinatra on 1943 – 44 Radio Theme + With A Song In My Heart Frank Sinatra ’Treasury Star Parade’ Radio Transcription New York 1944 Where or When Frank Sinatra ’Vimms Vitamins Show’ CBS Van Nuys CA 7 Jun 1944 That ‘Ol Black Magic + Put Your Dreams Away (theme) Frank Sinatra ’Songs By Sinatra’ WABC CBS NY 31 Dec 1943 Set 4 Stan Kenton 1941-44 Radio Transcriptions Artistry in Rhythm + Two Guitars Stan Kenton Orchestra Radio Transcription Los Angeles 20 Sep 1941 Tabby The Cat Stan Kenton Orchestra (voc) Anita O’Day Radio Transcription Los Angeles Dec 1944 Blues in F Minor Stan Kenton Orchestra Radio Transcription Los Angeles 20 Sep 1941 Set 5 Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concerts Singing’ The Blues Eddie Condon Group featuring Bobby Hackett tp ’Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 16 Sep 1944 St Louis Blues Eddie Condon Group ’Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 16 Sep 1944 Wolverine Blues Eddie Condon Group ’Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 15 Jul 1944 Heebie Jeebies + Impromptu Ensemble Eddie Condon Group ’Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 9 Sep 1944 Set 6 Early Jazz and Dance on the Radio Ja, ja die Frau’n Sind mine schwache Seite Jack Hylton Orchestra (voc) Austin Egen Comm Rec Berlin 26 Jan 1928 Nobody’s Sweetheart Mills Hotsy Totsy Gang ’Brunswick Brevities’ Radio Transcription New York City Oct 1929 That’s A Plenty Red Nichols and his Five Pennies ’Brunswick Brevities’ Radio Transcription New York City 27 Aug 1929 I’m Through With Love Gus Arnheim Orchestra (voc) Loyce Whiteman ’Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1931 Set 7 Bob Crosby on the Camel Caravan Show 1939 Skaters’ Waltz (In Swingtime) Bob Crosby Orchestra ’Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 11 Jul 1939 Get On Board And Ride Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Johnny Mercer ’Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 27 Jun 1939 Diga Diga Doo Bob Crosby Orchestra ’Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 18 Jul 1939 Little Rock Getaway Bob Crosby Orchestra (piano) Joe Sullivan ’Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 4 Jul 1939 Set 8 Sweet Bands From 1939 Way Back In 1939 AD Glen Gary and his Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 1939 Garden of the Moon Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle Radio Transcription New York City 1939 Lady Be Good Barney Rapp and his New Englanders NBC Cincinnati OH 17 Jun 1939 It’s A Wonderful World Jan Garber Orchestra Radio Transcription Chicago 1939

Swing Dancers and Children Dancing

Greg Poppleton sang with his 1920s-1930s trio at the unusual music venue, Central Station, every day of the June Long Weekend for the Transport Heritage Expo.

The band drew a big semi-circle of onlookers at a location people normally rush through to catch their train.

At one point in the second set, I spied a group of six dressed in fine vintage fashion, hesitating outside the semi circle of onlookers.

When I called out to them that they might want to dance to the next song, Somebody Loves Me, it turned out they were swing dancers!

So I took some snaps as they took to the terrazzo to swirl and twirl to the band’s swinging authentic 1920s – 1930s swing.

After the gig, my agent, Tony Jex, from OzManagement, texted me this nice message from a person who was in the audience,

“Greg, thanks for the dedication of Avalon today. By the way, On The Sunny Side of the Street is my funeral song and always gets me teary. Thanks again,” Craig and Baby Steven.

In the Greg Poppleton band:
Greg Poppleton – Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer
Geoff Power – sousaphone and trumpet
Grahame Conlon – guitar
Adam Barnard – washboard, snare, bells, blocks and choke cymbal.

Swing dancing to Greg Poppleton

Swing dancers took the chance to dance to Somebody Loves Me

On the way home, I snapped the same green steam train chugging through Redfern Station

Steam train waiting at Central for the Transport Heritage Expo

Grahame Conlon, guitar

Geoff Power, playing Sunday on cornet

Greg Poppleton 1920s – 30s singer leads his trio: Geoff Power sousaphone and cornet, Grahame Conlon guitar, Adam Barnard washboard and snare

Children love dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s-30s music. lots of high fives.

And please visit Greg Poppleton’s website at www.gregpoppletonmusic.com with lots of band videos, photos and gig guide.

A Jazz Singer From China

Greg Poppleton sang with his 1920s-1930s trio at the unusual music venue, Central Station, every day of the June Long Weekend for the Transport Heritage Expo.

The band drew a big audience on the station concourse.

In fact, we were the first jazz band to ever attract an audience at a Heritage Transport Expo.

Sousaphonist Cazzbo Johns joined the band for the Sunday session of 1920s – 1930s music

And I invited Cy Chen, a jazz singer from China, holidaying in Australia, to sing two songs – All of Me and Autumn Leaves. And the crowd loved her.

I took some snaps, plus I’ve found some snaps online of the gig for you to see.

In the Greg Poppleton band:
Greg Poppleton – Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer
Cazzbo Johns – sousaphone
Grahame Conlon – guitar
Adam Barnard – washboard, snare, bells, blocks and choke cymbal.

And please visit Greg Poppleton’s website at www.gregpoppletonmusic.com with lots of band videos, photos and gig guide.

We play for weddings, corporate events and parties, too.

Action pix:

Screenshot of Chinese jazz singer Cy Chen with Greg Poppleton band. Cazzbo Johns sousaphone, Grahame Conlon guitar, Adam Barnard washboard and snare

Screen Shot of Greg Poppleton singing Tip Toe Through The Tulips with his band Geoff Power sousaphone, Grahame Conlon banjo and Adam Barnard washboard and snare

Greg Poppleton with visiting jazz singer from China, Cy Chen

Adam Barnard is a blur of action on the washboard

Cazzbo Johns on the sousaphone

Dancing to Greg Poppleton and his 1920s – 1930s music

Please visit Greg Poppleton’s website at www.gregpoppletonmusic.com with lots of band videos, photos and gig guide.