Phil Harris Academy Award Winner and Band Leader – Phantom Dancer 26 Feb 19

ACADEMY AWARD

Phil Harris was an American jazz musician, singer, actor and comedian. He also made the best live action short Academy Award winner for 1934, ‘So This is Harris!’. He is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist presented by 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton.

PHANTOM DANCER

Hear this week’s Phantom Dancer (after 26 Feb) and past Phantom Dancers at 2ser.com.
You can hear the show live every Tuesday 12:04-2pm on 107.3 2SER Sydney

PHIL HARRIS

Harris began is career in entertainment as a 16 year old drummer in San Francisco forming the Lofner-Harris Orchestra with Carol Lofner. The orchestra had a residency in the prestigious Hotel St Francis, San Francisco, until 1932 and also toured overseas.

One country the Lofner-Harris Orchestra visted was Australia. In 1927, Harris married actor Marcia Ralston in Sydney.

COCOANUT GROVE

In 1932 – 33, Harris’ orchestra was resident at Los Angeles’ Cocoanut Grove ‘where all the stars come to dance,’ and features in his 1933 short, ‘So This Is Harris!’.

This week’s Phantom Dancer features a radio transcription made by the Harris Orchestra in 1933, simulating their live Cocoanut Grove broadcasts. The transcription demonstrates Harris’ friendly singing style and his debonair wit.

JACK BENNY

It was that warm style and wit that got the Harris band the job of providing the music for the Jack Benny radio show in 1936. Harris soon became a cast member, remaining with the show except for a stint with the US Navy during WW2 until 1952 .

He married Alice Faye in 1941 and together they hosted the popular Phil Harris-Alice Faye music and comedy radio show until 1954.

In the 1970s-80s he lead on orchestra in Las Vegas, mostly on the same bill as Harry James.

TV

Harris guested on many TV shows into the 1980s including F-Troop and the Dean Martin Show. He was a close friend of Bing Crosby and after Bing died in 1977, Harris replaced him as commentator for the annual Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament.

He was also a voice actor for animated films including Jungle Book (1967) (as Baloo the Bear), The Aristocats (1970), Robin Hood (1973), Tailspin (1989). His last film role was in Rock-a-Doodle (1991).

VIDEO

This week’s Phantom Dancer video of the week is the 1934 Academy Award short film winner, ‘So This Is Harris! which includes Phil singing ‘Lazy River’ just like in this week’s 1933 radio transcription –

26 FEBRUARY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #375
107.3 2SER Tuesday 26 February 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	1940s Swing Bands
Theme + Octave Jump	Bob Chester Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Blackhawk Restaurant Chicago AFRS Re-broadcast 8 Oct 1944
Theme + Lady in Red	Henry Russell Hollywood Radio City Orchestra	‘Let’s Dance’ KFI NBC LA 1945
Dispatch From Dogpatch	Henry Busse Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Paladium Ballroom Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Sep 1944
Set 2	Phil Harris Cocoanut Grove
Theme + Mimi	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) The Three Ambassadors	Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
Lazy River	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Phil Harris	Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
Long About Sundown	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Leah Ray	Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
You + Theme	Phil Harris Orchestra	Cocoanut Grove Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
Set 3	Ray Anthony 1950s Radio
Open + Sweet and Gentle	Ray Anthony Orchestra (voc) June Vallee	‘Let’s Go To Town’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1954
Martin Kane Theme	Ray Anthony Orchestra	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Palladium Ballroom KFI NBC LA 23 Nov 1953
DC7 + Close	Ray Anthony Orchestra	‘Let’s Go To Town’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1954
Set 4	1930s Australian Dance Bands
This Year’s Kisses	Jim Davidson and his ABC Dance Orchestra (voc) Alice Smith	Comm Rec Sydney 1936
Jamboree	Frank Coughlan Orchestra (voc) Frank Coughlan	Radio Transcription Sydney Jun 1937
The Girl on the Police Gazette	Jim Davidson and his ABC Dance Orchestra (voc)	Comm Rec Sydney 1936
Set 5	Tommy Dorsey
I’ll Never Smile Again	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers	‘America Dances’ BBC London via CBS NYC 28 May 1940
I’ll Never Smile Again	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (voc) Stuart Foster and The Sentimentalists	Radio Transcription Hollywood 24 Jun 1945
Tico Tico	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Radio Transcription Hollywood 24 Jun 1945
Bingo Bango Boffo	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca KECA ABC LA 6 Dec 1947
Set 6	Crooners
Where The Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day	Bing Crosby	Comm Rec New York City 23 Nov 1931
The Song is You	Les Allen (voc) BBC Dance Orchestra	Comm Rec London 4 Apr 1933
My Song	Chick Bullock (voc) Phil Spitany Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 18 Sep 1931
Who?	Orlando Roberson (voc) Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 19 Sep 1934
Set 7	Radio Trad
Muskrat Ramble	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	‘Second Timex All-Star Jazz Show’ CBS TV 30 Apr 1958
Charlie, My Boy	Jimmy Dorsey ‘Dorseyland’ Orchestra (voc) Pat O’Connor/Charlie Teagarden	Radio Transcription New York City 1950
Kansas City Man	Sidney Bechet and Bob Wilbur	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NY 22 Mar 1947
Shake It and Break It	Graeme Bell Band	3AW Melbourne 1949
Set 8	Dizzy Gillespie
Intro + Blue ‘n’ Boogie	Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WJZ ABC NY 31 Mar 1951
More Than You Know	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra	Winter Palace Stockholm Radio Sweden 2 Feb 1948
Night in Tunisia	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra	Birdland WCBS CBS NY Jul 1956
Jam Session	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra	Rex Theatre Paris Radio Feb 1953

Cheeky Tourists – Funny Video

Film bombed by tourists. They walk towards the camera, then at 25 seconds it happens…
Enjoy

2SER Supporter Drive 2018 – Week 1 Phantom Dancer

SUPPORT

This is the first week of the annual 2SER Supporter Drive.

The Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week. It’s been on 2SER since 1985, thanks to your financial support in 33 subscriber drives.

And over those years, Greg Poppleton and The Phantom Dancer have inspired musicians, painters, film, TV and theatre creatives.

On-air Tuesdays 12:04-2:00pm AEST (+11 GMT) and online

COMMUNITY

2SER is community radio with a wide range of specialist music, like The Phantom Dancer, plus independent news and current affairs unavailable on any other station.

2SER runs on your financial support. Give any amount you want this year and you’ll be in the running for some great prizes in the daily prize draw.

Standard annual subscriptions are:
$40 concession
$80 standard
$160 passionate
$600 life member

Support 2SER now.
Any money amount enters you into the daily prize draw.

FAVOURITE

Over the next fortnight, I’ll be sharing with you some of my favourite 2ser Phantom Dancer musical moments mixed from shows recorded ten years ago.

I’ve got some of my kids on-air moments to share with you, moments from when they were aged 4 and 6. And I’ve got some of your great listener stories to share with you, too!

Check out more 2SER listener stories on the 2SER home page, or read quotes from our listeners on this page.

You can hear lots of past Phantom Dancers, too, at 2ser.com.

LOVE

At 2SER, we’re really lucky to air such a wide range of specialist music shows, in depth news programs, and plenty of local and alternative stories from our community every day.

Listeners like yourself truly shape that content, sending us comments, letting us know about your events and businesses, and giving us all feedback too. And of course, being able to send all this into your earlobes wouldn’t be possible without your support!

STORIES

“I love your radio show! ” Harri
“Will keep listening for sure. I really love your show” Michelle, Melbourne
“Love your program. We tape it each week” Trish
“Your program is wonderful,” Tim
“Loving it! ” Nathan
“Knocked out by your show. We’ll be regular listeners from now on” Trevor & Betty
“Your show rocks!” Sonja
“Love your show” Tara

GIVE

Support 2SER now
You can also call in your support 61 2 9514 9500

VIDEO

Inside the Phantom Dancer 2SER study filmed just last month…

16 OCTOBER PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #337
107.3 2SER Tuesday 16 October 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 24 other stations.
Set 1	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Swing That Music	Louis Armstrong (voc) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra	Comm Rec Los Angeles Aug 1936
You Old Son of a Gun	Rosemary Clooney (voc) Buddy Cole Music	‘Stars for Defense’ Radio Transcription Nov 1959
Sherlock Holmes & Wine Ad	Nigel Bruce	‘Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ KHJ Mutual LA Sep 1945
Wabash Blues	Jerry Thomas Quintet	Comm Rec Zurich, Switzerland 1942
Set 2	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 95000
Open + Bridegroom Special	Yiddish Swing Orchestra	‘Yiddish Melodies in Swing’ WHN NY 1940
China Boy	Sidney Bechet (sop sax)	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue Network NYC Feb 1945
Stage Coach	Wally Portingale Orchestra	‘Army on Parade’ 2CH AWA Sydney Oct 1943
That’s Love	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) The Three Ambassadors	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
Set 3	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Unidentified	Jan Garber Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast Mar 1945
Easter Parade	Martha Mears	’10-2-4 Time’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles Mar 1948
Don’t Blame Me	Dinah Shore	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City Dec 1948
Set 4	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Isn’t It Romantic?	Chet Baker Quartet	Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 16 Mar 1954
Good Evening (theme) + April Showers	Del Courtney Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Rose Room Palace Hotel San Francisco AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Jan 1948
Drifting and Dreaming (theme) + Cheek to Cheek	Orrin Tucker Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Cocoanut Grove Wiltshire Centre Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1955
Pretending + Hold My Hand + Theme	Griff Williams Orchestra	Empire Room Palmer House WGN Chicago 5 Mar 1947
Set 5	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Love, Nuts and Noodles	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Jack Smith	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
I’d Rather Lead A Band + Farewell Blues + Theme	Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Bob Crosby and The Four Freshman	‘Ford V-8 Revue’ Radio Transcription 1936
Arabian Lover	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 3 May 1929
These Foolish Things	Count Basie Nonet	Boston 7 Sep 1954
Set 6	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Levee Blues	Jimmy Dorsey’s Dorseyland Band (voc) Charlie Teagarden	Radio Transcription Hollywood 1950
Till The End of Time	Woody Herman Orchestra (voc) Frances Wayne	‘Woody Herman Show’ ABC 1 Dec 1946
Margie	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘Trianon Time’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca KECA ABC LA 1945
I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme) + Ooh! That Kiss!	Freddy Rich Orchestra	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
You Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It	Harry James Orchestra	Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca KECA ABC LA Dec 1945
Section A + Theme	Raymond Scott Orchestra	‘Raymond Scott Show’ AFRS Re-broadcast
Set 7	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
When My Dreamboat Comes Home	Jimmy Rushing (voc) Count Basie Orchestra	Aircheck Savoy Ballroom New York City 30 Jun 1937
The Glider	Artie Shaw Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Santa Barbara Ca 10 Oct 1945
Artistry in Rhythm (theme) + Eager Beaver	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 28 Nov 1944
Savoy Blues	George Lewis	‘Dixieland Jamboree’ WDSU ABC New Orleans 7 Oct 1950
Get Out Of Town	Leah Matthews (voc) Woody Herman’s Third Herd	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Peony Park WOW NBC Omaha 1954
Tangerine	Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberle (voc) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra	Aircheck
Chicago	Benny Goodman	NBC TV 1967

Savoy Ballroom Broadcasts – Phantom Dancer Radio Show 31 July 2018

A set of 1930s-40s live radio swing from ‘The Home of Happy Feet’, the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York City is the feature on this week’s Phantom Dancer.

Every Tuesday, authentic jazz deco singer and actor, Greg Poppleton, brings you The Phantom Dancer.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mixtape of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio, recorded live-to-air at 107.3 2SER Sydney, Tuesdays 12:04 – 2pm.

It’s re-broadcast on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online.

You can hear this week’s Phantom Dancer immediately after the 31 July broadcast online at 2ser.com. That’s the place where you’ll also find lots of past Phantom Dancer swing jazz mix tapes.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX

– has a set Charlie Barnet from live 1957-59 radio, a set of jazz from the humorous 1940-41 ‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ radio series, a set of 1935 Claude Hopkins Orchestra radio transcriptions and the Savoy Ballroom feature. See the play list below….

SAVOY BALLROOM

‘The Home of Happy Feet’ was described by poet Langston Hughes in his ‘Juke Box Love Song’ as the ‘Heartbeat of Harlem’ – Harlem being the centre of the African-America community in New York City.

On this week’s Phantom Dancer, the 1938 CBS broadcast of ‘This is New York’, Fats Waller names it as the Harlem go-to place ‘where everyone’s hip to the jive’. He then launches into the 1934 song that has since become a jazz standard, ‘Stomping at the Savoy’.

Being in Harlem, and as the ‘soul of the neighbourhood’, the dance hall, billed at its opening as the ‘World’s Finest Ballroom’, had a largely black clientele and band roster. However, the club had a no-discrimination policy, the important thing was that patrons knew how to dance and could swing.

10,000 SQUARE FEET

The ballroom at the Savoy, on the second floor of the building accessed by a marble staircase, was 10,000 square feet in area and could hold 4,000 people.

The ballroom walls were painted pink and lined with mirrors. Coloured lights shone on the sprung dance floor. The floor was replaced every three years because of the amount of dancing that took place.

On opening night, 20 March 1926, the New York Age reported, “Savoy Turns 2,000 Away On Opening Night – Crowds Pack Ball Room All Week”.

LINDY HOPPERS

Herbert White was a bouncer turned floor manager at the Savoy in the early 1930s. He kept an eye out for the best dancers to form his own dance troupe. This made the Savoy unique in that it came to house the best Lindy Hoppers.

Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, as the cohort came to be known, turned professional in 1935 appearing on Broadway and in Hollywood including the 1937 Marx Brothers’ movie, ‘A Day at the Races’.

“The Savoy held a yearly dancing festival called the Harvest Moon Ball featuring lindy dancers. The first Ball was held in 1935, and the contestants introduced the Lindy Hop to Europe the next year.” (wiki)

As well as The Lindy Hop, other dances born in the Savoy dance hot house were The Flying Charleston, Jive, Snakehips, Rhumboogie, and variations of the Shimmy and Mambo.

‘The Evolution of Negro Dance’ was the Savoy’s contribution to the 1939 New York World Fair.

BANDS

The Savoy had a double bandstand so the music could be continuous for dancers with two bands playing alternatively each night. This also allowed the famous Savoy swing band cutting contests of the late 1930s.

Swing bands synonymous with the Savoy include the orchestras of Chick Webb, Erskine Hawkins, Lucky Millinder, Buddy Johnson and Cootie Williams who you’ll hear with Charlie Parker on this week’s Phantom Dancer mix.

The NYPD and Army shut the Savoy down in April 1943 on vice charges, despite the place having been run by gangsters since its 1926 opening. The ridiculous closure was reversed by mid-October that year.

TORN DOWN

The Savoy continued to operate until October 1958. Despite a big campaign to save it, the building was demolished for a housing complex.

“On 26 May 2002, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, surviving members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, unveiled a commemorative plaque for the Savoy Ballroom.” (wiki)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Dancing at the Savoy c 1950s

31 JULY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #324
107.3 2SER Tuesday 31 July 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 23 other stations.
Set 1	Charlie Barnet
Redskin Rhumba (theme) + Lumby	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	‘Charlie Barnet Show’ Radio Transcription 1957
Along The Santa Fe Trail	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Salt Air Ballroom KDYL Salt Lake City UT 5 Jun 1957
Moten Swing + Redskin Rhumba	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Palladium Ballroom AFRS Re-broadcast 1959
Set 2	Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street
Open + Beale St Blues	Henry Levine Dixieland Octet	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 16 Jun 1940
Flying Home	Lionel Hampton	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 19 Aug 1940
I Dreamt I Dwelled in Harlem + Close	Paul Lavalle Woodwinds	‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 1 Sep 1941
Set 3	The Blooz
Pointless Mama Blues	Herbie Fields and Miles Davis (voc) Rubberlegs Williams	Comm Rec New York City 24 Apr 1945
Chubby’s Blues	Woody Herman’s First Herd (voc) Woody Herman	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WABC CBS NY 18 Feb 1945
Rocky Mountain Blues	Fletcher Henderson Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 21 Jan 1927
Set 4	Latin Sounds
Agata	Nino Taranto	Comm Rec Turin 1937
Pim Pam Pum	Nita Rosa (voc) Xavier Cugat Orchestra	‘Xavier Cugat Show’ AFRS Re-broadcast 1944
Instrumental + Close	Enric Madriguera and his Music of the Americas	‘One Night Stand’ Copacabana New York City AFRS Re-broadcast 5 Jul 1945
Set 5	Trad Jazz on Radio
Back To Coajingalong	George Trevare Orchestra	Comm Rec Sydney 1945
Bay City (theme) + Ragtime Dance	Turk Murphy San Francisco Jazz Band	Easy Street KCBS CBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958
Indiana	Kid Ory Jazz Band	Club Hangover KCBS CBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954
Farewell Blues + Close	Muggsy Spanier	‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 22 Mar 1947
Set 6	Claude Hopkins Radio Transcriptions
I’d Do Anything For You	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 18 Oct 1935
Chasing the Blues Away	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
Singin’ in the Rain	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet	Claude Hopkins Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York City 1935
Set 7	Stompin’ at the Savoy
Stompin’ at the Savoy	Fats Waller	‘This is New York’ WABC CBS NY 11 Dec 1938
Body and Soul (theme) + Chicago	Coleman Hawkins Orchestra	Savoy Ballroom Aircheck 4 Aug 1940
The Count Steps In	Count Basie Orchestra	Savoy Ballroom Aircheck 30 Jun 1937
Floogie Boo + Close	Cootie Williams Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945
Set 8	Progessive Jazz on the Air
The Gentle Art of Love (theme) + Aw, C’mon	Oscar Pettiford	Birdland WABC ABC NY Jun 1957
Little Girl Blue	Stan Getz	Basin Street WCBS CBS NY 1956
Cement Mixer	Slim Gaillard	Birdland WJZ ABC NY 20 May 1951

Sarah Vaughan Was Not A Jazz Singer – 10 Oct Subscriber Drive Phantom Dancer

The Tuesday October 10 and 18 Phantom Dancers will be part of the annual 2SER Subscriber Drive.

The Phantom Dancer, which I’ve presented since 1985 on 2SER, is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s – 1960s radio and TV.

On-air and online, 107.3 2SER Sydney after the 12 noon news. Hear the show any time online at the 2SER website.

And for both Subscriber Drive Phantom Dancer shows, you’ll hear some of the greats of jazz, including Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong and Harry James, from live 1920s-60s radio, broadcasting money songs and songs to inspire you to support the Phantom Dancer with your $$$$.

SUBSCRIBE OR DONATE

Donations are tax deductible. Subscriptions cost as little as a coffee a month and now can be direct debited monthly.

Call the Phantom Dancer during the 2SER Subscriber Drive, 02 9514 9500 or online to give your financial support.

WHY SUPPORT THE PHANTOM DANCER?

2SER is a grassroots, community-funded Sydney station and we couldn’t deliver to you the stories, ideas and music that we do each and every day, seven days a week, year-round without the support of listeners just like you. 2SER has supported The Phantom Dancer since December 1985.

‘Supporter Drive’ is 2SER’s annual fundraiser.

In order for 2SER to remain independent, once a year we go on air and ask our listeners to dig deep and financially support the station. 2SER gets no funding from the government, we are limited in the amount of sponsorship we can take, and the rest of funds come from a variety of projects and grants.

The revenue raised through Supporter Drive is vital for the survival of 2SER

Each year, we ask our listeners for money to help us keep making great radio. We ask them to become a supporter or make a tax deductible donation.

The financial support from our listeners helps pay for our equipment and maintenance, and is an important part of our budget. It helps to ensure that we are free of commercial influences and it also gives our listeners a sense of ownership of the station; which is a great thing because without them we wouldn’t have a station.

There’s no prizes, no gimmicks, but we need your support to keep 2SER 107.3 on air in Sydney. If you’d like to help then head to 2ser.com/donate and give what you can.

PROGRAM NOTE: SARAH VAUGHAN

Over the last two weeks I’ve described some of the ‘classical’ background of Fats Waller and Harry James.

This week I’m playing a song from a 1953 NBC broadcast by Sarah Vaughan, an extraordinary singer who had NO classical background, but a singer with a vocal instrument acclaimed as being suited for opera, though she chose not to train in that genre.

Vaughan’s New York Times obituary stated, “[Sarah was a] singer who brought an operatic splendour to her performances of popular standards and jazz.”

Her voice which remained resonant and supple throughout her illustrious career, spanned soprano to female baritone with no difficult intervals. Musicologist Henry Pleasants noted that Vaughan ranged from a soprano high C down to contralto low D.

She used a hand held microphone to add ternary dynamics to her voice.

As to being a jazz singer?

Sarah avoided classifying herself as one. In a 1982 interview for Down Beat she said,
“I don’t know why people call me a jazz singer, though I guess people associate me with jazz because I was raised in it, from way back. I’m not putting jazz down, but I’m not a jazz singer…I’ve recorded all kinds of music, but (to them) I’m either a jazz singer or a blues singer. I can’t sing a blues – just a right-out blues – but I can put the blues in whatever I sing.”

Here’s Sarah singing rock/doo-wop/cha-cha in 1959 and having a laugh during the song. Enjoy!

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #282 107.3 2SER Tuesday 10 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 Jazz Women on Radio support 2SER Open + I Get A Kick Out Of You Sarah Vaughan ‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland 29 Mar 1953 Cry Me A River Julie London ’All-Star Parade of Bands’ Cameo WRCA NBC NYC 1956 Thank You Frances Faye ’All-Star Parade of Bands’ Cameo WRCA NBC NYC 5 Mar 1956 Set 2 Loosen the Purse Strings with 1940s Swing Theme + Always Harry James Orchestra (voc) Buddy Moreno and Band ’March of Dimes’ Radio Transcription 1944 Got a Penny, Jenny? Stan Kenton Orchestra (voc) June Christy Radio Transcription Hollywood Dec 1945 Give Me Twenty Nickels For a Dollar Nat King Cole ’King Cole Trio Time’ WMAQ NBC Chicago 1 Mar 1947 Set 3 1930s Dance Bands Donation Jamboree Jamboree Frank Coughlan Orchestra (voc) FC ’Featuradio radio Transcription’ Sydney Jul 1937 The Coat and The Pants Do All of the Work Bob Dyer Comm Rec Sydney 5 Sep 1940 I’m Shooting High Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward Congress Hotel WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 Jan 1936 Set 4 Swing Bands on 1943-46 Radio Singin’ In The Rain Cliff Edwards (uke and voc) Comm Rec Los Angeles 28 May 1929 Let a Little Pleasure Interfere With Business Philco Orchestra (tp) Bob Effros ’Philco Show’ WABC CBS NY 1930 That’s A’Plenty + Say It With Music (theme) Red Nichols Orchestra ’Brunswick Brevities’ Radio Transcription 27 Aug 1929 Set 5 Money Songs on 1940s Swing Radio Get Some Cash For Your Trash Fats Waller Broadcast Garrick Stare Var Theatre Chicago 2 Feb 1942 Million Dollar Smile Dinah Washington (voc) Lionel Hampton Orchestra ’Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 16 Oct 1944 This Is Worth Fighting For Harry James Orchestra (voc) Jimmy Saunders ’Treasury War Bond Show’ Radio Transcription Mar 1942 Three Cent Stomp Duke Ellington Orchestra ’Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Feb 1949 Set 6 1930s Dance Bands Want You To Subscribe You’re The Top Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Skinnay Ennis Radio Transcription New York 14 Dec 1934 The Gold Diggers Song Jack Hylton Orchestra Comm Rec London 28 Jul 1933 You’ve Stayed Away Too Long Claude Hopkins Orchestra Radio Transcription New York 1935 The Moon Is A Silver Dollar Gray Gordon Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra (voc) Cliff Grass Radio Transcription New York 1939 Set 7 Glenn Miller Says, “It’s Great to Donate” Outside Of That I Love You Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Marion Hutton and Tex Beneke ‘Chesterfield Show’ Masonic Auditorium CBS Detroit 26 Jun 1940 Sold American Glenn Miller Orchestra Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WEAF NBC Red NY 8 Mar 1939 Open + Flying Home Glenn Miller Orchestra ’I Sustain the Wings War Bond Rally’ Chicago Theatre WBBM CBS Chicago 10 Jun 1944 The Moon Is A Silver Dollar Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Marion Hutton Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WEAF NBC Red NY 18 Apr 1939 Set 8 Bop and Post Bop Appeals For Your Dough Off 1945-64 Radio I Want Every Bit Of It Ruuberlegs Williams (voc) Clyde Hart’s All-Stars including Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker Comm Rec New York Jan 1945 A Gem From Tiffany Shelly Manne Quintet Basin Street WCBS CBS NY 1956 To Each His Own Claude Thornhill Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Steel Pier Atlantic City NJ AFRS Re-broadcast 24 Aug 1956 More Duke Ellington Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Steel Pier Atlantic City NJ AFRS Re-broadcast Jul 1964

New Sydney 1920s Dance Orchestra Short Film

Here’s a YouTube short of the 1920s-style dance orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, which I hope you’ll enjoy for both the music and dancing.

The short was directed by Chicago-born, Sydney-based director, Justin Lane. It was filmed at a live concert by the orchestra at the Glen Street Theatre in Sydney.

The song is, ‘Breakaway’, or, ‘Let’s Do The Breakaway’, colloquially, written by Arthur Kay for the Fox Movietone Follies of 1929, a lost film.

The Lounge Bar Lotharios play the songs that made the Roaring 20s roar. And in its short existence the orchestra has already played some massive shows including the 1920s themed Gala Dance for the Centenary Celebrations of the Australian capital, Canberra.

The orchestra is lead by myself, Greg Poppleton (singer). The musical director, Geoff Power (gold trumpet), has toured the U.S. 9 times and recorded with Vince Giordano.

The dancers are the Sydney SwingKatz, lead by James Star.

I hope you enjoy Breakaway by The Lounge Bar Lotharios: ‘Let’s Do The Breakaway’. We play all events. Please contact us for your quote.