Sweet Sue – a happy song for a Happy New Year! It’s an upbeat 1920s song for you to celebrate the end of 2020. Sweet Sue soundtrack is from the 2020 album ‘Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2’
Video clips are from shows at Glen Street Theatre,Sydney Central Station,NSW Rail Museum, and theCamelot Lounge Marrickville with swing dancers – Sue Ann Yap, All About Swing, Sydney Swing Katz.
Support the band, download this song or the album from your favourite online music emporia, including,
Band on Sweet Sue soundtrack: Greg Poppleton: 1920s – 1930s vocals Paul Furniss: clarinet Al Davey: trumpet Grahame Conlon: guitar Mark Harris: double bass Lawrie Thompson: drums and washboard
Band in film clips: Greg Poppleton: 1920s – 1930s vocals Damon Poppleton: alto sax Grahame Conlon: guitar and banjo Geoff Power: sousaphone Rod Herbert: sousaphone Adam Barnard: washboard Bob Gillespie: drums
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.
Facebook Live, Wednesday 12 August, 1:30pm – 2:30pm AEST (8:30 – 9:30 pm PDT). I’ll serenade you live on Facebook Live with 1920s – 30s songs backed by Grahame Conlon on guitar and banjo https://www.facebook.com/WhatsOnWaverley
For 15 years, I’ve been singing the songs of the 1920s – 1930s at a yearly concert held at Bondi Pavilion, right on iconic Bondi Beach.
This year, with the historic Pavilion being renovated and with social distancing due to Covid, the annual concert is being beamed on Facebook Live.
Over the years at Bondi, a number of audience requests have been added into the band’s song lists. These include You Are My Sunshine, Road to Gundagai and Falling in Love Again.
All these songs are now available to download. Visit the shop
You Are My Sunshine is from the latest album, Tin Pan Alley Vol 2, now on Apple Music and Spotify…
Another favourite 1920s song audiences ask for at a Greg Poppleton concert is Carolina in the Morning which is the final track of the new album Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2. Here’s the video.
I hope you can join me on Wednesday 12 August when I’ll sing the songs of the 1920s – 1930s and chat about the songs, too.
La Paloma is from my new swingy, jazzy album with songs in English, German and Spanish (all in Australian accent) called Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2 – out this 2 July on, SPOTIFY APPLE
And four of my favourite tracks will be on BANDCAMP
All the songs on the album were popular in the 1920s – 30s, and continue to be especially in Jazz and Latin circles. That’s the era of songs I specialise singing in.
Here’s the video (sung in German), with clips of me and the band playing at gigs all around…
I hope you enjoy La Paloma and will add it to your play lists. Downloads at SPOTIFY, APPLE, and four of my favourite tracks are on BANDCAMP
The JAZZ BANANA is overlooked by writers on the music despite it requiring advanced vocal technique and it being tastier than vocalese. This is the alt. take of ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ (1928) for 1920s-30s Wednesdays Damon & I did last week. A different improvisiation by Damon Poppleton in the 2nd chorus. I think you’ll agree that jazz banana adds a mellow fruitiness to the 3rd. Bring out your vege!
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love with Banana, recorded Wednesday, 29 April 2020, music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Dorothy Fields (1928).
“My thanks to the band. They were superb. They made the event wonderful,”Jan, Backyard 1920s-30s theme Birthday Party, 1 Feb 2020.
Thank you, Jan!
We love playing birthdays. Being asked to play for a birthday to relive a great backyard birthday party we played at ten years before is a huge honour. It speaks volumes about Greg Poppleton’s 1920s-30s music.
It was a hot, hot day, but the cool trees in the backyard where the band played and a slight breeze made for a pleasant afternoon.
Guests talked and mingled under shady trees and a under marquee as the band entertained with songs from the 1920s – 1930s. The Greg Poppleton band: authentic 1920s-30s vocals, trumpet doubling sousaphone, banjo, and clarinet doubling bass saxophone played under a small marquess to protect the instruments from direct sun.
Greg also went into the party with his megaphone to sing personally to all the guests. This always gets a great reaction.
Some of the songs Greg sang included ‘the Charleston’, ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’, ‘El Mansiero’ and ‘Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt’ which was the theme song of Marlene Dietrich.
Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s Jazz Quartet group shot. L-r: Grahame Conlon, guitar, Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s vocals, Richelle Booth clarinet and bass sax, Geoff Power sousaphone and trumpet.
Tony Jex from OzManagement Entertainment provided the balanced sound and always at a reduced rate for the Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s band.
Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer at his vintage replica 1920s suspension mic.
To book Greg for your 1920s-30s themed event, birthday or wedding, contact Tony Jex | tony@ozmanagement.com | 0407 941 263
Greg describes himself as an authentic 1920s – 30s singer. “While I wasn’t alive in the 20s and 30s,” Greg says, “I fulfil all the other qualities of authentic for this style of vocal jazz and swing.”
When he was 3, he saw Louis Armstrong on TV and fell in love with the music. He was hooked on 20s jazz and 30s swing from then on and is a rarity in that to get to this music he didn’t migrate from some ‘youth’ music genre. I’m totally uninfluenced by other music.
Vocalists in the 20s and 30s needed strong voices to be heard. Greg’s a classically trained singer. His coach had been taught by Tito Schipa and Lauritz Melchior.
He’s not a jazz instrumentalist holding a tune while putting on a megaphone voice.
The nine songs on the album include a special German and English version of ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ as a thank you to the many fans Greg has in Germany.
Tour schedule:
October 12 – One Enchanted Evening – magic & music show Sydney
November 9 – Saturday Jazz – Penrith
January 18 – Saturday Jazz – Penrith
February 1 – Great Art Deco Ball – 1920s Festival Katoomba
March 15 – Jazz At The Pines – Dural
August 12 – Bondi Pavilion
October 20 – Private Event
Album release details:
Greg Poppleton – 1920s – 30s vocals
Al Davey – trumpet and trombone
Paul Furniss – alto sax and clarinet
Grahame Conlon – guitar, banjo and ukulele
Geoff Power – sousaphone
Rod Herbert – sousaphone (song 6)
Adam Barnard – washboard and snare
Lawrie Thompson – drums and washboard (songs 2, 6, 8)
Recorded by Peter Gage, Paul Mirtschin and Peter O’Malley, Sydney.
Phil Punch and Jem Hoppe, Electric Cave.
Mixed by Phil Punch and Jem Hoppe, Electric Cave, Sydney.
Mastered by Bob Scott, Bob Scott Audio Design and Recording, Sydney.
Artwork by Michele Tenaglia, Turin.
Discography:
(2006) The Phantom Dancer
(2012) Doin’ The Charleston
(2013) Sweet Sue
(2016) Back In Your Own Backyard
(2019) 20s 30s Tin Pan Alley Vol. 1
BIO
Greg Poppleton has been leading bands singing the songs of the 1920s – 30s since 1994. He began his present band in 2002. Since then, Greg has played jazz festivals and venues in Australia and the Waiheke International Jazz Festival in New Zealand. Two of Greg’s albums have been played on Sydney commercial radio. Greg has also been an award-winning jazz broadcaster since 1985. His Phantom Dancer radio show is heard on over 20 radio stations across Australia and online.
“FIVE STARS. Poppleton’s vocals capture the essence of the 1920s- 1930s with uncanny accuracy.”
— John Gilbert, eJazzNews (U.S)
“Last year at the Melbourne Jazz Festival and the Thredbo Jazz Festival I saw some great acts. I made Greg Poppleton an offer [to play at the Waiheke International Jazz Festival] on the spot.”
— John Quigley, Director Waiheke International Jazz Festival
“Captures the 1920s – 1930s vocal style to perfection.”
— Kevin Jones 102.5 Fine Music FM
“Absolutely flooring. Greg Poppleton’s 1920s – 1930s jazz and swing always hits the spot.”
— Women’s Vintage Radio (U.S)
“Greg Poppleton was considered a little eccentric growing up in the mid-‘70s, rifling through the back shelves of music stores looking for recordings from the Swing Era”
— Sue Javes, Sydney Morning Herald
“Greg nails the 1920s vocal stylings.”
— Bill Lawson, Radio Adelaide
“Poppleton and company get inside each tune with their complete commitment to the style.”
— Budd Kopman, All About Jazz (U.S)
“Hi Greg. I “met” you (not in person) during your Friday evening performance at the Waiheke Jazz Festival. I live my life on purpose and in the moment, rarely missing a calling / opportunity. However, during your performance I totally froze when you made eye contact, and I could not bring myself to talk to you afterwards. I regret not telling you that your music has moved and inspired me. Thank you for giving of yourself so generously! With best wishes for your future,”
— W.T. NZ
During the dinner, it was my solemn duty to break the news that Bob Hawke, Australia’s 23rd Prime Minister, had died. There is film of this moment below…
ALGWA is the national Australian Local Government Women’s Association. With branches in every state and territory it seeks to strengthen networking, mentoring and innovative opportunities that encourage and support women in local government.
ALGWA sign at conference dinner
BREAKING THE NEWS BOB HAWKE HAD DIED
When news came through during the evening that one of Australia’s most popular political leaders had died, I was asked to break the news to the conference delegates.
Thank you to Cazzbo Johns, who put down her sousaphone to film the moment I broke that sad news news mid band set at the ALGWA Conference Dinner…
<h4>1920s SINGER AND BAND</h4>
The Greg Poppleton band for the Conference Dinner included:
– Greg Poppleton: Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer singing into a 1920s suspension microphone and 1920s megaphone
– Paul Furniss: clarinet and alto saxophone
– Cazzbo (Carolyn) Johns: sousaphone
– Grahame Conlon: guitar and banjo
<h4>SOUND AND LIGHTS</h4>
were provided for the long arc shaped room by Tony Jex at OzManagement. As Tony is the booker for the Greg Poppleton band, the ALGWA Conference had lights, sound and operation at a discount.
The band photo below was taken by magneticshots.com, event photography.
Greg Poppleton 1920s band
<h4>DANCING</h4>
The Greg Poppleton band played a conga and The Charleston so that The Salsa Republic Dancers could get delegates together on the dance floor.
Salsa Republic dancing The Charleston to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s band
<h4>WHY BOOKING A REAL 1920s BAND FOR A 1920s THEME MAKES REAL DOLLARS AND SENSE</h4>
So many bands play songs from the 1920s.
The Greg Poppleton band is 1920s. That’s because Greg sings the music of the 1920s and 1930s exclusively.
The difference is sound.
Bands and DJs that play 1920s, 1930s, rock, blues, Sinatra, comb, spoons, gypsy, Buble and what ever else is supposed ‘to get people dancing’ try really hard to hide the fact they can’t make the right 1920s – 30s sounds.
It’s that simple.
Like, the family wagon is a car but racers aren’t going to use it to try and win a grand prix, are they?
Booking the family wagon instead of the specialist twenties singer and band ruins any 1920s -30s atmosphere you’ve spent money, time and reputation on creating.
Greg Poppleton 1920s singer and Cazzbo Johns on sousaphone
And here’s Cazzbo with Grahame Conlon on guitar doubling banjo in the Greg Poppleton band at the ALGWA dinner. Tony Jex is in the back ground at the sound desk.
Cazzbo Johns sousaphone, Grahame Conlon guitar doubling banjo in the Greg Poppleton band
On sax and clarinet with the Greg Poppleton band is one of Australia’s most celebrated jazz figures, Paul Furniss…
Paul Furniss with the Greg Poppleton band on alto sax and clarinet.
Actor - Singer - Voiceover 