Claude Thornhill Piano Child Prodigy – Phantom Dancer 4 September Radio Show 2018

He was a piano playing child prodigy who entered the Con at age 16 after playing professionally in theatre for years. His name is Claude Thornhill and he is this week’s Phantom Dancer feature artist.

THE PHANTOM DANCER

Swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio in a non-stop mix by Greg Poppleton.

Mixed live-to-air on radio 2SER 107.3 Sydney since 1985.

The Phantom Dancer is re-broadcast on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online at 2ser.com. That’s where you can hear lots of past Phantom Dancers, too.

IN THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX?

The Claude Thornhill feature and a whole mix of swing and jazz from live 1930s-50s radio. Read the full play list below.

The last hour of the mix is ALL VINYL.

CLAUDE THORNHILL

This week I’m quoting the wiki article on Claude Thornhill. Usually I write a bio based on different sources, but I’m short of time this week recording a new album for the Greg Poppleton band with the Billion Dollar Quartet.

“Claude Thornhill (August 10, 1908 – July 1, 1965) was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. He composed the jazz and pop standards “Snowfall” and “I Wish I Had You”.

CON

As a youth, he was recognized as an extraordinary talent and formed a traveling duo with Danny Polo, a musical prodigy on the clarinet and trumpet from nearby Clinton, Indiana. As a student at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, he played with several theater bands. Thornhill entered the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at the age of 16.

That same year he and clarinetist Artie Shaw started their careers at the Golden Pheasant in Cleveland, Ohio, with the Austin Wylie Orchestra. Thornhill and Shaw went to New York together in 1931. Thornhill went to the West Coast in the late 1930s with the Bob Hope Radio Show and arranged for Judy Garland in Babes in Arms. In 1935, he played on sessions with Glenn Miller, including “Solo Hop”, which was released on Columbia Records. He also played with Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Ray Noble, and Billie Holiday. He arranged “Loch Lomond” and “Annie Laurie” for Maxine Sullivan.

ORK

In 1939 he founded the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Danny Polo was his lead clarinet player. Although the Thornhill band was a sophisticated dance band, it became known for its superior jazz musicians and for Thornhill’s and Gil Evans’s arrangements. The band played without vibrato so that the timbres of the instruments could be better appreciated. Thornhill encouraged the musicians to develop cool-sounding tones. The band was popular with both musicians and the public. Miles Davis’s Birth of the Cool nonet was modeled in part on Thornhill’s sound and unconventional instrumentation. The band’s most successful records were “Snowfall”, “A Sunday Kind of Love”, and “Love for Love”.

Thornhill was playing at the Paramount Theater in New York for $10,000 a week in 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. As chief musician, he performed shows across the Pacific Theater with Jackie Cooper as his drummer and Dennis Day as his vocalist.

LIB

In 1946, he was discharged from the Navy and reunited his ensemble. Danny Polo, Gerry Mulligan, and Barry Galbraith returned with new members, Red Rodney, Lee Konitz, Joe Shulman, and Bill Barber. In the mid 1950s, Thornhill was briefly Tony Bennett’s musical director. He offered his big band library to Gerry Mulligan when Mulligan formed the Concert Jazz Band, but Gerry regretfully declined the gift, since his instrumentation was different. A large portion of his extensive library of music is currently held by Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.

Thornhill died of a heart attack in Caldwell, New Jersey, at the age of 56. In 1984, he was posthumously inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.”

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

A tour-de-corn from 1942 with Claude Thornhill, his piano, and his orchestra. Vocals by the Snowflakes including future bop singer with Dave Lambert, Buddy Stewart. (You can hear Dave Lambert and Buddy Stewart bop duets live in 1949 with Charie Parker on the 21 August Phantom Dancer).

4 SEPTEMBER PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #330
107.3 2SER Tuesday 4 September 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	Pop Singers on
Open + Buttons and Bows	Jo Stafford	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City 22 May 1949
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered	Margaret Whiting	‘Oxydol Show’ CBS 1950
The Birth of the Blues + Basin Street Blues + Close	Liz Tilton and Curt Massey	‘Alka-Seltzer Show’ CBS 17 Jun 1949
Set 2	1950s Radio Jazz Pop
Summertime (theme) + Them There Eyes	Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Bob Crosby	‘Marine Corp Show’ Radio Transcription 1950
At Last	The Honey Dreamers	‘Airtime’ Radio Transcription 1945
‘S Wonderful + Sleepy Time Down South (theme)	Louis Armstrong	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Basin Street WRCA NBC NY 8 May 1955
Set 3	Philco Orchestra
Let a Little Pleasure Interfere with Business	Philco Orchestra	‘Philco Show’ WABC CBS NY 1930
Cinderella Brown	Philco Orchestra	‘Philco Show’ WABC CBS NY 1930
Egyptian Ella	Philco Orchestra	‘Philco Show’ WABC CBS NY 1931
Set 4	Jan Garber 1944-45
Snowfall (theme) + Where or When	Claude Thornhill Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Glen Island Casino New Rochelle NY AFRS Re-Broadcast 23 Jun 1947
Classics in Jazz + Flight of the Bumble Bee	Claude Thornhill Orchestra	‘Saturday Night Swing Club’ WABC CBS NY 12 Jun 1937
Let’s Go Home + Close	Claude Thornhill Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Pennsylvania WJZ ABC NY 22 Sep 1947
Set 5	Swinging 1940s Big Band Radio
Stealing Apples	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Hotel Astor Roof WABC CBS New York Jul 1943
Cottontail	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘Date With The Duke’ WJZ ABC NY 10 Nov 1945
Swanee River	Lionel Hampton Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 3 Dec 1945
Mr Chips + Blue and Boogie	Billy Eckstine Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Feb 1945
Set 6	Women Singers 1939 Radio
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me	Kay Doyle (voc) Bunny Berrigan Orchestra	Mutual Network Boston 20 Sep 1939
The Very Thought of You (theme) + And the Angels Sing	Liz Tilton (voc) Ray Noble Orchestra	Beverly-Wiltshire Hotel Beverly Hills Ca KFI NBC LA 22 Oct 1939
Little Sir Echo	Doris Day (voc) Barney Rapp Orchestra	Sign of the Drum NBC Cincinnati 17 Jun 1939
Yankee Doodle	Linda Keene (voc) Jack Teagarden Orchestra	‘Young Man with a Band’ WABC CBS NY Nov 1939
Set 7	1938-40 Sweet Band Radio Transcriptions
So You’re The One	Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Innes	Radio Transcription 1940
Heart and Soul	Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Russ Carlyle	Radio Transcription 1938
It Seems Like Old Times	Glen Gray Orchestra (voc) Cliff Grass	Radio Transcription 1939
Goodbye Now	Chuck Foster Orchestra (voc) 3Ds	Radio Transcription 1940
Set 8	Bop Radio
Groovin’ The Blues	Miss Rhapsody	Comm Rec 6 Jul 1944
Hi Beck	Lee Konitz	Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954
Bye Bye Blackbird + Straight No Chaser	Miles Davis	‘Bandstand USA’ Spotlight Mutual, Washington DC Feb 1959

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.

1920s at Transport Expo 10 -12 June. Video and Photos

Every June long weekend, Transport Heritage NSW holds the Transport Heritage Expo at Sydney Central train station.

Greg Poppleton’s 1920s – 30s music played in the grand Edwardian concourse  to complement the display of vintage steam trains, rail motors, electric trains and old buses.

Here I am singing Tip Toe Through The Tulips

 

We attracted quite a crowd in the historic Sydney Central Concourse.

And we play every day at the Transport Heritage Expo, 10am – 2pm, Saturday 10 June, Sunday 11 June and Monday 12 June.

Here’s a gallery of pics…

Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s singer at the Transport Expo. Grahame Conlon guitar and Adam Barnard drums and washboard.

The Greg Poppleton backing 1920s trio – Geoff Power sousaphone, Grahame Conlon guitar, Adam Barnard drums and washboard

A gathering crowd stopping to enjoy Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s jazz and swing

Geoff Power with Greg Poppleton’s band playing cornet

Greg poppleton 1920s-30s jazz singer and Ain’t Misbehavin

Southern Aurora at the Transport Expo

Vintage train at Central Station

Enquire about having Greg Poppleton at your event, wedding and party. Enquire now.

Greg Poppleton ‘Swinging At The Speakeasy’ in Palmer & Co.

Wednesday night, 26 April, Greg Poppleton and band returned to Palmer & Co to play at the Wednesday night ‘Swinging At The Speakeasy’.

One couple at the bar, enjoying Greg Poppleton and band, told me that our energetic, swinging, 1920s performance made them think they were back in New York City.

With Greg Poppleton in the band were Paul Furniss clarinet, Paul Baker banjo and Greg Chilcott sousaphone.

Sydney swing dance school, All About Swing, headed by Siobhan and Matthew, dress up for Swinging at the Speakeasy and dance to live bands. Free!

Authentic 1920s singer Greg Poppleton with his 1920s-30s duo to full 1920s orchestra is also available for all your entertainment needs. Request a quote now.

Here are some photos from Greg Poppleton Swinging At The Speakeasy.
Photo credits: Pia, Siobhan, Tarsh and Katrina…

Greg Poppleton, authentic 1920s-30s singer and band (Paul Baker banjo, Greg Chilcott sousaphone, Paul Furniss clarinet (out of shot) Swinging At The Speakeasy.

The vibe at Swinging At The Speakeasy as Greg Poppleton played.

Greg Poppleton 1920s band with the All About Swing dancers

The dipsy doodle

Greg Poppleton singing to dancer Siobhan Ford

Would you like get the band’s monthly newsletter so you know when we’ll be back Swinging At The Speakeasy and at other places?

Join Mailing List

Thank you!

Looking for 1920s Jazz? Looking to Swing Dance in Sydney Wednesday 26 April?

Looking to Swing Dance in Sydney this Wednesday night, 26 April. Greg Poppleton and his 1920s band will be at Palmer & Co 7 – 10pm? Free

Greg Poppleton brings his hotcha 1920s jazz band to Palmer & Co for 3 hours of authentic 1920s jazz for dancing.

Palmer & Co is a 1920s speakeasy downstairs, Abercrombie Lane in Sydney, near Circular Quay and off George Street.

In the band, the best in world-toured 1920s jazz:
Greg Poppleton – authentic 1920s singer. 1 million YouTube views
Paul Furniss – clarinet. He’s played the Sidney Bechet Society
Paul Furniss – banjo. He’s toured the world with his banjo on his knee
Greg Chilcott – sousaphone. At Waiheke NZ with the band. Just back from Canada

Limelight Magazine has the story

 See you at Palmer & Co this Wednesday.

Photos Gin Mill Social 21 April

Greg Poppleton opened the final Gin Mill Social to be held at Slide with a 75 minute set of 1920s jazz, Charleston and hotcha.

In the band with Greg were Geoff Power sousaphone doubling cornet and Bradley Newman, piano.

Stay tuned for the next Gin Mill Social at another venue soon.

In the meantime, authentic 1920s – 1930s singer and band can be booked for your event, wedding corporate or party. Request a booking

Photos from the 21 April Gin Mill Social

Greg Poppleton singing and the dance floor filled with Charleston dancers

Missy on the hoop

Missy and her tableaux of 1920s European capitals

Missy, ribbon acrobat

Greg Poppleton 1920s singer with Bradley Newman, piano, and Geoff Power sousaphone doubling cornet

Authentic 1920s – 1930s singer and band can be booked for your event, wedding corporate or party. Request a booking

Greg will be bring his 1920s music next to Swinging At The Speakeasy, Palmer & co, Abercrombie Lane, Sydney, Wednesday 26 April, 7-10pm. FREE

Greg Poppleton Show Photos Builders Club, Wollongong

Greg Poppleton, 1920s – 30s singer and band, returned to The Builders Club Wollongong, Sunday 16th April.

It was the second show on the band’s Easter Tour 2017, with a enthusiastic audience in The Basement at The Builders.

Greg often took a walk through the audience to sing to everyone personally, his booming 3-octave baritone filling the room without a microphone.

On stage: Greg Poppleton (1920s-30s vocals), Grahame Conlon (guitar and banjo) Dave Clayton (double bass) and Damon Poppleton (soprano sax).

We’ll be back at the The Builders Sunday 25 June and Sunday 22 October.

Both shows are free. Music starts 2:30pm. Lights up at 5:30pm.

Meantime, we also love playing weddings, corporate events and parties. Request a quote.

Greg Poppleton and his 1920s – 30s jazz swing band at The Builders, Wollongong

Greg Poppleton singing Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt with Damon Poppleton soprano sax

Damon Poppleton on soprano sax in Greg Poppleton’s 1920s-30s Band

Grahame Conlon in Greg Poppleton’s band doubled guitar and banjo

For your wedding, corporate event and party, Request a quote.

The final Greg Poppleton on the Easter Tour 2017 will be the 1920s Gin Mill Social at Slide Cabaret, Friday 21 April. More Info and Tickets

Then, Wednesday April 26, dance to Greg Poppleton Swingin’ at the Speakeasy at Palmer & Co, Abercrombie Lane, City, 7-10pm. Free.

Penrith RSL 1920s Show Photos – 15 April 2017

Here are some photos taken today at the Penrith RSL 1920s Show – the first leg of the Greg Poppleton Easter Tour 2017 – and a clip from the local Penrith Press.

Tomorrow we’re at The Basement, Master Builders’ Club, 61 Church St Wollongong, 2:30-5:30pm. Free!

In the photos: Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s singer with red megaphone, Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo, Dave Clayton double bass, Bob Gillespie drums and Damon Poppleton soprano sax.

We also play for weddings, corporate events and parties. Request a quote.

We also play for weddings, corporate events and parties. Request a quote.