With A Name Like Poppleton I Must Pop

As Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer, I put on a show, interact with the audience, constantly improvise, spontaneously take risks.

How can I have a name like Poppleton if I don’t Pop!

Look at the band’s 12 January 2019 Unanderra Hotel show (full house) for the Illawarra Jazz Club.

What’s going on in this photo?

I’d just sung the first chorus of Singing in the Bathtub in the 2nd set of my Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s show on stage at the Unanderra Hotel.

Then I jumped off stage and told the audience, “Everyone sounds good when they sing in the the bathroom. I will now demonstrate.”

So I walked through the audience as the band played on and went to the Gents.

Shelley Rae King, former Illawarra Jazz Club president, raced in to take snaps as I sang the second chorus from the public toilet using the full tiled amplifying bathroom reverb only a 1920s megaphone in a throne room can give.

Meanwhile, the band’s still playing on stage.

And the audience is having a great time – being surprised and entertained.

They’re being entertained by a singer whose voice can fill a 150 people room, off stage from a toilet, with only a megaphone, while a sousaphone, alto sax, banjo and washboard swing on stage without missing a beat.

It’s all sounding so good a swing dance couple join me in the toilet – dancing to the music…

One-by-one the band spontaneously walk off stage, still playing as I sing, to join me in the big porcelain echo chamber.

First Adam Barnard taps in on the washboard. Grahame Conlon strums along on the banjo (which weighs a ton). Damon Poppleton wails in playing alto sax. It gets a bit crowded when Geoff Power on sousaphone joins in…

Who’d would expect that would happen from a 1920s – 30s singer and band. Here’s a photo taken on stage by one of the audience of Damon, Geoff on cornet and myself a couple of minutes before the first set.

Below, Damon takes his last solo as a 15 year old, with Geoff Power on sousaphone and Grahame Conlon, banjo…

Book Greg Poppleton for you event

As I sang off the top of my head at Unanderra:-

“It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that Pop CD, 20 bucks, 20 bucks, 20 bucks, 20 bucks.” (Only $12 CD / $7 download on Bandcamp)

Band Website

Actor Website

Back By Popular Demand Saturday 12 January

Illawarra Jazz Club presents:

The first Greg Poppleton show for 2019.

Come along for

1920s jazz and 1930s swing

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

and his band of swingers.

 

It’s fast. It’s free.

And wait till you get Greg’s jokes!

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

 

The Illawarra Jazz Club writes:

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

 

Greg is backed by his swinging band of:

Geoff Power – ARIA nominee: trumpet & sousaphone

Damon Poppleton – 2018 School Spec jazz soloist: alto sax

Grahame Conlon – TV music maestro: banjo & guitar

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

 

Saturday 12 January

Unanderra Hotel

27 Central Road, Unanderra

Next to the Princes Hwy.

5 minutes walk from Unanderra Station.

 

FREE

Visit the Facebook event page

Another Triumph For Art In Wollongong

It’s always a great pleasure singing the songs of the 1920s – 30s to the always appreciative audience in The Basement of The Builders Club, Wollongong.

And it’s also always a great joy to sing with swinging Grahame Conlon on guitar and doubling on banjo, and the spontaneous Dave Clayton on double bass.

Songs in English, German, Italian and Spanish included Tip Toe Through The Tulips, El Mansiero, Dove e Quando?, Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt and My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes.

The Builders Club has jazz in The Basement every Sunday 2:30 – 5:30pm. Free!

We’ll be back at The Builders Club in August and November. We hope to see you there, too. And if you want Greg Poppleton at your place, Enquire Now

The Builders Club, 61 Church Street, Wollongong

 

Greg Poppleton – 1920s-1930s singer with Dave Clayton on double bass at The Builders Club, Wollongong, Sunday 6 May

 

The Greg Poppleton 1920s Ear Trumpet suspension microphone

 

Grahame Conlon guitar (and doubling banjo) with Greg Poppleton

 

Dave Clayton feeling ‘I Got Rhythm’ on double bass, Greg Poppleton jazz deco band.

Purchase CDs or Download: Bandcamp (in $A which is 0.75$US)
Booking enquiries: www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Greg Poppleton This Sunday Builders’ Club

This Sunday, May 6,  2:30-5:30pm, Greg Poppleton Make Jazz Deco Pop at the Wollongong Builders Club, 2:30-5:30pm Free!

Come and join him in The Basement, that never closes (Builders Club 61 Church St Wollongong) for an afternoon of music and fun.

Free event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/364249694076365/

Greg Poppleton Builders Club Show Wollongong 4 February

It was a very full house for Greg Poppleton, authentic 1920s – 30s singer, at The Basement, Builders’ Club Wollongong for their weekly Sunday Jazz.

Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo, Dave Clayton double bass and myself singing return to The Basement, 61 Church St Wollongong, 2:30-5:30pm Sunday 6 May. FREE.

In the third set we enjoyed two sit-ins on Ice Bucket and Jazz Vocals.

Firstly, Bob Gillespie, former musical director for Lovelace Watkins and drummer for the Maynard Ferguson English Orchestra, came up to play the ice bucket.

Then I invited jazz singer, Marie Wilson, who was having a great time in the audience, to come up and sing a few songs.

She’s such a wonderful jazz singer she was booked on the spot to appear at The Basement Wollongong later this year.

Book Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton, now for your events, weddings, parties, corporate functions

I hope you enjoy the photos. Thanks Grahame for the use of your iPhone…

Greg Poppleton at The Builders Club, Wollongong, Sunday 4 Feb 2018. Greg sings again at The Builders Club, 2:30pm, Sunday 6 May.

 

Dave Clayton, double bass with Greg Poppleton

 

Bob Gillespie playing the Ice Bucket, accompanied by Grahame Conlon on banjo with Greg Poppleton’s band.

 

Marie Wilson singing with Grahame Conlon guitar and Dave Clayton double bass in the Greg Poppleton band.

Book Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton, now for your events, weddings, parties, corporate functions. Over 1.17 Million total YouTube plays…

 

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.
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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

Greg Poppleton Newsletter Nov 2017 – Kiama Wedding and Sydney Town Hall Event

What’s Happening?
Wedding Kiama 4 Nov
Penrith RSL 11 Nov
Bondi Pavilion 15 Nov
Private Event Sydney Town Hall 23 Nov

Need Music?
Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer with duo to big band. Sounds fabulous? 
Click here to get your quote today.

Wedding

Having a live 1920s – 1930s jazz and swing band can make a fantastic difference to your wedding, but having Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer and band gives you the biggest emotional impact. We’re looking forward to playing a wedding this Saturday in Kiama for an excited bride and groom who were thrilled when they saw the band at the Corrimal Hotel last month. Read Greg’s article about the wedding in the photo above, and find out how Greg Poppleton and the band can add real 1920s – 1930s charm to your special day.

Coming to Penrith RSL 11 November

Greg and the 1920s – 1930s band are heading west to one our favourite venues, Penrith RSL, 8 Tindale St Penrith, 2-5pm. We’ve been playing at Penrith for nine years and the local jazz club tells us we are one of their most popular bands.

In the band with Greg on Armistice Day:
Grahame Conlon – guitar and banjo (Mellotones)
Stan Kenton – double bass (Mellotones)
Damon Poppleton – alto sax (Anna Vriend)
Bob Gillespie – drums (Maynard Fergusson, Lovelace Watkins, touring Glenn Miller Orchestra)

Dance floor, child friendly, affordable bar and bistro. FREE entry!
Drop in for as long as you like – you don’t have to stay for the whole show, though most people do. Read Greg’s article with photos about the band’s August 2017 Penrith RSL show.

Sydney Town Hall 23 November

Greg Poppleton and his 4-piece 1920s – 1930s Jazz and Swing band entertain in a private show with other acts in Sydney Town Hall, 23 November. Greg, singing in real 1920s – 1930s style, will be accompanied by his internationally toured band musicians Geoff Power trumpet and sousaphone, Paul Furniss alto sax and clarinet, Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo, Adam Barnard drums and washboard. Book Greg for your event

Could You Get A Fax In 1938?

Yes. WOR New York makes its 1938 announcement about ‘Radio Fax’ on next Tuesday’s Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton. Every week, live from 107.3 2SER Sydney, online and over 23 radio stations across Australia, Greg Poppleton presents The Phantom Dancer, his multi-award-winning non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV.

Read Greg’s article about 1930s Radio Fax along with next week’s Phantom Dancer swing play list and Greg’s historic Video of the Week feature.

October Band Photos

Builders Club
Three years at the Builders Club and another fun afternoon with our Wollongong friends. See article »

Corrimal Hotel
A full house for the whole afternoon as Greg Poppleton and band played for the Illawarra Jazz Club. See article »

Contact Greg’s management, Tony Jex, directly at OzManagement for all performance enquiries, private events and functions: info@ozmanagement.com

Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s Singer Speakeasy Photos – Builders Club Wollongong Show 22 October

It’s always a pleasure to be invited back to The Basement in Wollongong to sing the songs of the 1920s – 1930s with my band – Damon Poppleton alto sax, Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo, Dave Clayton double bass.

We turn the intimate cellar into a speakeasy with authentic 1920s – 30s vocals and songs.

We introduced some new old songs to the repertoire for The Basement in the Wollongong Builders Club, including The Continental (as sung by Ginger Rogers), My Canary Has Circle Under His Eyes (as sing by Marion Harris) and Singing In The Bathtub (as sing by Winnie Lightner).

I took some photos for you.

We’re playing next at Penrith RSL, 8 Tindale St Penrith, Saturday 11 November, 2 – 5pm. FREE!

For more info about the band and band bookings, please visit the band website www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s jazz swing singer and band leader

Damon Poppleton, alto sax, with Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s jazz band

Dave Clayton, double bass, Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s jazz swing band

Grahame Conlon, guitar doubling banjo, Greg Poppleton 1920s – 1930s jazz swing band

Builders Club mural, Wollongong

Please visit the band website www.gregpoppletonmusic.com

Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s Show, Corrimal Hotel 7 October – Illawarra Jazz Club

Every Saturday, the Illawarra Jazz Club in Wollongong, hosts a jazz band at the Corrimal Hotel on the Princes Highway in Corrimal.

Greg Poppleton and band were invited to play on Saturday 7 October.

The brief was to use as many outstanding young players as possible in a 1920s – 30s quartet who could play in the style.

So the band featured Damon Poppleton (14) on alto sax, Michael Brady (22) on guitarlele and banjo, Jim Elliott bass sax, Adam Barnard on snare, bells, splash cymbal and washboard, and myself singing the songs of the Jazz Age and Swing Era.

What a fun afternoon. It was full house from 3:30 till the show’s end at 6:30pm. And the Jazz Club told me it was the largest turnout in some months.

 

Have us at your place! Visit the band website www.gregpoppletonmusic.com.

Adam Barnard on washboard

Damon Poppleton, alto sax

Dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s – 1930s jazz and swing

Michael Brady on the guitarlele doubling banjo

Greg Poppleton, authentic 1920s-1930s singer

The Greg Poppleton band at Corrimal Hotel

Jim Elliott, bass sax

Have us at your place! For bookings, visit the band website, www.gregpoppletonmusic.com.

Ever Heard A Metamodern Band? Now’s Your Chance

Greg Poppleton, 1920s singer, at the Illawarra Jazz Club

 

Derrida said,

“If this work seems so threatening, this is because it isn’t simply eccentric or strange, but competent, rigorously argued, and carrying conviction.”

The Illawarra Jazz Club presents Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton, with his metamodern jazz band, for an afternoon of Liederhosen.

Let me explain…

Greg Poppleton’s music is a metamodern mediation between aspects of modernism and postmodernism.

As a modernist he is Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer.

As a postmodernist he is both cognizant that he can never be truly ‘authentic’ yet pursues his single-minded mission with Virilian speed to create fascinatingly ephemeral ‘1920s Urzeiten’ unique to his time and place on stage.

“To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend,” Jacques Derrida.

Deftly avoiding jazz cliches and gimmicky contemporary music incorporations, Greg becomes ‘1920s’ on-stage utilising a thorough ethical framework of sound music practice, stagecraft and an authentic passion for the genre since earliest childhood.

“All human knowledge takes the form of interpretation,” Weimar Jazz Age writer, broadcaster and essayist, Walter Benjamin.

Greg is truly a metamodern singer in English and German, and the Corrimal Hotel is the one place in the Illawarra where this musical intersection can engage, challenge and charm.

Totally untouched by contemporary music, producing sounds that intrigue and catch listeners off-guard, Greg has over 1 MILLION YouTube plays for just one mix of his 1920s-30s music from three albums.

Gloriously rejected by the more traditional elements of the jazz community in which he is supposed to belong and embraced by Bob Rogers on commercial radio and 18-35 year olds in Europe, the US and Mexico, there is no middle ground with Greg Poppleton.

Greg entertains, bringing an operatically trained voice, a lifelong single-minded approach to the music of the 1920s and 1930s, and an acting background which has seen him in movie scenes opposite such Hollywood stars as Nicole Kidman, Adrien Brody and John Goodman.

Now I ask you, writing in the first person, is there a place for my metamodern Greg Poppleton band in your hearts so that you’ll be at the Corrimal Hotel, Saturday 7 October, 3:30-6:30pm?

There’s a bistro. A bar. And no PA!

To find out more, do visit Greg’s website at http://www.gregpoppletonmusic.com for photos, music and contact.

Greg Poppleton, Corrimal Hotel, Sat 7 Oct