MP3 Radio & Recording Rarities, Volume 33 - EASY LISTENING: Crooners/Vocals

Rare radio and recording performances by popular vocalists and big bands of the 1930s.

22 MP3 Songs
EASY LISTENING: Crooners/Vocals, JAZZ: Big Band

Details:
PHIL HARRIS: Thought probably best remembered for starring with his wife Alice Faye on radio together and on Jack Benny's radio program (or his turn as "Baloo" singing "Bare Necessities" in The Jungle Book animated film), Phil began as a successful and popular bandleader.

Phil came from a musical family, including a father who played piano for the Ringling Bros. Circus. AS a teen, Harris and four high school classmates formed a jazz band called The Dixieland Syncopators. His outgoing personality seemed to be destined for show business and in 1928, he teamed with Carol Lofner to form an orchestra. They spent three years at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

Harris formed his own orchestra for the Cocoanut Grove engagement in 1932, bringing some of his Harris/Loftner arrangements and hiring vocalists Jimmy Newell and 17-year-old beauty Leah Ray, from Norfolk, Virginia. In a nod to her heritage, Harris frequently referred to Leah as "the dimples from Dixie."

At the Grove, the Three Ambassadors remained the house trio, but Harris also introduced The Three Rhythm Kings additionally.

In 1934, Harris went on to an extended East Coast tour and then moved on to became famous in radio, television and film.

JIMMIE GRIER AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Musically gifted, Jimmie played alto and tenor sax, clarinet, bassoon, a bit of violin, and guitar as well - but it was his work as an arranger that made his mark in popular music. His inventive charts for the Gus Arnheim orchestra were a key to that group's success.

In early 1932, when Arnheim took advantage of his Grove publicity to make some money on the road, Jimmie Grier formed his own band and took over for his former boss. Friendly and gregarious, Grier fronted a colorful and extremely music band that reflected his relaxed personality.

Grier's orchestra featured outstanding vocalists like Dick Webster, a musical trio known as The Three Cheers, and Grove holdovers Donald Novis, Loyce Whiteman and Harry Barris.

THE COCOANUT GROVE: These recordings are from 1930s transcription recordings of live broadcasts from The Cocoanut Grove ballroom in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California; a hot spot for movie stars of the day.

The lavish club, part of the massive 23-acre resort, was decorated in Moroccan style and featured full-sized palm trees allegedly salvaged from Valentino's "The Sheik" film set. Additionally, it's "night sky" was filled with stars, thanks to 1,000 small light bulbs in the ceiling.

People who are interested in Phil Harris should consider this download.