When Swing Was the Thing: Personality Profiles of the Big Band Era

329 Pages·2009·7.69 MB·English

by  John R. Tumpak

WHEN SWING WAS THE THING
PERSONALITY PROFILES OF THE BIG BAND ERA
jOHN R. TumPAk
WHEN SWING WAS THE THING
PERSONALITY PROFILES OF THE BIG BAND ERA
Library of Congress CataLoging-in-PubLiCation Data
Tumpak, John R., 1940-
When swing was the thing : personality profles of the big band era / John R. Tumpak.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-87462-024-5 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-87462-024-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Musicians—Biography. 2. Musicians—History--20th century. 3. Big band music—Biography. I. Title.
ML385.T87 2008
781.65’4—dc22
2008041410
© 2008 Marquette University Press
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-3141
All rights reserved.
www.marquette.edu/mupress/
founded 1916
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information Sciences—
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
cONTENTS
Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................................7
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................9
PART ONE: THE BAND LEADERS
Van Alexander .....................................................................................................................................13
Benny Goodman .................................................................................................................................16
Horace Heidt ......................................................................................................................................23
John Kirby ...........................................................................................................................................30
Kay Kyser.............................................................................................................................................36
Billy May ..............................................................................................................................................41
Ray McKinley .....................................................................................................................................46
Glenn Miller ........................................................................................................................................56
Alvino Rey and the King Sisters .......................................................................................................63
Jan Savitt ..............................................................................................................................................70
Artie Shaw ...........................................................................................................................................76
Orrin Tucker .......................................................................................................................................84
Chick Webb and Mario Bauza ..........................................................................................................87
Gerald Wilson .....................................................................................................................................92
Photos for Part 1
PART TWO: THE MUSICIANS
Ernani Bernardi ..................................................................................................................................99
Milt Bernhart ....................................................................................................................................103
Buddy Childers .................................................................................................................................109
Jack Costanzo ....................................................................................................................................114
Rosalind Cron ...................................................................................................................................119
Alan Greenspan ................................................................................................................................126
Jake Hanna ........................................................................................................................................128
Roc Hillman ......................................................................................................................................132
Legh Knowles ....................................................................................................................................135
John LaPorta .....................................................................................................................................141
Willie Schwartz and Peggy Clark ...................................................................................................147
Chico Sesma ......................................................................................................................................152
Butch Stone .......................................................................................................................................157
Paul Tanner .......................................................................................................................................160
Zeke Zarchy ......................................................................................................................................163
Photos for Part 2
6 when swing was the thing
PART THREE: THE VOCALISTS
Bob Eberly .........................................................................................................................................169
Herb Jefries .......................................................................................................................................176
Jack Leonard ......................................................................................................................................181
Dolores O’Neill .................................................................................................................................185
Andy Russell .....................................................................................................................................190
Jo Staford ..........................................................................................................................................194
Kay Starr ............................................................................................................................................200
Garry Stevens ....................................................................................................................................206
Martha Tilton....................................................................................................................................212
Bea Wain ............................................................................................................................................216
Margaret Whiting .............................................................................................................................220
Photos for Part 3
PART FOUR: THE ARRANGERS
Frank Comstock ................................................................................................................................227
Fletcher Henderson, Don Redman and Sy Oliver ........................................................................233
Johnny Mandel ..................................................................................................................................237
Photos for Part 4
PART FIVE: THE CONTRIBUTORS
Chuck Cecil .......................................................................................................................................245
Henry Holloway ...............................................................................................................................248
Tom Sheils .........................................................................................................................................252
George T. Simon ...............................................................................................................................258
Photos for Part 5
Photo Credits ......................................................................................................................................261
Index ...................................................................................................................................................262
AckNOWLEDGEmENTS
his book is a compilation of articles that originally appeared in four jazz publications.
Special thanks must be extended to Myrna Daniels, publisher of L.A. Jazz Scene, with
Twhom I have collaborated since 1995. We have a long and warm working relationship
that has been most satisfying both personally and professionally. Appreciation also goes to pub-
lishers Patti Johnson and Michael Fitzmaurice of Dancing USA, Gene Joslin of Joslin’s Jazz Jour-
nal, and Leslie Johnson of Te Mississippi Rag. Tey have all been a delight to work with and I
appreciate their introducing my articles in their publications.
Several jazz publications have reprinted many of my articles and I thank them. Tey are Band-
stand, Big Band Buddies, Big Bands International, Big Band World, International Musician, Jersey
Jazz, Miller Notes, Moonlight Serenader, and Riverwalk Jazz. Others include Te Bandstand, Te
BBC Big Band Club, Te Herds, and Te Voice. Newspapers take in the Eastern Group Publica-
tions, L.A.Watts Times, Los Angeles Sentinel, and the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal.
I found the mediums of radio and television to be an outstanding source of information. Chuck
Cecil’s Swingin’ Years, Don Kennedy’s Big Band Jump, and David Miller’s Swingin’ Down Te
Lane are long running radio shows that feature live interviews with big band personalities along
with historical comment. Also of considerable value were the many interviews with big band
personalities that are available for listening online on Arnold Dean’s A One-Night Stand with the
Big Bands and Fred Hall’s Swing Ting. NPR’s Jazz Profles series and its executive producer Tim
Owens plus the BBC’s excellent jazz documentaries were of great help as well. Te many PBS
fund raisers that featured the big bands on television included live interviews with Era luminaries
and pointed me in the right direction to generate ideas and pursue research resources.
Te Glenn Miller community was a source I could always depend on to answer any question
related to the Era. Special thanks go to Alan Cass, Wilda Martin, Ed Polic, Tom Sheils, Paul
Tanner, Zeke Zarchy, and the staf of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society. Ed especially could
always be counted on to quickly provide the most detailed information. Also, the late big band
authority George T. Simon, who wrote the defnitive book on Glenn Miller, was of exceptional
help. George provided me a prodigious amount of information on the big band days along with
guidance and encouragement. Most important, he became a good friend. It was a friendship I
will always cherish.
Historical societies and public libraries associated with the hometowns of several of my sub-
jects were also cooperative. Tey are far too many to individually site. Te Institute of Jazz stud-
ies located at Rutgers University and the Smithsonian American History Museum graciously
opened their archives to me. Los Angeles is a treasure trove of big band related material. I took
many trips to the UCLA and University of Southern California music libraries and Te Library
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was helpful to see vintage flms featuring
the big bands I wrote about and there is no better place to obtain them than the vast collection
at Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee in North Hollywood, CA.
Personal collections were a valued source of information that is unavailable to the general
public. Te collections I gained access to were provided by several sources: the subjects them-
selves; the subject’s families; musicians who performed in the Era; and private big band collec-
tors. Tese individuals included Steven Beasley, Milt Bernhart, Nancy Cannon, Peggy Clark,
8 when swing was the thing
Rosalind Cron, Mark Gordon, Horace Heidt Jr., Roc Hillman, Henry Holloway, Joan Fila, Pat
Knapp, Marilyn Leonard, Al Leopold, Gary Letts, Dolores O’Neill, Barbara Knowles Pinches,
Rosetta Reitz, Lionel Sesma, Tom Sheils, Garry Stevens, and Skip Van Osten.
When I decided to take a crack at a book I was somewhat apprehensive about the entire pub-
lishing process. It was a milieu I was totally unfamiliar with, but help soon surfaced. Both author
Peter Levinson and International Musician assistant editor Martin Walls patiently answered all
my questions and willingly guided me through the process. Tey provided sound counsel and
direction; their help was invaluable and will always be prized.
Individual thank-yous for valued contributions must be extended to Tony Agostinelli, Rob
Bamberger, David Bernhart, Joe Butler, Don Castaldi, Lou Dumont, Dan Del Fiorentino, Ste-
phen Fratallone, Don Gill, Mark Gordon, Don Graham, Curt Grosjean, Richard Grudens, Ste-
ven Harris, Charles Hazzard, Neal Hefti, Nancy Hofman, Phil Holman, Bob Holmes, Perry
Huntoon, Jerome Joseph, Al Julian, Wayne Knight, Annie Kuebler, Jack Lebo, Gene Lees, Ru-
dolph Mangual, Mark Masters, Bobby Matos, Robert Melvin, Ken Moore, Arthur Newman,
Chuck Niles, Ted Ono, Bruce Polin, Ken Poston, Harry Prime, Al Raymond, Terrence Ripmas-
ter, Don Roberts, Wayne Roberts, Rob Ronzello, Bobby Sanabria, Duncan Schiedt, Cynthia
Sesso, Bill Soule, Blair Whittington, and Alan Williams. I am grateful for your help.
Tose personally interviewed for this book were Van Alexander, Steven Beasley, Ernani Ber-
nardi, Milt Bernhart, Les Brown Jr., Stumpy Brown, Gloria Burke, Bobby Byrne, Tutti Cama-
rata, Pete Candoli, Vince Carbone, Chuck Cecil, Bob Chiaco, Buddy Childers, Peggy Clark,
Bob Comden, Frank Comstock, Jack Costanzo, Rosalind Cron, Tom Cullen, Bill Curtis, Helen
Oakley Dance, Stanley Dance, Arnold Dean, Art DePew, Tony Dicks, Jan Eberle, Bob Eberly Jr.,
Joan Fila, Charles Filkins, Harry Fleitman, Jack Gordon, Fred Hall, Jake Hanna, Susie Hansen,
Horace Heidt Jr., Roc Hillman, Henry Holloway, Jack Hotchkiss, Bonnie Janofsky, Herb Jefries,
Henry Jerome, Dick Johnson, Jack Jones, Paula Kelly Jr, Don Kennedy, Audree Kenton, Dick
King, Donna King, Marilyn King, Pat Knapp, Don Krammer, Warren Laferty, John LaPorta,
Marilyn Leonard, Al Leopold, Gary Letts, Niles Lishness, Mundell Lowe, James T. Maher, Ray-
mond Malone, Artie Malvin, Johnny Mandel, Peter Marshall, Bobby Matos, Billy May, E. R.
McDonald, Chris McGee, Marian McPartland, David Miller, Jawn McKinley, Neville, Gene
Norman, Dolores O’Neill, Ann Patterson, Dave Pell, Barbara Knowles Pinches, Ed Polic, Gene
Puerling, David Raksin, Rosetta Reitz, Uan Rasey, Alvino Rey, Jose Rizo, Wayne Roberts, Pete
Rugolo, Max Salazar, Lionel Sesma, Nick Sevano, Artie Shaw, Tom Sheils, George T. Simon,
Sam Spear, Jo Staford, Kay Starr, Garry Stevens, Butch Stone, Tom Talbert, Paul Tanner, Mar-
tha Tilton, Alan Timpson, Orrin Tucker, Dick Waco, Bea Wain, Kay Weber, Margaret Whiting,
Alan Williams, Gerald Wilson, Bernie Woods, Edna Leonard Woods, and Zeke Zarchy.
Finally, no book covering the details of the life’s of as many individuals as this does can be with-
out imperfections. I owe a debt of gratitude to all who have helped me in my unswerving quest
for accuracy. I close with the most important acknowledgement of all, to my beloved wife Ann
for her constant support and patient review of my work.
INTRODucTION
he Big Band Era that ran from 1935 through 1946 was a unique period in our na-
tion’s popular cultural history. It was a time when powerful ffteen-piece dance bands
Tdominated American entertainment. Tose big bands packed the nation’s ballrooms,
played at the posh hotels, dominated the radio airwaves, and routinely appeared in the movies.
Te swing music they played revived the recording industry, generating an enormous increase
in annual record sales beginning in the mid 1930s. Moreover, the juke box business exploded
and came into its own during the Era. From the perspective of public profle, all the top tier big
bandleaders were among the most important celebrities of the day.
Trough DownBeat and Metronome magazines teenagers were able to closely follow the go-
ings-on of the several hundred active big bands. Young fans could name the musicians in all
the top bands with the same ease that they could cite the starting lineups of all sixteen major
league baseball teams. Tey formed fan clubs, waited patiently for the most obscure sideman’s
autograph after a performance, and developed their own hip jargon. In large cities truant ofcers
were kept busy apprehending students who skipped school to attend daytime performances at
downtown theaters. Teir lives centered on the big bands that transformed American culture.
Te Big Band Era was long over when I started to develop an interest in its music during the
1950s as a high school student in my hometown of Milwaukee. My attraction to the genre was
initially sparked when I saw Te Glenn Miller Story at the Fox Bay Teater in Whitefsh Bay, a
Milwaukee suburb. Tat experience led to an exploration of the dynamic big band sound of fel-
low Milwaukeean Woody Herman who at the time was leading his driving 1950s Tird Herd.
It didn’t end there. After I graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1963 I moved
to Los Angeles and continued to follow big band music during the 60s and 70s. Ten came my
discovery of Chuck Cecil.
Sometime around 1980 I started to listen regularly to big band radio personality Chuck Cecil
who was broadcasting his weekly Swingin’ Years program on Los Angeles radio station KGIL. I
was fascinated by his Big Band Countdown that played the top ten hits and dispensed historical
information of a specifc Swing Era week and his Hall of Fame interviews with famous big band
personalities. Cecil’s show raised my interest in the big bands to an academic level and I soon
started to read all the historical material on the Era that I could locate. I found that the more I
read the more I became interested in the personal history of those who participated in the Era,
i.e., when and where were they born, their formative years and paths to success, all-inclusive ca-
reer histories, and post retirement activities.
It all came together in the early 1990s when I read Tommy & Jimmy: Te Dorsey Years by Herb
Sanford and became intrigued by the life of Jimmy Dorsey’s popular vocalist Bob Eberly from
Hoosick Falls, NY. I called the Hoosick Township Historical Society and was sent a thick pack-
age of information about Eberly by Edith Beaumont, a most pleasant lady who was the Society’s
museum director. As I poured through the stack of articles and documents she mailed me I
became captivated by the details of Eberly’s life. Tat was when I made the decision to write the
personal backgrounds and character studies of those who shaped the Big Band Era.