FAVORITE BIG BANDS & THEIR VOCALISTS

[hpooch]

I'll start this as I've been a fan of Sammy Kaye and his Vocalists since 1949 (When I was Sixteen)

Sammy Kaye had more #1 Hits than any other Band except Glenn Miller(who was more "Sweet" than "Swing")

Although he had a "Sweet Band" his arrangements were individually stylized and played very danceable music

His Vocalists were the heart of the band, namely Don Cornell, Tony Alamo, Billy Williams, & Tommy Ryan
Girl Singers were also good but never made it big time -- Nancy Norman, Sally Stuart, Laura Leslie, & Betty Barclay

He had 4 different musical shows in the 40s & 50s - "Sunday Serenade", "Chrysler Showroom", "Your Navy Show" and
"So You Want to Lead a Band"(on TV in 1956-57)

Hopefully you younger readers will frequent this forum as the "Big Bands" of the 30s-50s made such great music which
will never be forgotten especially the "Swing Bands" of Goodman, James, Shaw, Herman, Basie, & Ellington.
I know Marion, Harry, Lena & others have their favorites. Let's not forget Ted Heath & Syd Lawrence!

[Sandra]

The SYD LAWRENCE ORCHESTRA under the leadership of CHRIS DEAN deserve
to be among the top of this section.
They keep the big band music of the 40's,50's and beyond alive with great young talented musicians making up a large part of the orchestra.
They have had some superb singers fronting the orchestra who have gone on to make solo careers for themselves including Matthew Ford,Tony Jacobs and Jeff Hooper.
Chris now takes on the vocals and on the female side we have Angie Mills and
Eleanor Keenan.
The SYD LAWRENCE ORCHESTRA have just been voted 'Best Big Band' for the
12th year running .
Chris Dean took over the running of this great orchestra in 1996 after the death of Syd.
He previously was with the great Ted Heath Orchestra for several years and is a renowned trombonist throughout the industry.
Long may they tour and keep big band music alive and 'out there'

[dennyelvis]

Duke Ellington has to be one the greats of all time, some classic tunes including Get Yourself A New Broom (And Sweep The Blues Away), I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good), It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).
Many great vocalists included Louis Armstrong, Ozzie Bailey, and Ella Fitzgerald , composer, musician, orchestra leader - Ellington combined these three careers more sucessfully than anyone in the history of music. But there's more! Ellington was also, as Stanley Crouch pointed out, his own patron. Ellington used the monies he received from concerts, recordings, and compositions to keep his orchestra together for more than 50 years. The only orchestra devoted to the music of a single composer with a longer life was the orchestra that Count Esterhazy maintained for Franz Josef Haydn for some 57 years.

[Josh]

As Sandra has mentioned the Syd Lawrence Orchestra definatley deserve a mention, they always put on a good show! I've also seen the BBC big band a few times, definatley keeping the big band sound alive in the UK!
From the more classic era how can Glenn Miller not be mentioned!
Of course I love the work of Harry James, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (both featuring a young Frank Sinatra ) I think at one point Nelson Riddle was a trombone player in Dorsey's band, though I could be mistaken.
So many great bands have existed over the years I think this thread could become quite long!

[mariana44]

I am not really into Big bands -as such--but I always loved the work of Glenn Osser-who featured on many of Johnny Mathis earlier recordings---plus other singers, that I have heard on The David Jacobs show.

[ROBERT M.]

I'm like Marian, not really into the big bands ...........but as Marian said, the Glenn Osser orchestra is so lush, as too is the wonderful Percy Faith orchestra. Who can forget the Theme From a Summer Place...........beautiful

[Marian]

I like the Ted Heath, Glenn Miller, Syd Lawrence type bands first and foremost too, but ..
COUNT BASIE and HIS ORCHESTRA.

[paul jh]

I'm like Marian, not really into the big bands ...........but as Marian said, the Glenn Osser orchestra is so lush, as too is the wonderful Percy Faith orchestra. Who can forget the Theme From a Summer Place...........beautiful

You really don't know what you're missing, Marian and Robert. There is nothing more exciting that watching a big band in concert.

Robert: I love Percy Faith too, but he is the complete opposite of a big band.

[paul jh]

I love the Larry Clinton Orchestra with the superstar vocalist Bea Wain.

[Sandra]

BILLY MAY-Fabulous big brassy sounds.He did some great work with Sinatra.
Have put this segment to the top as I reckon you have missed this one Lena and Harry

[ROBERT M.]

Billy did some good work with Matt too, Sandra

[Sandra]

A 'CAPITOL' SINGER INDEED ROBERT

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thanks Sandra, What can possibly compare with the BIG BAND sound. Those already mentioned just brilliant. The list is endless of our favourites, The earlier ones..
Paul has mentioned LARRY CLINTON'S ORCHESTRA with BEA WAIN, Deep Purple, Heart and Soul,.. There is the BILLY BUTTERFIELD ORCHESTRA. with Margaret Whiting's " Moonlight In Vermont" ... The fabulous GLEN GRAY & THE CASA-LOMA ORCHESTRA, LES BROWN with Doris Day ..Sentimental Journey CHARLIE BARNEt and Skyliner and Cherokee.

[Donald Sutherland]

I have had the pleasure of seeing a few of the great Big Band leaders before they passed away. I saw Benny Goodman twice.
Once with a 6 piece band and once with a 12 piece band. With the 12 piece band, his opening act was Louis Bellson who also
had a 12 piece band. Benny and Louis were great friends and Benny invited Louis along with his band up on stage with him.
Unbelievable! I also saw Tex Beneke and Buddy Rich. It's sad that there are so few Big Bands around who play original work.
I have CD's of most of the Big Bands of the US from the 30's - 50's but would like a list of the Big Band's from England during
that time period. Especially ones that may not have made it across the Atlantic in the charts. In this way, they would be new
to me and I could add to my collection if their CD's are still available. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Don

[mariana44]

As you can see Don, many of our forum members love the Big Band Music, so I am sure they can come up with some information.