"Whatever Happened To Those...? Wonderful Big Band Sounds...?"

As a young boy, I can still remember watching Jimmy Stewart performing the song “Pennsylvania 6-5000” to June Allison as he portrayed the famous band leader in the 1954 movie The Glen Miller Story. That movie, along with my parents love for the Big Band Sounds, was the beginning of the love affair I have for those wonderful songs and sounds.

I also remember seeing the 1959 movie of “Red Nichols and the Five Pennies” 1959 that stared Danny Kaye. The really neat thing about Earnest Loring “Red” Nichols was the fact that he had the following musicians in his group, before they became famous on their own.

Red Nichols' band started out with Mole on trombone and Jimmy Dorsey on alto sax and clarinet. Other musicians who played for a time in his bands in the following decade were Benny Goodman (clarinet), Glenn Miller (trombone), Jack Teagarden (trombone), Pee Wee Russell (clarinet), Joe Venuti (violin), Eddie Lang (banjo and guitar), and Gene Krupa(drums). The Five Pennies' version of "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider" was a surprise hit record. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA

That’s one Hell-of-a-Group…!!!!         

I have always loved the sounds these marvelous groups were able to perform. They had such a unique way of arranging their music with a sense of style, rhythm, romance and excitement. Each one had a magnificent sound that you could recognize in an instant. You could tell a Benny Goodman song from a Glen Miller song in the first few notes of any song.

Most of us are familiar with the untimely death of Glen Miller when as a Major in the US Army, he disappeared over the English Channel on December 15th, 1954. It was a sad loss of a good man and an incredibly talented composer. One of my favorite songs is “In The Mood” and he had a String of Hits like: “String of Pearls, Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Tuxedo Junction, Little Brown Jug”…just to name a few.

I present a seminar titled “Health With An Attitude” to Seniors at numerous Assisted Living Homes in the Dallas/Fort Wort Metroplex and at the beginning of my seminars I always have some Glen Miller music playing in the background. It is such a thrill to watch these seniors (some in their walkers) start bouncing, jiving and dancing to the music as they file in and head toward their seats.

Then there is of course the ‘Master of the Clarinet’…Benny Goodman…! He could ‘Bend a Reed’ better than most. (look it up) His song “Sing, Sing, Sing” is, and always will be, a classic Swing Song forever and Gene Krupa does his infamous drum solo in it.

As a musician myself, I can appreciate these sounds and arrangements and the effort it took to create them. I was very fortunate back in the late 60’s to be performing at a unique club up in Elgin, Illinois. The uniqueness came from the fact that they featured some big band names that were still playing at the time. Our group would play for an hour with some newer rock tunes for the younger crowd, then one of the big bands would play for the older folks. It was a sweet combination. We were only there for two weeks but were able to meet and play opposite

Stan Kenton

and William “Count” Basie       

WOW!!!!!!!! what a thrill that was to meet and listen to them playing live.

It was a shame that we were not contracted for another week because they had Gene Krupa performing next.     

There was a myriad of singers that performed with these big bands. Singers like:  Vic Damone, Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Kay Star, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford…and one Trio that have been my favorite forever…” The Andrew Sisters” Every time I here them sing “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” it is impossible for me to keep my feet still.

I have several CD and older LP albums of the Big Bands and I play them all the time. It is hazardous playing them in the car while you drive…I get to jiving with these Swell Swing Sounds and it seems that the speed of my vehicle increases with every beat…!

So, I hope you will dust off some of your old LP’s

And Listen to these Wonderful Sounds

You might find yourself gliding across your living room floor

And

Don’t be surprised if your spouse joins you because

These Sounds of Yesteryear are Hard to Resist…!

Have a Blessed Day

Fred Kienle