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“When Swing Was King” Quarterly Newsletter The Will Spring Ever Show Up? Edition

A Big Band Quiz

1) Who had the best-selling big band album of all time?

2) How long did the famous feud between Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey last before

they finally patched things up? 3) In the early Benny Goodman band,

who made up the trio known forever as The Golden Trumpet section?

4) Who was called “The Golden Fog”? 5) What was Margaret Whiting’s first

million selling record? 6) What was the name of the big band

orchestra from the flapper era that was led by crooner Rudy Vallee?

7) Where was Glenn Miller born? 8) At one time or other, Lena Horne, Kay

Starr, and Doris Day all worked as vocalists for what big band?

9) Earlier in their careers, the great TV comedian Sid Caesar played saxophone and cowboy actor Ken Curtis (Festus on TV’s Gunsmoke series) was a starring vocalist with which popular big band?

10) What was Count Basie's theme song?

(Answers to Quiz on page 3.)

The Fontane Sisters

There were a lot of sister groups in the big band era: the Andrews,

Kings, Lennons, McGuires, Boswells, DeCastros and more.

But the Fontane Sisters were unique. One thing was that

“Fontane” wasn’t Marge, Bea, and Geri’s real last name. It was

Rosse. And another was their real life tragedy – their brother (who played guitar for the girls’ act) was killed in World War II.

But most unusual was their career link to another singer;

namely, the great Perry Como. Though they occassionaly made records on their own, they were delighted to work with Como

on his radio and television shows and backed him on several

records, including such number 1 hits as A, You're

Adorable and Hoop-Dee-Doo.

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A Note from Denny & Claire

As I write this, it certainly doesn’t feel like

spring…not with the temperature at 13 degrees and yet another snowfall coming

down. But hope springs eternal and I know I’ll soon be grumbling about pulling weeds

and mowing grass as much as I am now about shoveling snow.

Of course, every season has its trials and its joys. That’s like life itself. I’m so pleased, then, that God’s grace and power is always

available to help us be grateful, kind-hearted, and steadfast in our faith in His Word. That’s true even when dealing,

as we have done this winter, with illness, a frozen car battery, and being stranded

in a Chicago airport.

This winter has proved to be a good time for reading though that’s actually something

common to every season for us. We love history, “golden age” mysteries, and classic

novels by writers like Dickens, Dumas, Scott, and Hugo. And we love Christian

classics too: C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, G.K. Chesterton, Jan Karon, and more.

Indeed, Jan Karon’s Mitford series featuring Fr. Tim Kavanaugh has become a

very special addiction to us.

What about you? Have YOU been to Mitford yet?

We would love to have you join in the inspiration and the sheer fun of the Mitford novels…and perhaps to join us in talking

about them too. What do you think?

According to Billboard magazine, here are the

Top 13 Records of 1943:

1) “Paper Doll” (Mills Brothers) 2) “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’”

(Bing Crosby) 3) “As Time Goes By”

(Rudy Vallee) 4) “Oklahoma!” (Alfred Drake)

5) “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (Harry James with Helen Forrest)

6) “Sentimental Lady” (Duke Ellington)

7) “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” (The Ink Spots) 8) “That Old Black Magic”

(Glenn Miller) 9) “Stormy Weather” (Lena Horne)

10) “Taking a Chance on Love” (Benny Goodman)

11) “Sunday, Monday, or Always” (Bing Crosby)

12) “Comin’ In on a Wing and a Prayer” (The Song Spinners) 13) “There Are Such Things”

(Tommy Dorsey)

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Nunc cursus magna quis

Spotlight on the Mills Brothers

They started out singing for pennies in front of their dad’s barbershop in Piqua, Ohio. Then, under the name of Four Boys & a Kazoo, they got a gig singing at the Piqua Opera House. But they forgot the kazoo! And thus began one of their most remarkable talents – mimicking musical instruments in addition to their perfect

singing harmonies. Indeed, when they started recording for Brunswick, each record actually had this on the label: “No musical instruments or mechanical devices used on this record other than the guitar.” The Mills Brothers were John (bass), Herbert (tenor), Harvey (baritone), and Donald (lead). Their career picked up steam when they were signed by WLW radio in Cincinnati, then CBS in New York. They also were helped by an early friendship with Bing Crosby who recorded with them and shared stage concerts. Their first million seller (the first of over 30 they would eventually rack up) was “Tiger Rag” with the flip side also a great favorite, “Nobody’s Sweetheart.” And they also were in 14 musical films.

(Answers to Page 1 Quiz)

1) “Hooked on Swing” by Larry Elgart. And it was published in

1982, long after the big band era was supposed to have passed by.

2) 18 years 3) Harry James,

Ziggy Elman, and Chris Griffin 4) Mel Torme

5) “Moonlight in Vermont” 6) The Connecticut Yankees

7) Clarinda, Iowa 8) The Charley Barnett Orchestra 9) Shep Fields and his “Rippling

Rhythms” Orchestra 10) “One O’Clock Jump”

Their popularity was already so high in 1934 that they played the London Palladium for King George V and Queen Mary, the first black artists

ever to give a Royal Command Performance.

John died of a lung ailment in 1936 but his role in the group was taken

by the boy’s dad where he continued for over 20 years. But even as a trio, the Mills Brothers continued to have marvelous success and they remain the most influential and perhaps the

most beloved of all vocal groups from the big band era.

They Said It…

Bing Crosby’s first words to the lady who would become his wife, Kathryn Grandstaff, were “Howdy, Tex! What’s your rush?”

Buddy Rich talking about Benny Goodman:

“He was the greatest thing that ever happened to jazz!”

Speaking about his experiences with racial discrimination, the great Duke Ellington once said, “Instead of moaning about it,

I just responded by writing the best blues I could.”

“The actual Tiffany’s of the orchestra world was Tommy Dorsey’s band.” (Dick Haymes)

“It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.” (Lena Horne)

“I always keep the Faith; I studied the Bible through my grandmother, Mama Louvenia. I loved her so. She read me the Psalms, so it’s always in my mind.

I give thanks to the Lord every time I play on the bandstand.” (Lionel Hampton)

Ray Anthony speaking of Harry James: “Harry was the best trumpet player ever. He played sweet, pretty, fast, hot,

high or low -- everything that is possible to do on a horn.”

“Gene Krupa was as smooth as jazz.” (Anita O’Day)

“When Frank Sinatra first came up to the mike, I thought; hmm…kinda’ thin. But, by the end of eight bars, I was thinking,

this is the greatest sound I’ve ever heard.” (Jo Stafford)

“I just put my feet on the ground and move them around.” (Fred Astaire)

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The “When Swing Was King” Quarterly is published by Denny & Claire Hartford and Vital Signs Ministries.