Radio and television mirror (Jan-June 1942)

nation of clarinet rhythm and brass melody. Only the outfit's over-abundance of novelty tunes were censured. Recently Bob decided to hire a girl singer for the rhythm numbers. He auditioned 97 applicants before selecting Dotty Lee, a brown-haired Chicagoan formerly with Gray Gordon's band. Bob was born twenty-eight years ago in Allendale, a small Ohio town near Cincinnati. After high school he decided to study piano and voice, enrolled in Cincinnati's staid Conservatory of Music. "I was supposed to take twenty lessons," Bob recalled, "but after three of them I got scared to death and quit." _ Bob got a job as a soda clerk in that city and practised his singing as he worked. A fudge sundae called for a romantic ballad, a banana split won the customer an Allen rhythm number. A local radio station executive heard about the malted milk minstrel and got him some singing assignments on the air, without pay. Ben Bernie's band came to Cincinnati in 1933 and Bob auditioned for the Old Maestro. Bernie hired the local youngster for his week's theater engagement, then advised Bob to go to Chicago where there was a dearth of good-looking band vocalists. Bob took a leave of absence from the drug store fountain, got Hal Kemp's attention one night in the Blackhawk and impressed the leader. He was immediately assigned to share the vocal numbers with Skinnay Ennis. Bob soon became the "romantic interest" of the Kemp band. Adoring females left their escorts marooned on the dance floor to cluster around the band shell each time Bob raised his voice. Other bandleaders tried to tempt Bob away with better offers. "I turned them all down," Bob said, "because Hal was more than my boss. He was my closest friend. As for the girls, I had a lot of fun but never took them seriously." Bob met his wife, Margaret Lee, a kindergarten teacher in Indianapolis, her home town. Each time the Kemp troupe played that city, Bob would look for Margaret. He corresponded with her when he was on the road. In June, 1940, they were married. The Aliens live modestly in a Kew Gardens, Long Island, apartment. Bob admits he made much more money singing with Kemp than he does now as a full-fledged bandleader. His own unit has yet to reach the big money brackets, but the future looks promising. The day I saw Bob he was about to sign with one of the record companies. His band is now playing in New York's Roseland Ballroom and the NBC wires from there will help enormously. Bob's band doesn't resemble the old Kemp style in any way. "The leader believes dance tastes have changed drastically. "The kids demand better music, better musicians. You know, some of the dancers know so much about the business that they frighten me!" HARLEM ROYALTY f OUNT WILLIAM BASIE, an im^ portant member of Harlem's Royal Family, which numbers such aristocratic jazzsters as Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, and Baron Lee, believes he has his hard-riding swingsters reconciled to the fact that as long as they keep getting engagements in top-notch hotels, movies and theaters, the loudness of the band's music will have to be relatively subdued. Although veteran Basic fans like their music booming and the Basie musician's prefer to play it that way, new converts have to be considered. The heavy-set pianist explains the toning-down process: "Certain types of audiences like swing music provided it's not too loud. I don't think we have to bust wide open on every occasion. My boys grumbled a bit when I told them we would play softer because it is difficult for them to train their lips to the change in style." However, the dusky, all-out swingsters are not completely stymied. The Count approves full pressure on their Okeh recordings and during their late evening sessions. "And if that doesn't satisfy 'em," the Count smiles, "the boys can always go back to Harlem after their night's work and have their own private jump sessions." Basie treats his men in fatherly fashion. If he issues a new edict, some of the musicians might argue briefly but they soon realize that their leader had the right idea. Ever since the band got its initial break in Kansas City, they have progressed rapidly. Music experts will tell you that this is a much tougher job for a Negro band. Basie is responsible for the success and his men respect him for it. Despite the musical proficiency of such men as Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Cab Calloway and John Kirby, there are still many hotels, ballrooms, and TO BE LOVED, BE LOVELY! Aseless secret of a woman's charm is perfume . . . and its modern inter= pretation is this frasfancc of romance . . . Evenins in Paris! Every crystal drop breathes it . . . every wisp of its elusive scent whispers it. the fragrance of romance Evening in Paris Perfume, $1.25 to $Io.oo. Face Powder, $1.00 plus tax BOURJOIS, NEW YORK MARCH. 1942 l»U.A..^\B.M.mv\A\l.ViW\>VftaMi\\V^\.lt\^m.<&\W^\^tftWMiiV\Vu.\A 73