Variety (May 1941)

88 ORCHE8TBA8 Wedoesdar* May 21, 1941 Band Reviews BUSS SMITH OBCHESTRA (9) Balnbow Grill, N. T. Russ Smith is an alumnus of the Barry Winton band, long incumbent at the Rainbow Grill. With the latter due to open next week at the formal Bainbow Room, the companion Rockefeller nitery atop the 65th floor of the RCA Bldg., Smith remains in the Grill as the head of his own combo. He was featured vocalist fnd electric steel guitarist with Win- on and continues ditto at the helm of his own combo. However, it's not the flrst time for, him as a maestro, having had the Ripley and Hines radio commercials. Carl Shaw, drums, and Paul Thompson, string bass, are two other Winton men who went over with Smith's new setup which comprises an expert crew of vet musicians from other dance combos. Johnny Ingram, -^x and vocalist, is ex-Vincent Lopez; Jack Tarr, doing the comedy numbers in between sax and violin, and Sid Stanley, reeds, who's han- dling the Cuban vocals, are also graduates of established dance com- binations. Thompson, Incidentally, besides bass handles the French and Italian vocals. Smith is an engaging personality at the helm of his crew. The boys axe a natty looking aggregation. Personnel of eight,, besides their leader, comprises three reeds (doubl- ing violins), one brass, one violin, end a rhythm section of four. While it's a new band, it's actually It's old home Week for Russ Smith because of his long stay as featured member of Winton's combo. • On its own. Smith's band shapes up as a smooth, dance-compelling aggregation that is pleasant for this room and should please generally, Abel. the stomp side, he takes Benny Hy- man away from his drums. He's a hand slapping, foot pounding, lyrical jivist, with a fast lip action from which the word flow is rapid flre. Edgar Robinson, trumpeter, is the off-stage laborer for the band, in company with Bob James, the pitno man. They draw up all the ork's arrangements, and they're nicely produced. Robinson takes a bow at the mike sometimes, when there's need of a sweet horn for a dance set takeoff. Crew of this musical contingent otherwise includes Bob Myers, trumpet; Eddie Demski, trombone; (Continued on page 42) FORD HARRISON ORC. (6) Featnrint: Sally Jo Nelson Uotel St. Morltz, N. T. ■ Ford Harrison is another- of the repatriated Americans In the Jack Harris, Roy Fox, Eddy Oliver and kindred school of Yank maestros . who liked it In England and on the Continent until blitzed back to civilization. Harrison, a violinist- conductor, was some three or four years at the Bagatelle in Paris (the El Morocco of the French capi- tal), the Casino In Biarritz, Chez T» Victor in Cannes, Sporting Club in Monte Carlo and kindred soots until he returned to the Hotel St. Moritz's Cafe de la Paix which,' while a road company of the Blvd. des Capuccines, is at least an imtram- melled environment. ; Comprising, a neat sextet of, ac- cordion, piano, drums, string bass, and sax; with himself vlolining, Har- rison's dansapation is sprightly in thfr Continental iflanner. He him- aelf whanis out sock soloes like 'In- termezzo' on the strings and vocal- izes surefire Lueienheboyers like •J'Attendrai' and the like, Inter- 5t)ersed with his dance sets. Sally p Nelson, featured songsttess, han- dles her chores welL He fits neatly into this room, and Will click on the St Moritz's roof, Which opens this week. Abet MARIO MERIN ORCH (6) ^ El Chlco, PItlsbnrch ♦v5*'*'^slx-plece combo that can flt either In the congarumba spots or where they want fox-trots and waltzes. Outfit is made up of violin, drums, bass, piano, sax and trumpet, with Merin doubUng on the niaracas whenever band goes into the Castilian rhythms. Leader's a nice- looking fellow who bows a crack fiddle, and he also has more than t ■ jP."^^x?'* ^"'"^^ which he uses Intel -^Ugently and not too often. Merm's rumbas are of an Amefl- canized variety and that makes 'em perfect where the clientele isn't do- k ing them by the complicated dance I Bchool methods. They^re a Burbank I P'J?- ^erican rhythms are f right up his alley, too. . Nobody listening with his eyes shut would gufess that there are only half , a dozen men in the combo. Sounds luce at;least twice that amount, Menn should fit anywhere, but in the class- spots particularly, because bands not only composed of excel- lent musicians but also of nice, clean- cut looking men who make a first- rate impression visually as well ; «"dlbily, Cohen. WOODT WILSON ORCH (11) With Benny Hyman, Adrlenne Turnpike Casino, Lincoln, Neb. One-time hymn-hummer with Pinky Tomlin, Woody Wilson is a tell blond personality who took off on his own, and with a band that almost to a man was once fronted by Johnny .fiurkarth around Louisville. The style is definitely on the swing edge, a gunner for biz comebacks when in 'flpots catering . to the- young from bighschool to post-grad college age. The band, when delving into novel- ties, prefers to show itself in glee club arrangements backing the so- loing of Adrienne (Vivian Clay- ■Hburg). One of the best Is an em- bellished version of the 'Saga of Jenny/ which Is a crowd gatherer. W'lson, other than leading the band, takes all its male romantic Tocsis, and he's. In good voice. On Penn Athledc Club Has Involved Labor Muddle On Top of Receiversbip Philadelphif, May 20. The Musicians Union is finding it- self in the middle in the strike of waiters at the swanky Penn Athletic Club, now entering its 10th month. The strike was called by the C.I.O.'s united ResUurant Workers. If the Musicians refuse to cross the picket line, they'll be condemned by the A.F.L.'s Resteurant and Bar- tenders Union, which is engaged In a jurisdictional dispute with the C.I.O. £t the Penn A.C. On the other hand, musicians who cross tKe line are being placed on the unfair list by the C.I.O. and even by some A.F.L. outfits. Last Wednesday members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, all members of the A.F.M., refused to attend a welcome home luncheon at the Penn A.C. tendered them by music lovers on their return from their spring tour around the country. At the last minute the affair was switched to the Ben Franklin Hotel. Jimmy Dorsey recently was black- balled by the C.I.O. for playing a one-nighter at the Penn A.C. He apologized and promised never to play there again while the strike was In progress. There Is c strong possibility that the club may open a night club and. restaurant in the near future. In the hands of the receiver, the club was teken over last week by the American Hotel Corp., who will manage it and try to take it out of the red.. The club is In the Ritten- house Square- sector and is In e natural location to attract the social set which has been lacking a class spot since' the shuttering of the Arcadia-International. Lake Music's Big Year Detroit, May 20. Great Lakes excursion lines look forward to a record season and with a heavy increase of pleasure boats plying these waters will come added employment for dance combinations. This employment in many cases runs as much as five months. Most of the lines are faithful to the same bands from season to sea- son. Among the bands already booked are Al Cox and his Lion-> donaires (for their fourth consecu- tive season) on the S. S. North American, Phil Skillman (third sea- son) on the Bob-Lo boats and Sing- ing Strings, whose leader is In the army, on the S. S. South American. Advance bookings on the lines' books indicate that the short hauls, daytime and 'moonlight' excursions will get exceptionally big play from clubs, churches and other organiza- tions this season, and such dates In- variably require musicians. VALLEE'S JDXEB Hollywood, May 20. Technlprocess Corp. released six new 18 mm. shorts for the Jukebox trade, leading off with Rudy Vallee and the Four Musketeers In "Lydla, the Tattooed Lady.' Other releases were 'Shadrack,' •Rigoletto,' 'Bundle of Love,' 'Boy Meets Girl' and 'Bank of Love.' Marjorlc Stewart new vocalist with the Joe Belchman band. Oh the Upbeat Onto MaiMB ntuni H Bluebird labal for two MtpMliuU. tta'* to cut 'Whara' and 4aat tt Out.' both from hla forthooBlng Columbia ple- tura, ArUa Bhaw If to out a doublo* faced 10-iaoh roeorA wlu, an oilghial titled *BIuaa from tha Lanox Ava. Sulta.' Sammy Kaya^a band li lobjact of forthcoming liibartr mag atorr on one-night treki br banda. Hot Llpa Paige takaa new seven- piece combo Into Kelly'a Stables, New York, tomorrow night (Thurs;). Art Jarratt band haa lt« first Vic- tor recording data la Chicago next Wednesday (28). Ralph Barlow band opens summer season at Peon/. Park, Omaha, May 30. . Al KavellB orohastra pla^ Pali- sades Park (N. J.) May (24-25) when Vivian Blaine, featured vocalist, will Introduce Kevelin's new song 'Klckonga,' t<a whleh Franols Mar- quis wrote the lyrle. Villa TaTora. north of Toledo, O., on Route 28, opened aeaaon May IS, with Paul flpor'a orchestra in the bandatand. Spor'a combination, for- merly at tha Wlllard Grill, Toledo, has been augmented by Russ FeatheroS and Freddy Bardsley. Dorot^ Gordon, recently with George Olsen, will be vocalist George Yakobian ii the manager of the VlUa this year. Ed White, formerly at the Carlouel Yacht Club, Clearwater, Fla., Is now at the Wlllard Grill, Hotel Willard, Toledo, for the sununer. Idora Park, Youngstown, O., opened Its' ballroom - May 10, with George Hall playing In the ball- room. A new name.band is planned for every week, according to Max Rindln, assistant park manager, in charge of the ballroom. Don Bestor opens outdoor dance season at Bill Green's Terraced Gar- dens, Pittsburgh, May 26, replacing Marvin Dale outfit Latter goes to Trianon in Chi. * Bobby Hllllken, sax player, re- cently vidth Seger ElUs, has joined Sid Dlckler's band in Pittsburgh, succeeding Jerry Eisner, who was drafted. Bob Poland, formerly with Shep Fields and Charlie Bamet is new (Continued on page ^ WHAT TED WEEMS STARTED Bobbins, Moe Gale Among Those ""Printing Coin-Machine Labels Idea of suppling their own iden, tiflcatl.pn slips for use with their records In coin machines Is getting increasing play from bandleaders, music companies, etc., and It alt' helps record makers because the eye- catching slips are provided to opera tors free. Since Ted Weems began using a tag with a large red arrow "on It to capture the eye of a pros- pective nickel dropper, others,have devised equally distracting strips. Bobbins Music, is now shipping big quantities of tags on, its 'Aurora* to ops. They're printed in black with song's Utle large in yellow letters, Moe Gale office also Is shipping tegs of its own design. Gale has had strips made up for the latest record ings of all his bands. Cost of them. In large lots, is negligible. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»«»» n t»«4. h the Wax Works ■♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Bobby Byrne (Decca) 'Nighty Night,' 'These Things You Left Me,' 'Million Dollar Baby,' 'On the Beach z.,. Waikiki,' 'Do I Worry,' 'Two Hearts That Pass in the . Night.' Charlie Bamet (Bluebird) 'Little Dip,' 'Ponce de Leon,' 'You Talk Too Much,' 'Consider Yourself Kissed.' Johnny Long (Decca) 'Beau Night at Hotchkiss Corners,' 'Where You Are,' 'I Take to You,' 'Blue Skies.' Will Bradley (Columbia) 'In the Hall of the. Mountain King,' 'Mis- understood,' 'Get Thee Behind Me Saten,' 'When You and I Were Young Maggie.' Dnke Ellln^n (Victor) (duet with bassist Jimmie' Blanton) 'Dear' Old Southland,' 'Solituda* (.Recordt beloto are grabbing moat niofteb tM* teaefc in iufceboxes throuphout the cowntry, a* reportei by the ma|or ootn-mooMne (Hstributor* from coast to coost, to VARiETr. Names of mart than ono bolUl or vooatist after the title indicates, in order of popularity, tobose reeonUnirt are being played. Fiffures and nomes in parenthesis indicate the number of locefce each song haa been in the listings and respectti^e publishers.) 1 Aatpila .. llmmy Dorsey...j Decca... (10) Marks 2 I Uidersttti. . . . . {SiiSr"iSi;d.«>^«^ 3 Dolires ■iSllSSfc.l^r.V.") Paramount 4*Baid Playei0i . iOuy Loml>ardo_| Decca... (g) pD Jesters | Decca... t 5 Apple BlattM Vm Andrews Sisters J Decca... (2) Broadway J 7 iitermza .{SSSSy^.S^bi.«>Schuberth 8 Mmie Makers ( Harry James... I Columbia ..v ' \ Andrew* Slste^| Decca... Paramount DISKS GAINING FAVOR (These recordines are directly below the Jlrst 10 in popularity, but growing in Aemand on the coin machines.) Sorrento J,^?*'*' ?*"™an Decca. .Southern V. (Al Donahue....^ Okeh..PD .BMI Embassy My Sister and I \ ^'"'"ey.. . ;Decca. \ Benny Goodman.Columbia Everything Happen* to Me,... ['^'^^^ Hfnnan ....Decca jr napvcua iv in*,... |fTommy Dorsey Victor" Nighty Night Alvino Rey Bluebird..Beacon Daddy Sammy Kaye Victor. .Republic Let's Get Away from It AU. i Woody Herman ;Decca {Tommy Dorsey Victor" •^""''^ Tomorrow (Sammy Kaye....^..Victor Tomorrow |Woody Herman Decca' {Horace Heidt.,. .Columbia Sammy Kaye Victor' DntU Friendly Tavern Polka. Wise Old Owl 1^'* Robertson Decca ( Al Donahue Okeh' [Horace Heidt.,..Columbia ' -I Vaughn Monroe.. .Bluebird Cbye Now .Republic .BMI .BMI ,.BMX