Thanks For The Memory - PBA FM 89.7

16/09/2024

This Monday (16 September 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a popular memory from Jack Hylton and his orchestra – "A Broadway Melody", music written by Nacio Herb Brown, with lyrics from Arthur Freed. The song was featured in the 1929 US film “The Broadway Melody”, said to be “the first sound musical”; it was also the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Following Jack Hylton, we move back a couple of years with the song “Bill” best known from the Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein musical “Show Boat”, which premiered on stage in 1927. The song "Bill" had it's origins 10 years earlier when written for (then removed from) the musical "Oh, Lady! Lady!" with lyrics originally by P.G. Wodehouse; Hammerstein revised the lyrics for "Show Boat" but the songwriting credits were left with Wodehouse.

The musical "Show Boat" was transferred to film first in 1929 (as a “part-talkie”) then again in 1936; in both films, it was sung by Helen Morgan - who we also hear in tonight's show. “Bill” was to be a signature song for Morgan for the rest of her career.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_(song)

09/09/2024

Tonight’s show (9 September 2024) starts with a popular memory from George Olsen “and his Music” - "The best things in life are free", words by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown, music by Ray Henderson, for the 1927 musical Good News.
After George, we move forward five years to 1932 to hear a well-known song which recalls memories of the Great Depression – Rudy Vallée with “Brother, can you spare a dime?”.
Written by US lyricist Yip Harburg and composer Jay Gorney, the song was part of the 1932 revival of the musical r***e Americana. Although the musical was not a success, the song developed a life of its’ own - with recordings at the time by Vallée, Bing Crosby and Al Jolson.
Since then, there have been many more recordings – from artists as diverse as Peter, Paul and Mary, Judy Collins and Tom Waits and (perhaps more incongruously) George Michael and Tiny Tim.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother,_Can_You_Spare_a_Dime

02/09/2024

Tonight’s show (2 September 2024) starts with a memory from the British bandleader Carroll Gibbons and his band - "Scatterbrain”, written by US musicians Frankie Masters, Kahn Keene and Carl Bean, with lyrics by Johnny Burke (you may also know his song “Pennies from heaven”).
Carroll was born in Massachusetts, the US, in 1903. After travelling to London in his teens (to study at the Royal Academy of Music) and appearing as pianist with the Boston Orchestra at the Savoy Hotel in 1927, Gibbons settled in England permanently, where he continued a successful career – first as a pianist and then as bandleader.
There was a brief return to the US for a couple of years (1930-1931) during which he worked as a staff composer for MGM films.
His career was cut short in 1954 at the age of just 51 when he died of a coronary thrombosis.
The recording of “Scatterbrain” by Gibbons and his band was probably made in December 1939 and released in 1940. Recordings at that time often did not credit the singers on such recordings, but in this case the featured vocalists were Anne Lenner and Eric Whitley.
https://annelenner.com/scatterbrain-1939/

26/08/2024

Tonight’s show (26 August 2024) starts with a memory from the New Concert Orchestra - "Theatreland”, written by the English composer and songwriter Jack Strachey.
Jack was born in London in 1894. Early in his career, during the 1920s, he wrote songs for the theatre and music hall.
During the 1930s, he collaborated with lyricist Eric Maschwitz, a partnership which resulted in perhaps his best-known song, “These foolish things”.
In the 1940s, he was hired by the Bosworth Music Library for which he composed light orchestral pieces including “Theatreland”, “Pink Champagne” and “In party mood”, the last of which was adopted as the theme tune for BBC radio’s request show “Housewives Choice” from 1946 to 1967.
The recording of “Theatreland” by the New Concert Orchestra was probably recorded and released at some point in the late 1940’s.
After "Theatreland", the memories continue with Al Bowlly and then perennial favourite Hildegard.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Strachey

19/08/2024

Tonight’s show (19 August 2024) starts with a memory from George Olsen “and his Music” - "The best things in life are free", words by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown, music by Ray Henderson, for the 1927 musical Good News.

The lyrics include... "The flowers in spring, the robins that sing The moonbeams that shine, They're yours, they're mine”.

This was not the only song from Good News to gain popularity in its’ own right – you might also know “Button up your overcoat”, “You’re the cream in my coffee” and “Life is just a bowl of cherries” – all from the songwriting team of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson.

George's recording of “The best things in life are free” is said to be the first recording of the song - recorded in August 1927 and released November 1927.

After George, we move forward to 1938 to hear from "the Canadian Crosby", DIck Todd, with his recording of "You're the only star in my blue heaven".

12/08/2024

From 1935... 😀

12/08/2024

This Monday (12 August 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from US musician, composer (and photographer) Van Phillips and his orchestra, “Beyond the blue horizon” from 1930. Van Phillips is followed by George Teal and a tune from the pen of Eric Coates - “Birdsong at eventide”.

05/08/2024

This Monday (5 August 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from US bandleader Ted Weems, “The boulevard of broken dreams”.
The song was written in early 1933 by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics); it was originally used in a stage musical early that year based on Dubin’s life alongside several other songs by the pair.
A year later, it was used again in the film Moulin Rouge alongside other Dubin/Warren songs; and it has subsequently been recorded by many performers including Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole, and (in more recent times) Sting and Diana Krall.
The version we hear tonight by Ted Weems and his orchestra (featuring Elmo Tanner) was probably recorded in December 1933.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Weems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulevard_of_Broken_Dreams_(Al_Dubin_and_Harry_Warren_song)

28/07/2024

This Monday (29 July 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from the English trumpeter and bandleader Jack Jackson – “Jack O'Diamonds”.
The song was was written by Noel Gay (music) and Clifford Grey (lyrics) and was taken from a musical play of the same name, first performed in London in 1935.
Noel Gay was "a successful British composer of popular music of the 1930s and 1940s whose output comprised 45 songs as well as the music for 28 films and 26 London shows". His best known song may be "The Lambeth walk" from his 1937 show "Me and my girl".
The recording by Jack Jackson and his orchestra which we hear tonight was recorded and released in February 1935, the same month in which the show it came from made it's debut.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Gay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_O%27Diamonds

24/07/2024

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22/07/2024

This week’s show (Monday 22nd July 2024) starts with a memory from English bandleader Henry Hall & His Orchestra: "Buffoon", music composed by the US “musical phenomenon” Zez Confrey.
“Zez” Confrey was born Edward Elzear Confrey in 1895 in Illinois, the youngest of 5 children. A musical prodigy as a child, his parents hired a teacher to nurture his musical talents evident on the piano. At high school he went on to play in and conduct his own orchestra.
Barely 20, he formed an orchestra with his similarly talented brother Jim – that group performed in many well-known hotels and ballrooms of the time, and progressed to recording dance music for the (then) Victor Talking Machine Company.
After World War 1, his career turned to recording piano rolls for a succession of companies over a period spanning 1918 to 1927. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, he turned to writing music for jazz bands. His best-known composition is probably the piano piece “Kitten on the keys”, which was said to be inspired by hearing his grandmother's cat walk on the keyboard of her piano.

Henry Hall’s recording of “Buffoon” as heard on tonight’s program was probably recorded and released in 1936, on a 78 backed by another instrumental piece, "Apple blossom”, written by American jazz violinist Joe Venuti.
https://grandpianorecords.com/Composer/ComposerDetails/22577
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zez_Confrey

14/07/2024

This Monday (15 July 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from the English bandleader Jack Payne – "A Broadway Melody", music written by Nacio Herb Brown, with lyrics from Arthur Freed. The song was featured in the 1929 US film “The Broadway Melody”, said to be “the first sound musical”; it was also the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Following Jack, we move forward to 1937 and the multi-talented actor and singer Dick Powell, with the song “You’re laughing at me” written by Irvin Berlin and performed by Dick Powell in the film “On The Avenue”.

On the Avenue is a 1937 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Dick Powell, Madeleine Carroll, Alice Faye, George Barbier, and The Ritz Brothers. Many of the songs were composed by Irving Berlin. Many of the plot details (with a reversal of the male and female roles) were used i...

08/07/2024

This week’s show (Monday 8th July 2024) starts with a memory from American singer Lawrence Tibbett - "The White Dove", written for the 1930 film “The Rogue Song”.
Lawrence was born Lawrence Tibbet in California in 1896, he added the second “T” to his name in 1923 after the Metropolitan Opera in New York mistakenly added it in his contract. His operatic career started in 1923 at The Met and continued there for 27 years, after which he continued with appearances in musicals and plays as well as a career in radio with a show “featuring historic recordings of opera singers” until his untimely death in 1960.
Tonight's recording of “The White Dove” was recorded by Lawrence and released in 1930 as a B-side to another song from the film “The Rogue Song” - “When I’m Looking At You”.
http://www.cantabile-subito.de/Baritones/Tibbett__Lawrence/hauptteil_tibbett__lawrence.html

01/07/2024

This week’s show (Monday 1st July 2024) starts with a popular memory from Jack Hylton & His Orchestra - "Break away", written by (Con) Conrad, (Archie) Gottler and (Sidney D.) Mitchell for the film “Fox Movietone Follies of 1929”.
This film is now considered a “lost film”, as all known film prints were destroyed in fires at the Fox storage facility in New Jersey in 1937.
“Break away” was one of several songs from the film which, over time, were recorded and released by various artists. Tonight's recording of “Break away” was recorded by Jack Hylton in 1929 as a B-side to another song from the film, “That’s you, baby”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Movietone_Follies_of_1929

24/06/2024

This week’s show (Monday 24th June 2024) starts with a memory from English composer and conductor Charles Williams & His Concert Orchestra: "Heart - O - London".
Charles was born Isaac Cozerbreit on 8th May 1893 in East London, to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland.
Isaac legally adopted the Charles Williams in 1913 (following his father who had also adopted that name). In his twenties he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, interrupted by serving in World War 1 in the King’s Royal Rifles.
Over the years, his musical career twisted and turned – starting as a violinist with chamber music; in 1920, he formed his own ensemble, the Charles Williams Octet. He soon also became a member of the New Symphony Orchestra, quickly being appointed the Leader and playing under conductors including Sir Thomas Beecham and Edward Elgar.
By 1923 he took on the role of conductor himself, with various cinema orchestras to accompany silent films. Composing for film came next for Charles, and from 1929, for another 20 years, Charles “wrote a huge amount of film music”. As was the practice of the time, much of that music was not credited to him.
In 1942, he was appointed conductor of the Queens Hall Light Orchestra where he was responsible for composing and conducting light music for Chappell’s Publishing House, on stage and on record. In 1946, he left Chappell’s to form his own “Concert Orchestra”, taking many of the QHLO musicians with him. He and the orchestra regularly broadcast on BBC radio and also provided the BBC with theme music for many radio shows.
Here in Australia, the best known composition by Charles is probably “Majestic Fanfare”, which in 1952 was adopted by the ABC to introduce their news services on radio and (later) on TV.
The recording of “Heart - O - London” as heard on tonight’s program was probably recorded and released in 1955, on a 78 backed by another composition by him, “The British Grenadiers”.
https://www.robertfarnonsociety.org.uk/index.php/legends/charles-williams

17/06/2024

This week’s show (Monday 17th June 2024) starts with a memory from English bandleader Henry Hall & His Orchestra: "I get a kick out of you", with music and lyrics written by Cole Porter.
“I get a kick out of you” was one of several songs written by Cole Porter for the musical “Anything Goes.” For the original run on Broadway in 1934, the song was performed by Ethel Merman; Merman was later featured performing this song in the 1936 Paramount film of “Anything Goes”, in which she co-starred with Bing Crosby.
Henry Hall’s recording of “I get a kick out of you” as heard on tonight’s program was probably recorded and released in 1935, on a 78 backed by another Cole Porter song from the same musical - “All through the night”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anything_Goes_(1936_film)

10/06/2024

Tonight (10 June 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from Canadian-American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor Percy Faith - "Bubbling over", recorded and released in 1954.
Percy Faith was born in 1908 in Toronto, Canada, the oldest of 8 children to Jewish parents, Abraham and Minnie. Faith learned piano and violin as a child, then, during the 1920’s (still in his teens) was a silent film accompanist in Toronto movie houses. At just 18 years of age, his hands were badly burned in a fire and he turned from performing to conducting and composition.
During the 1930’s, Faith was an arranger-composer on various Canadian radio programs.
In the 1940’s, he moved to the US and continued a similar career there with US radio stations.
In 1950 he became music director at Columbia Records, where he provided arrangements for many popular singers including Johnny Mathis, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Burl Ives, Guy Mitchell and Tony Bennett.
Throughout the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, Faith also continued recording with his own orchestra, recording everything from film scores to instrumental versions of popular hits, with recognition including Grammy awards in 1961 and 1970.
“Bubbling over” was an arrangement by Faith of a Swedish folk song “Gärdebylåten”, often attributed to the Swedish composer Hjort Anders Olsson.
Percy Faith bio: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/percy-faith
Hjort_Anders_Olsson: https://sv-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Hjort_Anders_Olsson?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Gärdebylåten: https://sv-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/G%C3%A4rdebyl%C3%A5ten?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

03/06/2024

Tonight (3 June 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with music from US bandleader Gus Arnheim & His Cocoanut Grove Orchestra, with singer Donald Novis - "Just one more chance", recorded and released in 1931.
Arnheim was born in 1897 in Pennsylvania. After early experience which included playing piano with Abe Lyman’s “dance orchestra”, Arnheim formed his own group in 1927. A solid career was to follow through the 1930’s and 1940’s with recordings and appearances on radio and on film; they also backed Bing Crosby on several early recordings. An early member of the orchestra (1930-31) was Fred MacMurray, a very capable sax and clarinet player – several decades later, Fred would become better known as an actor, including a role in the Billy Wilder film Double Indemnity and of course the lead role in the TV series My Three Sons.
Meanwhile, Bing also went on to record the same song, “Just one more chance” in the same year (1931), as a 78 and also in a short film called “One More Chance”, directed by Mack Sennett.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Arnheim
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/131495/all

26/05/2024

This Monday (27 May 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with music from Ambrose & His Orchestra - "Just one of those things", written by Cole Porter from the musical comedy “Jubilee”, which opened on Broadway in October 1935.
Porter had already completed the score for Jubilee by early 1935, but months later, he was approached by the librettist Moss Hart who wanted an additional song for the second act. By the following morning, Porter had written “Just one of those things".
Since then, this "additional" song has become a classic, recorded by many artists. The British bandleader Ambrose (aka Bert Ambrose) probably recorded his version of this song in 1941. And, last Thursday night, if you were tuned in to the special edition of Assignation Jazz & Blues on PBA FM 89.7, which was dedicated to the music of Cole Porter, you may well have heard a version of this song then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilee_(musical)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_One_of_Those_Things_(song)

23/05/2024

This Monday (20 May 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from US bandleader Ted Weems, “Piccolo Pete”.
Ted Weems was born Wilfred Theodore Wemyes, in 1901 in Pennsylvania. His start in music “came when he entered a contest, hoping to win a pony. He won a violin instead and his parents arranged for music lessons”.
While attending university, Ted and his brother Art formed a band which flourished; first within, and then outside, the university, going on to record professionally from 1923. Their song “Somebody stole my girl” was a #1 hit in 1924. The song we hear tonight, “Piccolo Pete”, was another hit for Ted and his band in 1929.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Weems

18/05/2024

"This year, we’re taking part in the 2024 People First Community Lottery to help raise much needed funds for upgrades to our broadcast equipment."

This year, we’re taking part in the 2024 People First Community Lottery to help raise much needed funds for upgrades to our broadcast equipment.

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13/05/2024

This Monday (13 May 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from the Adelaide-born bass-baritone, Peter Dawson – “When the Sergeant-Major's on parade”.
Peter Dawson was born in 1882 in Adelaide, South Australia, to immigrant Scottish parents. The youngest of nine children, he attended East Adelaide Primary School, then Pulteney Street School.
His recording career was prolific; it started in 1904 with releases on both gramophone records and wax cylinders and continued until he made his last recordings in London in 1955 at the age of 73.
“When the Sergeant-Major's on parade” was written by the English-born composer Ernest Longstaffe and first recorded in 1925, possibly his best known song. Peter Dawson recorded and released this song at least a couple of times – first in 1926 on a 78 backed with “The boys of the old brigade”; then later in 1939 backed with “When the guards go marching by”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dawson_(bass-baritone)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Longstaffe

06/05/2024

This Monday (6 May 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory from the English bandleader Jack Payne – “You’re driving me crazy”.
Jack Payne was born in Warwickshire in 1899, “the only son of a music publisher's warehouse manager”. During World War 1, while serving in the Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF), Jack played the piano in amateur dance bands and went on to lead bands in concerts for the troops.
During the 1920’s Jack played with a range of bands in Birmingham and later in London. In 1928 he became the BBC Director Of Dance Music as well as the leader of the BBC Dance Orchestra.
During the 1930s and 1940s Jack and his band left the BBC and embarked on live performances around Great Britain, along with recordings and some appearances on film. In later years he returned to the BBC as Director of Dance Music and work as a DJ as well as appearances on TV.
“You’re driving me crazy” was written by US composer Walter Donaldson. Originally recorded in 1930 by a number of bands and singers, the recording by Jack Payne and his orchestra was most probably released in 1931.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Payne_(bandleader)

29/04/2024

This Monday (29 April 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a song performed by the English trumpeter and bandleader Jack Jackson – “Everything's in Rhythm with My Heart”.
Jack Jackson was born in Yorkshire in 1906, the son of a brass band player and conductor. By age 11 he was playing a cornet; he moved on to play violin and cello, and then trumpet.
In 1927, Jackson joined Jack Hylton’s band as lead trumpet and cornet; then, in 1931, he moved on to join Jack Payne and the BBC Dance Orchestra.
In 1933 Jackson formed his own band; that same year the band started a five year residency at the Dorchester Hotel in London and also a regular show on Radio Luxembourg.
After the 2nd World War, Jackson joined BBC radio, as a pioneering “disc jockey” on the BBC Light Programme. During his long career at the BBC (which lasted at least to the late 1960s), he was to develop creative methods which were to influence later DJs such as Kenny Everett and Noel Edmonds – “His methods of presentation included punctuating records with surreal comedy clips and using quick cutting of pre-recorded tapes to humorous effect.”. Kenny Everett has been quoted as saying of Jackson that “He was the first person to have fun on radio”.
“Everything's in Rhythm with My Heart” was written by Al Goodhart, Al Hoffman and Maurice Sigler, seasoned US composers for stage and screen. “Everything's in Rhythm with My Heart” was first recorded in 1935 by Ambrose and his orchestra. The recording by Jack Jackson and his orchestra was probably released later that same year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/08/jack-jackson

22/04/2024

This Monday (22 April 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory composed by the English composer and pianist Clive Richardson – “Holiday spirit”.
Clive Richardson was born in Paris in 1909 to British parents. After training as a doctor, he turned his attention to music at the Royal Academy in London, studying a range of instruments as well as orchestration and conducting.
From the early 1930's onward, his early career in music found him working with various orchestras, arranging popular tunes and touring as a performing member. He also worked as a musical director in London's West End, and was accompanist and musical director for the US-born international singer Hildegarde, touring Britain and Europe with her for several years.
Clive’s composition “Holiday Spirit” is probably best known as the theme to BBC Television’s Children’s Newsreel during the 1950’s. The recording by the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra was probably released in 1947.
https://www.robertfarnonsociety.org.uk/index.php/legends/clive-richardson

15/04/2024

This Monday (15 April 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with a memory composed and recorded by the English composer and bandleader Peter Yorke – “Sapphires and sables”.

Peter Yorke was born in London in 1902. By the age of 14 he was already an accomplished organist. Early in his musical career he worked as a pianist in a West London orchestra and within a few years he was arranging and producing musical scores for many important bands in London. After working with bandleader Jack Hylton from 1929 to 1933, Yorke formed his own orchestra which performed for various European radio stations and went on to a successful career in recording and broadcasting including on the BBC Light Programme.
His composition “Sapphires and sables” was published and recorded by Yorke and his orchestra in 1947.
https://www.robertfarnonsociety.org.uk/index.php/legends/peter-yorke

08/04/2024

This Monday (8 April 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with music from the English composer Eric Coates – the Dam Busters March from the 1955 film "The Dam Busters".

Eric Coates was repeatedly approached to compose the film score but declined. After pressure from both the film producers and his publisher (Chappell), Coates provided the March which he had recently completed as an exercise in “emulating’ the music of Edward Elgar. The remainder of the film score was completed by another composer, Leighton Lucas.

Coates' own recording of the March was released in 1955.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dam_Busters_(film)

Later in the first hour, tonight's Movie Memory - a selection from the 1959 musical film The Five Pennies, which featured Danny Kaye as jazz cornet player Loring “Red” Nichols.

The Dam Busters is a 1955 British epic war film starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. It was directed by Michael Anderson. The film recreates the true story of Operation Chastise when in 1943 the RAF's 617 Squadron attacked the Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe dams in N**i Germany with Barnes Wallis's ...

01/04/2024

This Easter Monday (1 April 2024), Thanks For The Memory starts with an often recorded tune - “In an 18th century drawing room”, composed by US band leader Raymond Scott and based on the music of Mozart (including his Piano Sonata No.16).
Raymond Scott was born Harry Warnow in New York City in 1908 to parents who were Russian Jewish immigrants. After graduating from the Julliard School of Music in 1931, the start to his musical career was as a pianist for the CBS radio “house band”, for which his brother Mark was the conductor – at this point, Ray took on the name “Raymond Scott” to distance himself from his brother.
Raymond formed his own band in 1936, the “Raymond Scott Quintette” which was to prove popular on stage and on record. In 1939, with the addition of more musicians, the six-member Quintette became a big band while Scott continued as musical director with CBS.
His musical enterprises were to continue on through the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s on stage and on record, and including a diverse range of projects including experiments with electronic devices for musical purposes. Experiments included an instrument he called “The Electronium” which is “considered the first self-composing synthesizer”.
In the 1970’s, Scott was hired by Berry Gordy to be the director of electronic music and research for Motown Records.
Music by Scott can also be heard in a diverse range of films and TV shows including many Warner Brothers cartoons.
Tonight’s performance of “In an 18th century drawing room” was probably recorded by US bandleader Hal Kemp and his orchestra in 1939.
The Wikipedia article on Raymond Scott is a very good read and gives a potted summary of Scott’s diverse achievements! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Scott

25/03/2024

This week’s show (Monday 25 March 2024) starts with music from Jack Hylton & His Orchestra: "When you’re smiling", a popular tune written by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher and Joe Goodwin and first published in 1928. The song was to become a standard, perhaps best known for the recordings by Louis Armstrong (in 1929, 1932 and again in 1956). Shay Fisher and Goodwin collaborated on other songs over the years including “Everywhere you go” (recorded by Bing Crosby in 1949 with Evelyn Knight). Hylton recorded and released the version we hear tonight in 1930.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You%27re_Smiling

18/03/2024

This week’s show (Monday 18 March 2024) starts with music from Henry Hall & His Orchestra: "1 2 button your shoe", a popular tune written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) which we also heard last month in a recording by the Australian bandleader Jim Davidson.
Henry Hall was born in South London in 1898. At a young age, he won a scholarship to Trinity College of Music where he studied trumpet, piano, harmony & counterpoint.
After service in World War 1 which included playing trumpet and piano in the regimental band, his musical career continued during the 1920’s as a bandleader with various in-house bands at a chain of hotels run by the then London Midland and Scottish Railway; by 1931 he was said to be in charge of 32 bands.
In 1932 he replaced Jack Payne as the band leader of the BBC Dance Orchestra. Regular appearances followed on BBC radio as well as recordings. Five years after taking the reins with the BBC orchestra, both Henry and the band quit the BBC and commenced a new independent life, touring the UK. Hall developed his show business interests and diversified into TV appearances.
Henry Hall’s recording of “1 2 button your shoe” as heard on tonight’s program was released in 1933.

Henry's band was new, inexperienced in broadcasting and needed time to develop. Among the changes made, the band went to Savoy Hill for subsequent broadcasts but within two months they were back at Broadcasting House and eventually were able to settle down in studio 3A. For the music Henry experimen...